Rental Review: The Dark Knight Rises

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Thanks to snow storm Nemo, I was finally able to watch "The Dark Knight Rises" which I've had on my coffee table from Netflix for the last month.

I have to admit, I was waiting for the release of the movie all last summer and when the shooting happened on premiere night, I was shaken. Though I realize, rationally, it was one random act, I was spooked and I couldn't get myself to see the movie in the theater.

I added the film to my Netflix wish list before it even came out on DVD, ensuring I would be one of the first people to get to watch it at home.

First let me say, "The Dark Knight Rises" is a scary movie. I've felt nervous or anxious before during previous Batman movies (for example when Heath Ledger's Joker was planning to blow up two boats full of people), but I've never felt scared. This installment of the Batman franchise actually made my heart race and my body tense up.

Christian Bale is back as Bruce Wayne and is just as sexy ever. It's kind of a shame he's such a nut case in real life.

Bruce begins the film as a total recluse who hasn't left his mansion in 8 years. He took the fall for Harvey Dent for the good of Gotham and hasn't seen the light of day. When he does eventually "suit up" (as Barney Stinson would say), he looks like a million bucks.

About half way through the movie Bruce decides to wear the bat suit once again. Woo hoo!

In the film, Batman takes on three different villains. The first is Cat Woman, played by Anne Hathaway. Now, I know a lot of people hate Anne Hathaway, but I thought she was fantastic in this. As Selina Kyle by day, she was irresistible.

On heists, when she transformed into Cat Woman, she was powerful and demolished her enemies by piercing them with her high heels. My kind of girl!

Though Batman and Cat Woman are entangled at the start, toward the end of the film they band together to fight Bane, one of the creepiest Batman opponents in the franchise's history.

Bane wears a mask and has a deep, robotic voice that could easily haunt your dreams. Major kudos to actor Tom Hardy who plays him with total commitment.

At the close of the film we learn that Miranda Tate, who we thought was just one of Bruce's business partners, is actually his prime enemy, funding Bane and his guerrilla army. I did not see that coming! I was totally duped.

I also completely forgot that Morgan Freeman is part of the "Dark Knight" series! He plays Bruce's Batman advisor, Lucius Fox.

Also returning to Team Batman is Michael Caine as Bruce's butler and mentor, Alfred. I loved the scene where Bruce went out on the town for the first time in years and got his car stolen, leaving Alfred to come pick him up. Bruce gets in the car and Alfred mocks, "Just you, Master Wayne? Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it again."

Later ,when Alfred left Bruce alone at the mansion, I felt terribly sad. They can't be at odds, they protect each other.

When Bruce decides to put on the suit again, Alfred says, "I have this dream where I'm on vacation in Florence, sitting at a cafe and all of a sudden I look up and there you are. There you are, sitting with your wife and children, living a beautiful, normal life. That is what I want for you, Bruce."

MAJOR SPOILER ALERT!

At the close of the film when we think Bruce is dead and we've even seen his tombstone, the camera cuts to Alfred at that cafe table in Florence and when he looks up, a few tables away there is Bruce, looking relaxed and happy, sharing a table with Selina Kyle. I loved that!

For me, the breakout star of "The Dark Knight Rises" was Joseph Gordon Levitt. I have always been a fan of his, but in the last two years it seems his star is really started to rise in Hollywood. In this role he plays Blake, an orphan who idolized Bruce Wayne as a child. He grows up to become a cop and winds up working side by side with Bruce to protect Gotham. Did anyone else notice how low his voice was as this character?

In the very final scene of the movie, Blake picks up a bag and the woman says, "You should use your real name, Robin. I like that name." Wait, what? Blake is Robin? They totally left it open for there to be a new movie with Joseph Gordon Levitt as Robin! I would squeal with delight if that happened!

Overall, I thought "The Dark Knight Rises" was too scary and too long! The movie was 2 hours and 45 minutes. It felt like three movies in one, there were so many plot lines going at once. I realize it was Christopher Nolan's swan song and there was a lot he wanted to accomplish, but who has the attention span for that?

I sincerely hope Joseph Gordon Levitt emerges as the new Robin! Who is with me?

*Image sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.