THE DARK KNIGHT RISES

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES

Reviewed by Paul Gibbs

GRADE: A +

Starring Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Anne Hathaway, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tom Hardy, Marion Cottilard and Morgan Freeman

Screenplay by Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan

Directed by Christopher Nolan

SPOILER:

No, Heath Ledger doesn't miraculously return frorm the dead.

That's the only spoiler. In fact, I feel so strongly that The Dark Knight Rises should be approached with as blank a slate as possible, that I'll even keep my story synopsis to a minimum. Many who know me know how huge a fan of Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy I am. I saw Batman Begins 10 times in its original theatrical run, and had actually adopted the online persona of “The Dark Knight” within portions of Utah's live theater community before that had even been chosen as the title of Nolan's follow up. And repeated viewings of The Dark Knight were the only thing that got me through grueling sessions of kidney dialysis in the summer of 2009. To say the least my expectations and hopes were high for the finale to what had the potential to be one of cinemas greatest trilogies . Of course, we could also have ended up with Spider-Man 3. I was pretty sure that wasn't going to happen. Nolan has been a remarkably consistent filmmaker (the only one of his major films that I didn't love was The Prestige, and I still liked that one aside from being asked to swallow one too many improbable plot twists. And I still think Insomnia may be the most under appreciated great film of the 2000s). But to say that I was not disappointed is, to say the least, an understatement. On the comment card I had to turn in to the studio reps at the press screening, I called The Dark Knight Rises one of the ten best films ever made. Two days later I realize that's an absurdly presumptuous and hyperbolic statement to make about a brand new film I've just seen for the first time. But such was the soaring emotion and excitement of Nolan's film that I was utterly swept up.

The Dark Knight rises picks up 8 years after The Dark Knight ended, with Batman left in the past, and Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) now having transitioned from millionaire playboy to reclusive Howard Hughes type eccentric. The emergence of Cat burglar Selina Kyle (Anne Hathaway) catches his interest, but he doesn't become alarmed until the arrival of the mysterious Bane (Tom Hardy), a gigantic brute who breathes through a mask which causes whiny fanboys to freak out because they can't understand what he's saying in early trailers. Meanwhile, police officer John Blake (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is poking around, seemingly obsessed with memories of the Batman.

From here, Nolan spins a tale that takes as far a step up in intensity from The Dark Knight as The Dark Knight did from Batman Begins. Which is not to say it's a better film. There will be legitimate debate for years to come as to which of the three films is best (I could make cases for all three, but I suspect that Heath Ledger's Joker will be enough to keep the second film reigning supreme in popular and critical consciousness), just that it's even more harrowing. Nolan has packed quite a bit more action and effects in this time around, but not at the expense of the story, characters and themes that have made his version of Batman so special. This is still a story about the inner pain and personal journey of Bruce Wayne, coming to terms with the demons of his troubled life. I can't even see where the detractors of Bale's performance in the earlier films are coming from, and his work here may be his best in the trilogy (and I though he should have been a serious Oscar contender for Batman Begins). The supporting cast this time around may not include one standout on Ledger's level, but Gary Oldman, Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman are as touching and nuanced as ever, and Anne Hathaway steals nearly every scene she's in with her portrayal of Catwoman. Tom Hardy is terrifying as Bane (whose name has nothing to do with Mitt Romney, so everybody just leave that one alone), and Marion Cotillard and Matthew Modine add nicely to the proceedings. Joseph Gordon-Levitt continues to emerge as a major Hollywood presence, and I found him to be one of the most engaging characters in the film.

While part of me is very sad to see this series end, a bigger part is supremely happy that Nolan has done what so many other filmmakers have failed to do: create a masterful trilogy that is excellent from beginning to end. The Dark Knight trilogy will belong alongside The Lord of the Rings and the original Star Wars saga in discussions of the greatest trilogies of all time. One of the great achievements is that all three films, while part of a cohesive thematic whole, are so distinct. Batman Begins was a grand epic adventure in the mold of Raider of the Lost Ark or Gladiator. The Dark Knight was an operatic crime drama in the best Godfather tradition. To define the genre and feel of The Dark Knight Rises would be to give away too much, but it's quite a bit different from what I expected.

The Dark Knight Rises is a soaring, triumphant achievement that trills, terrifies, amuses, and moves its audience. It's a waste of time judging its place among comic book-inspired films. It's place in the pantheon of cinema goes far beyond that. Whoever Warner Bros. Chooses to be the next silent guardian and watchful protector of the Batman franchise has an impossibly large cowl to fill.

NOTE: As if you still need to be told as this point, The Dark Knight Rises is not for young children. This could easily induce long streaks of nightmares. My niece and nephew will still be getting Adam West, Batman Forever or one of the animated incarnations when they want their Batman fix.