Movie Review: The Dark Knight Rises

This review will be spoiler-free so read away!

The Dark Knight Rises is out this week and I thought I’d share my thoughts on the film. Let’s start out with the basics. The film takes place 8 years after the end of the last film. Batman has been in hiding ever since taking the fall for Harvey Dent's crimes but with the appearance of Bane, and with Gotham under threat once more, it's time for the Dark Knight to return again. But is Batman prepared for an enemy more powerful than any he has yet faced.

Before getting into specifics I'll start out by saying the film was really, really good. All the characters were handled well and given time to breath. The fight choreography and big set-pieces were well crafted, and light on the CGI as most of Christopher Nolan's stuff is. 

The whole scale of the film was incredibly large, with Bane's attack on Gotham city being so well carried out, it strikes before anyone can really do anything to prevent it, especially a Batman who has been in hiding for 8 years. 

The film also deals with the theme fear once again, through Bruce Wayne's indecisiveness, and this inaction being responsible for some of the events that occur in the film. Although the fear aspect isn't as heavily pushed as it was in Batman Begins, it still plays a large role in proceedings.

Tom Hardy as Bane was a complete monster, so brutal, and despite most of his face being covered, his expressiveness through his eyes alone is very impressive. The mid-film fight between Batman and Bane is incredibly well put together, and completely sold by Tom Hardy’s immense physical stature.

Anne Hathaway was great as Selina Kyle. She played it brilliantly as a manipulator, usually only looking out for herself, and playing others against each other. Catwoman (though I don’t think she’s ever directly called this) was incredibly well handled in the film I thought.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt was great, and his character's story was such a welcome inclusion in the film. He seemed like a bit of an amalgam of certain characters from the Batman mythos, but a great inclusion after all.

And of course, Michael Caine as Alfred is once again fantastic, stealing almost every scene he appears in, and delivering some of the emotional backbone to the film.

I haven't decided yet where the film lies in relation to The Dark Knight. The Dark Knight has loomed as one of my favourite films, which hasn't diminished upon repeat viewings, and only time will tell if this film will stand up to the same viewings. I am definitely looking forward to seeing it again, though, and I'd recommend everyone reading go see the film.

All I can really say is, Christopher Nolan has struck magic once again.