A Short Review Based on Two Viewings

Rating: 10/10 (29 July 2012)

9.5/10
As to be expected with a film following from the Dark Knight, there has been a great deal of Hype as well as Counter-Hype surrounding this film. I went out of my way to avoid any reviews or internet commentary on this film before viewing it and I thank the stars that I did.
On my first viewing I was left with a sense of having watched something remarkable, though not without its problems. The story, much like how I'd experienced The Dark Knight, felt somewhat disjointed and didn't flow as well in some areas.
The defining feature of this film however is its emotional core, which would have no resonance if it wasn't for the superb performances given by each member of the cast. While some are given much less screen time than others, they all deliver very poignant moments that capture the characters dilemmas brilliantly;
Michael Caine is fantastic as Alfred, conveying his devastation at what he sees as Bruce's failure to move on and live and his fear that Bruce deep down wishes to fail.
Gary Coleman's Commissioner Gordon is convincing as a man torn apart by shame despite all his efforts to keep Gotham safe from criminals, creating some great scenes with John Blake played by Gordon-Levitt who's idealism reflects the same that Gordon once had.
Anne Hathaway's interpretation of Kyle/Catwoman has certainly silenced a lot of detractors and for good reason - as soon as her first scene appears we see the facial expression a timid, terrified Kyle (a definite nod to Pfiefer's scene with Walken in Returns) only for her to slyly transform into the mischievous and determined character we all know and love. Many scenes like these capture perfectly Kyle's cat-like unpredictably and it fits so well in the reality that Nolan has created.
Tom Hardy as Bane is without a doubt one of the most ominous and menacing villains I have witnessed on screen. What is most interesting is how his character is at once true to the story that defined him as a great arch-nemesis while so much of his personality and his history is reinterpreted that he appears fresh and new. Fans of the comic I alluded to will be very interested to see a particular plot-point in this film, which both the action and dialogue make for one brutal and spine- chilling scene.
Christian Bale has done what no single Batman before him has ever done - Bring Bruce Wayne full circle. As incredible as Keaton's Batman was in the Burton films, his Bruce Wayne owed much to having us not know much about him, leaving us intrigued and at a distance from the character. From Begins onwards through to Dark Knight Rises (especially the last) we see; the trials, the falls, the anguish, the loneliness, the pain, the torment. We see it all due simply to the range of Bale's acting , we feel fully connected to Bruce, emotionally engaged as we see him rise to defend Gotham one final time.
I think a more detailed review is in order as there is so much more to comment on but I will try to keep it short:
Dark Knight Rises is an epic film, while it may not have fulfilled every possible expectation I hoped after waiting so long, it provided so much weight to the themes it covered in the past films, dared to take our hero down some of the more personal and desperate avenues, produces a powerful story of overcoming not just evil but also yourself and has done something I thought would be impossible for any comic book film and what I had always hoped for in a batman film for over 17 years - Bring the story of The Batman/Bruce Wayne to a satisfying conclusion.