MAJOR SPOILER ALERT************ Now that everyone has had a chance to see this film I can finally go into my full review. I think this was a great film, if you look at it by ITSELF. When put in this trilogy, it was just not up to par. Christopher Nolan had made some huge shoes to fill after The Dark Knight, but he didn't even try to fill them. The villians were not nearly as entertaining or charismatic like Ledger's role was. I expected a lot more from this film. The minute Nolan announced he will finish his trilogy he was saying he is done with Batman after this. Well the main feeling I got from this film was that he was tired of Batman and just wanted to end it. His story seemed rushed and made really no impact compared to the other films. The greatest thing about this film were the amazing effects he used on Pittsburgh. To see Heinz Field caving in as football players are running across it was really cool.
Where were Bale's good lines? The scenes from TDK where Batman was patching himself up and explaining he was attacked by dogs. Alfred is surprised he had a problem with dogs. Bale quickly responds in defense "They were big dogs." Or when he is ready to reveal himself as Batman and Alfred says they will have to lock him up too, as his accomplice. Bale quickly smarts off "I am gonna tell them it was all your idea." Where were this comedic elements? Yes this film was very dark and set it a rough time of Batmans life but these aspects were what made the previous film so much better. Heath Ledger's performance was nothing short of brilliant but that was not the only thing that made the film great. Sadly TDKR was missing a lot of the other elements that pieced TDK together so well. My intial theory on this film's plot would have been so much better. Batman is on the run from the police leaving Gotham to fall prey to criminals once again. Insert Selina Kyle, a theif turned Vigilante that decides to pick up where Batman left off but instead of Wayne's faith in the justice system, she will kill the bad guys. Then enter Bane with the mass destruction plot. Bane's plan to finish was Liam's character started in the first film was just not that great of a plot. Very creative to trap the entire police force underground but just didn't play out that well. Then Bane releases all the criminals in the city yet the league of Shadows was determined to Punish Criminals in their own ways. This made no sense to me. Also Bane's mask and why he needs it was never fully explained except that he was attacked trying to save Talia, who pretends to be a love interest for Bruce until turning on him in the end which was not very surprising to me either. Selina Kyle was mostly an ally to Batman which was odd to me.
I did enjoy the ending though. Batman flys off with the nuke appearing to be killed but only to leave Gotham for good with Selina while officer Blake is revealed to be Robin who is seen most likely finding the Bat Cave and becoming Gotham's next hero. So much for no cliffhangers! I still think it was a great ending though. Now there is a chance for someone to continue this with a Robin or Nightwing film. Who knows!
Of all of Nolan's films I feel this was just not his best work. It could have been so much better if he weren't in such a hurry to end his story and move on to whatever projects that he is interested in. The Dark Knight will always reign supreme as one of the best films I have ever seen. Batman Begins is much better than the final installment. The Dark Knight Rises was just a quick ending to an amazing story the creator didn't want to spend a lot of time on.
