Seven years on from the first instalment of the Dark Knight trilogy Christopher Nolan releases the highly anticipated final film, The Dark Knight Rises. Set eight years on from the events that occurred in The Dark Knight, Batman is gone and Bruce Wayne is in self-imposed exile. With the lack of support from the public since having taken responsibility for the actions of Harvey Dent, Wayne is a shadow of his former self, only just regaining his strength after the loss of Rachel. Enter Bane, Gotham City’s most challenging villain and Batman’s biggest foe yet, superior in both strength and intellect will this draw Batman out of hiding and will this be his final battle?
Nolan’s Dark Knight saga has always been different from other superhero movies. This film is no Avengers: Assemble. It is not light hearted. Instead it is a dark reflection on our society. The Dark Knight Rises is solely focused on the narrative and the characters. Instead of using visual effects to distract the audience away from the lack of any good story line Nolan says, “I am instead most interested in what it can give me as a storytelling tool.” Using IMAX to create an “immersive experience” instead of 3D, which can often distract and put off audiences.
The Dark Knight Rises consists of a star studded cast, from reoccurring actors including, Morgan Freeman’s, Lucius Fox; Michael Caine’s, Alfred and Gary Oldman’s Commissioner Gordon to the new guys, Tom Hardy as Bane, Joseph Gordon-Levitt as cop John Blake and Anne Hathaway as Catwoman. The new characters, as in the previous films, provide intrigue and a rejuvenation of the franchise.
With all the attention surrounding the film and having eagerly followed the trilogy, my fingers were crossed for The Dark Knight Rises hoping it wouldn’t fall under the curse of the trilogy. Luckily I was not disappointed. It brought back the emotional attachment from Batman Begins and continues the drama from The Dark Knight. Nolan’s brother, Jonathan Nolan, wrote the screenplay and it is second to none. Maintaining the same standard as the previous two movies, he incorporates the action, drama and characters without letting anything overshadow the narrative. However, many fans of the comics may claim that it did not stick to the original, but putting that aside it is a brilliant film and one not to miss. The Dark Knight Rises made me feel like a child again, when going to the cinema was an experience. The story drew me in for 164 minutes and didn’t let go and honestly I didn’t want it to.
The Dark Knight Rises smashes into cinemas 20th July 2012.
Director: Christopher Nolan
Stars: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Tom Hardy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Anne Hathaway, Morgan Freeman
Runtime: 164 mins
Country: UK, USA
Film Rating: 
