The Dark Knight Rises review

First published on Knight Of The Old Code

Story: After the events in the previous movie; The Dark Knight, the Batman is no longer active in his crusade against crime until a new threat emerges in Gotham City.

Poster courtesy of Warner Bros.

Background: For those who are not into comic books. The Batman was created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger in 1939 for DC Comics. His comic debut was in Detective Comics # 27 as the Bat-Man before it became just Batman. The original idea for the Caped Crusader was that he was a crime-fighter on the side of the law. Kane developed the character from Sherlock Holmes and Zorro. During the 80's, the character rebooted in a more interesting manner. Batman became an outlaw vigilante. What makes Batman unique is that even though he is fully, human, he uses his skills as advantage and sometimes can take even a powerful superhero. Since then, Batman became my favorite super-hero. Even my former professor/ordained minister uses Batman as an image of messianic parallelism for his Theology classes.

Review: The Batman phenomenon made this impact on me since Tim Burton's 1989 film, Batman starring Michael Keaton. After the sequel, Batman Returns, Tim Burton stopped directing the next film, Batman Forever but serves as the movie's co-producer. Although it has good cast of actors, the film was not the same when Burton directed it. It even got worse with the next sequel. But I was glad when Christopher Nolan took over the reboot in Batman Begins. It proves much better than the 1989 film. It never failed to get to get better when the sequel, The Dark Knight was released.

Batman's first appearance. Detective Comic #27

For Christian Bale, I still find it funny when he does a Batman voice. He does it fine but Kevin Conroy does it better in Batman The Animated Series. The costume is much more realistic as an advanced armor than tights that Adam West used to wear in the old series.

For Anne Hathaway to play Selina Kyle, her character was just as detailed in the comic books. Catwoman first appeared as a villain but when the character also rebooted, she is also an anti-heroine as well as a cat burglar unlike her predecessor Michelle Pfeiffer in Burton's Batman Returns. Although, Pfeiffer's Catwoman was purr-fect, Hathaway's Selina Kyle was way much better than I expected. Her catsuit was more of what a professional cat-burglar might wear than a costume. Her mask not only conceals her identity, it is also gadget. Selina Kyle is not called Catwoman throughout the movie.

Tom Hardy played Bane is more detailed from the comics than what Robert Swenson did in Joel Shumacher's Batman and Robin. Bane is equally smart as Batman as he is strong than a dumb henchman. Bane was created by Chuck Dixon, Graham Nolan and Dave Moench as a crucial villain in the Knightfall story arc.With exception of his face mask, Bane's outfit also could pass as a uniform rather than a costume.

Bane. Art from Batman: Gotham Knights

Commissioner Gordon is played by Gary Oldman. There were already two who played the part in previous incarnations but it was Gary Oldman who was the spitting image of Gordon in the comics and he is a good actor. Michael Caine's portrayal of the butler Alfred Pennyworth shows how important his character is from the death of Bruce Wayne's parents and how instrumental he is when Batman began and also being a jack-of-all-trade.

Lucius Fox, played by Morgan Freeman, was the one of the major  Batman characters that first appeared in Nolan's Batman trilogy. The other character that also made an appearance in Nolan's Batman was the serial killer Zsasz in the first movie, Batman Begins. Police Officer John Blake is the only name among the key characters that does not exists in the comics and yet his character made an impact in the story which is unexpected.

The Batmobile still looks more like a tank than a car since it was meant to be used in the military until Bruce saw it. But it adds toughness when people sees it. I can still relate the story from two comic story arcs, Knightfall and No Mans' Land but it was a good thing. Despite from  being action packed, the movie also has sentimental moments that will also make you feel good when leaving the movie. Even though it is the last movie of the trilogy, you will walk out the cinema feeling good. It ended the best way possible. The Dark Knight Rises is now showing in theaters in IMAX or regular 2D formats and is released and distributed by Warner Bros.

“INCEPTION” CAST REUNITE FOR “THE DARK KNIGHT RISES”

One good turn deserves another. After starring in Christopher Nolan's thought-provoking 2010 thriller “Inception,” Marion Cotillard and Joseph Gordon-Levitt now join the director's highly-anticipated final Batman film, “The Dark Knight Rises.” 

Joseph Gordon-Levitt as John Blake

             Cotillard and Gordon-Levitt were both excited to reunite with Nolan on the finale of his Dark Knight trilogy. Gordon-Levitt says, “Amidst all the spectacle, I think the honest human dramas are what distinguish the way Chris approaches these movies. For an actor, that’s inspiring and a lot more fun.”

