Review

The Dark Knight Rises

Common Sense Media says

Bale's final Batman is as gritty and dark as the first two.
Age
14
Quality
 
  • Positive messages1
    Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy explores many philosophical ideas about identity, responsibility, power, hope, despair, sacrifice, and justice. Revenge is also a key theme of The Dark Knight Rises, which is, at its core, a meditation on the duality of humanity -- for instance in how the memory of Harvey Dent contrasted with the reality of how he died affects all of Gotham. What does it mean to be good? The villain Bane questions whether police officers are instruments of justice or of oppression and whether Batman is a man of honor or a man who betrayed a code of honor.
  • Positive role models2
    Unlike almost every other superhero, Bruce Wayne/Batman isn't an alien or a mutant. He doesn't have superhuman strength; he's a rich man with some nifty gadgets and an extraordinary need to protect the citizens of Gotham -- as well as avenge the anger that drives him. Bruce isn't perfect, and he often makes mistakes (especially about whom to trust), but he summons his courage for the good of Gotham, even though it comes at considerable personal cost to him, both physically and emotionally. John Blake is an upstanding, responsible, loyal cop who always tries his best to do the right thing. Selina Kyle starts off as just a ruthless jewel thief, but her interactions with Batman/Bruce help her become less selfish and more helpful. Bruce's two mentors and friends, Alfred and Mr. Fox, are loyal and loving toward him. Bane is cruel and callous.
  • Violence4
    Like The Dark Knight, this movie has frequent, cringe-inducingly realistic violence on top of the standard, high-octane action violence that's so prevalent in superhero films. Some moments are horrifyingly up close and personal: neck breakings, stabbings, hand-to-hand combat, and there's also the enormous collateral damage of wide scale destruction: bombings, fireballs, massive explosions, building collapses, shootings, and more. Many, many people are trapped, held hostage, killed, tortured, and executed, and Bruce Wayne himself is injured in painful, nearly irreparable ways. Villain Bane is very scary-looking, with his mask and bulked-up aggression. The movie opens with a terrifying plane takeover/crash; weapons include guns, knives, bows and arrows, bombs, fists, and more. A dead teen boy's body is shown washed up outside a sewer grate. Batman and Selina are at odds over Batman's "no guns, no killing" rule.
  • Sex2
    While the romance isn't as central here as in The Dark Knight, Bruce Wayne/Batman kisses two different women. In one case, a passionate kiss leads to lovemaking, although the sex is off camera. Afterward, Bruce and his partner are shown (she's bare-shouldered, he's bare-chested) snuggling and kissing in front of a fireplace. In two other scenes, Bruce enjoys brief but passionate kisses with a woman.
  • Language2
    Language includes infrequent use of words including "damn," "bitch," "hell," and "sons of bitches," as well as "Jesus" (as an exclamation) and insults such as "idiot," "stupid," and "hag."
  • Consumerism2
    Part of a popular comic book franchise. No overt product placements, though some car brands are seen, and Bruce Wayne's black Lamborghini makes another appearance.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking1
    Adults drink cocktails at Gotham's ritzy dinner parties and costume galas.
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What parents need to know

Editor's Note: For tips on talking to your kids about the tragic shooting that took place in Colorado during a screening of The Dark Knight Rises, we hope our advice helps you manage this difficult situation.

Parents need to know that The Dark Knight Rises is the final installment in director Christopher Nolan's dark, violent Batman trilogy. Like its predecessors, The Dark Knight Rises features ultra-violent scenes of torture and death that are too intense for younger kids used to the nearly comic, stylized action violence of other superhero films. A disturbingly high body count is achieved via massive explosions, kidnappings, neck breakings, shootings, and hand-to-hand combat. While there's not a lot of actual blood, there's tons of death and mass destruction. Bruce Wayne enjoys a few passionate kisses and one love scene that shows bare shoulders; swearing is very infrequent (the strongest words used are "bitch" and "damn"). The film's villain, Bane, is monstrously muscled and frighteningly sadistic, and his mask is very scary looking. Despite the violence, be prepared for kids to beg to see the much-hyped Caped Crusader's latest adventure.

