Bryan's First Blog

Introduction

Hello, my name is Bryan Kingsley and I'm a student of Sunway College, currently doing my Foundation in Science and Technology (FIST). I am a freshmen in college which I am still learning how to cope with my college life and my social life. To be honest, college life is pretty simple, all you need to do is make friends, do your homework, projects, learn how to  do coding (for me haha) and create happy memories that will leave a lasting impression in your life after you graduate. On the surface, it may seem pretty simple, but most importantly, there is a life lesson taught through experience. No one can truly explain what their experiences were when they were back in college. They will normally tell you things such as college is a fun place to be in but i believe it is more than just having fun, friends and etc.

I believe that in order to have a good experience in college, one must be ready to overcome any sort of challenges or obstacles he/she faces in college, one must learn how to work with people that they may not like being around with and to have a sense of responsbility. These are the qualities college is trying to get the best of you by complementing your journey of success, greatness and passion. To enjoy college, go and experience it. Learn form it and make your experience a memorable one.

-Bryan Kingsley

 Foundation in Science and Technology (FIST) 2020

Movie Analysis for Casino Royale

"The name is Bond. James Bond"

James Bond. The world's most famous, fictional spy and Her Majesty's most trusted agent. With a career spawning from different mediums including Ian Fleming's original novels to 24 films based on those novels, you have heard of the name: Bond, James Bond. However, I have always wondered why the character was so famous in the first place. Was it because of his charisma and charm or is there something special about him? In this analysis, I want to examine 007 for who he truly is and what profound effect he has in the story throughout the blockbuster hit Casino Royale. 

Casino Royale ~ Bond reborn

Casino Royale is one of those few films that stand out from its predecessors which often portray 007 at his best. Throughout these movies, 007 was often portrayed as the shining archetype of how an action hero should be. For example, 007 is the handsome and charming hero who saves the day, has all the fancy gadgets and gets the girl. This is the most basic formula for any action movie to follow which is entertaining to watch, yet predictable. In fact, the 007 movies in the past never truly developed Bond as a character or try to do something different with the action-hero formula. None have done so except for Casino Royale.

Casino Royale is one of those few action movies that take the character of James Bond seriously and make it into a more realistic and grounded film compared to its peers. With that said, I have to respect the creative team and cast behind this film especially Daniel Craig for giving us a gritty and darker take on the character of 007. The film essentially strips away the protagonist from his corny one-liners, his fancy gadgets and instead gives us a man who will do anything to complete his mission. In this analysis, let's examine Casino Royale through the villain, character arcs and message of the film.

The Villain

Le Chiffre

Casino Royale marks the first time where a Bond film does not have a stereotypical megalomaniac villain with unlimited resources who wants to take over the world. Le Chiffre is one of those villains to shatter everyone's expectations on how a Bond villain should be. Show them at their very worst where they become sympathetic and relatable, make them feel grounded and realistic, give them a compelling motivation that drives them to get what they want. Most importantly, make them compete for the same goal as their protagonists are competing for. This is what drives the conflict between our main characters: James Bond and Le Chiffre. Both men are struggling to complete their missions which is to bankrupt the other so that their organization will gain their trust and loyalty to them. Bond has been tasked to find and bankrupt Le Chiffre so that MI6 can gain information from Le Chiffre regarding his secret organization. Le Chiffre, on the other hand, is trying to recoup the losses he made by gambling at the Casino Royale so that his organization will not hunt him down and kill him. Hence, this is what makes the poker scenes so intense because we, the audience can feel the conflict between the characters through their eyes, their desperation to win no matter the cost.

Le Chiffre is a compelling villain in the James Bond series because he is one of the most interesting villains ever created on-screen. We understand why he has to help his organization and we can feel his desperation, largely due to Mads Mikkelsen's impressive performance and the writing for the character. We need more villains like him because despite his grotesque features such as his left eye weeps blood, its his presence that changes our protagonist throughout the film.

Character Arc

James Bond has a character arc in Casino Royale unlike the previous adaptations where he is already operating as a 007 agent and has his license to kill. The film had to establish early on that this adaptation of Ian Fleming's novel Casino Royale will be entirely different than its predecessors. Right off the bat, the film establishes who Bond is and the world he lives in the opening scenes, Bond has been tasked with killing Dryden Vos, a rogue MI6 agent and his contact. From here, we know that Bond is a cold, reckless and a force to be reckoned with. This is a Bond who just managed to obtained his license to kill but still has a lot to learn from throughout the film.

