The Dark Knight Rises

I love a good action-packed movie, and third and final Batman movie of Christoper Nolan does not disappoint.  In The Dark Knight Rises, Bruce Wayne is a recluse; Batman is older, slower but more stubborn than ever before.  It's a combination of everything you would want in a blockbuster--a megalomaniac's nuclear plot, a good detective mystery, slam-bang action, wonderful toys, beautiful female leads, and a "dark" character that ends up standing up for what is right and good, with enough mid-movie catharsis and loads of human triumph as the end credits roll out.  Not bad at all--the movies goes on to become the 7th highest grossing film of all time.

My personal favorite is Anne Hathaway's portrayal of Selena Kyle (Catwoman), and I admire her transition as an actress, doing teen roles (Princess Diaries), to mature adult roles (Havoc), to an ass-kicking action star in this movie, to playing an emotionally laden Fantine in the upcoming musical Les Miserables.  You can see her in facial progression throughout the movie--she starts off as a shy food attendant, switches on her bitchiness as she kicks the cane of a crippled Bruce Wayne, exudes confidence as she struts her feline form, then shows desperation when she learns that a computer program she seeks is actually non-existent.  There is more--she shows empathy as she realizes that she has lead the Batman into a trap, recounts fear as she realizes that the enemy is too powerful to overcome, walks like an emotional zombie once the revolution she had once mentally sanctioned goes underway.  Soon, antagonist comes round to protagonist, as she firms up with a measure of resolve in teaching some children how to play the game of cat and mouse, and then comes back into action to aid the hero.  Ultimately, she fawns over the man she is attracted to, like another teenager in love.  The best part is at the end, when the dust settles, and happiness comes out--I saw the split-second portrayal and that was enough for me to see the happiness was indeed so true, so spirited, nonchalant and spontaneous.  Ah yes, the wonders of Hollywood--being able to show all these emotions in a span of two and a half hours...I just love it!