             “I love working with Chris,” adds Cotillard. “He fosters a great feeling of family on the set, even on such a huge movie. And he has the intelligence and imagination to take you on an unbelievable adventure and make it something you believe. It was especially interesting to work with him to create the character of Miranda because she doesn’t exist in the comics.”

             Gordon-Levitt stars as policeman John Blake, whose devotion to the job impresses his boss, Commissioner Gordon (Gary Oldman). Producer Emma Thomas says, “Gordon definitely sees something of himself as a young cop in John Blake. Everyone else seems to have lost focus because things have been so good, but Blake is the first to realize that something’s up, and Gordon recognizes those instincts by promoting him and putting him on his team.”

             Describing his role, Joseph Gordon-Levitt says, “John Blake is the kind of guy who probably always wanted to be a cop and dedicates himself to being excellent at his job. He is someone who believes in what he does and I admire that in anybody. In the midst of a lot of cynicism, he remains proud to be a police officer.”

             Nolan comments, “Commissioner Gordon and Bruce Wayne have become somewhat jaded, so we wanted to contrast that with a younger, more idealistic individual who, in a way, represents where they’ve come from. Joe really captured the strength and courage of a man who refuses to back down, regardless of the odds.”

             The image of co-star Christian Bale in the Batsuit had the requisite effect on Gordon-Levitt. “When Christian put on that suit, I didn’t have to make believe: I was talking to Batman,” the actor says. “It doesn’t happen very often, but every now and then when I’m shooting a movie, I have a moment when it feels like real life. That was definitely one of the strongest of those moments I’ve ever had.”

             Meanwhile, Cotillard's character, Miranda Tate, can relate to Bruce Wayne, albeit from a place of affluence. Cotillard notes, “They both have a lot of money and are trying to use it in a good way, so they understand each other right away.”

             Bale agrees. “Miranda is somebody who is encouraging Bruce to use his resources for the betterment of Gotham through an environmental project. She is beautiful, smart and altruistic, and all the good that she aspires to earns his respect and also intrigues him a great deal.”

             A member of the board of Wayne Enterprises, Miranda’s affluence makes her a vital ally to Bruce when the company becomes the target of a hostile takeover. On a more personal level, Nolan says, “She is looked at by Alfred and Lucius as a woman who could perhaps bring Bruce out of his own exile and remind him that there is more to life than sitting alone in the Batcave. Marion has an incredibly appealing presence with an exotic glamour. She brought a combination of warmth and wisdom to Miranda that provides a great sense of hope for Bruce.”

             , “The Dark Knight Rises” is distributed worldwide in IMAX, 2D and regular theaters by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

BALE IS BATMAN FOR THE LAST TIME IN “THE DARK KNIGHT RISES”

             Oscar® winner Christian Bale (“The Fighter”) plays the dual role of Bruce Wayne/Batman for the third and final time in Warner Bros.' “The Dark Knight Rises,” the concluding chapter in the highly acclaimed and celebrated trilogy, following “Batman Begins” and “The Dark Knight.”

Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne/Batman

             Christian Bale details, “In ‘Batman Begins,’ you see the tragedy and the pain that motivates this angry young man, who feels useless and is searching for a path—who wants to find out who he is and what he can become. Then in ‘The Dark Knight,’ he’s discovered that path. He is useful; he is doing what he imagines is the best thing for him to be doing in his life. Now, we are eight years on and he has lost the one thing that gave him a purpose…until he is forced to deal with a new threat to Gotham City and to himself.”

             Fulfilling the promise he made in “Batman Begins,” Bruce Wayne has had Wayne Manor rebuilt, “just as it was.” But now, the mansion has become more of a refuge than a home for its owner, who has retreated behind its stately walls.

             David S. Goyer, who crafted the story of “The Dark Knight Rises” with Christopher Nolan, says, “The reason we decided on a gap of eight years is that there needed to be significant enough time for the Batman legend to have faded a bit, and we wanted Bruce Wayne himself to have withdrawn behind a veil of rumor and mystery.”

             Bale says, “Bruce feels absolutely isolated since the tragedy of losing the woman he loved, Rachel, and the terrible turn of events with what happened to Harvey Dent. He carries a certain amount of guilt that if he had not chosen the course of becoming Batman, none of that would have happened. His belief has been rocked, and that has caught up with him, physically and emotionally. But how much longer can he allow the pain of what has happened in his life control what he does with his life? And at what point does it start to become completely self-destructive?”

