The Dark Knight Rises : Such a Goddamn Awesome Epic Conclusion for Batman Trilogy

A story review from a Batman fan and movie freak (Spoiler Alert)

I had been waiting for this movie for about two years and it’s worth it. I got the ticket and was one of the lucky ones to see The Dark Knight Rises on the day it officially releases worldwide! I cannot resist myself to be patient and wait any longer for the movie. And it’s proved when I left the cinema, my smile broadened in my lips and it was totally wider than after I came out after seeing The Avengers. A half dozen of Marvel superheroes was beaten by a single DC Comics superhero! I think Marvel should ask Christopher Nolan for a cup of coffee and talk about how he can make a superb superhero movie and bring it to higher, more realistic level. Marvel should learn something from Nolan, I guess.

Sadly, this is the final Batman film where Nolan sits as a director and Christian Bale portrays Batman/Bruce Wayne. But in my personal opinion, they are the best team ever (with the rest of the casts and crews of Batman Trilogy) that succeeded in making a whole new realistic superhero movies without leaving the heroic parts. Bale is the best actor to play Batman and we do agree that Nolan is going to be one of Hollywood best directors. He should get an Oscar for that, surely.

The Dark Knight Rises is released worldwide on July 20 (today) and I thought I wouldn’t have got the premiere ticket. I was pretty desperate that moment until I went to Cihampelas Walk and decided to go upstairs and asked if there was a ticket for me. And Thank God, there was! How excited I was. And I was one of the lucky ones (again) who got the most early play! I know, I know, I was lucky and I am so grateful.

Surprisingly, this movie took the events of 8 years after The Dark Knight when Bruce Wayne is too old to fight on the streets in bare hands. Gotham city is in a state of peace and it seems no one needs Batman anymore. So Batman has vanished for 8 years and Bruce Wayne locks himself alone in Wayne Manor. Well, but that is before Bane starts terrors in the city.

This movie begins when Commisionner Gordon makes a speech for the commemoration of Harvey Dent who was killed 8 years ago. Gordon plans to reveal the conspiracy of Dent’s death and his whole act but he decides that the city is not ready for that. Gotham still blames Batman for Dent’s death and he takes the blame with a thought: you either die a hero or live longer and see yourself become a villain (The Dark Knight). Dent deserved to die as a hero. 

I guess there is no other movies telling about retired superheroes who rises as brilliant as Nolan just did in The Dark Knight Rises. He is truly genious! He brought superhero movies to higher level just like what he did in Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and he did that again continuously in this movie. I guess this movie deserves to get at least 3 Academy Awards nominations and obtain at least two of them. This movie covers up what The Avengers cannot achieve in their movie. Yes, indeed, The Dark Knight Rises is too dark and emotional but it’s still realistic. The movie is also too long (2hr 45 minutes) but I think it’s worth the story. Every scene was surely edited and maybe it’s wise to tell a conclusion in almost 3 hours. The Dark Knight Rises is an epic conclusion for Batman Trilogy by Nolan. It is a goddamn remarkable ‘death’ of Batman. I guess whoever sees this movie, they will always remember that heroes should have been like Nolan’s Batman.

There are lots of twists and I was brought to guess who runs the chaos in Gotham as I’m not sure that Bane himself does that. It reveals in the ending when Miranda Tate, Wayne Enterprises’ executive, is Talia al Ghul, Ra’s al Ghul’s daughter though before the movie releases, Cotillard stated that she didn’t portray Talia al Ghul. I was also surprised of the scene when Alfred leaves Wayne. He has to survive alone in this terror: how can he? The terrorist, super villain Bane is triple horrifying and threathening than The Joker. He’s too strong for Batman alone. But gratefully he’s got a ‘friend’, Catwoman. Yeah, it’s time that Batman got a sidekick, right?

What makes The Dark Knight Rises so remarkable is the whole story idea, especially the ending. I never thought that Batman would sacrifice his life for the people of Gotham. I never thought that Batman will die heroically, carrying away the time bomb out of Gotham. I admit I had tears in eyes when Batman dies but Batman is a master of escapologist and I just realized it in the end of the movie when Alfred is enjoying himself in an open space somewhere and sees Bruce Wayne with a wife (Selina Kyle) and kids and he nods to him. I was assured that Batman broke out of The Bat. Such an awesome conclusion for Batman Trilogy and unforgetable ‘death’ for Batman himself.

The casts are amazing, too! Christian Bale succeeds in portraying Batman/Bruce Wayne for the third time. If Bob Kane was still alive now, I’m sure he would praise him and call him the best actor ever to play Batman. Tom Hardy portrays Bane and he’s got the spotlight. He’s so cool and brings the character as the terrorist destroying Gotham as League of Shadows commanded years ago. Bane looks more terrifying than the other Bane in Batman & Robin that looks too silly and stupid. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is great, too. His character, John Blake, is so brave. I guess he will be Batman replacing Bruce Wayne or at least be his sidekick as Robin because in the ending, it’s revealed that his name is Robin John Blake. Robin, the boy wonder? I don’t have any idea what Nolan thought about this character as Blake achieves to find The Bat cave. Unfortunately Nolan will not be coming back as director for next Batman movies. Or perhaps he will change his mind later. Anne Hathaway is a brilliant choice to portray Selina Kyle/Catwoman. She plays damn well and I just figure out that she can actually play in a serious movie. For the rest of the casts, I think, have succeeded to make this movie tremendous.

I give The Dark Knight Rises 9/10 not because I am a bat and Nolan fan but because this movie does deserve it. Yet its dark element and serious storyline, I think, The Dark Knight Rises should beat The Avengers in Box Office this year. You decide, my friend, calculate and decide for yourself whether The Dark Knight Rises deserves to be the best superhero movie this year or even ever! The Avengers is nothing if it stands beside The Dark Knight Rises. The Avengers seems to be a bedtime story after The Dark Knight Rises releases! I’m not talking bullshits, if the rating of The Dark Knight Rises in IMdB and Rotten Tomatoes lower than The Avengers, film critics should learn something from Nolan because he’s badass. Don’t just criticize, dare yourself to make a good movie.

I hope I can meet Nolan personally and discuss how to write a good screenplay. He wrote The Dark Knight Rises screenplay alongside his brother, Jonathan and he’s a master to twist a story.

Story 9.5/10

Cast 9/10

Ending 9/10

Overall 9/10

About The Dark Knight Rises:

Cast: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Anne Hathaway, Tom Hardy, Marion Cotillard, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Morgan Freeman.

Director: Christopher Nolan

Screenplay: Christopher Nolan and Jonathan Nolan

Story: David S. Goyer and Christopher Nolan (based on characters by Bob Kane)

Distributors: Warner Bros. Pictures

Budgets: $250 million