For the
sake of not having to write the same intro a million
different ways throughout the rest of time, just know that
this column avoids the overly long and sometimes dull
process of full film reviews and instead opts to break
things down based on what I thought going in, what happened
while I was there and what I learned at the end of it all.
Hope that's OK.
Read on!
The
Breakdown - The Dark Knight Rises
The Impression:
Christopher Nolan brings his take on the Caped Crusader to a
close.
The Reality:
The Dark Knight Rises is a movie that has no interest
in being kind to anyone involved. It aims to punish,
and that is exactly what it does. All of the
characters you've spent two films falling in love with start
out in a terrible spot emotionally. Their previous
actions (spanning both movies, so make sure you're caught
up) are weighing heavy on them, and while Gotham City is as
peaceful as ever, they are all suffering. Then,
because the night is darkest just before the dawn, Bane
shows up and unleashes a wave of destruction that results in
even more pain. No one is safe. In fact, there's
always a lingering feeling that whoever is on the screen is
about to die. For some of you this is going to result
in The Dark Knight Rises simply being a movie that's
difficult to watch, and then there are those of you that
will find so much to cheer and cry for, you'll want to give
it everything you have as a viewer. Let me know which
side you end up on.
By the way, if you can find a moment in The Dark Knight
Rises where breathing feels semi-normal, you'll probably
notice the most important part it - everyone involved
is working on a super high level. It's a beautiful
looking film, the nearly three hour runtime feels
surprisingly brisk, and every actor that shows up on the
screen does their best to match the epic tale being told.
The Lesson:
Nolan deserves high-fives from everyone. Forever.
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John Laird under a
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