The Dark Knight Rises Review

     The final installment of the epic Dark Knight trilogy has finally flown into theaters, with a high expectation set by the fantastic previous two films. Christopher Nolan's three part Batman franchise comes to a close in The Dark Knight Rises, and the question is, does it soar to meet the lofty expectations held by so many? I answer this burning question after the jump.
     With the fantastic nature of the first two films a precedent was set if there ever was a third, and because of this, The Dark Knight Rises has to be beyond spectacular in order to satisfy expectations. This is no simple task, and is largely the reason Christopher Nolan was originally skeptical of returning for a third installment of the franchise. However, he did, and we can be thankful for that, because The Dark Knight Rises is rather fittingly spectacular, for many reasons.
     For starters, the tone of the film is rather daring, it's rather dark and gloomy tone illustrates that Nolan isn't afraid to be adventurous while crafting a film for even a rather mainstream and broad audience, and this is a large factor as to why the film is great. It's not afraid to be brutally honest, give a harsh vision of a world held together by lies and deception crafted in The Dark Knight. Batman has always been a shadow, and it's refreshing that the franchise can remain comfortable in it's greatest, and also most daring element. 
     For a dramatically long movie, the pacing is actually rather great, and it never gets slow or boring being amazed as all the pieces slowly and smartly fall into place. The story is extremely engrossing and surprisingly relatable to today's society (which is part of the reason it can be bleak at times), but the film's ultimate message is that of hope, even in the darkest of days. 
     As the last of the trilogy, the film isn't wary of being emotional, and I enjoyed how the film was able to circumvent it's common message of the importance of fear, and explore other emotions in full. This allows the film to be a fantastic sendoff to the entire trilogy, and leaves a good feeling of closure, as well as a certain realism of the characters in your mind. In usual Nolan fashion, the curtain isn't pulled away for the audience until the absolute end, but it's fantastic guessing, playing detective for yourself. As with all of Nolan's movies, it's impossible not to enjoy being fooled and duped, like a child watching a magic show for the very first time, in awe of what occurs, until the rug is finally swept away for the final act, and you lose footing of all that you felt was secure before.
     Of course a good plot would be nothing without an intriguing and entertaining cast of characters, something which The Dark Knight Rises has in no short supply. Christian Bale again assumes the cowl of the Caped Crusader, who is no longer a necessary evil, as the streets are now clean. This is perhaps the most enjoyable portion of the film, watching him return from the gloom winding depths of his mansion, turning from hermit to hero, one last time. 
     Many had cried out about Anne Hathaway's casting in the role of Selina Kyle, who moonlights as Catwoman, but I'm fairly certain her performance will sway even those most skeptical of her to don the kitty ears. She is alluring and seductive, irresistible and lethal all at the same time, and I think Hathaway portrays the best version of the infamous cat burglar to ever grace the big screen.
     Gary Oldman returns as Batman's other half in the form of Commissioner Gordon, and in the final chapter of the saga he plays a more reluctant and down-trodden hero, and Oldman delivers a fantastic performance as a man who has ultimately been shattered by the necessary lies that hold the city together. He is vastly contrasted by the young new face of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who plays a determined and curious cop, John Blake. In my opinion, this was the performance that outshines the others in the film, as Levitt steals the screen with his fantastic take on a cop who finds himself struggling with allegiance, as he tries to keep the best interest of the people at heart. 
     Finally of course, there is the villain of the film, Bane. After the unfortunate and shocking passing of Heath Ledger, it made clear by Nolan that The Joker would have no presence in the final film. It was difficult to think another film could be made, after Ledger delivered a fantastically chilling performance as the Joker, because it seemed clear it his role in the film couldn't be surpassed. 
     The film succeeds in distancing itself from the events of the second film, which allows Tom Hardy's Bane to exist on his own plane, not having comparisons being drawn to a performance which stands alone and separate. Tom Hardy is good in the film, and is able to convey a surprising amount of emotion through his eyes. Many were worried about the clarity of the his voice, but he is easily heard and understood in the film, as obvious changes were made from the time the original prologue teased audiences. He sounds a bit like a mechanical Sean Connery, which oddly works in the role, giving him an air of superiority and all-knowingness, which makes his character all the more menacing.
     Some of the most intense scenes feature the physically massive Bane, and the action scenes in the film aren't overstated or bloated, as with the previous films, they feature just the right balance of action and suspense, and the trilogy makes a great case against the necessity felt in Hollywood for gore, as it is wholly non-existent in the films.
     Lastly, as with all superhero films, the problem arises of dealing with comic book lore, and integrating into a film that can seem based in reality, while also being unrealistically spectacular. Nolan does an amazing job of grounding the film, tying it to human emotions and feelings while still making it grand. The film has nods and subtleties that will be caught by avid comic readers, and Nolan uses his artistic license extremely well, creating a mythos that will satisfy both comic-readers and film-goers alike. 
     While I know I'm certainly sad to see it go, the trilogy is ended fittingly and fantastically in The Dark Knight Rises, arguably the greatest film of the three, as it was able to be unique while continuing to carry on the story of those before, as well as bringing a proper close to an amazing franchise. In my mind, it won't be soon before The Dark Knight will exist alongside the other great trilogies of cinema, recognized for both amazing vision and cinematography. The Dark Knight Rises is a stellar sendoff to a truly spectacular collection of films, that truly pulls on the heart strings before coming to it's ever elusive close.