The Dark Knight Rises is the final part of Christopher Nolan’s Batman saga. Known for his dark approach to the iconic superhero and intricate storylines, Nolan’s Batman universe rose as the golden standard for the superhero movie. After the record-breaking success of The Dark Knight, the sequel quickly found itself in the dreaded and often-cursed position of trilogy-ender. However, fans remained confident and practically threw their faith in Nolan’s inability to produce a below average movie.
The Dark Knight Rises was purely epic. It wasn’t without its flaws, but the final product was clear in its darkness. The inter-weaving storylines and twisted characters left little to be desired as every ounce of Nolan was worked into their being. With almost three hours worth of film, the sense of controlled chaos that Nolan is known for crept itself to a shattering climax – or five. With so many pivotal moments, to name only five is to do Rises a disservice, but looking into the themes of the movie, here are the five scenes that made it.
5. Bane’s Attack On The Airplane
The introduction of the key villain is arguably the most important aspect of a film as it sets the tone by revealing the sense of conflict the protagonist will resolve – or in some cases, fail to resolve. The construction of this scene usually involves a successful ploy that gives insight on the villain’s often psychotic intentions with terror being the source and outcome from this perceived opposition. Bane’s introduction was no different and was beautifully crafted in the smallest of details.
The second Bane spoke, the entire feel of the movie shifted into fear. The echoing voice and the sheer theatricality immediately set Bane to be the worst kind of villain – a clever one who was not bent on revenge, but intention. The audience knew Bane was set up to succeed, but how it would play out made the introduction all the more effective.
Once his cover was revealed, he controlled the scene. He was the scene and he was real. His plan, his fury, and his chaos spread throughout the tiny plane cabin instilling pure fear and claustrophobia. To end it all, Bane told – not commanded – his lackey to stay behind on the ill-fated plane. When his lackey smiled back with blind faith, terror took its place.
4. Bruce Wayne Rises From The Pit
Though not surprising in the slightest bit, Bruce Wayne manages to escape the prison of despair and with that, the almighty Dark Knight rises. Much of the pit served to humanize Bruce and hand him the weakness of humanity. Much like a standard superhero film, Bruce is plagued by inner demons that arose from his endeavors in previous films. Unlike a standard superhero film, the rise to freedom was depicted as a journey instead of a mere circle. He was not battling inner demons that hindered his performance, he was battling a physical and tangible block in duty.
When Bruce finally decided to attempt the climb without a rope, the scene was nothing but pure freedom. The chanting that resonated with each step, the brightness of the hope above, and the innocence of Bruce’s flashback showing his father climbing down to rescue him – which was gorgeously nostalgic to watch – was pulled of effortlessly. Batman was back.
(My entire theater, myself included, erupted into cheers and applause when Bruce successfully jumped onto the ledge.)
3. The Sewer Fight
And so Batman formally meets Bane. There can be no rise without a fall. The scene leading up to this fight with Catwoman was expertly paced to build up the meeting of these two fated rivals. It wasn’t clear if Batman was actually going to face Bane, but the quick succession of scenes shrouded the true purpose of Catwoman’s plight; drama which was all too familiar for Bane. When the gate closed, everyone including Batman knew the “storm was coming.”
The brawl was long awaited and it delivered. Not only was the camera panned back so the audience could see the choreographed fight, the music was absent. Rather, the sound of fists and grunts orchestrated a haunting fight, one that Batman was sure to lose. Bane’s dialogue was equally captivating, with each insult and statement spoken only to empower himself and to provoke his opponent into a blind rage. To end it all came a nod to the comics where Bane lifts Batman up and proceeds to crack his back. The first confrontation did its job in allowing Batman to lose in glory.
And throughout this brawl, Catwoman’s looks of guilt was the hope in despair that fit the themes of the movie all too well.
2. Bane’s Speech At Blackgate
If the Joker’s isolated games of chaos wasn’t enough for Gotham, Bane came forward with a vision of chaos: to strip the power from the powerful and to give hope to the hopeless and to bring justice to the lawful and law to the lawless. This shift in classes and politics strengthened Bane’s grasp on his own rise to corruption by being the central figure in the confusion. What were the punished going to do with freedom they never knew? Put blind faith in Bane, so much as to warrant a smile when Bane tells them to stay behind on a crashing plane.
With the city in loose shackles, Bane remained true to his name. He spoke of corruption while causing it and once again gave hope to a city newly formed from despair. His vision was accomplished.
1. Capture of Gotham
Could there have been a more pivotal moment? This was when things got really bad. With Batman gone and Gordon in the hospital, there was no hope for what was about to happen. The patriotic Star-Spangled Banner playing as Bane walked down his road to revolution was one of the best moments in the entire movie. He stepped out of the darkness heralding the news of Gotham’s destruction while everyone looked directly at the man responsible for it all. Bane, being one for theatrics, wanted the city to see their “savior” and revel in his presence.
He had the charisma, the fear, and what it took to be the poster boy for what would eventually be revealed as Talia’s version of chaos.
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