Director: Christopher Nolan
Writers: Jonathan Nolan, Christopher Nolan, & David S. Goyer
Actors: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Tom Hardy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Anne Hathaway, Marion Cotillard, and more of Christopher Nolan's favorite people
[The cast is a mashup of Batman Begins (2005), The Dark Knight (2008), and Inception (2010)]
Rated PG-13 {for teens and up}
It would be a gross understatement to say that there has been some excitement surrounding the theater release of The Dark Knight Rises, the eighth full-length, live-action Batman film and the ending to the most recent trilogy. Will this blend of Bob Kane's classic characters, Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns (comic series-1986) and Christopher Nolan's modernization of Batman be everything its fans want it to be and more? By opening weekend box office standards it was a success, netting $160,887,295 and dethroning none other than Dark Knight (2008) from the third place record, but does that make it a hit? Let's find out!
WHAT I LIKED
Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman.
I could tell within the first couple of minutes of seeing Joseph Gordon-Levitt in this movie that I was going to like him. Phenomenal pick!
*Major SPOILER* (highlight below to view)
I have always liked Catwoman better as an dark ally to Batman rather than the deranged seductress she is more commonly portrayed as, like Michelle Pfeiffer in Batman Returns (1992) and Halle Berry in Catwoman (2004).
The plot twists in this movie were excellent.
The ending credits acknowledged Francis Scott Key as the writer of our national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner".
WHAT I DID NOT LIKE
Bane had one of the worse voice-overs I have ever heard in a film, which is saying a lot when you have seen Kung Pow: Enter the Fist (2002). There was a reported fix because it was mostly inaudible, but this apparently led them to the other extreme. No matter where Bane was, even in an airplane with a bag over his head and a door open, it sounded as if he was leaning over you talking. The only time he voice got dynamic was when he spoke over the football PA system, which made him difficult to understand at times. You would think that a movie with a two hundred and fifty million dollar budget could figure out where the happy medium is.
The whole Batman sounds like he has throat cancer thing got old in Batman Begins (2005), yet somehow it made its way into both The Dark Knight (2008) and now The Dark Knight Rises. Is the need for consistency greater than the need for improvement?
No matter how many times attempted witty humor has failed the Batman movies, DC continues to allow it their movies.
They introduced several new and supposedly important characters into the movie with little background information on them, like Foley. Why?
Either Batman's jet/helicopter is immune to close-range cannon fire and slows missiles or NOTHING, because apparently his jet/helicopter is immune to close-range cannon fire and slows missiles. I am all about suspending some disbelief, but the Bat dodging a cannon that is only feet away from it without moving is less believable than Peter Parker using Bing© in The Amazing Spider-Man (2012).
The Dark Knight Rises made too many mistakes, which ranged from harmless misspellings to large gaps in continuity. These are not only frustrating for attentive viewers but they damage the experience with several viewings. The smaller problems that bothered me the most included: sudden changes in daylight, repeated countdown times on a bomb, poor prop changes, bending science and law for plot, and several set issues. The most annoying problem though, in my opinion... *Major SPOILER* (highlight below to view)
was when Ms. Tate is taken by Bane after Commissioner Gordon's hearing, but then is with Lucius when Bruce breaks in to find him. Bruce is then told after the fact that Ms. Tate was taken to Bane's hideout.
I understand that movies are not perfect, remember the cars driving in the background of the cornfield in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), but this was my first viewing. You know that even more will be discovered as time passes.The ending betrayed the theme of the series. (see Cinema Blend.com's article)
This movie is incredibly long, to the point of bordering on ordeal status.
I am not going to go as far as Batman & Robin (1997) director Joel Schumacher and claim that Christopher Nolan ruined Batman, but this movie is far from perfection. I give The Dark Knight Rises a B for being better than average.
WHEN SHOULD YOU SEE IT?
For some strange reason, both Batman Begins (2005) and The Dark Knight (2008) lose a lot of their luster when they are viewed without a big screen and surround sound. So if you want to see this movie badly, I would recommend seeing it in theaters, as The Dark Knight Rises will most likely follow suit. If you are trying to save money, then see that thing matinee style.
Batman (1966)
SCORE
Personal Rating: 8 of 10 (B)
Plot: 7 of 10 (A decent story with great plot twists but several big mistakes)
How does this TS review compare to major reviews?
IMDB 9.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes C-87%/A-93%
CONTENT
Violence: 7 of 10 (consistent violence with minimal blood or gore: neck breaks, stabbings, fist fights, bodily disfigurement, shootings, bombings, hostages are tortured and executed)
Language/Profanity: 5 of 10 (infrequent use of the following: variants of "damn", "hell", "bastard", variants of "bitch")
Sexuality/Sensuality: 5 of 10 (a hint at prostitution, Bruce kisses two women, sex is implied, characters are seen wrapped in blankets snuggling/caressing/kissing, implied gang rape)
Spiritual Aspects: 2 of 10 (the name of Jesus is inappropriately used more than once)
Drugs/Alcohol: 4 of 10 (alcohol is consumed at parties and bars throughout the movie, a character appears to be drunk, some smoking)