Another example of how we get to learn more about James Bond is the chase sequence in Madagascar where he and his partner Carter are trying to track down and take a bomb-maker into custody. However, due to Carter's inexperience, the bomb-maker realizes that he is being followed and tries to escape. The bomb-maker, Mollaka is a master in free-running and parkour whereas Bond struggles to keep up with Mollaka. In this sequence, we learn that Bond is resourceful as he uses the environment to his advantage to keep up with Mollaka. However, he is also reckless as his choices does collateral damage to the construction site at the same time. Bond is also a force of nature in the scene where Mollaka jumps through a wall whereas Bond goes through the wall. That tells us that we should watch out for this guy as he could catch you off-guard before you even know it. Mollaka reaches enemy territory where he believes he can be safe from Bond, the stakes are much higher now as we finally learn one more aspect of Bond's character, his ego. Instead of relying on stealth, this Bond chooses to march straight into the front door and grab Mollaka by force. In this sequence, Bond is being chased and he has to battle his way out of the embassy with Mollaka. We finally learn that Bond is willing to sacrifice his mission in order to win. He does this by blowing up the embassy and killing Mollaka. This is the flaw that he will continue to struggle with throughout the film.

Casino Royale is a great film in portraying a younger, reckless and inexperienced Bond who struggles with his inner conflict and the fallout of his choices, he is also surrounded by a number of great supporting characters such as Vesper Lynd and M who challenge Bond in an interesting way that has a profound effect on him. By the end of the film, he gathers all the lessons learned from them and becomes the 007 we know and love. This is what makes the ending less cheesy and earned. He introduces himself to Mr. White "The Name is Bond, James Bond" signifying an exciting film that is to come next.

Messages to learn from Casino Royale

Casino Royale is one of those special films in the series not to overuse CGI and does more practical effects and stunts to make the film feel less campy and more realistic. The grounded take on action spy films such as this film can be seen in other movie franchises like in the Mission: Impossible, Bourne and John Wick films. It also changed the way everyone views 007 from here on, nobody cares if you have gadgets larger-than-life at your disposal, you don't need an over-the-top action sequences and megalomaniac to make your film look better and there are times where the world-ending stakes can feel boring. If you wanna make the best film, take your time in developing your characters and story, use less CGI in your movie if possible, make the stakes feel personal to your characters in that particular story you are trying to tell. However, changing a long-time, well-known character entirely can be a big risk because there are hardcore fans of the character who can never accept that change. This creative risk can be seen in Man of Steel and Star Wars: The Last Jedi which misunderstood the meaning of change.

James Bond in Casino Royale is not a great character just because he is suave or being a woman-loving man towards the ladies, its because of the character growth he has as the film progresses into his inner conflicts and his beliefs. The film essentially breaks down Bond for who he is in the first half of the film only to build him up in the second half. Hence, this is without a doubt one of the greatest action spy films I have ever seen.

Who is your favourite 007? Comment below

THANK YOU

Movie Analysis for Batman Begins

Batman Begins~ Creature of the night

Welcome to my review for Batman Begins, the first installment to the The Dark Knight Trilogy that is now the most beloved trilogies of all-time.  It has been more than a decade ago this film was released worldwide which took the audience by storm. Right now, Batman Begins has earned the title for one of the "most influential films of all time". I have always been fascinated by the stories regarding Batman. Some of the best of the Batman's stories focus on mature themes, dark tone and tragedy that has defined the character for ages. Which is why I want to analyse and understand what is it that Christopher Nolan did with Batman Begins that is now become a classic for the next generations to remember.  First off, before Batman Begins, Nolan has been making self-contained indie fims. Following his success in his independent, character-driven films such as Insomnia and Memento, Nolan's work have caught interest in Warner Bros. and decided to hire him to make the next new batman film. Nolan later decided it is best to reintroduce the character in a darker, and more grittier version and to strip the character to his core essentials.

