The Dark Knight Rises

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES

A great film, one that all should see, but ultimately a disappointment

2012: Warner Bros. Pictures

2012, Action/Adventure, Rated PG-13

Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures

          What's the point of this review? Like The Avengers, you've probably already seen TDKR. I'm a little late here so I don't expect to change anyone's mind on whether to see this much-anticipated superhero action film. Whether I say it's good or not, or whether you think it's good or not, this series will go down in movie history as one of the greatest, grandest, most controversial, and most tragic trilogies of all time. Also like The Avengers, TDKR will change superhero movies forever. It sets a new bar for what we are to expect from all these men in tights soaring across the screen. TDKR is an excellent superhero movie. It's not perfect, but it ends the legend nicely...or does it?

          Yes, a fourth film is alluded to. I really wanted Nolan to put this money-making series to bed for good once the credits rolled, but he throws a final punch that leaves you begging for more. A famous Batman character is introduced within minutes of the final frame and it's the character itself that makes me hope more Batman films will come in the future.

          The film is exhilarating and action-packed. Nolan has a way of making every scene feel intense, like danger lurks around every corner. His Batman films feel like one continuous experience that we journey through along with the characters. The opening scene is absolutely brilliant and throws you into that Nolan/Batman feel immediately. The execution of the film was just right: it felt like the first two films. The stakes somehow felt lower, however, than those we feared in The Dark Knight.

          I haven't always felt this way, but this film undeniably suffers from the absence of the Joker, or an actor willing to commit as wholly as Heath Ledger did for that role. Bane is a cool villain but he is honestly not that interesting to look at nor eccentric enough to top the Joker. I adore Nolan's use of practical effects and focus on the human element, but Bane needed something more to set him apart from the other baddies in films like this. His voice was interesting, and I believe we deserve to know what he looks like under that mask. After that ridiculous display of digital flesh on Harvey Dent's face, Nolan could have given us a little bit more to look at on Bane.

          Other new characters leave little to swoon over. Anne Hathaway's Catwoman was nice and interesting but a bit too tame. Hathaway did a great job, but Catwoman is a little more evil, a little more feisty than that. With a nearly three-hour run time, there should be no shortage of proper character development. Marion Cotillard's character sort of felt like it just needed to be there for a certain twist at the end. I found the twist and her character to be boring but necessary to the story. Joseph Gordon-Levitt's character Blake was an excellent addition to the Batman universe, and one that I've been hoping for for a while now. He was my favorite new addition to the Batman saga. There are too many new characters in TDKR but Blake really feels like he needed to be included.

          The story is somewhat of a letdown. On its own it doesn't work. As a standalone picture, this Batman film is out of focus. But when looked at in light of the entire series, it fits nicely into the overall story being told. Even though Bane technically raises the stakes higher than those in TDK, it felt less dangerous. The Joker was perfectly menacing and felt just so evil. Bane is a threat, but something about his plan felt lame. This is one problem I have with the whole series. It's so silly and unrealistic. If a city in America had all these lunatics running around, the government would step in and stop them. TDK didn't feel as far fetched as TDKR does. There are a few fight scenes that take Batman back to his roots that were nice. The scenes in which he and Bane all-out fist fight are great and a return to what we see in the comics.

          Overall it's an excellent film and a rightful ending to a legend that just won't die. I look forward to hinted-at sequels but TDKR definitely feels a bit tired. It had me wondering what Nolan will tackle next. Inception was a teaser for his new and non-Batman abilities in this exciting high-tech film world we now live in. TDKR is exciting and culturally important so go see it. Just don't expect it to be as good as its predecessor.

          Side note: Anyone who thought this film would make more money than The Avengers was dead wrong. Batman is stale in comparison to the new and exciting cross-over characters that Marvel has finally decided to indulge in.

          Another side note: I have always been a bit hesitant about that flying Batmobile that we saw in the trailers. Now that I've seen the film I can say that, Yes, the flying "Bat" is somewhat over the top and sticks out like a soar thumb in such a grounded superhero tale.