THE DARK KNIGHT RISES

US, 2012, 165 minutes, Colour.
Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Tom Hardy, Joseph Gordon- Levitt, Anne Hathaway, Marion Cotillard, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Matthew Modine, Liam Neeson, Tom Conti, Cillian Murphy, Ben Mendelsohn, Burn Gorman, Daniel Sunarta, Aidan Gillen, Juno Temple.
Directed by Christopher Nolan.

When Christopher Nolan re-visioned the Batman franchise in 2005 with Batman Begins, the reviews were very favourable. The film offered the story of Bruce Wayne and the loss of his parents, his early training in combat as well as conscience. It also offered a bleak story of Gotham City and the law’s failure to control powers of crime and evil. A sequel was the order of the day.

It came in the form of The Dark Knight in 2008. In many ways, Bruce Wayne moved from centre stage, quieter, more reclusive and a Batman who was prepared to be despised by the people he had saved. And, it offered the confrontation between the larger and louder than life villain, The Joker, in a quite alarming (and Oscar-winning) performance by Heath Ledger. It also offered the corruption of law enforcer, Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart).

Needless to say, audiences wanted more. Christopher Nolan has obliged, writing with his brother, Jonathan, with what is tagged as the conclusion of his trilogy. Not that the end of this film does not leave the way for someone else to start another trilogy with both Batman and Robin.

This film does not have the sometimes overwhelming impact of The Dark Knight – no Joker. However, at two and three quarter hours, it is a more substantial film. And, though reluctant at first, Bruce Wayne and Batman are back at centre stage, with a much more complex and engaging performance from Christian Bale. Michael Caine is also back as Alfred – but there are some emotional complications as well as Alfred is conscious of his role in serving and saving Bruce and Bruce feels the call to go back into action for Gotham City.

Other members of the cast are back, especially Gary Oldman as the police chief and Morgan Freeman as the engineer and inventor, Lucius Fox.

But, there is also a new villain, Bane, a giant, physical, overbearing presence who is developing a thug army in the sewers of Gotham City. He is masked (like a Hannibal Lecter) and is played by Tom Hardy (in the vein of his performance in Bronson). He has several fights with Wayne/Batman which are very visceral.

However, there are two leading ladies who play very well as contrasting with each other right to the end of the film. Anne Hathaway is not named as Catwoman but that is her expertise, a jewellery thief who is in the pay of Bane. Marion Cotillard is the philanthropist who wants to develop the projects at Wayne industries.

There is a very good performance from Joseph Gordon Leavitt as a young rookie who has grown up in an orphanage (run by a sympathetic priest, no suggestions of any impropriety). He has some quite powerful scenes, simply talking, but cutting to the core, quite movingly, of the issues of order, law, heroics, and what society needs.

As with the previous films, they can be considered in the light of current politics, this time the global financial meltdown, illegal deals in bringing down companies, a challenge to Wall St (Occupy Wall Street) as well as a kind of French Revolutionary revolt. There are challenges to ideas of master criminals and ruthlessness, even in using nuclear weapons, to the role of the police (and the consequences of their absence), to double standards and cover-ups. Finally, the film focuses on Bruce Wayne’s dedication to helping people and modestly vanishing from public acclaim. And there is a twist at the end that most of us will not see coming.

As with the previous film, Nolan has filmed some sequences (many more this time) in Imax format, vistas of the city as well as many of the considerable action pieces. To be seen on an Imax screen if possible.

While characters and action are from DC Comics, Nolan’s films are not simply Graphic Novels on screen. He has set a high standard in writing, characterisation, themes for thought. Nor is he a slouch at action. He has brought his trilogy to a satisfying conclusion.

1. The reputation of the Batman trilogy? Acclaim?

2. DC Comics, the background, the origins of Batman, the variety of versions for cinema and television, Christopher Nolan’s more serious treatment?

3. The overall picture of the trilogy: the origins of Bruce Wayne as Batman, the history of the Wayne family, Batman, Alfred as the Butler and mentor, the mansion, the enterprises, the focus on Gotham and its lawlessness, embodiment of evil, the population victimised, the adversaries, the Joker, Harvey Dent? The praise of Harvey Dent, the truth and cover-up, loyalties? The plot of the third film: Bane, his background, Selina and her involvement with Bane, the emerging army, Blake, the police, the need for Batman to return? Batman and his wealth, the fraud and his losing his wealth, the confrontation with Bane, defeat, his capture, the new beginning, the revolution in the city, the betrayal by Miranda? The nuclear threat? The ending and Gotham saved?

