The Dark Knight Rises

****
Dir. Christopher Nolan
With Batman Begins and The Dark Knight setting such high standards for the nature of superhero films, Christopher Nolan had a great deal to live up to in this third and final installment of his Batman trilogy. With a plot line that will keep viewers fully captivated for all two and a half hours of the movie, The Dark Knight Rises is the epic conclusion fans have been waiting for.

The story takes place exactly eight years after the conclusion of the previous film, in which Gotham City has not seen Batman since the night of Harvey Dent's death. An aging Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) has barely stepped outside his manor in all this time, all the while lamenting over his long lost love Rachel Dawes. His state of depression has brought about turmoil for Wayne Enterprises, as the once successful company is on the verge of bankruptcy. Among those concerned for this troubled soul is his good and faithful butler Alfred Pennyworth (Michael Caine), and his business partner and friend Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman).

Although the mafia has ceased to continue in Gotham, an evil far greater than organized crime spells certain doom for Commissioner Gordon (Gary Oldman); whom, abandoned by his wife and children, must make his stand against the sadistic mercenary known as Bane (Tom Hardy). When the Police realize how unstoppable this madman truly is, the young Captain John Blake (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), whom having discovered the Dark Knight's identity long ago, calls upon the crippled old Bruce Wayne to take up the mantle of Batman once more. The Caped Crusader is also introduced to the sly and intriguing Cat Burglar Selina Kyle (Anne Hathaway), as well as the mysterious and seductive Miranda Tate (Marion Cotillard).

Having never faced an enemy as deadly and horrific as this, and being the only one able to save Gotham from this terrorist, Batman must cast all fear aside in order to fulfill the promise he made to his parents all those years ago.

Although the film does have its flaws, nothing terribly significant but present nonetheless, what stands out is the epic components which are so brilliantly executed. Not only does Nolan provide viewers with a series of perfectly implemented twists and turns in the plot, but the manner in which he presents the story produces such a great emotional intrigue. By connecting all the dots and loose ends of the previous films, his work here leaves audiences mesmerized with a deeper understanding of the character's complexities. The only minor spoiler I'll give here is that Ra's al-Ghul (Liam Neeson) does make an appearance, and that the way in which his and Batman's stories are intertwined play a crucial role in the hero's development.

Another great aspect of the film was the performances of Tom Hardy and Anne Hathaway. After the late Heath Ledger's iconic Joker performance in 2008, it was quite a challenge to pick a worthy successor to be this film's antagonist. Hardy's Bane both exemplified the sheer terror which the character possesses, while also bringing to light the depths of his internal conflicts. His Vader-like voice sends chills down one's spine, as it reflects the fear which he instills in his victims. Hathaway's Catwoman also resembled the classic essence of the character, while at the same time she gives her own touch which is fresh and compelling. Her mannerisms and expressions make audiences as entranced by her as Batman.

As far as my criticisms, I did feel there were moments here and there in Christopher and Jonathan Nolan's script that contained some unnatural dialogue. Batman Begins is still my favorite of the three (as well as the best superhero film in my opinion), partly because the script flows so well, and it delves into each component of the hero's journey. Although the meat of this one was fantastic, the mood at the beginning felt a little weird. Then again, this is a very different kind of Batman film, and the stakes are higher than ever here.

The primary graphic novels Nolan used as source material for this one included Knightfall and The Dark Knight Returns, and there were many sequences taken straight from them. Beyond making this series so heavily based on the comics, Nolan has been able to capture the essence of the film noir aspect of the character's story in a much more effective manner than his predecessors.

Few other films of this genre can be compared with this one in terms of making such an emotional impact on viewers across the globe. After seven years of developing this trilogy, Christopher Nolan has redefined the Batman legacy in a way that can never be quite duplicated or surpassed. The Dark Knight Rises is a triumphant epic that will change your very perception of the character of Batman.