Batman Rises from the Dead

Rating: 8/10 (3 September 2012)

This one came along, and because it was advertised as the last one of the Batman movies, I thought I would go see it. I saw a few during first-release, but some of them let me down, so I stopped seeing them. Glad I went to see this one. There is a story line. It makes you think a bit. You have Batman in a funk and hurting since his encounter with the Joker in the last episode. Harvey Dent has been made a hero and Bruce Wayne is basically hiding in his house, yet dutifully served by is butler, Alfred. Gotham city believes that Batman is a villain and they want him gone. But then there's a story line of a criminal who lives beneath the city and apparently trained by the same person that trained Bruce Wayne years ago. But the criminal, Bane, is heartless. He is pumped up and seems to show no fear. It seems the battle is between Wayne, who has lost his fear to die, and Bane, who is determined to help Wayne find a reason to fear again. Among the chaos that Bane causes is a cat burglar, or the Catwoman. Anne Hathaway was a good choice for this role, as her dancer body fits the catwoman suit well. And, she seems eternally happy, even though she plays a down and out character. Catwoman, or Selena, slips in and out of Wayne's life. She eventually is the link that brings Wayne and Bane together. Yet into this is the go gooder cop, Blake, who is trying to help Commissioner Gordon bring order to a city that has gone bonkers, now that Bane has taken control. There is a good scene between Wayne and Alfred where Alfred tries to give Wayne a reason to go on living. Wayne rejects him, which causes Alfred to leave. Wayne turns his money and stock over to Miranda, who seems to be the only person who still believes in Wayne and his mission to bring clean energy to the world. But beneath the talk is someone who is in league with Bane. Bane and Miranda strip Wayne of everything he has, and along the way take Fox captive. Finally, the Dark Knight Rises and attempts to save Gotham city from a nuclear blast that will certainly destroy the city and more. The ending leaves the impression that there is a set up for a future Batman movie, or a spin off with Catwoman and Robin. If this movie is the end of anything, it is the end of Christian Bale playing Batman, as he now has worn the cape in three installments. This one is worth viewing as it has a good story line, good pace with action, and good special effects.