4. Gotham, the city, the Imax sequences, the action and prologue in Imax? The Wayne mansion, society gatherings, the sewers and the army, ordinary streets of New York, the orphanage, the prison? The musical score?

5. The prologue and its tone, the plane, the nuclear expert, the CIA, Bane and the takeover, the second plane, the capture of the scientist, the crash of the CIA plane?

6. Bruce Wayne as a recluse, his eight years out of the limelight, his injuries? His bad reputation in the city? Blamed for Harvey Dent’s death? The speeches in honour of Dent, the condemnations of Batman? Alfred, faithful service? Bruce Wayne’s meals, Selina carrying in the meal, snooping, stealing the pearls, the confrontation with Bruce? Her getting his fingerprints? The use of the fingerprints to empty the Wayne accounts? Bruce Wayne and his personality?

7. Bane, the deal with Selina, getting the fingerprints, the abduction of the congressman? Her disguises? Her being Catwoman? The encounters with Bruce, the dance, getting back the pearls? Her self-protection, the deal with Bane, betraying Bruce? Her changing, on the bike, the action sequences, her contribution to saving Gotham? The end and her being with Bruce in Florence?

8. Alfred, Michael Caine’s style, the past, his concern, his work in the mansion, trying to protect Bruce, not wanting him to go back as Batman, their clash, Bruce and his decision that Alfred should leave? Grief for Alfred? The end – and sighting Bruce and Selina in Florence?

9. Lucius, his inventions, their being on hold, Alfred and his help, the bomb, the dangers? The flood?

10. The police, trying to combat crime, the legislation of Harvey Dent, the protection of the people? Commissioner Gordon, his leadership, his wanting to denounce Harvey Dent, deciding the time was not right, his pocketing his speech? His leadership, the attack in the sewers, the army, his being captured, wounded, hospitalised? His interchanges with Blake? Admiring Blake, relying on him? The contrast with Foley, his being anti-Batman, leading the search against Batman, disobeying orders? Gordon and his leaving hospital, the revolution, Blake’s disillusionment, his teaming with Wayne, searching for the bomb?

11. Foley, his role, his not relying on Blake, his attitude towards Commissioner Gordon? Plans, the tunnel, the men and their being trapped? Imprisoned? At home, his change of heart, marching with his men, his death?

12. Blake, his work, police dedication, seeing him in action, the orphanage, knowing the truth about Bruce Wayne? His speech and sincerity towards Bruce? Wanting him to be Batman? His surviving the occupation, his action at the time of the nuclear threat, with Commissioner Gordon, taking the orphans and the priest to the bridge, the clash on the bridge, its collapse? Getting the children into the bus? The finale, going through the waterfall, to the cave – and his becoming Robin?

13. Bane, his appearance, the mask, the sound, his power? The thugs and the army? Ruthlessness? His using Selina to get Bruce Wayne’s fingerprints? The financial disaster? The siege of the stock exchange, power, brutality, letting some of the hostages escape? His own escape? The football field – and the collapse, the match, holding the people to ransom? His fighting Bruce, imprisoning him, the flashbacks about his story, helping Miranda escape? The vengeance by the fellow prisoners? His disfigurement, his mask? His support of Miranda, the nuclear bomb, the final clash, his defeat?

14. Miranda, her sponsoring the social event, talking with Bruce? Her support, the projects at Wayne Enterprises, the board meetings? The board being taken? Audience sympathy for her? Her night with Bruce?

15. Bruce and his imprisonment, the fellow prisoners, especially Tom Conti? The life in the prison, the hardships, getting his strength back? The flashbacks to the escape of the child climbing up the wall? Bruce’s attempts, failures? His rigorous training? Going up without the rope, his escape?

16. His visions in the night, his seeing his mentor, Ra's Al Ghul? His influence, his setting up the brotherhood, his heir? The truth, that he had a daughter?

17. The nuclear climax, the vehicles, Commissioner Gordon and the pursuit, Miranda and the revelation of the truth, her motivations, her vengeance, Fox and the flooding, the timing for the explosion?

18. Bruce, the vehicles, his plane, confounding the tanks? Selina and her help, the bike? His getting the bomb, taking it in his plane, the farewell to Selina, going out over the sea, the explosion?

19. The aftermath, officials keeping it a secret? The reputation of Batman?

20. The story of Florence, Alfred’s visits, always hoping to see Bruce? The end and Bruce and Selina?

21. DC Comics and their popularity, the film as presenting a graphic novel, but with more substance, characterisation, contemporary social issues?