Things to Love About The Dark Knight Rises with Spoilers PART 1

MEGA SPOILERS on this post. Don't read this if you're just going to bitch about being SPOILED.

So for this living under a rock "The Dark Knight Rises" is the third installment in the new Batman film franchise. It's directed by Christopher Nolan and stars a bevy of Hollywood heavyhitters like Christian Bale, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman and now includes Anne Hathaway, Joseph Gordon Levitt and Marion Cotillard.

1. It's got elements from Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns

Frank Miller changed the comic scene when he launched this story set 50 years into Batman's future. We find Bruce an old and bitter man who has long since hung up his cowl. He is forced to return as Batman after a series of bizaare events now with a new partner in Carrie who becomes the latest ROBIN.

When you catch the movie all the basic elements are there. TDKR starts 8 years after the events of the previous movie "The Dark Knight Rises" and shows a broken Bruce Wayne. Unable to move on after the death of his ladylove Rachel Dawes as well as being pinned for the death of Harvey Dent, the self-styled "white knight".

Just like in Frank Miller's "Returns", Batman meets a heroic death. The comic book shows Batman "dying" after facing off against Superman while in Nolan's third movie, Batman dies after taking a nuclear bomb away from Gotham City and seemingly getting caught in the explosion.

Of course since its loosely based on Miller's seminal work, both Batman fakes their death. The comic version goes underground together with Robin, Green Arrow and a few members of the "Sons of the Bat" gang for training. Meanwhile in Nolan's story, we see Michael Caine's Alfred taking a vacation in Paris and finds Bruce and Selina enjoying breakfast in the cafe.

2. Marion Cotillard as Talia Al Ghul

Yes she gets cast in the film as "Miranda Tate" a millionaire who wants to make the world a better place. She's also the daughter of Ras Al Ghul (Liam Neeson) who died in the first movie and takes a swing at getting even with Batman for the death of her father. She makes a power play to gain control of Wayne Enterprises from within and without with the help of Bane (Tom Hardy).

Too bad we never get to see a fist fight between Catwoman and Talia Al Ghul

Cotillard was the perfect choice for the character. After seeing her as Leonardo DiCaprio's wife Mal in "Inception" this definitely proves the point that she's got a non-traditional femme fatale air around her. 


Too bad though she DIES which makes it next to impossible to have Damien appear in a sequel...

3. Bane Breaks Batman's Back

Much props to the production team on TDKR for making Tom Hardy such a physically imposing character in this film. I really find it scary that this guy is running around with a small army when he can totally decimate a large swat of police officers if he wants to.

Hardy also showed volatility when he got his ass beat by Batman towards the finale. We see a different side of his character when he goes and sheds a tear in front of Talia, while she fixes her breathing mask. Oh and I guess we have to thank the creative team for writing him as an intelligent and manipulative bastard who wants to go and be "Gotham's reckoning".

Oh and one more thing about Bane, he really did go and break the Batman's back which was awesome and at the same time terrifying.

In the film, Bane breaks Batman's back. This happens shortly after Catwoman betrays Batman in order to save her neck. Batman tries to fight off Bane but gets seriously beaten thanks to Batman becoming so complacent with his training and mindset. 

4. The Bat and other gadgets

Batman returns to the scene 8 years after the the whole Harvey Dent fiasco. In the span of eight years Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman) manages to create something cooler than the Batmobile/ Tumbler. It's called the Bat and it's basically a helicopter that doesn't look a bit like a helicopter. It actually looks more like a jet in my opinion.

Anyway the inclusion of The Bat was more than just eye candy. Believe it or not there would be no ending if not for the Bat's participation. In the film's final moments, Bruce Wayne takes The Bat where it safely detonates the nuclear bomb that Bane and Talia plant.

Aside from the Bat, the Batpod is also back (which Bats later gives to Selina Kyle)...

and then there was the EMP gun that Batman uses to actually stop cars from running and to create shadows for him to use...

It would be totally awesome if the police had this kind of weapon when in a car chase noh?

5. John Blake is Robin

Possibly one of the biggest twists in TDKR was the beginning of a new life for GCPD/ Detective John Blake played by Joseph Gordon Levitt. He appears throughout the film as a good guy with very strong principles and morals. He's the go-to-guy when Gotham City falls acting as the communication line for the stranded police officers in the sewers and what's remaining above ground.

While he really doesn't display too much fighting prowess in the film, he shares a lot of common traits with most (if not all) of the Robins who worked with Batman in the comics.

a. He's an orphan (much like Dick Grayson, Tim Drake and Jason Todd)
b. He's a kid from the streets (much like Jason Todd)
c. He's a police officer (similar to Dick Grayson who worked for Bludhaven PD)
d. A keen detective (like Tim Drake)
e. Hotheaded (Jason Todd)

The major difference between Blake and the other canonical Robins is the fact that he is actually named Robin. I'm really not sure at the moment if his full name is Robin John Blake or if its just Robin Blake. Bottomline is that being "Robin" is in his nature.

The post is getting long so I really need to cut this in half. Be back in two shakes for other stuff that I loved from TDKR such as the action scenes, the ideologies and much, much more.