Christopher Nolan's Batman I miss you already!

Rating: 9/10 (12 August 2012)

The fact that the three movie geeks/reviewers from the Internet that I like the most expressed not-so-good comments on THE DARK KNIGHT RISES gave my waiting yet some more expectation (though I haven't read any full review till this day). TDKR is the kind of film everyone, from hard-core comic book fans to your very own parents, will watch, nevertheless of the professional and non-professional reviews. So in a way I'm trying to make this commentary as short as possible, after all Christopher Nolan's Batman is over since two weeks ago (and since more for American audiences). It's worth pointing out that I watched TDKR two times over its opening weekend in Mexico; first time was in a so-called "extreme digital cinema" screen and second time at an IMAX theater. I didn't think the IMAX was a must; in fact, I enjoyed the film, visually, much more the first time. And, as for the film in general, I had pretty much the same feeling after the second viewing: while not a perfect masterpiece, TDKR is sometimes as EPIC as a conclusion to a trilogy can get. It definitely gave me some of my very favorite moments of the trilogy – it's a flawed but nevertheless great picture, for my money.
I read part of the newspaper article of a critic who said that nobody would dare to make another Batman film in at least 20 years. I think that makes sense, and I dare to say nobody will ever get to make superhero villains as amazing as Nolan's Joker and, thankfully, Bane (played here by Tom Hardy). Nolan himself raised the bar incredibly high, or better said, Heath Ledger did it with the Joker and Nolan here is sort of not afraid as he is opening the film in a way that most likely will bring Legder's Joker to the viewer's mind – both THE DARK KNIGHT and TDKR begin in a very similar way: with Batman's respective rival appearing sort of surprisingly and doing some work. So yes, you'll inevitably think in Ledger and his great Joker but you won't be missing a really memorable villain here. Tom Hardy did, hands down, an incredibly GREAT work – needless to say, he steals the film. Bane, in a way, is the opposite kind of villain: this guy, unlike the Joker, can beat the s*** out of anyone, and most certain out of a haven't-been-around-for-eight-years Batman.
Thanks to that fact, TDKR is the kind of film where everything gets as dark as possible, in an epic way: Bane takes full control of Gotham and there are no cops or Batman to help the city – exile or death by exile are the two only options for people like Commissioner Gordon (I thought that was a great sort-of comic book thing). Nevertheless, I would say this is really a crowd-pleasing conclusion disguised as a dark and hopeless one. The kind of film that just won't end like THE DARK KNIGHT, if that makes sense. Is that a good thing? Well, it sure makes the film more predictable but at the same time I did find myself please. Some moments are truly satisfying (the Batman symbol on fire, anyone?) and is like if Nolan actually missed the chance to deliver THE perfect crowd-pleasing movie of the year: he built it up pretty damn well, the climax is superb but then, he just made meaningless, with a simple plot twist, some of the stuff I've liked the most! And that's a fine example of why this could and should have been pretty much flawless entertainment. But anyway, kudos to Nolan, Joseph Gordon-Levitt (from start to finish, his participation is great – it sure left me hungry for some more Batman) and everyone else involved in this greatly special trilogy.
PS: kudos as well to those who recognized the mayor from THE WIRE (during the airplane scene)!
*Watched it on 27 and 29 July, 2012