             Nolan observes that, in giving up the guise of Batman for all those years, Bruce has, in a very real way, sacrificed both identities. “We come back to find a man who is no longer on a mission, even though that had always been the goal.”

             “On the surface, Gotham has become what Bruce had hoped for,” producer Emma Thomas adds, “but because it was all founded on a lie, nothing is quite that simple. It falls along the lines of ‘be careful what you wish for’ because without Batman, Bruce has no sense of purpose.” 

             “The reason I have always gravitated to the character of Batman is that, as often noted, he is a superhero with no super powers, apart from his wealth,” Nolan says. “His extraordinary nature has always come down to his extreme motivation and sheer dedication, which makes him a very credible individual.”

             “One of the great things about this character is that the least relatable thing about him is his billionaire status. Having those kinds of resources is something very few people could ever fathom. But the rest of it is understandable from an emotional perspective,” Bale comments.

             “It’s been very rewarding to watch Christian chart the progression of his role through the three films,” says Nolan. “He always had a strong commitment to finding the truth of the character, and I think you especially see that in this film, where he really embraced that Bruce is older, but not necessarily wiser. It’s a very thoughtful performance, and that’s what you consistently get from a talent like Christian.”

             Reflecting on the completion of the Dark Knight trilogy, Bale says, “It was very bittersweet when I took off the cowl for last time, because it’s meant so much to me personally to play this character. It never stopped giving me goose bumps to stand in that suit, because I recognize the honor of having portrayed this icon. And I can’t help but feel immensely proud.”

             Opening across the Philippines on Thursday, July 19 in IMAX, 2D and regular theaters, “The Dark Knight Rises” is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

ANNE HATHAWAY RE-INVENTS CATWOMAN IN “THE DARK KNIGHT RISES”

Academy Award-nominee Anne Hathaway is the brilliantly skilled thief named Selina Kyle—better known in the Batman canon as Catwoman – in Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures' “The Dark Knight Rises,” the epic conclusion to filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy.

Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle

             Nolan says, “We felt very strongly that we should have Catwoman in this film, but we always look for an organic way of grounding the characters in our world. Selina is a cat burglar, a grifter, a classic movie femme fatale, really. That was my way in, and we drew the iconic figure of Catwoman from that.”

             The only member of the main cast who counts this film as her first collaboration with Nolan, Hathaway admits, “It’s hard to reveal anything about Selina Kyle because she is intensely private and very mysterious. She has her own code of ethics, which sometimes involves doing things that other people might consider questionable.”

             Screenwriter Jonathan Nolan says, “Something about her morally ambiguous philosophy finally gives Batman someone he can relate to. In a weird way, she’s the yin to his yang. The dynamic between them is so fresh—the playful way she kind of pokes fun at him—it sparks a connection between them and takes some of the somberness away from his character.”

             In the film, Gotham’s most influential citizens have gathered at Wayne Manor for a benefit honoring Harvey Dent Day. It is the perfect hunting ground for the audacious and undeniably attractive cat burglar, Selina Kyle. Her encounter with Bruce Wayne has an unexpected effect on him.

             Christian Bale, who reprises his Batman/Bruce Wayne character, reveals, “What really impacts Bruce is that, after years of isolation, he’s meeting this woman he finds fascinating and funny. He suddenly recognizes he’s been seeking something, even unconsciously…that he’s lost all the color in his life and needs some human contact.”

             Hathaway asserts, “I think Bruce owes Selina a big thank you because he was leading a pretty lonely life until she came in and got his blood pumping and reminded him that there are fun people out there in the world. One of the things that fans have always enjoyed about Bruce and Selina is the playful side of their relationship. They may operate very differently, but they actually have a lot in common: they like to keep certain things hidden; they’re usually several steps ahead of everyone else in the room; and they prefer to dress in black,” she smiles. “I had so much fun working with Christian. He’s quick to laugh and have a good time, but he’s also so solid. He’s the kind of actor that raises your game.”

             Acting alongside Bale was not the only reason Hathaway was excited to portray what she calls “one of the most famous female comic book characters ever.” She recounts, “I did look back at some archival comics and read a lot about Bob Kane’s inspirations for Catwoman, but the most important thing was to be Catwoman in this film and fit into Christopher Nolan’s Gotham City. I’m such a huge fan of Chris’s. With Batman, he has been able to pose some really interesting philosophical questions, while shooting these spectacular action sequences and also finding the humor. It was a thrill to work with someone whose mind is so brilliant and whose talent is so very evident.”

             Nolan offers, “We needed to find the balance between the classic image of the character and a believable person you care about. Casting Anne Hathaway in the role was the key to that. She was able to combine those facets seamlessly so they aren’t in conflict, but one is amplifying the other.”

