Rise and fall

Rating: 5/10 (3 February 2013)

Hate to go against the consensus but I wasn't blown away by the conclusion to Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy. I admit I have something of an issue of identification with certain of the characters as I stopped reading the source comics before Bane came along. That said, in the trademark blockbuster, "meet the villain" opening scene, he makes a huge impression, spectacularly plane-jacking a scientist for his own ends.
I just felt the plot was too fit-to-burst busy, cramming in major parts for Catwoman, Commissioner Gordon, who inexplicably comes on like a pensioner version of John McClain, Alfred (continuing the serious miscasting of Michael Caine, who really hams it up here), John Blake, the fearless young cop who we presume becomes Robin in this alternative universe and finally Miranda Tate who also morphs into a major enemy for Batman. No wonder the film runs an overlong two and a half hours.
Speaking of whom, the titular hero himself doesn't appear himself until some 45 minutes in and probably gets less time in costume than all the other characters mentioned above. The convolutions of the plot, especially as it strains to complete the narrative circle of the trilogy, were a bit too much for me and while there were spectacular scenes like Bane's demolition of Gotham, the police pursuit of Batman on his new bendy-bike and his last gasp hauling away of the atom bomb, none of them really felt integral to the plot and just seemed how they looked, that is, bravura directorial set pieces.
As for the conclusion or should that be conclusions as the film has several of them, the final fight between Batman and Bane just doesn't grip as it should (c.f. Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort to see how it should be done), with the big guy going down way too easily, Talia also expires with a whimper and the final bomb rescue belonged more in a Superman film.
Regarding the new characters, Anne Hathaway made for a surprisingly sexy Catwoman although where she picked up her self-defence skills I don't know, Bane as I said flattered to deceive and Talia was here and gone in seconds. On the whole though, I struggled to get through this long movie and didn't really recognise "my" Batman in it. I look forward to the next reincarnation of one of my favourite comic book heroes but fear he's been backed into a corner by director Nolan's over-earnest approach. I hope he comes out the other end a little less tortured and battered and with a bit more lightness and action about him.