The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

The Dark Knight Rises

• So I've watched this film four times now, over the course of a few years. The first time, I absolutely hated it. The second time, I absolutely hated it. The third time, I absolutely hated it. The fourth time, I absolutely loved it. Weird. I think I was so harsh on this film the first couple times, and I'm not sure why. I just never could get behind it, or the plot, or the characters. However, with a super fresh mind, I'm completely bewildered how I didn't like it. It's so dystopian and grounded and gritty and it really is quite special. I think it's the worst film of the trilogy, and my least favorite, but it really is great. It basically takes every element of the first two films and gives you a grand finale. Even though the plot is basically a rehash of 'Batman Begins', it elevates it to the extreme with incredible stakes. It's written realistically and the modern, authentic environment makes you feel like everything is happening right around you. All the characters are pretty decent, though I'm not a huge fan of Talia al Ghul. She seems very stale and almost a throwaway villain. But the return (and rise) of Batman is great, Gordon is a freaking beast, Blake gives me hope, and I could go on. Also, Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle is genius and she's so great in this. Now, two quick complaints. Even though Tom Hardy is iconic in this role, I wish they wrote his character a bit differently and more reflective of the comics. It makes for this specific story and film, but I just love classic Bane so much. Also, Bale's Batman voice in this is egregiously bad. His grumbling just gets on my nerves. But all the performances were great and memorable. The production design is amazing as always, and the physical/practical effects live up to the Nolan style. My final thought is that Zimmer's score is phenomenal, creating lots of tension and movement. Overall, it's a really good third and final entry, and though the pacing is very slow, it's ultimately worth it when you get to the end. I would recommend it to all action/thriller fans. This film is officially Berry Approved, so go watch it now!