In 2005, the next stage of the “superhero movie golden age” is born with Batman Begins. Not only did it usher the age of reboots giving new life to dying movie franchises, not only did it become the model of every superhero movie origin story that comes after, but it also gave attention that superhero movies can be great films. And then there came the movie that changed things… forever. The Dark Knight: "Mona Lisa" that raised the bar again, not only for Superhero movies, but also for every blockbuster film that follows. After 2 films under his belt that influenced the current movie industry, you might think Christopher Nolan already gave us everything. Not everything… not yet.
SYNOPSIS:
After lying about Harvey Dent to ensure the future of Gotham city, Bruce Wayne retires as Batman, secluded from the world for 8 years. But when the masked Terrorist known as Bane sets his eye on Gotham City, Batman is needed once more.
STORY:
Let me start by saying this: It’s not The Dark Knight.
It’s certainly less quotable.
But not every new movie needs to be the greatest movie in the history. It’s one hell of a high note though! The most important thing why this film works is because of the interesting "
Rocky movie" like journey
Bruce Wayne takes. But without it, it's still
Escape From New York. So it still won’t collapse like a stack of cards that doesn't include the Joker. Bruce Wayne’s journey here parallels that of
Begins: He disappeared 7 years before he became Batman and 8 years after he quit being Batman; He’s still just as lost as he was and for him, the only reason he ever won the war on crime was because of a lie and it’s eating him up inside. He’s still stuck in a well, only this time the well is even bigger. Batman was his purpose and now that Batman isn’t needed and even feels like he never was, all the optimism he has went out the window. And a symbol of hope who sees no hope cannot be a symbol of hope. He has fallen backwards and he must learn to pick himself up. Wayne’s fractured body is an embodiment of the mental toll he had endured throughout the years, and Bane pushed it further to the breaking point. The fight between Batman and Bane will be talked about through the ages.
At first, Bruce Wayne seemed somewhat unlikeable. As a recluse, not living his life, he ignored all the people that cared about him and avoided every responsibility to the point of total ignorance. When he restarted his Batman career it felt more about making himself better than stopping an external treat. Then
Bane starts his plans to action; suddenly everything he does until the end is out selflessness. The only reason he even tried to pick himself up and rise is not because of his own faith but for the faith of the city he has sworn to protect. He eventually gave back more responsibility than he ever had to give back.In the end, after everything he’d been through, you’d think he deserved more than just a little rest. He doesn't owe these people anymore. He has already given them everything. Christian Bale delivers his best performance with the most complex Bruce Wayne we've seen on film. As a costumed Batman on the other hand, my opinion is a little different.
“Say 'what' again. Say 'what' again, I dare you, I double dare you moth…”
Bane is awesome. He has a disadvantage of being compared to the Joker, granted he is not as original: He talks like a Bond villain; plots like a Bond Villain; and he even has an ironic facial disfigurement.
“No, Mr. Bond… I expect you to die.”
But I’ll give him credit where credit is due; he is an awesome Bond villain. The brawler like physique contrasts his calm intellectual demeanor and voice that is really frightening when you think how much torture he can do both physically and mentally. While we can’t see his mouth, Tom Hardy makes this an advantage by bringing out his performance through his eyes. Although the motivation for his big villain plot is a little hard to follow, and I hate how his character is concluded. He never did learn to mind his surroundings.
The hero and the villain perfectly complement each other. It is implied that Bane’s physical and mental superiority to Wayne is because of the difference of privileges given to them throughout their lives; nothing was handed out to Bane growing up, he always had to struggle with what little he had and through his will and determination had found a way to cross that obstacle and make him stronger. Bruce Wayne on the other hand was set in a life of many privileges, everything was handed to him; sure he tried to get away from that life in Begins, but this film argues that that wasn’t enough. The choice he made back then was still a privilege only a rich man could make. He merely adopted the dark. Bane was born in it...molded by it. He didn't see the light 'til he was already a man. By then it was nothing to him but blinding. To beat the enemy, Bruce must be forced to have the same chance of life his enemy had without choice and must overcome the same obstacles. The lesson is for you to be more than who you believe to be is to have something or someone to live for, someoene to protect.
