Film Review: The Dark Knight Rises

Director: Christopher Nolan

This review should be spoiler free in terms of the plot.

The much awaited final part of the trilogy that has been easily the most impressive of the Batman series so far. The interest and scramble for tickets on the first day of release has been huge and as intense as any other film released in recent years. When I walked out of the cinema at the end of the movie I felt it was all entirely justified, it met my very high expectations with a superbly satisfying conclusion.

Movie Poster

Tom Hardy plays Bane who is a terrifying hulk of a man although is slightly let down by being inaudible at some points wearing the mask. If Batman's battle with The Joker was a battle of wits then this is a battle of brawn. Tom Hardy literally looks massive in terms of muscular size and unrecognisable with the mask and shaved head. The comparisons with The Dark Knight are an easy criticism with it being such a superb movie but the sequel goes in a completely different direction. Joseph Gordon Levitt is a great addition as John Blake, a cop who bends the rules and work with Commissioner Gordon (Gary Oldman) whilst Anne Hathaway is fascinating and intriguing as a version of Catwoman. You are never quite sure of her motives as she seems to just be out for herself. 

The ending wraps up the trilogy brilliantly with many twists before the actual ending, the movie does get a bit bogged down in the middle which adds to the long running time but then builds up to a tense climax. Christopher Nolan has done the near impossible in delivering a finale that lives up to the immense amount of hype, it will be intriguing to see what his next project will be like (Man of Steel).

4/4 superb thrill ride with an incredibly satisfying conclusion.