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The Dark Knight Rises
- Review Date: July 18, 2012
- PG-13
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- 2012
Common Sense Media says
Bale's final Batman is as gritty and dark as the first two.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Editor's Note: For tips on talking to your kids about the tragic shooting that took place in Colorado during a screening of The Dark Knight Rises, we hope our advice helps you manage this difficult situation.
Parents need to know that The Dark Knight Rises is the final installment in director Christopher Nolan's dark, violent Batman trilogy. Like its predecessors, The Dark Knight Rises features ultra-violent scenes of torture and death that are too intense for younger kids used to the nearly comic, stylized action violence of other superhero films. A disturbingly high body count is achieved via massive explosions, kidnappings, neck breakings, shootings, and hand-to-hand combat. While there's not a lot of actual blood, there's tons of death and mass destruction. Bruce Wayne enjoys a few passionate kisses and one love scene that shows bare shoulders; swearing is very infrequent (the strongest words used are "bitch" and "damn"). The film's villain, Bane, is monstrously muscled and frighteningly sadistic, and his mask is very scary looking. Despite the violence, be prepared for kids to beg to see the much-hyped Caped Crusader's latest adventure.
What's the story?
THE DARK KNIGHT RISES picks up eight years after the Joker's rampage on Gotham led to Harvey Dent's (Aaron Eckhart) horrific death and Batman's sacrificial transformation from hero to outlaw. Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) has remained hidden in seclusion, leaving Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman) to handle the affairs of Wayne Industries. The citizens of Gotham live in complacent security until Bane (Tom Hardy), a ruthless mercenary, arrives with a murderous agenda that threatens the very existence of Wayne's beloved city. With the help of a nearly demoralized Commissioner Gordon (Gary Oldman), rookie cop John Blake (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), and cunning jewel thief Selina Kyle/Catwoman (Anne Hathaway), an out-of-shape Bruce resurrects Batman for one more battle against evil.
Is it any good?
With their Batman trilogy, Nolan and Bale have revolutionized superhero films from colorful action adventures that even young kids can appreciate to serious meditations on justice and power. The franchise's loyal fans won't be disappointed with this immensely satisfying conclusion to Nolan's epic trilogy. Injured and relatively out of shape, Batman is physically no match for the huge and menacing Bane. With his Hannibal Lecter-meets-Darth Vader mask and his overpowering physique, Hardy is completely disguised as the amoral assassin, but even rendered unrecognizable, the acclaimed British actor gives a masterful performance in villainy.
Bale's always thoughtfully nuanced portrayal is complemented by the addition of two breakout performances: Gordon-Levitt -- whose character is an ordinary cop with an extraordinary bravery that's pivotal to the story -- and Hathaway, whose Selina Kyle steals the show with her whip-smart humor and crackling chemistry with Batman. The banter between Bale and Hathaway (who seems to be having a ball in full vixen mode) provides much-needed relief from the story's otherwise overpoweringly grim nature. Visually stunning, incredibly acted, and unyieldingly intense, The Dark Knight Rises is one of the rare movies for which the huge budget, super-sized runtime (almost three hours), and undying ardor of fans are well deserved.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about the amount of violence in The Dark Knight Rises. How does it compare to what you've seen in other superhero movies? How does the film differentiate between "good" and "bad" uses of violence?
What distinguishes Batman from Bane? Both are angry and rely on violence to accomplish their goals; why is one a hero and one a villain? Is the rule of law more important than the rule of force?
Bruce Wayne isn't the only orphan in the movie. How does orphanhood shape the three orphaned characters? While anger motivates each of them, why do some choose to do good and others evil?
What does it take to maintain order in the face of those who try to create chaos? Does keeping the public safe from harm justifying curtailing their right to privacy?
Would you like to see the story continue with a successor? Which of the trilogy is your favorite?
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- Teens & kids
Teen, 13 years old
July 19, 2012
AGE
OH. MY. FLIPPING. GOODNESS.
ME AND MY BROTHER ARE OBSESSED. Period. Like, he has been waiting on this movie for years. Just the grandeur and depth of it I LOVE. It's dark. And so thought provoking. "Some men just want to watch the world burn." That is my favorite quote ever. End of story. Seriously how CAN'T THIS BE YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE?!?!?!?! All my friends are like "Omg did you see the new Spiderman?" And all I'm like is "Y'all are idiots." Every other superhero can go live in the woods for all I care (except for Captain America, I'm gonna marry him one day). BATMAN IS THE BEST. HE HAS NO POWERS. YET HE CAN KICK ANYONE'S BUTT. I love Anne Hathaway, I love her for this role. Bane: Omgoodness don't get me started. He is freaking terrifying! The best villain yet! (Nothing against Joker, he's flipping awesome.) Bane is synonymous for misery. Golly, I LOVE wordplay. But seriously, you better start hauling some serious butt and get yourself into a theater NOW!!!!!!!