The father figures in Batman Begins represent the past Bruce Wayne has lost. Here, it’s all about a new life and starting over. So this time, Bruce is confronted with “wife- figures”. One of which is Selina Kyle: played perfectly by Anne Hathaway, able to transition from sexy to vulnerable in an instant. Wayne seems to see good in her despite everything, because when they interact there’s a glimmer of vulnerability in her, like even she sees the wrong in her decisions but sees little opportunities to do anything else. But when given better opportunities, she proves she is something more than what she believes herself to be.
The other “Bond girl” is Miranda Tate, played by Marion Cotillard with a warm nurturing atmosphere around her, and after all of Bruce’s problems you do want him to have a future with this type of woman who shares his sense of idealism. It’s just that she isn’t that developed than just a plot device, and her background is unrealistically explained in extreme detail. Christopher Nolan’s cheap parlor tricks.
“My father was a drinker… and a fiend…”
The rest of the supporting cast are hit and miss: All the actors were at their A-game but they were just too many of them with too much going on for all of them to have their dues. Gary Oldman and Morgan freeman are still great as Jim Gordon and Lucius Fox, respectively. But Gordon’s arc is abruptly pushed aside unsatisfying and Fox doesn’t have one, so they just go through the motions the rest of the way. Michael Cain as Alfred has few screen time, but those few will move you to tears. He never wanted Bruce to come back to Gotham. He always knew that there was nothing for him there except pain and tragedy.
John Blake. While Joseph Gordon Levitt did a fine job, I don’t really care for this character. He’s not bad, he’s even likeable. It’s just that the movie wouldn’t have made a difference without him.
Actual shot from the movie.
With so many characters, there is little room for the little people, the citizens of Gotham. If you’re making a city wide social commentary you have to include citizen reactions like the last movie. A lot of the impact of the decisions made by the main characters depends a lot from the opinion of the people. What’s their opinion on Dent, Batman, or Gordon? Most of the time John Blake or some other secondary character proxy for them and it’s just not the same. In the second act, Batman wasn’t even being addressed by anyone at Gotham, and his return would have been a really triumphant moment if we saw any of the citizens’ reaction of hope through it.
On the other hand there’s the action, and wow is it amazing. Every set piece will leave you at the edge of your seat. I don’t even know which one is my favorite: Is it the plane sequence; the one-on-one fight between Batman and Bane; the football explosion; the whole third act? Every one of these can be a candidate for best action scene of the decade. Each one superbly staged. No one can say Christopher Nolan isn’t an action director.
As I said, this movie has flaws. We have a lot plot holes and conveniences to accommodate a complex plot. We have so many character backgrounds and plot devices to cover that expositions are everywhere and it sometimes take you out of the movie.
If you’re that guy who likes to point out that the Nolan Batman Universe isn’t realistic then you are going to have a field day with this movie: We have three costumed characters this time around, all of them able to take out a dozen men at once even if they have guns; dozens of devices straight out of science fiction; and words like Ra’s Al Ghul and League Of Shadows being thrown around with ominous delivery. Selina could have been called Catwoman and it wouldn’t have mattered much. It’s not a problem per se since all this comic stuff is still awesome, but it does betray the tone of the film.
Being the last movie in the series it has lots of twist and turns. Appropriate, considering a running theme of lies and truth. So expect to be surprised like the time you learned that Ra’s Al Ghul was actually Liam Neeson.
“Ra’s Al Ghul once caught a bullet with his bare hands.”
FINAL VERDICT: 8.5 OUT OF 10
It’s not the masterpiece that Batman Begins and The Dark Knight was. It has plot holes but so did Terminator 2 and that's still a great movie. If this is your favorite in the series I have no complaints. It’s epic, it’s emotionally satisfying, and it’s a milestone of an action movie at every action scene. Two and a half hours couldn’t have felt shorter with its brisk pacing. I couldn’t ask for a more perfect ending. The Dark Knight Trilogy is now up there with Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. You either die a hero or you live long enough to become the villain. I guess the bat died a little early. Yet will live on with legacy intact… metaphorically speaking.
“We weren’t destined to do this forever after all.”
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