The 3:00 Post-Premiere Review

Rating: 9/10 (20 July 2012)

**I want to write this with my mind still fresh form the movie. It is quite late. Please forgive any grammar mistakes that I miss.**
Never have I seen so invested in a movie...never have I been so deeply rooted to a plot...The Dark Knight Rises has, quite simply, restored all my faith in modern filmaking. I have always been more invested in older movies...movies in recent years have usually disappointed me. From Michael Bay's castration of my beloved cartoon show of my youth to mundane use of unoriginality in the recreation of old fairy tales. The Dark Knight Rises did not feel like a movie- it felt like an epic.
Go see this movie.
I have always been a critic...I have always been drawn to pointing out and analyzing flaws and such in movies. But this movies was breathtaking. I will admit, while it did have a few flaws (very few though), the overall scope of Knolan's vision was simply stunning. I have never been more proud of my favorite superhero. I have never been more happy, more anxious, more mad, more upset with a movie. It is a roller coaster of thrills.
Now, to the more technical part of the review. I must warn you, YOU NEED TO WATCH THE FIRST TWO BEFORE SEEING THIS. Just as the Avengers required background knowledge from its predecessors Iron Man, Thor, etc. so do this movie require knowledge of the first two movies. The Dark Knight was able to stand alone, not too much was needed to handle a clear understanding from Batman Begins, but this movie draws from both. I took my mother to see this with me, and she has not seen either of the first two movies. There were many parts she was unclear with, certain past events, etc., particularly with characters. Speaking of which, this movie really packs in the characters. It almost verges on the confusion a huge cast usually presents in the tragedy movie genre, such as the likes as The Day After Tomorrow, but TDKR handles the large cast quite well, and each character is given plenty of time for characterization. Now, not all those times might not be equal, but each I believe is proportionate. This large cast can be dealt with much more easily if you have seen the first two movies.
But there are some points I do have some trouble with. The first being Bruce Wayne's seemingly quick jump back into the role of Batman. He seemed to be rather out of shape in the beginning of the movie. Did he train during the last eight years at all? I would have liked to seen this a little more dealt with. The sex between Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul also seemed out of place in the movie. I know in the comics they had a thing, but it didn't seem very well set up in the movie. The sudden attraction felt sporadic. The only other thing I really had much of a problem with was John Blake revealing his name to be Robin at the end. I would have liked him to say 'Dick' was his name. It would have been more subtle...and I think more affective. But I got to hand it to Knolan for sneaking Robin in.
As you can see, though, I had no real major complaints with the movie. The cons mentioned were just minute opinions, and did not affect the story. Every actor outdid themselves. I do though have to say that Tom Hardy's Bane really stole the show whenever he was on screen. He was amazingly terrifying, yet somewhat desirable. I loved this villain. I was afraid that his mask would cause there to be two gravely and confusing voices on the screen (sorry Christian, I am still not a fan of the voice. If only we could get Kevin Conroy to dub you as Batman...haha I am only joking), but his voice was not gravely. It was quite superb. He could be very commanding while scary. While the Joker in TDK (and no I am not saying the Joker is worse or anything...just comparing) was a more insane, chaotic villain, Bane has a certain eerie air of dignity about him, with a higher plan in mind.
Now, for the big question- IS IT BETTER THAN OR AS GOOD AS THE DARK KNIGHT? Please trust me- the wait and anticipation has been worth it. In my most humblest opinion, I believe this to be a better movie. Now, that is my own personal taste. The Dark Knight I think has some better scenes that TDKR, but the same is true vice versa. Heck, I like some of Batman Begins' scenes better that either of those two. When it comes down to it, TDKR feels like the better movie. But, I cannot guarantee you that you will like it better. But I can tell you that you will like it about equally.
p.s. a personal con- The Scarecrow, one of my favorite actor crushes Cillian Murphy, is again only given about a five minute cameo. Darn it!