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Teen, 15 years old
July 19, 2012
AGE
Perfectly Appropriate for Teens- Common Sense Over Plays it Again.
This isn't a romance movie. There's kissing, sure, but nothing out of the ordinary or innapropriate. Common Sense makes it sound like Batman is spending more time in the bedroom than out in the streets, fighting off crime. He's not. It's perfectly appropriate.
The main villain isn't at all scary- a lot less scary then Dark Night's Joker. Don't worry, your kids won't wake up with nightmares from the shiny bald head and cheeseball gas mask. Dark Night Rises is a fun action movie. Sure, there is more violence in it than some superhero movies, but almost all teens can handle that. I mean, we've grown up watching violent things. Anyone under 12 or 13 may be a little unsettled by the up-close neck snapping and such. It depends what they can handle.
Dark Night Rises is a great movie for all teens and adults. I recommend it.
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Teen, 13 years old
July 20, 2012
AGE
Epic final
This movie is awesome!
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Teen, 14 years old
July 20, 2012
AGE
Messed up values
Since when is it rude to show 'bare shoulders'. Americans have mixed up values. No kids, you can't see any part of the human body other than arms and the face, go and watch brutal violence instead. Yes 9-yr-old you can't watch Batman because you'll see Anne Hathaway's shoulders, the violent scenes are GREAT for you though!
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Adult
July 20, 2012
AGE
Ugh. dumb review.
really, the first thing they talk about is the level of violence? The film has so many aspects one could talk about. And Batman, for his level of determination, sacrifice and sufferage, is not a positive role model? I'm trying not to swear to describe the writer so for the sake of child owners I will call him a "poopyface".
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Teen, 14 years old
July 21, 2012
AGE
A fantastic final installment to the Nolan Trilogy
With 2008's "The Dark Knight" as its predecessor, this film had a lot to live up to.
And it is very successful. A+ movie, I enjoyed watching this entertaining, completely immersing film until the ending, which makes this film what it is...
Fantastic. I won't say much, as to not spoil the film, but it has a very satisfying ending. A quality ending to a quality trilogy.
Of course, people could point out the lack of intelligence and charm in this film that we all remember back in 2008 brought by the late Heath Ledger, but his absence doesn't really detract from the film, as Tom Hardy plays the terrifying Bane, who should be considered one of the great movie villains, right up there with Heath Ledger's Joker.
Great job by Christian Bale, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and especially Anne Hathaway. (Expect to see a lot of nominations for those three.) And props go to Hans Zimmer as well, for providing us with the excellent score.
But the genius behind it all is Director Christopher Nolan, who really puts it all together, and makes his trilogy one of the greatest in film making history.
Christopher Nolan and crew, you've outdone yourself. Excellent job.
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Teen, 14 years old
July 20, 2012
AGE
One of the best movies ever made
It was amazing. Go see it when you can. Good for the average teen
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Adult
July 20, 2012
AGE
good but needs for comedie for the best movie
the movie was awesome but there are some isusues like violence, now thats an issue. there are alot of explosives and alittle torture but it was awesome i would rate for kids 9 and under. but this wasent the best move because it was not really funny i loved the dark knight, now that was very funny, because of the joker
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Kid, 12 years old
July 20, 2012
AGE
The Dark Knight Rises
This was not nearly as good as the last one. The Joker was overall a better villian than Bane. Even though I like Bane better in the comics, Joker was represented better in film. There was some violence, sensuality, and cussing. But overall this was less mature than the other two. But some kids might not be able to handle the 3hrs, speaking that about 1/3 of it is slow dialouge.
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Teen, 13 years old
July 20, 2012
AGE
SO AWESOME
The Dark Knight Rises was one of the best movies I've ever seen... maybe because I haven't seen a lot of movies, but either way, this movie is awesome! I watched it the day before it came out (xD I'm special), in an IMAX theater. The action scenes were amazing. There was a lot of violence right from the start, but that's what made the movie interesting! This movie really got to me and made me think... the characters were epic and their stories were interesting, I almost cried! My friend and I were spazzing out at the end, OMG it was so amazing... DO NOT MISS THIS MOVIE.
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| Topics: | superheroes |
| Studio: | Warner Bros. |
| Director: | Christopher Nolan |
| Cast: | Christian Bale, Liam Neeson, Tom Hardy |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Run time: | 164 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | July 20, 2012 |
| DVD release date: | December 4, 2012 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | intense sequences of violence and action, some sensuality and language |
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