THE LEGEND ENDS. LET THE GAMES BEGIN.
In this instalment Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy comes to an end, leaving behind a legacy near impossible to be so masterfully re-told. Batman's final outing in Gotham brings to light the complexity of Bruce Wayne's (Christian Bale) character; forever riddled with the murder of his parents and entangled with memories of witnessing his loved ones die before his eyes. 8 years following the end of The Dark Knight, Bruce finds himself hidden away in a re-built Wayne Manor, the cape and mask un-used since the demise of Harvey Dent almost a decade previous. Blamed for Dent's death, Batman has no place in Gotham any more.
Following suit from Heath Ledger's Joker, Bane, Rises'
main antagonist (played by Tom Hardy) provides the villainous muscle that so
many hoped would wipe the floor with Batman's seemingly invincible strengths
set. Hardy gives Bane the exterior to match such an insanely power driven
character, a steely face grill branding the villain devoid of empathy or indeed
emotion. Further additions to the character roster include Selina Kyle, played
by Anne Hathaway (but not once referred to as 'Catwoman').
Hathaway's mystique gives Batman's newest ally more reason for male
movie-goers to attend, even without the explosions! Gary Oldman masterfully returns
as Police Commissioner Jim Gordon, with fellow returners Michael Caine and
Morgan Freeman brilliantly reprising their roles as Alfred Pennyworth and
Lucius Fox respectively. Rookie cop John Blake (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is also
another character to look out for; one which provides an intriguing and
engaging narrative strand to the film.
Only major stirrings in Gotham can truly bring
Wayne back as Batman, and a villain such as Bane matches that criteria. Be
ready for 'shit's going down now, son' moments, as Bale once again dons the
cape to become the Dark Knight. Many have questioned the script that would be
needed in order for Rises to match that of its immediate predecessor, and
Nolan's ultimatum as whole film delivers on every level. Twists and turns
continue to surprise the audience, and even the most certain of
facts addressed in the movie can be looked upon as sceptical -
due to such unpredictable story telling. The road is hard for Wayne's Batman,
as nothing is easy in the Gotham run by Bane and his militant army. Bale's
character however continues to bounce back in what proves to be the Dark
Knight's most challenging test so far.
The soundtrack in Rises is rich and
memorable, encapsulating the identity of Gotham's caped crusader and
adding to the intensity of copious action-packed set-pieces. The visuals go
hand in hand with that of the audio, where by the use of CGI is masterful -
while not feeling too overdone. Also be ready for gadgets galore, as Freeman's
Lucius Fox provides Wayne with more of what was delivered in
Rises' predecessors.
Although not as gruesome in terms of violence as the
previous instalment, Rises is undoubtedly the darkest the series has to offer.
A real urgency for Batman to return is present in this one, and the implications
of him being able to do so or not justify the film's shadowy outlook. The
audience know that the legend has to end somewhere, which makes it all the more
fitting that Bruce Wayne should end the trilogy with the greatest of
adversaries to match.
The film's opening sequence, which involves flying at
altitude, may require viewers to gawp in amazement. Be advised
however to quickly transform that gawp into a grin, as the rest will be yet to
follow!
So, how will the story end for Bruce Wayne? It's time to
find out for yourself...
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