The Dark Knight Rises Review: Nolan's Epic Trilogy Closer
8/10 — The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Pros
- Grand scale
- Strong Hathaway and Hardy
- Satisfying conclusion
Cons
- Plot holes
- Hard-to-follow villain dialogue
Eight years after the events of The Dark Knight, a broken Bruce Wayne comes out of retirement to face Bane, a masked mercenary who traps Gotham in a siege. It concludes Christopher Nolan’s trilogy.
What works
The scale is huge, with a thrilling aerial opening and a city under occupation, and Tom Hardy is physically imposing as Bane. Anne Hathaway’s Catwoman adds fun, and the emotional conclusion to Bruce’s arc is satisfying.
Where it falters
Bane’s muffled voice is hard to follow, and the plot has holes. It can’t match its predecessor’s menace.
Verdict
Ambitious and exciting, if not as tight as the film before it.
