Inside the Hollywood Chinese Theatre, Sarah let out a sigh of relief after watching the film. Although this movie wasn't as stunning as The Dark Knight, it was still undoubtedly a classic. Compared to Batman Begins, which focused on the hero's growth, and The Dark Knight, which portrayed his endurance through humiliation, The Dark Knight Rises was clearly a touching final chapter about Batman rising again from his lowest point.
In terms of the strength of the antagonists, Bane in The Dark Knight Rises was no weaker in destructive power than the Joker from the previous film, and his formidable physical prowess placed Batman at a disadvantage in direct combat.
Under such circumstances, the story carried a heavier sense of oppression and immersion right from the start. Throughout the entire film, Batman faced not only a powerful enemy outside but also betrayal from within, making the plot all the more unpredictable.
As the concluding chapter of the trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises inherited the multi-threaded, parallel storytelling style of its predecessors. The constant shifts between offense and defense, and the rise and fall of both sides, were completed through multiple interwoven plotlines. From the very first minute, the film maintained a tense, almost unbearable rhythm; its 135-minute runtime seemed to pass in an instant.
What's even more remarkable is that many of the transitions in The Dark Knight Rises drew upon the events and characters from Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, giving the trilogy a stronger sense of cohesion.
At the film's conclusion, Fox prepared to repair the Bat's autopilot function, only to discover that Bruce Wayne had already fixed it six months earlier.
So, Bruce Wayne didn't die—the nuclear bomb exploded along with the Batwing, piloted by the automatic system.
Later, Alfred encountered Bruce Wayne during his vacation, confirming the truth. The two exchanged a knowing smile, and the silhouette of Catwoman was clearly visible beside Bruce.
The power represented by Batman, of course, did not vanish. John Blake resigned from the police force and, possibly under Bruce Wayne's guidance, found the Batcave. The film ended as the word "Robin" rose slowly on-screen.
It could be imagined that Robin had become Batman's successor.
Thus, Bruce Wayne had retired in triumph. He and Catwoman had gone far away, living freely and peacefully, while Gotham City had found a new guardian.
It was a perfect ending. In Sarah's view, Duke had fulfilled his promise to give Batman a bright conclusion and he had done even more.
Batman began with Bruce Wayne, who successfully shaped the image of Batman as a symbol of justice in the hearts of the people, inspiring Gotham's citizens to resist evil and believe in justice. In the end, the people themselves rose up against Bane and overthrew tyranny, proving that Batman had achieved what he sought.
Even when he took the blame for Harvey Dent in The Dark Knight, there were still those who believed in Batman—like that orphanage boy, and the policeman Robin.
This trust and faith were what Batman truly deserved.
On a personal level, Sarah's favorite superhero had always been Batman. He had no superpowers—only a strong body and advanced technology to fight crime. He was righteous, kind-hearted, and endured suffering without complaint. He had his own principles and understood his limitations. Therefore, he upheld law and order instead of relying on vigilantes to protect Gotham City.
Most importantly, Batman brought faith to Gotham. The people's courage to stand up and fight against tyranny was the best proof of that.
The most outstanding aspect of this film, clearly, was that Batman succeeded in solving the people's crisis of faith.
Aside from assisting Batman, another notable detail was that The Dark Knight Rises showed two close-up shots of Batman chalk graffiti on the streets—this indicated that Batman, as a symbol, had already taken root in people's hearts.
"Every hero has a journey, and every journey has an end."
Sarah understood that the "hero" here referred to Bruce Wayne, not Batman. The journey of the hero Bruce Wayne had ended—he had retired—but the symbol of Batman would live on forever.
Bruce Wayne had said he wanted Batman to become a symbol and he succeeded.
In The Dark Knight Rises, Bane read aloud Commissioner Gordon's hidden speech on television, revealing the truth to the world: Batman had borne Harvey Dent's sins all along.
To some extent, this helped Batman, allowing the people to believe in him again.
The repeated appearances of Batman chalk graffiti and the statue erected by Gotham's citizens clearly showed that, again and again, Batman had proven to them that evil and corruption did not belong to Gotham City.
Bruce Wayne's mentor, Ra's al Ghul, had once told him to become a legend and Bruce Wayne did.
At the film's end, after the nuclear crisis was resolved, people embraced each other, filled with hope. What Sarah saw was a beautiful city and its remarkable people—rising from the darkness.
