"Yeah? Who are you pretending to be?"
Eight years after defeating the Joker, Bruce Wayne (Bale) is a broken man. His body is in shambles and he never leaves the mansion. Batman is still considered a villain and has dropped off the grid, while Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) is revered as a hero. The police, still led by Commissioner Gordon (Oldman), use Dent's death to rid the city of crime... but a new evil is on the rise.
Wayne is pulled out of retirement when cat burglar, Selina Kyle (Hathaway), breaks into his home. Meanwhile, a renowned terrorist, Bane (Hardy), who always wears a mask, is convening in the sewers of Gotham, with big plans for the city's future. As Bane becomes a bigger threat, Batman is once again needed to protect the city that hates him.
The third and final film in Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy, this film had a lot to live up to. Fan expectations were high, and many were worried that Nolan could not repeat the epic success of The Dark Knight. Every casting choice and moment in the trailer(s) were met with intense scrutiny... and in a summer of big comicbook superhero films (The Amazing Spiderman and The Avengers), would people want to see this film and would it meet all the hype?
I went to see the film with my brother, who has enjoyed the previous Nolan helmed Batman films (but somehow was not impressed with The Avengers). At the end of the film, we were both satisfied... and I was geeking out, explaining some things to my brother. I thought it was well-made, well-cast, and looked cool. I love how things came full circle and effectively tied up Nolan's franchise and Christian Bale's commitments to the role... while laying the foundation for future Batman appearances, such as the potential Justice League film.
After the success of The Avengers, DC Comics has floated the idea of a Justice League film. The Justice League included Superman (who gets a new film this fall), Wonderwoman, Aquaman, Green Lantern, Green Arrow (who is the focus of a fall TV show on the CW), Batman and many others. It will be interesting to see how / if it all pans out.
Back to Batman... The cast is great. Bale is always a strong actor, and does not disappoint. Once again he is surrounded by powerful actors / actresses, who elevate the material and performances. Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, and Morgan Freeman are the only other main characters returning to their roles. All three are compelling (in different ways), with Caine and Freeman taking on smaller roles. Tom Hardy is menacing, even with his face hidden behind a mask, as Bane... and poses a legitimate physical and mental threat to Batman. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a welcome addition to the team and an intriguing character. Anne Hathaway and Marion Cotillard do well in their respective roles... but the men are more of the focus.
All in all, it was a good action flick... and a satisfying end to the trilogy.
The Dark Knight Rises (2012) minutes
Rated: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some sensuality and language.
Director: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne / Batman
Tom Hardy as Bane
Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle
Joseph Gordon-Levitt as John Blake
Marion Cotillard as Miranda Tate
Michael Caine as Alfred
Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox
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