The Dark Knight Rises Review - Spoiler Free

The emergence of the comic book movie genre in the early 2000’s was started by 2 different trilogies, X-Men and Spiderman. In both instances the first two movies teased the third and when that third movie finally came out it was a disappointment. Both were overloaded with villains and failed to pay off on the storylines and character arcs that they had established. The Nolan Batman trilogy was not formed the same way. Each movie was not intended to build towards the next. However, “The Dark Knight Rises” solidified the three movies as a trilogy. A trilogy that does not disappoint in its final act like so many have before it. Nolan has made three different movies, each focusing on a different type of movie. “Batman Begins” will be remembered as one of the best origin movies, “The Dark Knight” will be remembered as one of the best Joker/psychological thriller movie, and “The Dark Knight Rises” will be remembered as one of the best action movies of all time.


During the build up to the movie concern began to grow as more and more new characters were added to the mix. But by casting high caliber actors and with the clever scripting the trap that many other third installments fall into was avoided by Mr. Nolan. The most notable new casting belongs to Tom Hardy as Bane and Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle. Bane is a difficult character as he has been mishandled in the comics for years until recently in “Secret Six;” but Hardy played Bane in the way that he should be played. As someone who becomes an evil Batman. He has the training and the strength but instead of trying to save the city he is trying to destroy it. The Bane in this movie is the best version of Bane I have ever seen and that includes the stories I have read in the comics. There has been a lot of negative press regarding Anne Hathaway as Catwoman. I never really understood this, I guess people only know her from “The Princess Diaries,” but she is terrific, she portrays the sexuality and the conflicting feelings that Catwoman should have. Both put in a great performance and the returning cast puts in the fantastic performances that we have come to expect from them.

Nolan has filmed a great story here. I was fortunate enough to see the film at an IMAX theatre and all of the big action sequences in the movie were truly epic. One of the most memorable parts of the movie was the actual music. The chanting that has been heard throughout the previews for the movie builds throughout the film and when it starts playing the audience starts moving to the edge of their seat. All of this served to help the audience follow a plot that at times can feel a little complicated. If there is any weakness to talk about in the film it’s that there are parts in the middle of the movie that slow the flow down and we get an exposition dump that isn’t delivered clearly. This is all cleared up by the end of the movie but it was at this point where I wanted the movie to move forward. The ending of the movie had a couple of moments that took away from the impact of the film and it did get a little bit comic bookie at the end.

Overall though the film is a great piece of work and is a fantastic end to the Nolan trilogy. They don’t have to make another Batman film ever and I would be happy. But we all know that won’t happen. I give it 5 out of 5 stars.