REVIEW: The Dark Knight Rises

The follow-up to the 2008 instant-classic, The Dark Knight, is nothing short of spectacular. This is more than a superhero movie. We are reintroduced to Bruce Wayne eight years on from the […]


The follow-up to the 2008 instant-classic, The Dark Knight, is nothing short of spectacular.

This is more than a superhero movie.

A storm is coming.

We are reintroduced to Bruce Wayne eight years on from the plot of The Dark Knight. He is holed up in Wayne Manor living as a hermit with ever-faithful butler Alfred as his only port of human contact. Wayne is in a state of physical and emotional turmoileven needing a cane to stand.

After years of putting his life on the line for the safety of the people of Gotham, The Batman is now vilified by those he protected and sacrificed himself for after the events of The Dark Knight.The Dark Knight Rises is much more than a superhero movie.

Soon, Gotham comes under threat from a new villain; the petrifying Goliath that is Bane, an anarchic terrorist leader with alarmingly dedicated disciples. Bane is portrayed by the in vogue actor Tom Hardy. Bane threatens to turn Gotham into a modern-day Gomorrah and Batman must return from the brink to stop him. Wearing a Hannibal-esque facial mask, his voice is powerful yet distorted; making it often rather difficult to understand exactly what he is saying. The motivations behind Bane’s actions are never fully explained. One moment he is wishing for the liberation of Gotham from the oppressive 1% and the next he shows a clear desire for wanton nuclear destruction. Bane is known as ‘The Man Who Broke The Bat’ and for the first time in this trilogy you really fear for the caped crusader’s survival; such is the emotional depth that Nolan has laced these characters with.

COME AT ME BRO!

Sir Michael Caine, who has delivered many a rousing speech throughout his distinguished career, continues in fine form in this instalment, playing easily the most likeable character of the series to a tee. The film also introduces Selina Kyle AKA Catwoman into the foray; played to perfection by Anne Hathaway, as well as Joseph Gordon-Levitt as heroic young police officer, John Blake.

Nolan brings us a stunning finale to this epic seven year saga, filled with extraordinary set pieces as the City of Gotham is laid under siege with unprecedented brutality by Bane’s potently malevolent forces. The many loose ends are all tied up together by the end of the film with each of the main characters playing important and sometimes unexpected roles in the conclusion.

The film is very dark and heavy, more so than its predecessor, but it is an absolute must see on the big screen. Overall, The Dark Knight Rises is a fitting end to what is comfortably the greatest superhero film series of all time and, in my opinion, the greatest action series of all time. As one character says upon Batman’s arrival on screen; ‘you in for a show tonight, son.’ Indeed, you are.