Recently we had Batman Day, so I decided to talk about one of my favorite Batman movies – The Dark Knight Rises.
It seems to me that people hate this movie. Or at least, consider it as a big disappointment.
Is it?
The opposite. I think The Dark Knight Rises is a great film, that above all, brings The Dark Knight Trilogy to a phenomenal conclusion.
So, why all the hate?
One word – expectations.
The Dark Knight Rises wasn’t just a movie, or even just a trilogy-capper. It was a sequel to one of the greatest films of all times, The Dark Knight.
After that movie received critical acclaim, Oscars, and changed the landmark for superhero films, people expected the next one to be at the same level.
But just because it’s not at the same level, doesn’t mean the movie is bad.
Let’s face it, there was no way that The Dark Knight Rises could match its predecessor.
Most people are disappointed that Bane is not the Joker, but I said it’s a blessing.
Originally, Warner wanted The Riddler to be the villain in this film. But Nolan resisted, because he felt that he’s too similar to the Joker. He wanted a villain with a physical presence, to make him look different then the Joker.
While I agree that the plot is not as great as The Dark Knight, and the movie is less cohesive and tight than its predecessor, it’s still a phenomenal film.
From Christopher Nolan’s fantastic direction, to the epic cinematography of Wally Pfister, and of course, the chilling score of Hans Zimmer.
This is the climax of emotions and action, and you can feel the sense of finality in every second.
It all culminates in a massive third act, which includes an epic battle between thousands of people on the streets of Gotham, and a thrilling car chase.
The movie also has one of my favorite scenes of all time, when Bruce Wayne is climbing out of the pit. This is what movies are made for.
And of course, the final 10 minutes are so beautiful, and wrap the trilogy in the best way possible.
This is a finale that deserves to stand among other great finale movies such as The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Avengers: Endgame, and more.
I really hope people will appreciate this movie once more!
