Christopher Nolan’s Batman films have completely redefined the superhero genre. Batman Begins showed audiences the deeper, darker side of the Caped Crusader. The Dark Knight continued to push the envelope, making it a critical success as well as a box office titan. The performances of Christian Bale and Heath Ledger coupled with layered philosophical and psychological themes made The Dark Knight more than just a superhero film. It became a staple for the genre. Now, four years after the last film, Nolan and company are back with the third and final film of the trilogy: The Dark Knight Rises.
It has been eight years since the events of The Dark Knight, and Bruce Wayne has become a recluse. Gotham is thriving and its citizens are living mostly peaceful lives. But a monster will surface, forcing Bruce to don the cape and cowl again to save his beloved city. Screenwriters Christopher and Jonathan Nolan have tirelessly poured everything they have into the script for this film. Mirroring the themes of Batman Begins and showing an even darker tale than The Dark Knight, this film is a magnificent journey for
Batman’s final outing. Directed flawlessly with visually-striking action, fluid dialog, and incredible cinematography, Nolan has created the best film in the trilogy.
Christian Bale returns as Bruce Wayne/Batman, and acts each scene pitch-perfect, adding even more depth to this beloved hero. He encapsulates each character beat, allowing audiences to connect with Batman even more so than previous outings. Newcomer Tom Hardy portrays the menacing Bane, the physical manifestation of “Gotham’s reckoning.” Wearing a mask throughout the feature, Hardy relies on body language, his voice, and his eyes to give his brutish character layers of pathos and horror, and he does so with gusto, making each scene his own. Anne Hathaway straps herself in a skin-tight suit, becoming the femme fatale Selina Kyle/Catwoman (her alter ego is never named in the film). This anti-hero had people worried, but Hathaway works the role with ease, stealing scenes with her graceful, acrobatic fighting skills and devilishly playful personality. Joseph Gordon-Levitt brings some heart into the affair with his sympathetic cop John Blake and Marion Cotillard adds light to Bruce’s world as Miranda Tate. Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, and Morgan Freeman reprise their respective roles, each of which are played out with just as much flair and emotion as the previous films.
The Dark Knight Rises is the final film in Christopher Nolan’s trilogy, and it is the best one to date. With his brother Jonathan, Nolan has scripted one of the best, if not the best, superhero film that has ever graced the silver screen. Nolan concludes his trilogy by giving audiences Batman’s greatest, most heartfelt adventure. The Dark Knight Rises is a phenomenal movie, and one that should be watched more than once.
By Ethan Harmon – blackstar4556@gmail.com