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patentdragonSo, where were we? Oh yes, the review...
The Dark Knight Rises sees the end of DC Comics's current foray into the motion picture world, helmed admirably by Christopher Nolan. Third movies are always problematic - see, for example X-Men: The Last Stand, Spider-Man 3 and Superman III - especially when they follow such strong showings as the frequently better second entries in those series. The Dark Knight very much follows the pattern, thanks a great deal to Heath Ledger. TDKR has, therefore, got a lot of work to do...
So, how does TDKR shape up? You can hardly say "surprisingly well", for the same team have been involved in all three films, and expectations have been universally sky-high. Let's look at the plusses and minuses...
Plus: Sir Michael Caine - a constantly excellent Alfred, the voice of reason who has the majority of the emotional moments, but a limited part to play in the later stages of the movie. he does, however, have a fantastic last few minutes.
Anne Hathaway: Hers is a terrific Catwoman, played with style and intelligence - and heroism when it comes to the crunch. A Catwoman movie would probably do very well, and not harm the legacy laid down here. The best on-screen Catwoman to date, who's more than just a sexy costume.
Tom Hardy as Bane: You might not always be able to hear what the character says - although it must have been a good deal worse if the on-screen sound quality is the improved version - but Bane has a great deal of menace, and is a most worthy opponent for The Bat. Unlike his earlier, brutish incarnation in the much maligned Batman And Robin, this Bane is a highly intelligent, driven character, focussed like The Joker never was. He comes VERY close to winning, after all...
Christopher Nolan's splendid vision: Just sit down, and drink it in. Things are a bit more apocalyptic this time round, but the spirit remains.
Minus: The somewhat turgid "Gotham under siege" mid-section Yes, this sequence is supposed to represent several weeks of Bane's "people's Gotham", but it does slow things down a bit TOO much. That probably stops the film from being truly brilliant, but not enough to hurt its overall rating, as you'll shortly see.
Talia al-Ghul seems somewhat "parachuted in" to the story. Bruce Wayne seems too willing to trust this stranger, and pretty much grant her the power to set the whole plan - her plan - in motion. Bruce, you should be smarter than this...
So, how does this all add up? A bunch of plusses versus two minuses means "we have a winner". Not a big enough winner to unseat AVENGERS, in my opinion - the Heath Ledger factor was, let's be honest, a key element in pushing the second movie to its well-deserved heights, which have been the yardstick Marvel's masterpiece has been measured against - until it surpassed it. Admittedly, I'm not the biggest Batman fan, but I have still very much enjoyed these movies, which have come together as the best overall trilogy of superhero movies to date.
The Final Verdict... A far stronger final chapter to this trilogy than others have enjoyed. Not quite the soaring masterwork many had been expecting, but still quite satisfying. Catwoman movie please? 8/10
The Dark Knight Rises sees the end of DC Comics's current foray into the motion picture world, helmed admirably by Christopher Nolan. Third movies are always problematic - see, for example X-Men: The Last Stand, Spider-Man 3 and Superman III - especially when they follow such strong showings as the frequently better second entries in those series. The Dark Knight very much follows the pattern, thanks a great deal to Heath Ledger. TDKR has, therefore, got a lot of work to do...
So, how does TDKR shape up? You can hardly say "surprisingly well", for the same team have been involved in all three films, and expectations have been universally sky-high. Let's look at the plusses and minuses...
Plus: Sir Michael Caine - a constantly excellent Alfred, the voice of reason who has the majority of the emotional moments, but a limited part to play in the later stages of the movie. he does, however, have a fantastic last few minutes.
Anne Hathaway: Hers is a terrific Catwoman, played with style and intelligence - and heroism when it comes to the crunch. A Catwoman movie would probably do very well, and not harm the legacy laid down here. The best on-screen Catwoman to date, who's more than just a sexy costume.
Tom Hardy as Bane: You might not always be able to hear what the character says - although it must have been a good deal worse if the on-screen sound quality is the improved version - but Bane has a great deal of menace, and is a most worthy opponent for The Bat. Unlike his earlier, brutish incarnation in the much maligned Batman And Robin, this Bane is a highly intelligent, driven character, focussed like The Joker never was. He comes VERY close to winning, after all...
Christopher Nolan's splendid vision: Just sit down, and drink it in. Things are a bit more apocalyptic this time round, but the spirit remains.
Minus: The somewhat turgid "Gotham under siege" mid-section Yes, this sequence is supposed to represent several weeks of Bane's "people's Gotham", but it does slow things down a bit TOO much. That probably stops the film from being truly brilliant, but not enough to hurt its overall rating, as you'll shortly see.
Talia al-Ghul seems somewhat "parachuted in" to the story. Bruce Wayne seems too willing to trust this stranger, and pretty much grant her the power to set the whole plan - her plan - in motion. Bruce, you should be smarter than this...
So, how does this all add up? A bunch of plusses versus two minuses means "we have a winner". Not a big enough winner to unseat AVENGERS, in my opinion - the Heath Ledger factor was, let's be honest, a key element in pushing the second movie to its well-deserved heights, which have been the yardstick Marvel's masterpiece has been measured against - until it surpassed it. Admittedly, I'm not the biggest Batman fan, but I have still very much enjoyed these movies, which have come together as the best overall trilogy of superhero movies to date.
The Final Verdict... A far stronger final chapter to this trilogy than others have enjoyed. Not quite the soaring masterwork many had been expecting, but still quite satisfying. Catwoman movie please? 8/10
