The Dark Knight Surprises

Rating: 10/10 (20 August 2013)

No one can deny the unprecedented level of expectation that this film was pressured to live up to. Its predecessor - The Dark Knight not only topped most top movie 10 polls of 2008, but became widely recognised as possibly one of the best films of all time. Notwithstanding that was of course Nolan's interlude movie Inception, which again achieved spectacular feats not only at the box office but critically as well. To say the least, the pressure was on.
But fear not, I assure you this feature will be no disappointment. Set 8 years after the events of The Dark Knight, batman has hung up his cape, took the fall for Harvey Dent's crimes and now lives a solitary life as a recluse - that is until Tom Hardy's Bane causes havoc and promotes anarchy and chaos across Gotham.
One thing is for certain, Nolan has taken no chances with this movie; his script is every bit as clever and well thought out as all the films he has written. Unlike so many of today's superhero movies he doesn't rely on explosions and special effects to move his story from one scene to the other. Also, despite its large cast it doesn't feel as though the big names are fighting for screen time and story-lines unlike the last time Bane was disastrously placed on the big screen in 1997s Batman and Robin. What this movie manages to do which so many blockbusters don't, is balance an edge-of-your-seat action extravaganza with sustaining a level of intelligence that makes it more accessible for those not just looking for a few cheap thrills.
This does not go to say, however, that it does not have its faults. One thing I can honestly say is that while it may just match The Dark Knight, it does by no means beat it. Ledger's Joker was an adversary unrivalled by Hardy's Bane, although praise to in-keeping with the comic's perception of Bane must be noted for not overlooking his intellect or immense strength.
Overall The Dark Knight Rises somehow manages to live up to the high expectations placed on its shoulders. Nolan manages to deliver a film that ticks every box and yet still maintains a distance from the cliché blockbusters Hollywood rolls out every year. The only real question is what will he do next?