The Dark Knight Rises (movie review)

I went into the theatre to watch The Dark Knight Rises expecting to be entertained, but I wasn’t prepared to really absolutely and completely enjoy it. And for the record, I was NOT a Anne Hathaway fan. But after The Dark Knight Rises, I am fully prepared to say that Anne Hathaway IS Selina Kyle (Catwoman). Sorry, Michelle Pfeiffer and Halle Berry. Hathaway achieves what I think the director of Catwoman wanted to accomplish with Halle Berry.

I have to say that The Dark Knight Rises accomplishes exactly everything it has set out to. Set 8 years after the events of The Dark Knight, we find a clean, happy, almost idyllic Gotham. Batman has retired, scorned by the public thanks to a major lie designed by Bruce Wayne himself (who is now crippled and needs a cane to walk) to keep Harvey Dent’s public image spotless and almost saint-like. Dent (Two Face, if you recall) remains a hero and Batman is perceived as the bad guy.

Bane, a mercenary who once belonged to Ra’s Al Ghul League of Shadows (later on in the film Talia, Ra’s Al Ghul is at the helm) is intent on bringing down Gotham (cue your typical references to the 99% and economic inequalities) bringing Wayne out of retirement. Bruce dons the Bat-Suit yet again, with a number of allies by his side: Commissioner Gordon (who still feels guilty about being the one to keep the lie about Dent and his becoming evil alive), a new officer-turned-detective. Blake (played incredibly well by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, whom I’m not crazy about usually but does a marvelous job here), Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman, as always spectacular), Alfred Pennyworth (Michael Caine who shines in a series of tear-jerking scenes throughout the movie) and former-cat-burglar-amazing-fighter-and-who-would-have-thought-she-had-a-heart Selina Kyle (Anne Hathaway as THE Catwoman).

In all honesty, I don’t think I can find anything that should have been done differently. I don’t think I am spoiling the movie by telling you that the storyline of how Bane breaks Batman’s back and yet Bruce recovers triumphantly is one of the best showcases and proof of sheer talent. Christian Bale IS both Bruce Wayne AND Batman. I doubt there has been any other actor that has portrayed Batman so well (and yes, I do love me some Val Kilmer). And the chemistry between Bale and Hathaway is absolutely perfect.

Strongly recommend that you watch The Dark Knight Rises. Currently in theatres.