That aside, and those aspects don’t take up very much of the film, Rises 
features some great action sequences. Though the film is possibly overlong at 165 minutes, it still manages to zip by at a quick pace. Having Bruce Wayne reduced to nothing—physically, mentally, and financially—gives the audience something to root for. We want to see him conquer his demons and we want to see Batman triumphant. Bale does a good job of portraying both sides of the character. He successfully conveys a man who has been beaten but refuses to give up. His series-best performance is backed with engaging performances from Oldman, Hathaway, Freeman, and Gordon-Levitt, all combining to give this film a lot of heart. Hathaway brings a touch fun to her role in an otherwise very serious film.
The visual and audio presentation of this Blu-ray is excellent. The video is presented in a 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer with an aspect ratio that alternates between 1.78:1 (for scenes filmed in IMAX) and 2.40:1. The detail is exceptionally strong, with a sharp image. City streets look grimy and realistic. The Dark Knight Rises is not about bright colors, with the exception of the bright yellow shirts and jerseys worn during the football game, but there is a rich fullness to the dark tones that is well represented here. The gray buildings, drab prison, and dank city underground all have realistic textures that enhance the viewing experience. Even in the dimly lit sequences (of which there are many), the definition is good and action easy to see.
As good as the picture looks, the sound is truly outstanding. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track creates a truly immersive aural experience. The opening sequence in the airplane sets things off with a thunderous jolt. The power of the engines can be felt as they rumble through the rear speakers and subwoofer. The bomb detonation scene during the football game fills the speakers with an awesome roar. If anything, the startling strong bass is occasionally overwhelming. Luckily, the quieter moments also shine through, with even hushed tones and quiet background noises easy to hear. Hans Zimmer’s lush score is boldly supportive throughout the mix.
The two-disc Blu-ray set has a good amount of special features, though I was not bowled over by them. Presented in 12 segments (for a total of about 68 minutes), the “Production” section provides information on all aspects of creating the film. The segments detail specific sequences of the film, costumes, weapons, sets, and characters. Another nearly 30-minute section (in three parts) focuses on the characters of Batman, Selina Kyle, and Bane. This provides some interesting information on adapting the comic book character of Bane to Nolan’s vision for the film. Bane was a character Nolan did not initially see as fitting into the more realistic tone of his Dark Knight series.
Article comments
1 - egumon
I don't agree that Nolan's depiction of the rich and commoners was a political commentary. The way the rich are depicted is a common theme in the Batman comics, not a Nolan creation. In fact, it's the whole reason Batman exists, as his father's murder is what caused the rich of Gotham to become reclusive and uncaring. His depiction of the common people is nothing short of realistic. The effects of mobs on the human psyche are well documented; look at how city people act after a major sports win. Now throw in a major terrorist attack on home soil, the threat of more and the extreme fear and stress it would generate, and think about how that mob would act.
2 - Sherry
@Egumon - thanks for the comment. I'm not sure we are in disagreement really. I wasn't saying the depiction of the rich was new, I was just making a point about how it fit in to this film. I agree that a mob mentality can be dangerous - I'm not entirely sure it would be as easy as it was in this film - at least I hope not.
3 - Snacks
The Dark Knight Rises, simply put, was awful. We nearly walked out but decided to stay and see if something amazing would happen to justify all the praise I had read. Nope. And I liked the first two Nolan Batman movies.
Still this realism approach is getting tiresome. This movie especially is based on a realism approach and yet who would seriously dress up like Batman and take the risks he does if he were not special in some way? Seriously? So bring back a little of the special. Make Bruce Wayne into a superior athlete or something to explain why he can take the punishment he does.
- Long
- Boring
- 8 years later, Bruce Wayne can barely walk & then mysteriously he can jump around again like no bad knee (no surgery). Realism? If Nolan were not playing the realism game, then it could make more sense.
- And the back injury recovery? Realism?
- Does Batman know how to fight anymore? Blocks punches with his face? Only throws punches? No kicks? No ducking? Nolan should watch The Matrix and Spiderman movies, at the very least. Batman had terrible fight scenes. He looked slow and like someone who never trained in combat.
- Where were Bruce Wayne and Batman for the majority of the movie? It is a Batman movie, huh?
- If we're going to pretend a regular guy would do what Batman does, then at least have him use his utility belt more.
- Villain... too many long boring scenes.
- Lots of plot holes.
- Boring, boring, boring movie.
- Constant movie score in the background to the point that it just plain became annoying. Kinda like Nolan was trying to trick us into things were either exciting or might be about to get exciting, while of course was not the case.
For future Superhero movies, let's take a few steps away from realism. Like ok, if a villain smashes a building, then yes the is a real financial consequence, etc. But let's keep the fantasy of special people, Batman included, being able to do something a little more than we can. Like with this whole realism thing, will The Flash be only able to run a little faster than the Olympic 100 metre champ? That is realism. At the same time having him move too fast is indeed a problem. So somewhere in between...
Nolan... stay away from Superhero movies if this wreck called The Dark Knight Rises is your template.
4 - Mark Williams
The Dark Knight Rises bears repeated viewings due to its complexity and rapid editing in places. Sub-titles on the DVD are a major plus. One thing I find fascinating about all three of Christopher Nolan's Batman movies is the way the villains use truth to good effect when constructing their criminal schemes. The heroes are not totally good here and the criminals are not completely evil, either.