Christopher Nolan's Batman films have been darkly dramatic and staggeringly intense, and in the same way that The Dark Knight improved on the foundation laid by Batman Begins, The Dark Knight Rises reaches even further to become the perfect conclusion to this trilogy.
by Shannon Vestal
Christopher Nolan's Batman films have been darkly dramatic and staggeringly intense, and in the same way that The Dark Knight improved on the foundation laid by Batman Begins, The Dark Knight Rises reaches even further to become the perfect conclusion to this trilogy. Christian Bale is back as Bruce Wayne and his alter ego Batman, but both of his identities have all but disappeared since Batman took the fall for the murder of Harvey Dent in The Dark Knight. It's eight years later, and Bruce is a weakened recluse who's still grieving the loss of his love, Rachel Dawes. The streets of Gotham, however, have been clean since the death of Dent, and Batman's patrol isn't as necessary. It's the perfect opportunity for a new villain to strike.
The terrorist Bane (a masked, bulked-up Tom Hardy) wants to unseat the privileged citizens of Gotham as well as physically destroy the city, creating a threat to the very survival of Gotham. But The Dark Knight Rises isn't about Batman defeating a foe; it's the story of how he, as a defeated man, loses everything and finds the strength to pull himself back up to fight. Bruce Wayne's character development is what makes this film moving. But that doesn't mean that Nolan neglects any other responsibility in making this a heart-pounding thrill-ride; the visual effects are eye-popping, and the plot twists are as jaw-dropping as the action sequences. Nolan doesn't let down fans of his series; The Dark Knight Rises is a stunning conclusion to a fantastic trilogy.
To find out why I think The Dark Knight Rises is so good, just keep reading.
