Review by Lorna Blades
The Dark Knight Rises concludes Christopher Nolan’s trilogy of intelligent and dark Batman films in spectacular style. It has been eight years since the death of Harvey Dent and legislation passed by Gotham City has succeeded in cleaning up the streets. However, a new villain named Bane (Tom Hardy) surfaces with the aim of destroying Gotham’s elite and the entire city itself. Cue Batman’s return: Bruce Wayne must emerge out of his self-made exile to save the day. However, as Alfred reassures, “it takes a little time to get back in the swing of things” which proves both prophetic and literal.
The opening of the movie introduces the fearful new villain Bane in an action-packed Bond-style skyjacking. A formidable new foe who describes himself in such grandiose terms as “Gotham’s reckoning”, appears as a monstrous muscleman inciting social revolution with a nuclear weapon at his disposal. An exciting mix of brain and brawn, Bane as a villain comes in second only to Heath Ledger’s enthralling performance as the Joker in The Dark Knight.
Fittingly the focus is returned to our dark hero Batman, played with an enduring intensity by Christian Bale. Michael Caine, Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman’s reprised performances as Alfred, Gordon and Fox, further prove that this film has heart. New additions to the cast also do not disappoint; Marion Cotillard is a rich philanthropist and Bruce Wayne’s new love interest. Anne Hathaway as cat burglar/femme fatale Selina Kyle is tantalising as a reimagined Catwoman, and Joseph Gordon Levitt gives an excellent performance as a heroic cop who helps to instil hope in the citizens of Gotham.
The impressive gadgets are again showcased with an addition of “The Bat”: a flying craft that allows Batman to manoeuvre around the city in style (he needs all the firepower he can get if he is to defeat his latest enemy). The cinematography by Wally Pfister is breathtaking and can only be described as “epic”; including sweeping cityscapes of Gotham under snow, he depicts Batman’s dark universe with beautiful finesse.
This final Batman installment ends the trilogy with suitable drama, and although the score by Hans Zimmer can be overpowering at times, it is a near perfect end to Nolan’s radical vision. The film gives new resonance to the portentous line “there’s a storm coming”, it does not fail to deliver and even by the end it leaves you wanting more.
Excellent Reveiw Laura,I can’ wait to see it for myself