Eight years have passes since the death of Harvey Dent by the vigilante criminal The Batman. Gotham City has since seen peacetime, with most of the mobsters and their underlings in prison. However a mysterious underworld figure named Bane has decided to take control and end the peacetime to begin war. Batman must come out of hiding to stop him.
Direction
Once again directed by Christopher Nolan, it has his typical ‘polished’ look. A little more attention to character and dialogue this time, however when the action sequences take place, they are quite spectacular. Two sequences that come to mind are the plane crash at the beginning, and the bombing of Gotham (including imploding a football field).
Cast/Characters
Returning cast members from the first two films are Christian Bale, Michael Cain, Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman. I felt that the three senior cast members are glossed over at times, and getting less screen-time in favour of new cast members.
New cast members include Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle/Catwoman, Tom Hardy as Bane, Marion Cottilard as Miranda Tate and Joseph Gordon Levitt as Blake a new detective who has worked out Batman’s secret identity and begs him to return.
Screenplay/Setting/Themes
Tom Hardy’s Bane is a force to be reckoned with – in that he both breaks Batman physically and spiritually. Like previous antagonists before him, less is more with his screen-time.
There are some uplifting moments in which Batman regains both the trust and love of his city, having been branded a traitor and villain of the city. These include; his return to take down Bane, Bruce’s ‘Rise’ out of the prison – and finally the final few minutes of the film where Batman saves the city from the bomb. Blake’s ‘first name’ reveal felt a little on the nose, but I get what they were trying to do with the legacy of this version’s character.
There is a cameo later in the film by longtime Nolan collaborator Cillian Murphy’s Jonathan Crane. It almost felt like this should have been a cameo for Batman’s previous antagonist – who is not mentioned due to the tragic death of his portrayer.
Score/Soundtrack
Hanz Zimmer and James Newton Howard once again return to helm the score. I felt it was a bit subtle this time around, especially in the first two acts – but amps up in the third act. It was still very good, but was done better in the previous films.
Overall
While this is far from a bad movie, I found it to be the weakest in the trilogy, especially when it comes to the final act in a few moments with Bane and Miranda Tate.
That being said, a fitting end to the trilogy.
4/5
If you’re able to, please “buy me a coffee”
Ryan's Movie Reviews 