The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

In 2005, Chrstopher Nolan and David S. Goyer were given the reigns to reboot the Batman film franchise for Warner Brothers. The first film was well received and a bit of a hit, marking a Dark and Modern entry into the series compared to Burton's Gothic and Schumacher's Neon Camp affair. Opening the series with characters not depicted on the big screen earlier, he followed it up with the crazily successful 'The Dark Knight', that pitted Batman against two of his most popular Rogue's, The Joker and Harvey Dent, The film was a hit, and its often debated how much of it's success is linked to the death of scene stealer Heath Ledger (For the Record, I though Aaron Eckart's Harvey Dent was the more enjoyable performance.) Its been 4 years since then, and we've seen a slew of new Comic Book Adaptions since then that have battled it out for what's arguably one of the most popular Comic/Films in cinema, and Nolan and Co have brought out a 2 hour and 40 minute follow up, that well and truly closes the off Nolans series. So is it good, or does it suffer the threequel curse?


Dark Knight Rises picks up some 8 years after Jokers reign of Terror and Harvey Dents fall from grace. Dents death has been placed at the Batman's hands (technically correct), along with a few others, But Dent's death and Gordon and Batman's sacrifice has resulted in the creation of the Harvey Dent act, bringing about a Gotham without Organised Crime, and one that hasn't needed Batman. Bruce Wayne(Christian Bale) has become a recluse, hiding from the outside world with only Alfred(Michael Caine) for company. Enter Bane (Tom Hardy), A mercenary on a Mysterious mission that's going to put him at odd's with the Dark Knight, and put Theif Selina Kyle(Anne Hathaway) in fear for her life.

There's alot more to the Dark Knight Rises then I've mentioned, Alot of characters in the story, and a few things that don't feel like they pay off. The film from the outset is filled with a very somber tone, and can fill the viewer with a sinking feeling through out. This isn't a bubble gum action film, its a film that wears the mask  of  a Super Hero film, but its about more then that, or tries to be. There's political and social commentary here about the world we live in. It's interesting, but the film does feel a little bogged down at parts because of the things it wants to say.

Performances across the board are great. Bale has never been better as Dual Roles of Batman and Bruce Wayne, I've never had too much of a issue with his voice in the role, but it doesn't sound as gruff as it did in TDK, Hardy's Bane is an interesting character but i'm not sure how charismatic he comes off, and his voice is fine, as someone who saw the preview footage in front of Mission : Impossible where i only caught about half of what he said, i don't think there was any point in the film that i didn't know what he was saying. Hathaway is great as Selinda Kyle/Catwoman (never refered to as Catwoman, news clippings just call her the cat), she's sexy and pulls off the action well (and very flexible), there isn't as much chemistry between her bale is a little lacking. Joseph Gordon-Levitts much speculated John Blake is almost the films lead character, getting as much screen time as anyone else in the film, and often through out the films slow mid section, the only one doing anything. He's a solid addition to the cast, as is Marion Cotillard as Miranda, a member of the Wayne Ent. Board who seemingly has a thing for Wayne. Returning cast members Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine don't have as much to do in the film as you'd expect, with they're characters largely on the sidelines.

The score and beats of the film really kick in nicely, with both Batman and Bane having they're own theme's in the film, and at points feels like one takes over the other, and whats better, there's several scenes where they completely remove backing tracks, its obvious there's no music there, but it does help amplify the scene, focusing you on the sound of the attacks connecting and the fighters breathing.

Everything in this film is at the quality of the previous films or above, except for the story, and this might come down to run time of the film. Rises is a entertaining film, and probably one i'll see more then once before the Home Disk release.


Also of note: I got to see this as part of the 'The Dark Knight Trilogy' screening, around a 9 hour event at IMAX Melbourne. the Imax scenes are breath taking, but there's some inconsistencies in the scenes that are shot with the Rises footage. Conversations between characters switch back and forth between the two formats makes it a little jarring at times, that said, most City-scapes and action scenes are shot in Imax, and they generally look spectacular.