Review of The Dark Knight Rises (2012) by Billy G — 08 Jun 2017

'The Dark Knight Rises' offers a bumpy, sometimes disjointed, but satisfying enough finale. Eight years after 'The Dark Knight' (a completely unnecessary length of time), Bruce comes out of retirement to stop a new terrorist threat in the form of Talia and Bane.

This film is beautiful to look at. Nolan provides the most impressively shot action sequences of the entire trilogy. Especially a fight in the tunnels beneath Gotham. Gunmen flail around in the darkness aimlessly firing their guns, while we catch glimpses of Batman moving around the tunnel.

This scene truly encompasses how Batman is so terrifying to criminals. The problem I have is with certain plot elements. Anne Hathaway doesn't pull off the arrogant burglar role very well and her romance with Batman isn't convincing.

If they had taken more time to develop this relationship it would've worked better. The other big problem is Talia Al Ghul. Anyone remotely familiar with the character knew the second Marion Cotillard was cast that she was playing Talia.

I would've loved to see her play more of a villainous role. As good as Tom Hardy is, she should have been the main villain. While disappointing in many ways, 'The Dark Knight Rises' still offers Nolan fans plenty of thrills and a definitive conclusion to Bruce Wayne's story.