Overall Excellent

Rating: 10/10 (20 July 2012)

"The Dark Knight Rises" is 2012's most anticipated summer blockbuster. There have been several great movies this year so far and Christopher Nolan's third installment of his Batman trilogy certainly adds to this list. The movie starts eight years after the events of "The Dark Knight." Gotham is at peace from crime and Batman is still dehumanized as a villain. Things change when a terrorist named Bane (Tom Hardy) puts forward a horrid plan that unleashes havoc and anarchy into the city. Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale), now a crippled recluse must rise for a final battle that puts him to the ultimate test, hence the movie title.
Each of the Batman films that Nolan has made are a bit different from the other. The first one focused on Wayne becoming Batman. The second one took a darker turn, focusing on the violent action and the mind of a psychopath. This one zeroes in on wrapping everything together and tying up some knots from the first two films. As a result, there is a very effective plot. It does not get in the way of the action scenes, for they are great and plentiful. The climax in particular is fun. However, they are not nearly as long and abundant as "The Dark Knight" or "Batman Begins." This does not hinder the film though. The nearly three-hour film is well paced.
Like the other flicks, the acting is thoroughly good. Christian Bale is more fleshed out in this Batman. He is not just an action hero like in "The Dark Night." Instead, his character goes through both a physical and mental struggle, like he did in "Batman Begins." I did not have much confidence in Anne Hathaway as Cat Woman, yet she is nearly as flexible and seductive as Michelle Pfeifer in "Batman Returns." There is a certain element that she lacks though. She does not have as strong of chemistry with Bale as Pfeifer did with Keaton. The way Pfeifer talked and licked her lips (like a cat) as she taunts Batman is flawless. This type of interaction between Bale and Hathaway is non-existent in "The Dark Night Rises."
Tom Hardy as Bane marks as a great villain. Unlike the Joker from the previous film, he is not a nut case. He is methodical—he has a feasible objective. He also relies on his brutish nature to crush people's heads and fracture vertebras. The addition of his altered voice through his breathing mask gives him a more menacing persona. At times though, this makes it hard to comprehend his dialog. To say that Bane is a better antagonist than the Joker though is unfair. Both are completely different. The Joker uses his clever wit to try and outdo the superhero. Bane uses his body power and men to overpower the good guys. In regards to the supporting cast, they mesh well into their respective parts. These include: Gary Oldman as the aging Commissioner Gordon, Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox, Joseph Gordan-Levitt as the hotheaded, rookie cop Blake, and Michael Caine as an overly sentimental Alfred.
The technical pieces of this Batman outdo the other films. There are a lot more special effects and they are very impressive. The set pieces and cinematography add more exquisite layers to the world of Gotham. The score by Hans Zimmer is very prevalent and pushes the viewer into an adrenaline rushing adventure. The "Bane Chant" alone is simply breathtaking to listen. If I had one criticism, it would be about the sound mixing. In some scenes, particularly the action bits, the music becomes overbearing to the point that it overrides the dialog. I love the music, but it needed to be tone down some.
My final words: "The Dark Knight Rises" is an excellent conclusion to the Batman trilogy. The final moments are especially touching.