Batman is one of DC Comics' most iconic superheroes ever created after Superman and Spider-Man. The character has always been a fan-favourite to many across the globe. However, what is the magic touch that DC has cast over Batman? What makes him so special? Is it because of his fancy gadgets or is it because he is rich? The stories of Batman has always been intriguing to read, as a child, Bruce Wayne was orphaned after witnessing the death of his parents before him. Motivated by his loss to fight crime, he takes on the mantle of Batman by overcoming his fear of bats. He dresses up as a bat in order to strike fear into the hearts of men and protect the innocent from crime. Aside from having an interesting backstory, his perseverance and endurance is also what makes him so compelling. Batman has principles, his main principle is his no-kill rule which is constantly put to the test when The Joker tries to force Batman into making unethical decisions. However, he never gives up no matter the cost he has to face as a result. This can be shown in Batman: The Killing Joke.

That which was also the number one reason why Batman Begins is such an exhilirating ride by having a more character-driven drama and personal stakes, Batman becomes much more endearing than he was in Batman & Robin.

The Villains

"When I found you in that jail, you were lost. But I believed in you. I took away your fear, and I showed you a path. You were my greatest student. It should be you standing by my side, saving the world."

"The training is nothing! The will is everything! The will to act."

"Men fear most what they cannot see."

Ra's al Ghul is the main antagonist for Batman Begins. He is played by Liam Neeson, one of the greatest actors of his generation. Ra's al Ghul first meets Bruce in a Bhutanese Prison where he identifies himself as Henri Ducard, an associate of The League of Shadows. He offers a "path" for Bruce to take which he accepts and travels to a monastery where The League of Shadows resides. Ra's al Ghul is a skilled warrior and a strict teacher. Throughout Bruce's training, he is unable to best his mentor in a sword battle but comes close during the battle on the frozen glaciers. However, Ra's breaks the glaciers below him due to Bruce forgetting to mind his surroundings. Months later, Bruce completes his training but as a final test, the man who seems to be Ra's al Ghul, orders Bruce to kill a murderer the league has captured. Bruce refuses, stating that he will not use evil methods to fight injustice. Ra's advises Bruce not to have compassion for his enemies but Bruce relents and knocks out Ducard before setting the monastery ablaze. He defeats and leaves Ra's al Ghul to die there before saving Ducard from his appending doom. Following Bruce's return to Gotham and the birth of his new persona "The Batman", The League infiltrates Bruce's home on his birthday. Henri Ducard reveals himself as Ra's al Ghul, having placed a decoy in his place to trick Bruce!!

Overall, Ra's al Ghul is one of the awesomely executed bait-and-switch villains in Batman Begins. He is complex, endearing, and menacing for a villain. I think the most interesting aspect for the character was his relationship with Bruce Wayne, a student-teacher dynamic which was really enjoyable to watch. The best part about Ra's al Ghul is that he believes that he can save the world from injustice and corruption by destroying its source of corruption, Gotham City. Ra's doesn't believe that what he is doing is wrong. Every great villain will always believe in what they are doing is right which serves to drive the conflict between Bruce and him. Bruce refuses to kill evil people to combat injustice because he knows that he will become like the cruel people in the end. Ra's however believes that injustice can be fought through evil methods to set an example. They are fighting for the same goal, but with completely different ideologies and methods.

"No one can save Gotham. When a forest grows too wild, a purging fire is inevitable and natural. Tomorrow the world will watch in horror as its greatest city tears itself apart, through fear. The movement back to harmony will be unstoppable this time."

"We are back to finish the job. And this time no misguided idealists will get in the way. Like your father, you lack the courage to do all that is necessary. If someone stands in the way of true justice, you simply walk up behind them and stab them in the heart."

-Ra's al Ghul to Bruce Wayne

Dr. Jonathan Crane / Scarecrow serves as the secondary antagonist for the second act of the film. Played brilliantly by Cillian Murphy, he functions as the recurring villain Batman has to face after having disbanded the league of shadows. Crane, a corrupt psychiatrist in Arkham Asylum who was associated with Carmine Falcone has developed a weaponized hallucinogen that brings out the worst fears in everyone who comes into contact with it. He first test the drug on Carmine Falcone who was apprehended by Batman causing him to be legally insane and moved to Arkham Asylum. Although he is not physically imposing, he is one of Batman's most dangerous criminals in Gotham City. Equipped with fear gas and toxins that can drive anyone mentally insane, Scarecrow serves as to test Batman's fear. In the film, we see that Batman is still haunted by images of bats, Scarecrow uses his drug on Batman, setting him on fire later on. Batman nearly loses his mind but manages to escape before Scarecrow could discover his secret identity. Fortunately, with the aid of Lucius Fox, an antidote was synthesized and his mind was still intact. Batman later confronts Dr. Crane in Arkham Asylum, who is plotting to taint Gotham's water supply with the drug and cause mass panic. He forces Crane to "taste his own medicine" in which Crane reveals that he is working with Ra's al Ghul.

