Movie Review: The Dark Knight Rises |

Let's face it, there has been a LOT of media coverage, good and bad, regarding the latest movie in the Batman franchise, The Dark Knight Rises. With all this hype we may start to wonder, is the movie actually any good? Should we take time out from our super busy summer schedules to go see it? Rest assured, we have some great movie reviewers as part of the Youth Advisory Group here at Agincourt Branch who are willing to see any movie and give us an honest opinion! Fortunately, YAG member Aren recently saw The Dark Knight Rises and wrote this awesome review:

The Dark Knight Rises. Reviewed by Aren M.

“The Dark Knight Rises” extravagantly raises the standard of all superhero movies to newer, greater expectations. Where most superhero movies adapted from their respective comic books portray immortal heroes that must overcome their weaknesses to emerge victoriously from the tyrannical ashes of evil, the Dark Knight franchise reaches much deeper levels of storytelling, bringing back and modifying the classic tragedy, in which a hero suffers a reversal of fortune, makes sacrifices, and in the end pays the ultimate price, making the audience feel sympathy. While this film aims to show off its cinematographic excellence and technical superiority, it also portrays with a cleverly written script, the lonely, masked life of a hero, who sacrifices his life for a much larger entity; a principle of justice and a symbol of valour.

As the city of Gotham finds itself in complete anarchy that may lead to an apocalyptic future, Bruce Wayne, who has secluded himself from society after the death of Harvey Dent and consequentially erased the legacy of Batman from the minds of the Gotham population and from his own past, must make a crucial decision: choose to overlook Gotham’s dire need of Batman to pursue his personal solace or once again choose to fight, make sacrifices, test his moral and physical strength, and endure more heartbreak.

The plot seems slow in the beginning with the introduction of many new characters, but gradually elevates to a suspenseful, unthinkable, yet sensational climax. Although the plot often lacks the expected appearances by the Dark Knight (Christian Bale) himself, Anne Hathaway’s performance as the Catwoman, which is one of the most memorable in the film, adds a mysterious, enigmatic element to the film as well as a touch of romance that brings up a side of Batman never seen before. Bane (Tom Hardy), a homicidal madman who has only ever known hatred and agony, features as the villain who plans for the crash of the stock market and the atomic destruction of Gotham, and although he is less enthusiastic than the Joker, he proves to be just as physically strong and mentally tough as the Dark Knight.

The film also stars a heroic, young cop (Joseph-Gordon Levitt) who knows the magnitude of pain that comes with the loss of a loved one and remains the most devoted believer in the Batman alongside Commissioner Gordon (Gary Oldman). Returning once again to the all star cast are the veterans of the movie making industry with their fitting roles as Bruce Wayne’s butler Albert (Micheal Caine) and the genius inventor Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman).

Though the dark and thrilling finale to Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy lacks the perfection and memorability of its predecessor The Dark Knight and Heath Ledger’s portrayal of the Joker, it is a praiseworthy conclusion that leaves audiences thinking: Will the Batman legacy continue? One does not have to be a Batman enthusiast to appreciate the merits of this heavy, futuristic film.