The Dark Knight Rises

The circle is now complete; Christopher Nolan’s Batman has come to an end with this third and last film.

Nolan practical approach to the universe of Batman has earned him the love of comics readers and movie goers. Helped by the great acting delivered by Christian Bale, Michael Cain, Gary Oldman and many more, Nolan delivered an outstanding take of the dark knight, perhaps the best we’ve been offered so far.

The Trilogy does not simply understand the main character, its allies and enemies it also understood the mythology surrounding this universe, and managed to translate its symbolic values on the screens.

Many capital parts of the trilogies’ plot are coming from acclaimed and respected Batman comics and The Dark Knight Rises wear it’s origins proudly. Taking directly from The Dark Knight Returns, I was excited like a schoolgirl to see the old cop and the young cop chasing Batman again, they were also there in Batman Begins. but the film also takes from Year One, Knightfall and No Man's Land. Bringing all those together brought something those stories never achieved in their comics form, an ending.

Nolan enjoys a freedom that comics’ writers don’t, he's not bound by shaky continuity or mandatory status quo, therefore he can bring his characters to a full circle and end his plot, whether you like it, or not.

However, I found that The Dark Knight Rises’ ending, can only be appreciated if Nolan’s story is looked upon through all three movies,

In Begins, Batman sets out to become a symbol that's more than a man, in The Dark Knight, he takes that symbol to it’s full potential. By the end of Rises, that symbol has grown beyond the man behind that symbol, to the point where the man is no longer necessary. Bruce Wayne finally gets to live a happy life, comforted in the knowledge that if the need for Batman arises again, there will be someone to answer the call.

On of the key symbolism of Batman, the hero that could be anyone is at the core of the mythology. Again, Nolan skillfully managed to bring it to the screen and it works.

However, all isn’t perfect in that last film, the plot repeats some key aspects of The Dark Knight and some very unrealistic loopholes, which also seem to come straight from comics, are plaguing the storyline. For instance, the limp we initially see Bruce Wayne with, seem to magically disappear after he tries on some kind of walking apparatus, which also appears to make him stronger, another very convenient short coming, is the surprisingly fast and miraculous way Bruce’s back is fixed after Bane breaks it and how he manages to somehow punch better, after his psychological experience in the pit.

In fact, Batman's second fight with Bane is falling short and really comes down to a weak brawl, especially after such a perfect moral victory over the Joker in the last film, beyond one man defeating another, it was an entire city refusing to turn against each other. Lastly, Bane’s demise was also underwhelming, while Batman doesn't kill or use guns, having Bane defeat brought by a big gun doesn't feel right.

Despite those flaws, The Dark Knight Rises remains a great film, thanks to Nolan character work and also to the cast.

http://kit-kit-kit.deviantart.com/art/The-beginning-of-the-rises-315833776

Anne Hathaway is genuinely good as Selina Kyle and Gordon-Levitt is the highlight of the film. 

http://photoshopismykung-fu.deviantart.com/art/Gotham-s-Reckoning-316509800

Tom Hardy's Bane on the other hand, is attempting to repeat Ledger’s presence a bit too much. While he manages to have a real presence on the screen, even the core mechanic of his plan, the idea of an ordinary citizen holding the life of his community, is a clear reminder of the "social experiment" perform by the Joker at the climax of The Dark Knight. Nevertheless, Hardy manages to bring is own creepiness, even if his character could have been developed better and further.

Finally, Cotillard's Talia is revealed very late in the movies, leaving her too little space and time to spread her wings. Her motivation are really shaky and we have to settle for the fact that she is conveniently crazy enough to conjure a plan aiming to nuke an entire city, in order to avenge the death of the father, whom she hated. Shameful, considering the importance of this character in the books.

To conclude, even with a solid comic book background, The Dark Knight Rises is a strange film and I'm not sure it works as well as it could've, the plot is flawed, the overall pace is off and it doesn't quite know how to handle all those characters and their motivations properly. 

However, The Dark Knight Rises remains a very good film delivering a solid environment and brilliant acting. This closing statement does fulfil the first movie's quest of Batman to become more than just a man, but becoming an idea, a symbol, which will live on beyond the man himself. Bringing a great closure to this outstanding trilogy of the Batman.