These antagonists serve their purpose well in the story as to put the protagonist to the test. For Scarecrow, he tests Batman's fear which is his fear of bats. Ra's al Ghul on the other hand, tests Batman's morals and ideologies. Both Batman and Ra's al Ghul have their respective visions of how a utopia can be formed but because of that, they are in direct conflict with one another. 

Symbolism and Themes

The main theme that is present in Batman Begins is fear. Fear is what starts Bruce's emotional journey in becoming the  Batman. We see that as a young boy, Bruce has developed a fear of bats ever since he fell into the well swarmed with these vile creatures. His relationship with bats was so disturbing to a point it indirectly caused the deaths of his parents. Bruce realizes that his fears were the reason why his parents died that day.  He concluded that if he had conquered his fears in the first place, the death of his parents will not be in vain. He also comes to realize that his city has descended into corruption. It has become  a filthy and corrupted place which the mob uses as a way to supply their drug shipments. We also see that mobster Carmine Falcone has rose into power where he acts as the city's judge, jury and executioner to a point that none of the cops or lawyers would dare to cross him. This is also a lesson which Bruce's learns from Falcone on how to infiltrate crime. In order to reclaim his city, he must first make his enemies fear him, he needs the power of fear to gain their respect. Hence, Bruce travels across the globe to learn of the criminal underworld and to train in combat to save his city and ensure that his father's legacy will not be forgotten.

After being accepted by the League of Shadows, which Henri Ducard has agreed to train him. Bruce quickly learns sword fighting, disappearing from sight and to overcome his fear of bats. During a sword battle on the glaciers, Ducard gets Bruce to overcome his guilt of his parents' death by stating that their deaths was his father's to blame. Enraged, Bruce nearly defeats his mentor but fails to mind his surroundings as Ducard breaks the ice below Bruce. After a series of intense physical and mental training, Bruce completes his training as a ninja for The League of Shadows. However, as a final test, Ra's al Ghul orders Bruce to kill the murderer that the league has recently captured. Ducard also states that after he has completed his training, the league can begin to infiltrate and destroy Gotham. The League has been planning on destroying Gotham which they believe is the source of all corruption and injustice which stands in their way of making the world a utopia. Bruce turns on the league and burns down their home, leaving Ra's to die but taking an unconscious Ducard to safety.

With his newfound abilities and motivation, Bruce saves up enough money to call Alfred and get a ride home to Gotham. Bruce begins rebuilding his life in Gotham city after seven years of his disappearance. Bruce confronts his fear by returning to where all his fears have manifested from, the day where he fell into the well that was the home of bats. The bats swarm him which indicating that they welcome his return and Bruce embraces them. This is a crucial scene because it shows us the complexity of fear and how we can always overcome them by embracing them. This is what makes his transformation into Batman emotionally investing, he becomes the living manifestation of fear itself. As a symbol, he can be everlasting and incorruptible and his enemies will run for their lives after hearing his name. He upholds the law, order and hope for the future of his city where his father failed to do so.

Christopher Nolan has also added subtle symbolism throughout the franchise. While it may not be the main focus of its respective films, it does add a layered context within the films. Nolan uses fire to convey this subtle symbols because fire is considered to be the most destructive force of nature which consumes about anything it touches. The element of fire has great power for forging will and determination, it gives people hope as well as living symbol that burns in our souls to survive. Imagine being lost in a forest with nothing but fire to keep you warm, it symbolises hope to survive and to face the creatures of the dark. It is also a source of energy that must be controlled or you will get burned. In other words, you will be consumed by its power and eventually you lose the hope to survive. This added symbolism is used to symbolise the chaos and destruction of  Gotham. 

For example, as Ra's al Ghul states, "No one can save Gotham. When a forest grows too wild, a purging fire is inevitable and natural. Tomorrow the world will watch in horror as its greatest city tears itself apart, through fear. The movement back to harmony will be unstoppable this time" .

His mercenaries later burn down Wayne Manor from the insides of the building. This signifies that the League of Shadows is planning on burning down Gotham by infiltrating its infrastructure and destroying their social order to cause chaos. Hence, a great fire will rise which will be the city's doom. Thankfully, Gotham's doom was prolonged with the combined efforts of Batman, Sergeant Gordon and Rachel Dawes. However, the symbol of fire still appears as motifs through its sequels, mainly in The Dark Knight. Fire was mainly used to describe The Joker's desires and motives.

Bats is also used to symbolise Bruce's fear. Bats symbolises our rebirth and potential that is unrealised. If someone dreams of bats, it is trying to symbolise that we should leave our old ways and start taking on a path that helps to tap in our success. It also symbolises boldness and breakthrough as we take the leap of faith as we enter the darkness alone.  This shows that one must face their own fears on their own and become stronger as they head back into the light. As in the opening scene when Bruce falls into the well in his front yard, he develops a fear of bats which swarms and surrounds him. This is to develop his relationship with bats through fear. As Bruce slowly overcomes his fear of bats which is shown when bruce goes back to the well that he once fell into. He stumbles upon a cave full of bats that swarm and surround him, but Bruce embraces his fear and becomes one with fear itself. This scene symbolises that as he embraces his fear, he becomes the living manifestation of his fear itself. He goes into the deep, dark caverns into the farthest part of the subconscious mind that invites him to complete his transformation as the everlasting symbol he swore to become. By becoming a symbol of justice and hope for the people of Gotham as well as symbol of fear to his enemies, he becomes "The Batman".

Cast

The cast has done a great job in their respective roles. Christian Bale is fantastic at nailing the playboy, billionaire persona as Bruce Wayne as well as capturing the stoicism of Batman. He does a great job at toeing the line between being a flawed, troubled man trying to fight injustice as well as putting up a theatrical personality as a billionaire. I can feel his pain of losing his parents which was also done really well by Bruce's child actor Gus Lewis. This is also the only movie where Batman does not take his fake voice too far which was in The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises. Liam Neeson is also fantastic as Henri Ducard / Ra's al Ghul. The most enjoyable aspect of the film was the chemistry between Christian Bale and Liam Neeson as well as the student-teacher dynamic which felt fleshed out and there is always tension between them that is really kept me on the edge of my seat. He is also fantastic as the antagonist who challenges Bruce's ideals about how Gotham should be. Micheal Caine, Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman, Cillian Murphy and Katie Holmes all gave fantastic performances respectively. However, the relationship between Katie Holmes and Christian Bale feels slightly undercooked and their romance felt unnecessary. Nevertheless, it does not become the main focus of the story and only serves to emotionally remind Bruce to never exact revenge.

The Ending

The ending for Batman Begins is less intriguing than its sequels that follow. Although it is considered to be the weakest ending for the entire trilogy, it serves its purpose to set up a sequel. By the end of the film, Gotham City Police Department has built a bat-signal to call Batman whenever crime has occurred. In this scene, Gordon asks Batman to help track down a criminal who leaves "Joker" cards in his crimes. Batman promises to look into it and glides off as the screen cuts to black. While this is still a solid ending, it just does not live up to the quality of its sequel's ending.

Thank You

Movie Analysis For La La Land

La la land~a study of ambitions and wishes

La La Land is the latest masterpiece ever put on cinemas which will no doubt be the one of the best films of 2016. Brought to life by the young, aspiring and talented Damien Chazelle, La La Land will be regarded as his best work since Whiplash. The film also won many awards and nominations at the 90th Academy Awards, bringing home six oscar trophies as a result. On the surface, La La Land is a feel-good christmas movie that studies the ideologies of ambitions and wishes. Ambitions and wishes are the key aspect for what makes the film so terrific. Chazelle's films have used mostly ambitions as the motif for his films. In Whiplash, how far would someone go to achieve their dreams? What is the cost for practicing and practicing until their hands bleed until they perfect it? Whereas in La La Land, we see our protagonists struggle to bring their dreams to reality. Dreams are what gives our protagonists, Mia and Sebastian meaning in the lives. It drives them to make their visions of their world come true, the question is how will they be able to realise it? What is the cost of realising your own dreams until they become reality?

Dreams vs Reality

La La Land portrays what do people usually dream of through its musical numbers. Take the opening scene in La La Land where everyone seems to be stuck in a traffic jam. It shows the audience how mundane and stressful for these people to be stuck in a jam knowing that they will be late for work, rushing to get to somewhere, and whatever their reasons are etc. You can even hear the monotonous sounds of cars honking that are bleeding your ears dry. Until..

The opening of La La Land perfectly captures the essence of what our dreams should be like. Dreams are colourful, crazy, fun, whimsy and basically where you want to go to escape from reality. In a busy road full of cars, what was supposed to be mundane suddenly becomes magical and fun as everyone comes out from their cars to just have a good time. Everyone wants nothing but the best for themselves, they wanna live a good life, get married, have kids and make their families proud. Nobody wants to struggle and live a mundane life which is what their reality tends to portray, a black and white reality check given to those people who are stuck in their fantasy. 

In a fantasy, everyone is having fun dancing on the freeway instead of getting into their lives. In reality, everyone is struggling with their lives because they can't seem to score a good break. Back on the freeway after the musical number ends, we cut to Mia who is constantly failing in several auditions and trying to practice her lines while stuck in the traffic jam. We later cut to Sebastian who is upset at Mia for not moving her car in the traffic. Besides that scene, we have another musical number which is involving Mia and her friends going to a party together. The shots for this scene are so colourful and fantastic. Director Damien Chazelle clearly is a master at shifting the mood, tone and the colour palette for this film. However, after the musical number ends, we then to shift to having Mia's car being taken away as a result of illegal parking. This scene where Mia is forced to walk home clearly demonstrates the effect of getting a reality check. Reality is often disappointing and sometimes too bleak to live in, parents especially try to keep their children away from reality in fear of disappointing them, sometimes when we have overly high hopes for life, it can destroy us because we never really get what we always wanted in life. That is how life operates, they keep you in a dream-like state when young which by the time you are older, life beats you down and sucks you dry to realise the obstacles you need to go through before your dream comes true.

Ambitions vs Wishes

Mia aspires to become a successful actress whereas Sebastian's ambition is to make his own music and start a club. Their ambitions ultimately are the main reasons why fate brought them together which is to help realise their ambitions together. After several failed auditions, Sebastians encourages Mia to write her own play and Sebastian begins working in a new Jazz club where he regularly plays music. However, their ambitions to become who they truly want to be ultimately strains their relationship. Mia and Sebastian eventually get caught up in their dreams until they didn't have enough time to spend with one another. Sebastian's former classmate invites him to join his Jazz Fusion band but plays a pop style that does not suit him. Despite that, he reluctantly signs the contract to join the band after overhearing Mia trying to convince her mother that Seb is trying his best in his career.

While he finds success, Mia is still struggling with her play as it did not really turn out that well during its release. They argue which Mia believes that Sebastian is giving up on his dream whereas Seb believes that Mia likes him more when he was poor. Their relationship begins to fall apart as a result of putting their time and devotion more into their careers and less focus on their relationship. During the ending of the film, La La Land's emotional weight is at its peak as we witness Sebastian and Mia have fully achieved their dreams but are unable to have each other. Despite their success, they constantly have doubts which is beautifully portrayed through a dreamlike-state where Mia and Seb abandoned their dreams to be with one another. It is sad to see that they have to give something up for the other to thrive but that is how life really works, life never shys away from being cruel to you. If you have a dream and wish to protect it no matter the cost or you want to abandon that dream for something else, it is your choice that will you bring you your happiness. Dreams will not come to life if it stays a dream, wishes never truly satisfy us but will only bring suffering, it is how we choose to live our dream that makes the cost worth our time.

Thank You

Movie Analysis for The Dark Knight Rises

The Dark Knight Rises ~ A Poetic and Explosive End 

"A hero can be anyone"- Batman

The Dark Knight Rises is the epic conclusion of The Dark Knight Trilogy and is the sequel to Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. Set eight years following the death of Harvey Dent, Gotham City is living in a time of peace and prosperity following the implementation of The Dent Act. Crime has disappeared from the streets of Gotham City and Batman has retired from fighting crime. However, their peace will be disrupted by a new enemy from the past, who is planning to overthrow the city's social order and ignite a revolution that will create economic instability. 

Today I will be reviewing The Dark Knight Rises in order to understand its flaws and its strengths. I believe that it is one of Christopher Nolan's greatest films ever made that features comic book characters in a realistic way. We understand that each installment in the trilogy always brings something fresh to the table without changing the characters for who we have come to know and love.

"Because he's the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now, so we'll hunt him. Because he can take it, because he's not a hero. He's a silent guardian, a watchful protector, a Dark Knight"

The Villain

"No one cared who I was until I put on the mask."

Batman: Knightfall

In the comics, Bane as a villain is not that interesting. He is somewhat just a hulking brute that has no personality and a one-dimensional recurring villain in the comics. He later received favourable attention in one of the comic storylines, Batman: Knightfall where he systematically cripples the Dark Knight physically and mentally before breaking his back. This is what enticed Christopher Nolan to making Bane as the main villain for The Dark Knight Rises because Batman has never been challenged physically in the previous installments. Bane is the perfect villain to challenge the Dark Knight with the brains of a master tactician and the brawn of a hulk, this is someone most men should be terrified of if they ever faced someone this powerful.

In this film, the character has more substance and a much more frightening stature compared to his comic book counterpart. This which is due to Tom Hardy's impressive performance with Nolan and his creative team. They managed to humanise this monster and I was convinced that Tom Hardy has disappeared into the role of Bane. If you look closely at Bane, he shares an exact similarities between him and Batman. Both were trained under the league of Shadows but in different times. Both are were highly trained and are considered by Ra's al Ghul to be his best students. However, Bane lacks compassion for his enemies and is willing to brutalize and torture them before delivering the killing blow, something which Batman will never do. Batman and Bane are also fighting for the same goal which is injustice. Batman believes he can set an example of how to defeat injustice in Gotham's citizens by giving them hope. Bane, however, believes that injustice must be exterminated by destroying Gotham causing conflict between the two. Bane also has a love interest which is revealed to be Miranda Tate, AKA Talia al Ghul but is unable to spend time with due to his mutilated condition from protecting Talia, hence causing him to rely on an analgesic mask to relieve his pain. 

The pit

Bane at the Gotham Stock Exchange

Bane is seen as Ra's al Ghul's successor whom will carry out his master's plan to destroy Gotham by slowly bringing out the worst in its people. The reason why Bane is an effective villain was his belief in fighting injustice. Just like his master, he believes Gotham is beyond saving and needs to be cleansed starting by toppling its social order, destroying the tunnels and bridges to prevent escapees and blowing up Gotham city to hell with a neutron bomb, completing his plan. Despite having an elaborate plan, he is less threatening than The Joker. While they share the same vision of how Gotham should be, The Joker will forever be the superior villain because The Joker has no principles and is unhinged.  The Joker is exceptionally good at attacking Batman's weakness and he does this by taking away everything he held so dearly. Bane, on the other hand, still has some compassion left within him and is not considered to as twisted as The Joker. Despite being a slight letdown for some fans, Bane is still a solid menace that could kick the shit out of Batman without much effort.

Story and Themes

"A hero can be anybody. Even a man doing something as simple and reassuring by putting a coat

on a young boy's shoulders to let him know that the world hasn't ended"

-Batman to Gordon

"Come with me you don't need these people anymore. You've given them everything", urged Catwoman

"Not everything, not yet", Batman responds

The story for The Dark Knight Rises is very intricate and more complex compared to its predecessor. Instead of facing off a random thug with clown makeup and goons, Batman has to face an entire guerilla army that is trained to destroy whatever that stands in their way of destroying his city. With a superbrute as their leader, they are able to get through and respond with ease before Batman or the authorities could react to do anything to stand against this terrifying army. I have to give praise for Nolan in portraying a man who has made the ultimate sacrifice for the future of Gotham but at the same time, costs him his legacy and the guilt of being Batman. In reality, we cannot save everyone despite being a superhero. We are bound to be surrounded by our enemies who will be quick to learn our strengths and exploit our weaknesses to ensure that their goal is secured. Because of the choice to become Batman and to save his city, he loses the woman he loves Rachel Dawes. This is great storytelling because Nolan manages to make us care about the character more than in the previous films. This is a story about a man who feels as if his purpose has been achieved and feels like an empty shell, waiting for something to happen.

Certain key events escalate as Bruce soon realises that Gotham is no longer the utopia it was. Gotham has fallen into vanity and corruption because they took Batman for granted and has been living in a lie that Harvey Dent is Gotham's true hero. However, Bruce is in no shape to fight and has been living in repressed guilt and sadness. Physically and mentally, he is no match for Bane and is crippled after the brutal fight. In total despair, he watches as Bane picks apart the city he loves so much to pieces while he is stuck in The Pit. Bruce realises that he cannot just rest and watch but must regain that hope that was seemingly lost in him. Bruce is essentially finding himself in this film and has to take the leap of faith. He succeeds, beginning his new journey of becoming Batman again.

"Ah yes, I was wondering what would break first, your spirit or your body"

-Bane gloats as he cripples Batman

breaking the bat

The recurring theme in The Dark Knight Rises is escalation. Gotham's citizens are weak and are susceptible to vanity following the implementation of The Dent Act. In times of crisis, they will listen to anyone who is willing to help which will lead to their destruction. After conquering the city, Bane overthrows all figures of authority and allows the people to do as freely as they wish, he also damages the infrastructure with bombs. This causes social imbalance within the city as the wealthy and powerful have been dragged from their homes because Bane never had any respect for the rich and believes they are the reason why corruption still exists. Bane takes his plan to the extreme by allegedly revealing the truth behind Harvey Dent's legacy, tarnishing The Dent Act and freeing every convict from Arkham to take back their streets. I personally found this theme of escalation realistic because a scenario portrayed in a comic book film which made me tremble as I watch.

Another theme portrayed in the film is terrorism and social order. In times where the social order collapses and there is nothing we can do about it but to live in fear. Bane upsets the established order and forces everyone to eat each other in order to survive. This is a scenario that could happen in the future. That is why we have to be careful who we believe, we cannot simply believe in someone just because they are influential in terms of speaking. Their ACTIONS speak LOUDER than words just by creating anarchy and chaos.

Lastly, anyone can be a hero. Batman is not limited to one person because his legacy will continue to live on as long as the people will continue to believe in him and help each other once in a while. This theme shines when Batman sacrifices himself to prevent the neutron bomb from destroying Gotham. Nobody remembers who their saviour was, only the Batman, no name and no face. This will be a shining moment for everyone who aspires to be a hero to their loved ones.

Cast

Obviously, the acting performances are one of the film's strongest assets. Christian Bale is given the opportunity to be more expressive as Bruce Wayne/Batman. He feels much more like a real person undergoing a traumatic experience. He is sombre, sad, stoic and inspiring to watch as we see how he processes his guilt and eventually becomes a better man by the end of the film. Despite not having enough Batman in this film, the film is actually trying to show us what loss is for a man being the hero. Bruce Wayne feels like the Peter Parker in Spider-Man 2 that wants to stop being the hero and help himself once in a while. Micheal Caine was also fantastic as Alfred, he is given so much depth in this film despite having a limited amount of screen time. Tom Hardy was also incredible as Bane, his hulking, gigantic stature and impressive body language is what stole the show for me. Despite being unable to express himself due to being restrained by a mask, I genuinely believe that Tom Hardy has become Bane in this film. However, I disliked what they did for his voice. Sometimes I couldn't catch what he was trying to say which felt like Batman's fake, hammy voice for a prank call.

The remaining cast members was fantastic in their respective roles, Anne Hathaway, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman all did their best to distinguish one another's personalities. Nevertheless, I felt Marion Cotillard was the weak link for me due to her character being useless for the first 2/3 of the movie, twist reveals she is the daughter of Ra's al Ghul. While it is not a bad performance, I feel like Nolan did not properly flesh out her character which made the twist feel hollow and empty. 

Bane's chilling quote

the cast and crew

The Ending

I wanna talk about the ending of The Dark Knight Rises because it is an emotional moment for many fans who love the character so much, the ending is so satisfying because Batman has finally received the catharsis he needed to move on. Batman carries the bomb away from Gotham City and into the Pacific Ocean, making the ultimate promise he dedicated his life to keeping which was to prove to his enemies, The League of Shadows that Gotham can be redeemed that has its people who are ready to believe in good. However, Batman may be long gone but his legend and legacy will be held close to the citizens in their hearts for they know that Batman is a nobody who became a somebody. Anyone can put on a mask and be a hero. Even a man doing something as putting a coat on a little boy's shoulders to let him know that the world has not ended.

The cathartic moment when Alfred sees Bruce and Selina is so touching, but was left to the viewer's interpretation of how the film ended. Nolan's films tend to end with an ambigious case which will keep the film in our heads for how it ended. It is a very ingenious way of making an audience remember their experience with his films and I salute him for that. Thank You Christopher Nolan and the crew behind-the-scenes in making this film despite not living up to the hype after The Dark Knight.

when he gives you that look