             “I think Selina does what is necessary to survive,” shares Hathaway, “and that includes crossing a few lines that others might find unforgivable. Even if she wants to change, it’s hard to escape your past…and she does have a past. That makes her vulnerable, especially these days when anyone with a computer or smartphone can look up almost anything about you. Everybody has moments in life when they think, ‘If I knew then what I know now…’ Selina might like the opportunity not to have to live by the choices she was forced to make up to this point.”

Opening across the Philippines on Thursday, July 19 in IMAX, 2D and regular theaters, “The Dark Knight Rises” is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

THE LEGEND ENDS IN “THE DARK KNIGHT RISES”

“Batman is the hero Gotham deserves...but not the one it needs right now.”

Those words, spoken by Commissioner Gordon at the end of 2008’s “The Dark Knight,” set in motion a fateful conspiracy that labeled Batman a murderer and Harvey Dent—who died, unbeknownst to the public, as the vengeful Two-Face—a crime-fighting crusader who paid the ultimate price. Predicated on that lie, Gotham City enacted tough new laws that put criminals behind bars or drove them beyond Gotham’s borders.

Now, Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures brings to the screen “The Dark Knight Rises,” the epic conclusion to filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy.

Christopher Nolan says, “Our story picks up eight years later, when it seems that Batman and Commissioner Gordon have succeeded—the Dark Knight is no longer needed in Gotham. In that regard, Bruce Wayne has won the battle, but he is traumatized by what happened and doesn’t know how to move on from being the figure of Batman. ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ very much deals with the consequences of his and other characters’ actions in the previous films.”

Leading an all-star international cast, Oscar® winner Christian Bale again plays the dual role of Bruce Wayne/Batman. Also starring are Anne Hathaway, as Selina Kyle; Tom Hardy, as Bane; Oscar® winner Marion Cotillard as Miranda Tate; and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, as John Blake.

Returning to the main cast, Oscar® winner Michael Caine plays Alfred; Gary Oldman is Commissioner Gordon; and Oscar® winner Morgan Freeman reprises the role of Lucius Fox.

With “The Dark Knight Rises,” Nolan completes the story arc he commenced with 2005’s “Batman Begins.” He recalls, “We were all very excited to bring this tale full circle; that was our chief inspiration for returning to Gotham. We also felt a tremendous sense of responsibility to fulfill expectations based on the first two movies while giving the audience something they hadn’t seen before. It was a tricky balance.”

The filmmakers and cast were also intent on maintaining a balance between heart-pounding action and intimate emotion. Producer Emma Thomas affirms, “Right from the start, Chris set out to make each of these films something that could not be categorized into any one genre. ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ has all of the excitement and fun that a big summer movie ought to have. The action is huge, but the story and characters are equally, if not more, important, because it’s hard to care about all the bells and whistles if there isn’t something to engage you in an emotional way.”

Producer Charles Roven adds, “We all want to be wowed, but we also want to be invested. Regardless of the scope, Chris has never lost his focus on the story and relationships, which goes back through all of his movies.”

The director also raised the bar for “The Dark Knight Rises” in expanding on his use of IMAX cameras. Nearly half of the movie was shot with the large-format cameras, utilizing ultra resolution 15 perf/65-millimeter film. Nolan states, “We got great results with the IMAX cameras on the last film. I appreciate what it offers from the technical side, but I’m most interested in what it can give me as a storytelling tool. How can it help me pull the audience deeper into this world? IMAX provides the broadest possible canvas, creating the most immersive experience.” 

“The Dark Knight Rises” will be presented on 70-millimeter film in 102 IMAX 15/70mm locations worldwide. 

“Having shot almost half the picture with large-format IMAX film cameras, it is very important to me that we show ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ in the IMAX film format wherever possible,” Nolan shares. “Audiences everywhere should be assured that every presentation of the film will be of the highest standard—having benefited from the clarity and depth IMAX cameras offer. However, these 102 screens will showcase the original IMAX film photography in its optimum form, and I hope anyone who has an opportunity to experience the film in these theatres will seek it out.”

 

Nolan concludes, “When you look back on the Dark Knight films, you can see the world we’re living in reflected, but we don’t want to be specific about it. We just come at the stories from the point of view of what concerns us. What gives us fear? What gives us hope? What would require a hero of Batman’s stature to rise up in our world?”

Opening across the Philippines on July 19 in IMAX, 2D and regular theaters, “The Dark Knight Rises” is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.