It’s been said a gazillion times before, but we’re gonna say it again: Superhero movies are all about the villains.
And few have been as playfully sinister as Anne Hathaway’s Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises, the final chapter in Christopher Nolan’s epic reimagining of the Batman franchise.
Perhaps you’ve heard of it.
We’ve always been fond of Michelle Pfeiffer’s portrayal back in the Tim Burton days of Batman movies, but Hathaway has lowered the camp factor to deliver a nuanced, surprising performance, which could easily get lost in such a giant summer blockbuster in the hands of a less talented actor.
After all, the gays love a powerful woman almost as much as they like a superhero in tights, but because Batman covers up all his good stuff under armor and crap, we’re forced to shift our focus to something tangible.
As a whole, the movie’s not quite as good as its predecessor with Heath Ledger’s brilliant turns as the Joker, but it’s an ultimately satisfying conclusion to a fantastic trilogy. Plus, it sets up many potential ways a new director could take the Batman universe.
But it’s often painfully slow, exacerbated by its nearly three-hour runtime. Granted, this small critique is coming from a general movie lover, not an obsessed fanboy. For them (or you, as the case may be), the extra screen time is a love note for your devotion.
The concluding scenes are totally worth the lengthy, meandering journey, but for the sake of bursting bladders everywhere we want you to be well prepared.
Just like Batman.
The Dark Knight Rises
Opens Today
www.thedarkknightrises.com
