The Dark Knight Rises

by Aaron Helfferich · Published July 21, 2012

“Legendary.” “Epic.” “Final.” These are the terms featured in early marketing campaigns for what has become the most anticipated ending to a modern day film trilogy. With expectations for “The Dark Knight Rises” at an all-time high, director Christopher Nolan has returned to his series that already features the quintessential comic book movie.

“The Dark Knight Rises” begins nearly eight years after the events of “The Dark Knight.” Bruce Wayne has indefinitely hung up his Bat costume as Gotham City’s war against organized crime has seemingly been won. That is until the villainous character known as Bane emerges. Having organized an underground army, Bane sets out with some terrifying plans for Gotham City’s destruction. Along with a tough-as-nails cat-burglar named Selina Kyle (otherwise known as Catwoman), Bane’s emergence brings on Batman’s return to protect Gotham against the most physical challenge he has ever faced.

The world Nolan has created for his Dark Knight saga has everything you can ask for in a big-screen movie experience. Action sequences are numerous and exhilarating; the story is engaging and thought provoking; and the performances are emotional and Oscar-worthy. Regardless of the visual ambitions, it’s the characters that keep you fully invested.

Even behind a mask, Tom Hardy portrays Bane with such a terrifying presence that it puts a sinister exclamation point on each of his scenes. He may be the least dimensional main character in the film, but Hardy gives a masterful performance that is of physical and vocal power. Anne Hathaway is sizzling as Catwoman in a manner we never would have expected. You’ll see great moments of wit and humor, but Hathaway brings a mysterious humanistic approach to Selina Kyle that is absolutely enchanting. The biggest surprise is Joseph Gordon-Levitt as a rookie cop named John Blake. He gracefully harkens back to the themes that originated in the first film, “Batman Begins.”

While no one quite elevates to the level of Heath Ledger as The Joker in “The Dark Knight,” the most eloquent portrayal in “The Dark Knight Rises” is Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne. What he delivers is something raw and a true to the emotional suffering of a man who has sacrificed everything. But, it doesn’t stop there. Michael Caine gives new life to Bruce’s loyal butler Alfred as the poetic voice to complete the story.

What Christopher Nolan has done with his Batman trilogy has forever changed franchise superhero films. Nolan took every opportunity in “The Dark Knight Rises” to craft an ending that would be universally profound and collectively satisfying. The emotional experience of the film is unmatched in superhero films. Having received such a fitting conclusion, Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Saga is prominently cemented as the greatest comic book film series in cinema history.