The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

This final sequel sums up Christopher Nolan's achievement to reboot the franchise. His ultimate task was to clean up the mess created by Joel Schumacher and his bomb Batman & Robin: Bane. In this movie, Bane is a mastermind, brutal and merciless even without the growth serum, and determined to fulfill Ra's Al Ghul's destiny.

Nolan pioneers a movie project with a mega-large budget. It appears that most of the destruction to buildings and infrastructure, including the football grounds, is real and had to be correctly executed. However, such work is computer-generated as it is obvious that real destruction is far too costly.

It has been eight years since Batman declared himself an outlaw and hid away from the public. Bruce Wayne is crippled and reclusive; Alfred is displeased with his delay to move on as he believes Gotham will need the Bat again. So it must be the case of this quote from the last movie, "You can die a hero or live long enough to be called a villain." It looks like Wayne was determined to be that hero rather than continue to live a life as a fugitive.

This movie also brings in Selina Kyle/Catwoman, even though we were already satisfied with her appearance in Batman Returns. Nevertheless it was decided that since Rachel died in the previous installment, Bruce Wayne/Batman would need a new love interest, just as is the case in the comics. And cleverly revisited is the ballroom dance scene between Wayne and Kyle, as was the case in the aforementioned movie. Just a classic reminder brought closer to the beginning rather than closer to the end.

Bane executes his role brilliantly: he not only aims to fulfill the long-standing plot to decimate Gotham, but he successfully "breaks the Bat," literally and metaphorically. He makes certain that he knows Batman's true identity is revealed, and that Bruce is ruined as a result of the raid on the stock exchange. Whoever thought he could hack into the billionaire's account with such expertise? Quite impressive, I would say myself. And let's not forget Bruce's incarceration in the "pit of Hell", where many languish and lose all hope of ever re-emerging into the light. There is no better way to break a man's spirit than to force him to watch Gotham tear itself apart in the hands of a brute, while sequestered in a deep prison.

And thank you, Commissioner Gordon, for keeping hold of that letter. Now Bane can reveal the truth about Harvey Dent, and release several inmates from Blackgate Prison, who have languished under the controversial "Dent Act". Bane can unleash the plague on Gotham before it can be decimated with a fusion core. That so-called "vanity project" has been mothballed by Wayne but rekindled by Bane and his minions.

I must admit the clever writing regarding the "child of Ra's Al Ghul". When I first watched this movie I, too, assumed that Bane was that child. But he was not, it is Miranda Tates. There is no obvious plot twist as in frequent flashbacks the child who climb out of the pit was a girl and not a boy. I thought I was completely caught off-guard and left bewildered; however, this plot point is completely logical.

"The Legend Ends." The tagline to this movie marks the summary to the movie as Nolan's final work--his tremendous assignment to revive the Batman franchise. This action director has invigorated the action, and upheld integrity with comprehensive writing and plot. Let us also note the solid acting and faithfulness to the source material. Nolan has scored a hat-trick, and has added his three movies to the list if greatest movies of all time.

The Dark Knight (2008)

Christopher Nolan reprises his role as director. This sequel presents another villain from the comics, The Joker, who already made his appearance in Tim Burton's version but chooses to adhere to his scary personality from the comics. In addition, we are given the real Two-Face who has been in need of a desperate reboot after an embarrassing screen-time on Batman Forever.

 

So what what does the Joker have in mind? He wants control of the mob of Gotham, and he wants to run crime his way. But one thing which he has been elaborately scheming all the while, is to bring down Harvey Dent. District-Attorney Harvey Dent has been scoring points rounding up mobsters, sending them to prison, and making his field day in court. The Batman thinks Dent can pull it off without a mask or cape and cowl, and wishes to retire and let Dent do the real crime-fighting. Besides, Dent is the inspiration Gotham deserves, and Batman does not accept the emergence of copycat vigilantes donning mock Bat costumes.

