Good knight out

The wait is finally over and the final instalment to the trilogy has risen. Being a massive fan of both the franchise and director, I have literally been counting down the days for the much-hyped release of The Dark Knight Rises.

I must admit, third time usually isn’t a charm, and the film may not be the best out of the bunch, but I would still go as far as saying it’s the most paramount superhero movie of 2012 so far.

The extraordinary visuals of Nolan’s vision with excitement and spectacle rumbling across the screen were not only incredible but also memorable.

In 2005, we were introduced to Bruce Wayne, the compulsive loner and billionaire who transforms himself into Batman to fight evil and save Gotham City. Then in 2008, the clown was let out of the box with the Joker bent on releasing chaos on the city.

This time around, Nolan and his brother, Jonathon, who co-wrote the screenplay, pick up the story eight years after Batman (Bale) took the blame for the death of district attorney Harvey Dent, the Two-Face villain in the previous film.

Bruce is now a recluse with a battered body, using a cane to walk. His alter-ego is no longer needed in Gotham as the commissioner Jim Gordon has exploited a lie to wage in a new era of crime-busting.

However, things start to get out of control when Bane (Hardy), a terrorist with a life-sustaining grille clamped to his face, comes to light from the city’s sewers with an army of followers and a threatening intention to reduce the city to ashes. And that’s about all I can say without giving it all away.

It may all sound a bit too serious for almost three hours of action, but rest assured, there are some new tricks with the occasional wisecrack to keep you entertained.
Of the ‘new’ tricks there’s The Bat, a fantastic flying machine that everyone will leave the theatre wishing they owned.

But the most successful aspect of the film is the addition of new characters and their backdrops that provide a more personal feel to the movie.

The half-masked man in a fur coat ruling the entire city may sound far-fetched, but from blowing up football fields to bringing Batman to his knees, this villain is probably the greatest threat Gotham has faced yet.

Hardy’s performance may not live up to Heath Ledger’s iconic Joker, but he still creates a memorable character that is just as interesting, with a physical and vocal performance that is both riveting and exciting. Not to mention his awesome one-liners.

The other new recruit, Hathaway’s Catwoman Selina Kyle, is a great femme fatale who teeters between the mean double agent, seductive assistant and the under-appreciated nemesis.

Ledger look-alike, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, joins the cast as John Blake, a police officer who offers the most compelling sub-plot and forms a unique bond with Batman.

Finally, Bale, who has never portrayed a more vulnerable side to his character than in this film, provides fans with a new emotional depth as a final farewell to Batman.

There will forever be arguments on The Dark Knight Rises vs The Avengers… and for those who pick the latter; you were probably in the mood for a more ‘fun’ movie. Although The Avengers may have entertained the whole way through (and it was awesome), it was missing the passion, the sense of danger and lastly, Hardy.

Nolan gives his audience something grand and dreams big. The film is heavy and filled with emotion.

I shed a few tears by the end and although I had to say goodbye to my favourite superhero, I still applaud Nolan - what a way to go out!