A satisfying end...

Rating: 9/10 (20 July 2012)

I just saw TDKR a few hours ago, and I'm still not sure how much I like the movie. All I know is that, Nolan has not let us down. Although anyone expecting this movie to be better than The Dark Knight may walk out of the theater disappointed. Without spoiling too much, the plot is more or less what you may expect from the trailers.
After eight years of peace, Batman unsuccessfully comes out of retirement to stop Bane who is hell bent of destroying Gotham and manages to get himself trapped in an impossible-to-escape prison while Bane and his cronies take over the city. We are greeted with a host of familiar and new faces. Despite the number of characters, Nolan actually manages to give each individual a fair amount of depth and gravitas. And astonishingly, no one disappoints.
Anne Hathaway adds a large degree of respectability to the character of Selina Kyle /Catwoman without ever being over the top and shares a sizzling chemistry with Bale every time they are together on screen. Joseph Gordon-Levitt as John Blake is a nuanced performance where he balances strength and vulnerability without ever being unbelievable. Marion Cotillard as Miranda Tate is understated and plays an important role as the only woman after Rachel Dawes that Bruce Wayne cares about. The rest of the supporting cast also brings their A-game. A special mention for Gary Oldman as Gordon, who remains one of my favorite characters in the trilogy. His performance as a helpless bystander to the failing system of Gotham evokes a sense of genuine empathy. Finally coming to Tom Hardy as Bane, its impossible to not compare his character to Heath Ledger's Joker which is what will distract most people from understanding the true nature of the character which is very different from that of the Joker. Hardy does a commendable job with a menacing, physical presence but Ledger set the bar so high that it was never going to be possible to match up to it.
But in the end, it is the story and the direction that come out supreme. Nolan has pulled out all the stops to make this an entertaining yet meaningful movie which ties up the loose ends and he succeeds for the most part. Despite a few inconsistencies he manages to draw you in with a mixture of action, special effects, philosophy and even a little bit of humour, something which was sorely missed in the Dark Knight. Themes of social inequality, cause and effect, the blurriness of the lines between good and evil have all been played out beautifully although a little subtlety would have been much more effective.
At 2 hours 45 mins, this is the longest Batman movie to date and believe me, it doesn't feel that long. Despite a slow start, the movie builds towards a heart stopping climax and brilliant use of Macguffins throughout the movie make this one the best movies made in a long time but is edged out by its predecessor, by a hair's breadth. Chris Nolan, take a bow, for TDKR is a fitting end to one of the best trilogies ever made.