The Dark Knight Rises - Review

“You merely adopted the dark. I was born in it, molded by it.” – A review of The Dark Knight Rises. 

After the success of the first two films of the Dark Knight trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises was set to deliver an incredible conclusion to one of the best superhero trilogies of all time. Released in 2012 and still starring Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne, would the film deliver all that was expected of it?

Of course it would.

The film takes place eight years after the events of The Dark Knight. Gotham City is relatively peaceful, Batman has disappeared after being blamed for the death of Harvey Dent, and Bruce Wayne now lives his life in isolation. However, when Bane, a terrifying terrorist with links to the League of Shadows, appears in Gotham, Bruce is forced to don the mask and act, in a desperate and critical attempt to save the city.

We once again have a brilliant cast joining Bale for this last instalment. Bane is played by Tom Hardy, who appears as charismatic, compelling and completely menacing. Not only is he physically imposing, but his conviction is so believable that he’s completely chilling, making his on screen presence undeniable.

Selina Kyle is played by Anne Hathaway, and she brings complexity and genuine wit to the role, serving as a morally ambiguous and incredibly interesting character. A highlight for me, though, is Michael Caine’s Afred. He grounds the film, bringing true emotional depth, and his relationship with Bruce leads to some of the most emotional and touching moments from the entire franchise.

The pacing of this film isn’t always perfect, but it’s certainly ambitious. The film explores themes such as sacrifice, redemption, hope, legacy and heroism, and asks difficult questions about how you continue to fight for your beliefs after you’ve suffered a defeat. This isn’t just a big, blow-up action film, it’s emotional, it’s deep, and it’s completely compelling.

As always, Nolan’s style shines throughout, with incredible cityscapes, attention to realism and some incredible practical effects. The action scenes are superb, especially the explosive final battle, and they are all incredibly tense and handled with amazing precision. The score is once again perfect, adding emotional weight and highlighting the massive stakes during every single pivotal moment on screen.

This is a truly remarkable end to a wonderful trilogy. Incredible performances, thoughtful writing, challenging themes and dynamic, exciting action all come together to create a bold and emotional film which is sure to delight lifelong fans as well as new ones. It’s a film that reminds you to take a stand against injustice however you can, since after all; "a hero can be anyone. Even a man doing something as simple and reassuring as putting a coat on a young boy's shoulders to let him know that the world hadn't ended.” What a beautiful message from a phenomenal film, and what a way to end such a fantastic trilogy.

Written by Tam Page

Posted by Mr. Tomney

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