The Dark Knight Rises ***** (2012, Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Anne Hathaway, Tom Hardy) – Classic Movie Review 5814

Following 2008’s The Dark Knight, Christopher Nolan then made the final chapter of his trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises, which was premiered in New York City on 16 July 2012 and released on 20 July 2012.

It was acclaimed as one of the best films of 2012 and, like the previous film, again grossed over $1 billion worldwide. Thus Nolan completed his Batman film trilogy and hung up his Batsuit in triumph.

Christian Bale reprises Bruce Wayne/Batman, with a returning cast of Michael Caine as Alfred Pennyworth, Gary Oldman as James Gordon, and Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox. The film introduces Selina Kyle (Anne Hathaway) and merciless revolutionary Bane (Tom Hardy), who forces Wayne to resume his role as Batman and save Gotham City from nuclear destruction.

Nolan developed a story with his brother Jonathan Nolan and David S Goyer to end the trilogy on this triumphal note, drawing inspiration from Bane’s comic book debut in the 1993 Knightfall storyline, the 1986 series The Dark Knight Returns, and the 1999 storyline No Man’s Land.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Blake, Marion Cotillard plays Miranda and Matthew Modine plays Foley.

The locations included Jodhpur, London, Nottingham, Glasgow, Los Angeles, New York City, Newark and Pittsburgh.

Nolan used IMAX 70 mm film cameras for much of the shoot.

After this, Ben Affleck, who had been on the short list for Bruce Wayne/Batman in Batman Begins back in 2005, finally got his chance to wear the Batsuit in Zack Snyder’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016).

Nolan went on to Interstellar (2014) and Dunkirk (2017).

RIP Adam West, the first ever Batman in a cinema feature – Batman: The Movie (1966).

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5814

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