 

The Joker may be called a freak, but he devises his most brilliant plan. This writing sounds familiar, as though derived from the previous movies Batman Returns and Batman Forever:  the villains break the hero by turning him into the thing he hates most, and then manipulating the very thing he loves most. The Batman notes that should this scheme come to pass, "all the criminals he [Dent] put away will be released, and Lieutenant Gordon's death will be for nothing."

The brilliant writing from previous movies to adapt the story in this movie has been well implemented to reboot these villains into the ones from the comics. One other characteristic of Two-Face most radically restored, is his "game of chance". He flips his coin and accepts its outcome, as opposed to the Schumacher movie where he flips it continually until he gets the result he desires. Though unlike Burton's movie, this movie does not explicitly explain The Joker's origin: instead of falling into a vat of chemicals, The Joker is just a criminal who scarred his face due to a bad father and his impact on his adulthood. I presume that the Joker's back-story has already been adequately explained in Tim Burton's movie, and so would not be necessary for this movie. 

 

It is also tragic to hear that Bruce Wayne's one and only love interest Rachel has revealed her love for Dent, and has shocked Alfred before Wayne himself. It was a thoughtful idea to never tell Wayne yet as this could have crippled his spirit as well. Well done, Alfred, for burning that letter.

This movie also goes the length to demonstrating the Joker's near-death: similar to the climax in Batman (1989), the Joker is hung upside-down with a zip wire but does not plummet to his death. The funny thing about the Joker is that killing the Batman would be futile as he sees it as "fun". On the other hand, Batman proves himself to be the type who does not believe in vigilante justice by letting the Joker hang on for dear life, rather than letting him drop to his death.

 

So Nolan scores another distinction for redefining Harvey Dent/Two-Face and The Joker. Let's not forget the professional writing, plot, action scenes, atmosphere, solid and well-executed acting, and consistent recasting of actors from the previous movie, despite running time exceeding two and a half hours. This movie has had several memorable quotes noted and posted on various media, notably the Joker's tagline "Why So Serious?", which has been printed on his facial image on Facebook.

Batman Begins (2004)

Christopher Nolan resurrects a revered comic book franchise once ruined by Joel Schumacher. He reboots the franchise by working from scratch to define the transition of the cape crusader.

Give thanks for this move starts off with Bruce Wayne's past, from his childhood to adulthood. Unlike Tim Burton's Batman (1989), this movie explores the depth of Bruce Wayne: the death of his parents, the convict who killed them, Wayne's anguish and guilt, his determination to explore the criminal underworld by incarcerating himself, and the depths of Gotham as a city in ruin. This movie pays more attention on Gotham's decay due to crime and corruption, the growing breadth between the rich and poor, how the less fortunate turn to crime to survive, and the exploitative determination to redefine regeneration.

Like the comics and unlike Batman, this movie shows that Joe Chill is responsible for the death of Bruce Wayne's parents. Joe Chill robbed them at gunpoint because he was desolate and desperate, not a psychopath as was falsely claimed in the previous franchise. He is arrested and incarcerated but Bruce thinks he is not worthy of parole. Now to conquer crime and uphold justice, should that involve execution of a perpetrator? And will taking a life of a criminal set things right? Well that is a topic left for Bruce Wayne to resolve as he trains among the League of Shadows, a cult of assassins trained to uphold justice in their way and combat fear and guilt in their hearts. Ra's Al Ghul acts as his mentor, trains him to combat his guilt for the past, and teaches him to realize that Gotham is a cesspit that must be destroyed to start all over again.

This film does more of what Burton's movie failed to do: it goes into greater depth to explaining Batman's ascent to the Dark Knight as he samples every piece of expensive armory and equipment. We see how every one of them is acquired and manufactured by Lucius Fox--just to answer some questions regarding who makes the paraphernalia for the Batman.

So what made Bruce Wayne don the Bat alias? Bats. He notes that bats strike fear into the hearts of men, just they did his. (This was also explained in Batman Forever.) So his suit dons a feature to intimidate his targets, and a newer bat insignia. 

So by adhering to the comics and evening the tone, this movie has appealed to fans and non-fans alike. Warner had recruited an action movie director to pioneer this project and drive this movie on a path to resurrection.