The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

November 28, 2012September 29, 2016 Dave Aaron Eckhart, Alon Aboutboul, Anne Hathaway, Ben Mendelsohn, Bob Kane, Burn Gorman, Chris Ellis, Christian Bale, Christopher Nolan, Cillian Murphy, Daniel Sunjata, David S. Goyer, Gary AOldman, Gus Lewis, John Nolan, Jonathan Nolan, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Josh Pence, Juno Temple, Liam Neeson, Marion Cotillard, Marvin Duerkholz, Matthew Modine, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Reggie Lee, Rob Brown, The Dark Knight Rises, The Dark Knight Rises Review, Tom Hardy, Tyler Dean Flores, Will Estes

Summary: Eight years on, a new terrorist leader, Bane, overwhelms Gotham s finest, and the Dark Knight resurfaces to protect a city that has branded him an enemy.

Year: 2012

Australian Cinema Release Date: 19th July, 2012

Australian DVD Release Date: 28th November, 2012

Country: United States/United Kingdom

Director: Christopher Nolan

Screenwriter: David S. Goyer, Bob Kane (characters), Christopher Nolan, Jonathan Nolan

Cast: Alon Aboutboul (Dr. Pavel), Christian Bale (Bruce Wayne/Batman), Rob Brown (Allen), Michael Caine (Alfred), Marion Cotillard (Miranda), Marvin Duerkholz (Logan), Aaron Eckhart (Harvey Dent), Chris Ellis (Fr. Reilly), Will Estes (Officer Simon Jansen), Tyler Dean Flores (Mark), Morgan Freeman (Fox), Gus Lewis (Bruce Wayne Age 8), Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Blake), Burn Gorman (Stryver), Tom Hardy (Bane), Anne Hathaway (Selina), Reggie Lee (Ross), Ben Mendelsohn (Daggett), Matthew Modine (Foley), Cillian Murphy (Dr. Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow), Liam Neeson (Ra’s Al Ghul), John Nolan (Fredericks), Gary Oldman (Commissioner Gordon), Josh Pence (Young Ra’s Al Ghul), Daniel Sunjata (Captain Jones), Juno Temple (Jen)

Runtime: 165 mins

Classification: M

Dave Griffiths’s ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ Review:

Let’s be honest when director Christopher Nolan (Inception, The Dark Knight) created The Dark Knight he set the bar pretty high for his Batman trilogy. How do you put together a finale when the second film of the trilogy is globally described as a cinematic masterpiece? With The Dark Knight Rises Nolan had his work cut out for him, but so talented is he that he yet again manages to create a film that is a serious contender film of the year.

The Dark Knight Rises is set eight years after the finale of The Dark Knight. While Gotham remembers Harvey Dent as a hero Batman (Christian Bale – The Flowers Of War, The Fighter) is remembered as a murderer and is still considered an outlaw. Commissioner Gordon (Gary Oldman – Lawless, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) knows the truth but doesn’t have the courage to speak out.

Meanwhile Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) has hidden himself away from the public, the only person he allows to see him is the trusty butler, Alfred (Michael Caine – Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, Car 2). Bruce is unaware that he still has supporters out there though, people like young police officer Blake (Joseph Gordon-Levitt – 50/50, Inception) who are just waiting for the day for their hero to rise.

Bruce’s interest in the world returns when he meets a cat burglar, Selina (Anne Hathaway – One Day, Rio) who seems to be a small part of a scheme put together by the extremely dangerous Bane (Tom Hardy – Lawless, This Means War).

Nolan brings an entirely different feeling to The Dark Knight Rises then what he allowed to come through in The Dark Knight or Batman Begins. While The Dark Knight focused on the psychological (like its ‘bad guy’ The Joker) The Dark Knight rises mirrors Bane with its focus on violence mixed with a sensationally creative storyline that has its audience guessing at every turn.

Like he did with Inception Nolan also allows the visuals of The Dark Knight Rises to visually stimulate his audience. The early shots from the plane look amazing, as does many of his cityscape shots. As a director/screenwriter he really is someone he has realised that even action movies need to have substance if they are to be taken seriously.

Christian Bale, as usual, puts in a dominant performance as Bruce/Batman, but even he is overshadowed by a brilliant performance by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Despite his performance in Inception he is still underrated, yet here he once again shows the world just how good he really is.

The actor you have to feel sorry for is Tom Hardy. He is seriously held back by his character, Bane. He looks physically intimidating but a lot of his characterization is ripped away by the fact that the mask he has to wear completely denies him the opportunity to use his voice or facial expressions to show emotions.

Of course many eyes are on Anne Hathaway as Selina/Catwoman. She does an okay job but you can only wonder whether someone like Angelina Jolie would have done a better job. Michael Caine also does some wonderfully emotional acting but poor old Morgan Freeman (The Magic Of Belle Isle) and Marion Cotillard (Rust & Bone, Contagion) seems underused in their roles.

The Dark Knight Rises is a film that must be seen on the big screen, once again Christopher Nolan has delivered a film that can instantly be filed under film classics.

Other Subculture Media Reviews of ‘The Dark Knight Rises’: http://www.helium.com/items/2350626-movie-reviews-the-dark-knight-rises-2012.

Rating: 5/5 Stars

IMDB Rating: