The Dark Knight Rises

The Dark Knight Rises

Directed By: Christopher Nolan

Written By: Christopher Nolan, David .S Goyer, Jonathan Nolan

Produced By:Christopher Nolan, Charles Roven, Emma Thomas

Cast: Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Marion Cotillard, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Gary Oldman, Anne Hathaway.

Plot: Batman returns to Gotham City 8 years after the events at the end of The Dark Knight, only to be pitted against a new villain. One that is determined to completely break both Gotham, and Batman into pieces.

I feel that no single word is enough to describe how much I enjoyed this film. Christopher Nolan has created a fantastic trilogy of a new Batman for the modern age, and this is his masterpiece. Whilst The Dark Knight had a terrifying villain with a devillish sense of humour and a well crafted plot, The Dark Knight Rises is something else entirely. This film tests Bruce Wayne and pushes him to his limits, through the ferocious character of Bane (Tom Hardy). And whilst his performance may not be as sinister as Heath ledgers' critically acclaimed character, Tom Hardy is a force to be reckoned with. He is both incredibly brutal and a master at terrorizing the citizens of Gotham.

I was impressed at the way we see how human the character of Bruce Wayne really is, and to realise that he isn't a superhero like others, he is just a man in a suit, but it is his beliefs that make him a hero rather than a spider-bite, or a genetic serum. In a strange way, I thought it was clever how Christian Bales' performance showed how broken a man like Bruce Wayne really is under his image. A short scene stands out at his doctors appointment where we see the full extent of the consequences of all his crime fighting.

 I enjoyed the chemistry created between Bruce Wayne/Batman and Selina Kyle/Cat Woman (although the name catwoman is never actually used in the film) as it came across as flirtatious rivallry. I was also impressed by the modern interpretation of the legendary character. Especially as her 'cat ears' are her goggles, flipped up. 

The films have been game changers for the superhero genre in cinema. With it's gritty realistic feel, and the final installment is no different. The even harsher environment that Gotham evolves into, lets the characters fit perfectly into place, and we quickly realise that this changes everything for Batman/Bruce Wayne. And whilst the film has had heavy publicity stating that it is the end of the series, a fourth installment could be possible, but not in the way you might expect. 

The directing of this film is absolutely flawless, the way it has been put together is fantastic. The plot is solid, with some brilliant twists that I didn't see coming. Some of the scenes are astounding, and rival those from 'epics' such as Gladiator and Saving Private Ryan. Every actor/actress in this film has a pitch perfect performance. Including one cameo from a recognisable figure from the previous films. There is not one person who lets this down, it's absolutely superb how well they all fit together. 

The film is quite easily one of the best released this year.

10/10.

Written by Eammon Jacobs.

The Amazing Spider-Man

The Amazing Spider-Man

Directed By: Marc Webb

Written By: James Vanderbilt, Alvin Sargent, Steve Kloves

Produced By: Avi Arad, Laura Ziskin, Matt Tolmach

Cast: Andrew Garfield (The Social Network), Emma Stone (Zombieland), Rhys Ifans (The Boat That Rocked), Martin Sheen, Sally Field, Denis Leary

Plot: Peter Parker, a young student who lives in New York, is bitten by a genetically engineered Spider, and develops spider-like powers. He quickly becomes the masked vigilante, Spider-Man. He soon realises that he must protect those who cannot protect themselves, whilst also attempting to uncover the mystery behind his parents' disappearance. 

'The Amazing Spider-Man' is a reboot of the original Sam Rami trilogy, which ended in 2007. When it was announced that Sony were planning to remake the series, I immediately thought that it was too soon. It's only been five years since the average 'Spider-Man 3', and this is a risky move on Sonys' part. This new outing could potentially confuse some audiences, and might cause a negative buzz around the film. But in my opinion, the film is extremely innovative and impressive.

Andrew Garfield is the perfect choice for Peter Parker, he is both geeky and kindhearted, whilst also being quite humble and innocent. He doesn't whine too much like Tobey Macguire did in the original series, and doesn't play the part as too self obsessed as he was before. Garfields' performance in the film is pitch perfect, with one scene in particular being both astounding and heartbreaking. The way he portrays the underlying feeling of guilt also comes across clearly, with the death of one character towards the end, we see how conflicted he becomes. I was also severely impressed with the way that you an tell the suit was 'home-made', as we see Parker using his trainers as the soles of his feet, and ordering unitards off the internet to create the iconic image.

The plot its' self is fairly solid, with Parker trying to find out where his parents disappeared to, and why. When we also see *Minor Spoiler* that Peter had a hand in the creating of 'The Lizard', we see that this adds to his ever growing feeling of guilt. I also liked the fact that Peter Parker became much more easy to relate to in this film, he can't get to his locker because a couple is in the way, he finds it difficult to talk to the girl he likes, he doesn't make the right choices. This makes him much more accessible as a character.

The action sequences within the film are brilliant, and  there is some thrilling camerawork that comes from Spider-Mans' point of view. The fights' with The Lizard are choreographed excellently, with one fight combining Stan Lees' inevitable cameo as a Librarian, which is quite funny. Rhys Ifans portrayal of Dr. Curt Connors/The Lizard is quite a desperate one, and he slips from calm and mild mannered, to psychopathic and menacing with ease. 

There a few minor negatives about the film. Around three quarters of the way through, we seem to forget about the mystery of Peters' parents, and whilst this certainly leaves a whole for the already confirmed sequel, it leaves the audience slightly disappointed. Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy, who played the part brilliantly, is not given enough screen time, but the chemistry between her and Garfield is cute and slightly comical in places. The final act seems a little rushed, but is not without suspense. The film is crafted well, and is great entertainment for audiences familiar with the character as well as those who are not. 

7/10

Written By Eammon Jacobs