Rises

Well.

I take it that you have all seen this.

Let us look at the things I did not like first.

Maybe you could have seen a little more of Michael Caine as Alfred.

Why did he return with just one day left?

I did not like the way Marion Cotillard died – she is a fantastic actress but that was underwhelming.

Maybe; just maybe it could have been a little less depressing – in that he is broke/the take all the stuff from the Research and Applications Lab/ Alfred goes. But maybe that was how they could justify ending it.

Thats it. Feels like a mobile phone review where they say – pixel density is less; photos are not warm enough; 32GB but not expandable – all small problems.

First – to the cast.

Christian Bale – he doesn’t have that much of screen time. And not much dialogue as Batman either – which is a good thing as it felt really contrived in the previous two films. But; there isn’t much to fault in his performance. He’s put on weight again after the Fighter; which has to be unhealthy. Will miss him as Batman – as there will certainly be more films.

Michael Caine – who doesn’t like Michael Caine? With that accent?

Marion Cotillard – Chris Nolan has his favourites. But it is a very good list of them. I’ve scrolled through La Vie en Rose and while it looks depressing you can see a case for her winning Best Actress then. Read she has a case now even for her performance in Rust and Bone. Doesnt have much to do here; but still looks lovely – but that little mark on her forehead which you could see in Inception is still there. I am being very harsh.

 

Anne Hathaway -  There are a number of scenes in this film that deserve to be re-watched. I could use my video trimming techniques and compile all of Anne Hathaway’s scenes and watch them again and again. Since i first saw her act – and no that was not in Princess Diaries and i am not a paedophile – i felt that she is possibly the prettiest actress out there. I felt that she had put on a little weight recently; but she has definitely shed that to fit into that amazing suit – and the best view of the suit is when she is on the bike and blowing a hole in the tunnel towards the end. That Batpod turned heads in The Dark Knight. Took it to a whole new level here; including the amazing way the wheels spin. Just so much to like about this film.

When i read she would play Catwoman i was a little confused. I thought there were other actresses better suited to the role. Say Kate Beckinsale who was my first choice. But she does a fine job and i doubt anyone would have been disappointed. As is the case with all the actors in this; they are accomplished; talented and nearly all of them have been Oscar nominees or winners. Anne Hathaway is a front-runner this year for Les Miserables. If you don’t think they fit the role they prove you wrong. Coming to the role and it does lack a back story; when Bane does have one. But you do not know where her allegiance lies – as is the case with Catwoman. I thought Juno Temple was unnecessary in this film though.

Tom Hardy – Do you know that they are rebooting the Mad Max series? I haven’t seen any of them but Tom Hardy will play the title role that Mel Gibson played. Did you also know that Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell will be made into a movie? And it is Tom Hardy playing the main character Sam Fisher. From where has he popped up? A minor role in Inception; followed by a great turn as a boxer in Warrior (really good) and now he is everywhere. There isn’t much acting to be done here. But Nolan converted Bane from the dithering foolish giant into a visceral fighting machine. And i doubt I could think of anyone else who fit the profile. Bane does meet a soft end; but at least it is a smart one. Before the reveal of Talia al’Ghul; Batman does have the upper-hand as he is after the mask; but i didn’t think there was any chance of Bane losing a fair fight. So; cheat. In tune with how the Catwoman is and the only way. Still more believable than – No man can kill the Witch King of Narzgul and a woman kills him.

Gary Oldman – in this film Gary is just an Old man. Now since Joseph Gordon-Levitt is great that was fine.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt – Maybe Chris Nolan felt that if anyone had to continue this series – maybe even him if stuff doesn’t go his way – he could use Robin. Or maybe he was forced to use Robin somewhere. Still; this is a very good character that they have brought in. He is a bankable actor is Gordon-Levitt.

Liam Neeson – I saw Darkman recently. Weird seeing Liam Neeson 20 years ago getting emotional. A very small role but another actor i like.

Morgan Freeman’s there too. So is Cilian Murphy (watch Red Lights – decent film with De Niro). As i said the cast of this film is really good – all of them I like. I don’t like Maggie Gyllenhaal. I’m so so about Aaron Eckhart. And they aren’t here.

The Ending?

It isn’t Inception style where it could be one or the other. Michael Caine actually sees them in that Cafe in Florence. While I am a fan of sad endings this film (and the trilogy) did not merit one and i was actually disappointed that he died. He didn’t. He wanted out and he did it the right way. Plus Anne Hathaway is alive too. Maybe if they release ‘A Good Day to Batman’ in Italy like they did with Die Hard they could have both Batman and Catwoman. (a dig at a stupid plot in the 5^th Die Hard PG-13 film)