Film Review: The Dark Knight Rises: Did it really?

On Wednesday, July 25, 2012 I got an invite to the Genesis Deluxe Cinemas’ premiere of probably the year’s most anticipated movie, The Dark Knight Rises, the concluding installment of director and writer Chris Nolan’s three part Batman series. The hype and anticipation was unprecedented, probably only matched by movies like Terminator 2: Judgement Day and (perhaps the only other comic universe franchise to match DC) Marvel’s The Avengers. The latter had broken records to become the third highest grossing movie of all time in just about eight weeks, earning $260m in its opening weekend in April 2012. I was among the very few people who believed that The Dark Knight Rises would beat The Avenger’s record.

And why did I believe that it would? Simply because Chris Nolan is a FANTASTIC director and writer. Indeed, The Dark Knight smashed records when it was released in 2008. It earned more than a billion dollars worldwide upon its release in 2008. Many would attribute this to Heath Ledger’s epic portrayal of The Joker based on Nolan’s interpretation of Batman’s most villainous villain. Others (myself included) would attribute it to the psychological study that was The Dark Knight. Nolan took Batman from comic book icon to a study in humanity, the battle between good and evil, and the grey areas in between. 2011’s Inception was a case study in film making. Nolan brought bits of what made his sophomore film Momento (2000) to bear in the critically acclaimed Inception. So little wonder The Dark Knight Rises was billed to rise and rise and rise. But somewhere along its intended ascent the two hours plus movie lost its wind.

First and foremost The Dark Knight Rises seemed like a lazy effort. The editing was abysmal. The scripting and plot scenes were like a series of quickies that did not get to the climax. The holes in the plot and storyline were so gaping and the material just did not hold water. I was left to assume so many things: How come Blake could so very easily figure out that Batman was actually Bruce Wayne? How did Bane figure out Batman was Bruce Wayne? How come after eight loooooong years, the city was still mourning White Knight Harvey Dent? I thought Lucius Fox left at the end of The Dark Knight? If he did not, why did he change his mind? How did the 3,000 plus Gotham City policemen survive three months underground? How come Alfred left? No, seriously why did he abandon Bruce? Where was the prison dungeon located? How come Bane could come and go as he pleased? Thought it was supposed to be somewhere not mainland USA? Bane broke Batman’s back (I actually cheered at that scene because it stayed true to the comics!) But come on! One does not recover from a broken back in a prison dungeon overnight!!!! The time-wasting speech and by-force kiss at the climactic scene when time was running out was cringe worthy! A nuke is about to go off in two minutes and you still have time for catharsis and a smooch? Like seriously?!! At the very best the script was overly simplistic.

The acting was not any better really. Joseph Gordon-Levitt had a good performance as the incorruptible cop John Blake. So did Gary Oldman and Marion Cotillard. Michael Cain was poor to say the least while Morgan Freeman and Christian Bale both seemed bored. And Bane’s voice! I had to strain my ears and mostly got someone else to tell me what he said!! It is bad enough we have to strain to catch what Batman (Bale) says due to his hoarse lisp but Bane’s Darth Vader-like voice was just inaudible!! The final fight scene was bleh! I know Chris Bale is not the biggest person or known for his fighting skills, but it was stiff (maybe it was the suit)! Bats is a bad ass martial artist schooled in the shadow arts! Most of us were also hoping that Tom Hardy who played Bane would bring some of his “bad assness” from The Warrior to bear on The Dark Knight Rises but alas that was not seen. The fighting should have been better choreographed.

On the positives, I loved the Talia al Ghul twist! It made sense. But the lovey dovey between Bruce and Miranda Tate her alter ego was not convincing enough. The twist at the end – Blake donning the role of Batman, Bruce Wayne (still recognisable!) turning up alive in Paris with Selina – reminiscent of Inception was almost cheesy but very welcome. It gave the film its final and much needed airlift. I mean no one, no matter the speculations, wanted to see Batman killed. We are glad Nolan kept him alive. If he had not, I daresay The Dark Knight Rises would have been deemed a bad movie.

I would be the first to admit that I was looking forward to identifying themes in The Dark Knight Rises. I found a few.

Nolan by bringing thematic elements of Batman Begins together with those from The Dark Knight stresses that Bruce Wayne cannot exist without Batman simply because he is first Batman before he is Bruce Wayne!! This was an epiphany for me because it was comforting to realise what I had long suspected: that like Superman whose alter ego is Clark Kent, Batman’s alter ego is Bruce Wayne! His life is the cowl! Bruce Wayne’s deterioration in spirit and body after the Batman disappears is evidence of this. In furtherance of the Dark Knight mythos, Nolan again confirms that Batman’s first and only love is the city of Gotham. Batman exists because Gotham exists; when threatened Batman defends her. Simple.

Nolan to my mind explores the symbolism of a “people’s” revolution against their government and the elite in Bane’s uprising (think #occupy). However, I failed to get that sense of anarchy or break up when the status quo of the previous eight years was destroyed. Where were all the mad men? Where was Arkham? The only thing reminiscent of it was The Scarecrow acting as judge and executioner of the new government. Was it a reverse Tunisian revolution gone wrong?

In the end, The Dark Knight Rises successfully brings to an end the Batman trilogy. However, deep inside I got the general feeling that Nolan and his team just wanted to get this trilogy over and done with really.

NB: As of July 29, 2012  (i.e. in 10 days) The Dark Knight Rises has made $537m worldwide at the Box Office.