Batman, as a legend, had become immortal in the hearts of the people!
Amid thunderous applause, Sarah stood up and left the theater. The following press conference would naturally be attended by her subordinates—she intended to return directly to the newsroom to write her article.
The press conference lasted a long time. Although Duke cleverly shifted the media's attention to the actors—Christian Bale, Dwayne Johnson, and Gal Gadot—he was still besieged by reporters. By the time the premiere finally ended and he and Scarlett returned to their Malibu estate, it was nearly midnight.
While Duke and Scarlett Johansson were preparing to rest, Jessica Garvey from Canada arrived at the Santa Monica commercial plaza, went to the theater where she had reserved her ticket, and walked straight inside.
Jessica Garvey was a sports journalist who had come to Los Angeles to cover the NFL draft. She was also a Batman fan and had reserved her midnight screening ticket long in advance.
Upon entering the theater, Jessica noticed that the place was packed—almost as crowded as a weekend prime-time showing. She couldn't help but feel lucky that she had booked her ticket early; otherwise, she might not have been able to get one for The Dark Knight Rises.
She had always considered herself fortunate. Not long ago, a shooting had occurred in Toronto, Canada, where Jessica had been present. Not only had she narrowly avoided the flying bullets, but she had also recorded the incident in real time through Instant Share.
After collecting her reserved ticket, she found a relatively quiet spot and looked around the theater's crowded lobby. There were all kinds of people dressed in strange costumes—many Jokers and Batmen chatting enthusiastically.
If the movie turned out great, should she dress up as Catwoman next time?
As that thought crossed her mind, Jessica Garvey pulled out her phone. There was still some time before the premiere began, and she wanted to check the latest reviews.
Just as she expected, the online editions of major media outlets had already released the newest updates about The Dark Knight Rises.
"The Dark Knight Rises is one of the most successful Hollywood films ever made. As Hollywood's most talented young director, Duke Rosenberg's masterful control over the conclusion of the Batman trilogy makes other films of the same genre look silly and childish—simply pathetic! With its multiple parallel storylines and tightly interwoven plot structure, along with its gripping and intense pacing, this film can be regarded as the most brilliant work in Duke's directing career."
— The Hollywood Reporter
"Absolutely stunning and thrilling, The Dark Knight Rises is the most worthwhile blockbuster to watch this summer!"
— Rolling Stone
"The Dark Knight Rises is an emotionally stirring final performance, but it's not just a typical summer popcorn movie. Although it's filled with action, special effects, car chases, and props usually seen only in war films—and the costumes are dazzling enough for a comic convention—Duke's worldview has given the Batman legend more darkness. His reflections on human mortality and his analysis of a hero's vulnerabilities elevate it far beyond an ordinary action movie. Though adapted from a popular comic, the Batman film series has proven that it can serve as a modern version of Greek mythology. The Dark Knight Rises is indeed a sharp and ambitious blockbuster—an epic masterpiece in every sense."
— Entertainment Weekly
"Powerful, convincing, and utterly captivating—The Dark Knight Rises has completely conquered us. Directed by Duke Rosenberg, this finale is far more than just another superhero film; in every respect, it stands as an outstanding cinematic achievement. It's so compelling that after its 135-minute runtime, you'll immediately wish to watch it again."
"The overwhelming success of The Dark Knight Rises surprises and delights us, proving that great movies can still be found. In an age flooded with terrible films, the talented director Duke has once again demonstrated his skill and focus by delivering such a successful commercial masterpiece."
— Los Angeles Times
"Like any true movie fan, I was completely conquered by Duke Rosenberg's The Dark Knight Rises. It's the first superhero film in a long time to truly win me over. The pacing is tight and precise, the dialogue is clear and authentic, the IMAX sequences are breathtaking, and the sound design is absolutely overwhelming. That wonderful sense of joy that follows watching a truly great film came rushing over me. Duke wins I surrender completely."
— Yahoo! Entertainment
Ordinary moviegoers were also full of praise for the film on Instant Share:
"Although the film lasts 135 minutes, when the credits began to roll, I still wanted more. Only a great director like Duke Rosenberg could achieve something like this!"
Glancing at the time on her phone, Jessica Garvey lifted her head, entered the theater, and found her seat. As she sat down, she casually posted her final Instant Share update—
"It's been 20 minutes, and the movie still hasn't started..."
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