The Batman Trilogy

As dawn approaches on a chilly Canberra morning, I am sitting here wired after my 9 hour Batman marathon has come to an end. The experience of watching the Christopher Nolan Batman trilogy back to back over this night has left me with a new appreciation of the brilliance of this masterful director but it also reminded me why I usually avoid midnight screenings. This review will recap the films in order ending with the latest release [N.B. This review does not contain any plot spoilers if you wish to see the film].

Batman Begins

A small but stunning performance by Katie Holmes

Going into the first film of the trilogy I was a little hesitant. I missed this film at the cinemas when it was first released and had only watched it on DVD. Unfortunately, I found my DVD viewing of the film a disappointment with the plot seemingly laborious and the acting only mediocre. However, the cinema experience of this film changed my impression drastically. On the big screen with surround sound, the action sequences come to life more explosively and create that arm chair thrill ride Nolan is renowned for. This is particularly evident in the finale in which Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) and Henri Ducard (Liam Neeson) battle through a speeding train carriage to save Gotham city. Moreover, the performance of Katie Holmes as Rachel Dawes has a subtlety and innocence to it that makes her brief appearances powerful. This film though still disappoints in its comparatively looser plotting and unfortunate one-liners. The circular structure of the narrative, going back and forth in time for the maturing Bruce Wayne, leaves sections feeling flat and although some may argue this heightens the action sequences, it ultimately means it lacks the immediacy and intensity of its successors. Also, the attempts at humour during some of the action sequences are below par compared to the rest of the film and only serve to highlight the flaws in this film. Overall though, when seen in relation to The Dark Knight, this is a solid start to the trilogy and creates a strong foundation for the films that follow. Bruce Wayne/Batman is presented as a conflicted but virtuous and noble hero for a new age and the film takes Batman from shallow comic book hero to a complex hero for our uncertain times.

The Dark Knight

Heath Ledger shines as the Joker

After a quick coffee break, thanks to the young man in Koko Black who kindly rushed our order and allowed us to pay him rather than the cashier, I returned for the second instalment in the trilogy. This time I had none of the concerns that accompanied my approach to Batman Begins. The Dark Knight is one of the reasons I have become such as huge Christopher Nolan fan and it is a film and DVD that I have seen and enjoyed multiple times. The accomplishments of the film are many: an eerie and haunting musical score, an outstanding performance by Heath Ledger as the Joker, a gripping plot and spectacular cinematography. In fact, the cinema experiences heightened the sense of dread and darkness this film created as the Joker’s seemingly unstoppable crusade against Gotham was carried out. In particular, the musical score by James Newton Howard and Hans Zimmer really stand out as essential to the film’s success. Also, the tight plot structure makes it stand out from its fellow films in that we can focus intently on the two main actors: the excellent Heath Ledger and intense Christian Bale. Of the two, Heath Ledger really does steal the show with his performance. There is a chill you feel when he tells one of his many version of how he got his facial scars and his reactions when being interrogated by Batman in the police station almost make you wonder if he did in fact go insane performing the role. Finally, the dramatic end with the boats and Batman’s exile lend a serious and thoughtful end to this rollercoaster ride of a movie.

The Dark Knight Rises

Bane vs Batman is a gripping battle

Three weeks later...

I have just returned home from seeing the film for the second time. It would be remiss of me to not mention this fact in case you thought all 3 reviews were written on the night. Although this was the plan, sheer tiredness got the better of me. Moreover, I wanted to appreciate the film while being more awake as the move marathon made following Bane’s speech hard enough let alone the plot twists.

Firstly, Nolan does not disappoint with this final instalment of the trilogy. For all the criticisms that can be made about the film, and there are some legitimate ones, this is the epic masterpiece the series deserved. Not only does the film successfully tie together the storylines from the first two films but gives Batman/Bruce Wayne the ending he deserves. In fact, this is one of the major strengths of the film and further proves the masterful work of Nolan as a director.

This success however can lead to one of the major criticisms of the film: its length. At nearly three hours this is a long film and requires a bit of concentration. It also helps to be well versed in the previous instalments as the references back to the other two films are pivotal to the plot twists. Thus, as a standalone film this does not stand up well and can make it inaccessible for some viewers.

However, this criticism misses the point that this is the last film in a trilogy and needs to be viewed in these terms. The length is a result of the need to tie up all the loose ends that the first two films introduced and without the flashbacks the character development doesn’t have the same emotional impact. Take for instance the role of Commissioner Gordon, his influence in this film is comparatively smaller compared to the previous two films but his seeming betrayal and redemption are meaningless without this background. A similar argument can be made for the role of Alfred, who once again has a much smaller role in the final film.

Moreover, the set piece action sequences need to be seen in the cinema to be fully appreciated. The opening sequence with the aeroplane jacking and the football field collapse are breath taking and remind me of some of the great sequences from The Dark Knight. Similarly, the sequences in the pit are intense and gritty: giving the viewer to a fuller appreciation of Bane’s motivation. Thus, Nolan gives us a well rounded bad guy in Bane that makes his battle with Batman even more intense.

Lastly, the film is an epic and should be forgiven its faults because of this. Thinking back on some of the greatest films of all time, such as Gone with the Wind and Citizen Kane, these too are long and could be argued to be boring in parts but the epic nature of these films requires of the viewer to accept this as part of the viewing experience. Now, it is clearly a bit early to compare this film to these certified greats but as a trilogy goes this has already begun to cement itself as an all time favourite. Nolan is already recognised as one of the most influential directors of his generation and this series has proven why.