The Dark Knight Rises, and rises, and rises...

Rating: 10/10 (23 July 2012)

One of the greatest films of all time put a fantastic closing onto one of the greatest trilogies of all time. From start to finish, it was intoxicating. Timed in at 2 hours and 45 minutes, I felt like that time flew by. Dark Knight Rises was a much deeper film that the previous two in terms of emotions and back-story. I kept thinking to myself how could they possibly top Heath Ledger's legendary Joker and the Dark Knight. I didn't think it was possible until about 3:45 Friday morning. I walked out of the theater blown away and in awe at what Christopher Nolan and the cast just accomplished. Now a lot of people are bashing it because Bane wasn't like he was in the comic or it was too long or too predictable. To those people I say, what drugs are you on? It isn't based on the comics at all Tom Hardy made Bane his own, and is one of the best-played villains since the Joker.
Those who keep comparing Hardy's Bane, to Heath Ledgers' Joker, I say you can't even compare the two roles or two villains. While I thought Hardy's Bane was fantastic and the perfect villain to closes out the trilogy, Heath Ledger's Joker was the single greatest villain performance ever, hands down, no questions asked. Heath Ledger is the Joker. He put his whole life into that role becoming the sadistic, psychopath we all know at the Joker. And sadly that role ended up being his life and eventually led to his death. That in itself puts his role on an untouchable pedestal. People keep lingering on this, and take it out on Hardy and the Dark Knight Rises. The Dark Knight was an incredible piece of work put over the top by Ledger's Joker and his death from that role.
That being said, The Dark Knight Rises is an incredible masterpiece. This movie is one of the greatest of all time because on the phenomenal acting on all cylinders. Anne Hathaway, Christian Bale, Morgan Freeman, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Gary Oldman, Marion Cotillard, Michael Caine and Tom Hardy, have to be one of the best casts ever. Hathaway as Selina Kyle/Catwomen blew me away. When I first heard she was casted for the role I was a little unsure. Now, she hands down is the best Catwomen ever. She provided an unbelievable amount of sexiness for the role without having to be half-naked. But my favorite part was the emotion you could see in her eyes when she as Catwomen led Batman to Bane. Christian Bale (Bruce Wayne/Batman) and Morgan Freeman (Fox) are their normal fantastic selves, even though they didn't have near the same amount of screen time as The Dark Knight. Tom Hardy and Marion Cotillard were great for what they were asked to do. Anyone asked to follow up Ledger's performance in the Dark Knight had a near impossible task and those two were great. Gary Oldman was his good old self again. While young blood Joseph Gordon-Levitt was the perfect man for the job as the young, ambitious rookie detective. The man who I thought took it over and beyond for the final installment was Michael Caine as Alfred. In the previous two films, he was always there for Bruce Wayne/Batman, but in this film he had to be overwhelmed with emotion and sadness. His emotion at the end seemed true and real, as if he really lost family and failed a friend.
This movie should runaway with awards and accolades when it's nominated. It was a truly fantastic film that blew every expectation I had. Even though I loved The Dark Knight and more specifically Ledger's Joker, The Dark Knight Rises as a whole is a true masterpiece. Without Ledger's Joker the Dark Knight is an average film at best. No one else could do what he did for that character. The Dark Knight Rises seems to fly on all cylinders those not relying on one person to carry the film. Even though they left it kind of up in the air at the end, it needs to be left alone. The only way I'd accept another installment or even a spin-off is if Christian Bale is Batman and the Nolan brothers are running the show. Otherwise let it be, and don't tarnish a truly great end to and incredible series.