This review of The Dark Knight Rises was written by
Age
14
Based on 29 parent & educator reviews:
  • 79% say violence is an issue
  • 34% say there are positive role models
  • 28% say sexual content is an issue
  • 28% say there are positive messages
  • 28% say language is an issue
Read the reviews

Most useful reviews by all members

Teen, 13 years old
July 19, 2012
14
OK for kids & up
 
OH. MY. FLIPPING. GOODNESS.
ME AND MY BROTHER ARE OBSESSED. Period. Like, he has been waiting on this movie for years. Just the grandeur and depth of it I LOVE. It's dark. And so thought provoking. "Some men just want to watch the world burn." That is my favorite quote ever. End of story. Seriously how CAN'T THIS BE YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE?!?!?!?! All my friends are like "Omg did you see the new Spiderman?" And all I'm like is "Y'all are idiots." Every other superhero can go live in the woods for all I care (except for Captain America, I'm gonna marry him one day). BATMAN IS THE BEST. HE HAS NO POWERS. YET HE CAN KICK ANYONE'S BUTT. I love Anne Hathaway, I love her for this role. Bane: Omgoodness don't get me started. He is freaking terrifying! The best villain yet! (Nothing against Joker, he's flipping awesome.) Bane is synonymous for misery. Golly, I LOVE wordplay. But seriously, you better start hauling some serious butt and get yourself into a theater NOW!!!!!!!
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Teen, 15 years old
July 19, 2012
12
Pause for kids & under
 
Perfectly Appropriate for Teens- Common Sense Over Plays it Again.
This isn't a romance movie. There's kissing, sure, but nothing out of the ordinary or innapropriate. Common Sense makes it sound like Batman is spending more time in the bedroom than out in the streets, fighting off crime. He's not. It's perfectly appropriate. The main villain isn't at all scary- a lot less scary then Dark Night's Joker. Don't worry, your kids won't wake up with nightmares from the shiny bald head and cheeseball gas mask. Dark Night Rises is a fun action movie. Sure, there is more violence in it than some superhero movies, but almost all teens can handle that. I mean, we've grown up watching violent things. Anyone under 12 or 13 may be a little unsettled by the up-close neck snapping and such. It depends what they can handle. Dark Night Rises is a great movie for all teens and adults. I recommend it.
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Teen, 13 years old
July 20, 2012
13
OK for kids & up
 
Epic final
This movie is awesome!
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Teen, 14 years old
July 20, 2012
13
OK for kids & up
 
Messed up values
Since when is it rude to show 'bare shoulders'. Americans have mixed up values. No kids, you can't see any part of the human body other than arms and the face, go and watch brutal violence instead. Yes 9-yr-old you can't watch Batman because you'll see Anne Hathaway's shoulders, the violent scenes are GREAT for you though!
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Helped me decide (87) | Had useful details (97) | Read my mind (123)
Adult
July 20, 2012
14
OK for kids & up
 
Ugh. dumb review.
really, the first thing they talk about is the level of violence? The film has so many aspects one could talk about. And Batman, for his level of determination, sacrifice and sufferage, is not a positive role model? I'm trying not to swear to describe the writer so for the sake of child owners I will call him a "poopyface".
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Teen, 14 years old
July 21, 2012
14
OK for kids & up
 
A fantastic final installment to the Nolan Trilogy
With 2008's "The Dark Knight" as its predecessor, this film had a lot to live up to. And it is very successful. A+ movie, I enjoyed watching this entertaining, completely immersing film until the ending, which makes this film what it is... Fantastic. I won't say much, as to not spoil the film, but it has a very satisfying ending. A quality ending to a quality trilogy. Of course, people could point out the lack of intelligence and charm in this film that we all remember back in 2008 brought by the late Heath Ledger, but his absence doesn't really detract from the film, as Tom Hardy plays the terrifying Bane, who should be considered one of the great movie villains, right up there with Heath Ledger's Joker. Great job by Christian Bale, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and especially Anne Hathaway. (Expect to see a lot of nominations for those three.) And props go to Hans Zimmer as well, for providing us with the excellent score. But the genius behind it all is Director Christopher Nolan, who really puts it all together, and makes his trilogy one of the greatest in film making history. Christopher Nolan and crew, you've outdone yourself. Excellent job.
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Teen, 14 years old
July 20, 2012
13
Pause for kids & under
 
One of the best movies ever made
It was amazing. Go see it when you can. Good for the average teen
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Helped me decide (87) | Had useful details (87) | Read my mind (111)
Adult
July 20, 2012
9
Pause for kids & under
 
good but needs for comedie for the best movie
the movie was awesome but there are some isusues like violence, now thats an issue. there are alot of explosives and alittle torture but it was awesome i would rate for kids 9 and under. but this wasent the best move because it was not really funny i loved the dark knight, now that was very funny, because of the joker
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Kid, 12 years old
July 20, 2012
12
Pause for kids & under
 
The Dark Knight Rises
This was not nearly as good as the last one. The Joker was overall a better villian than Bane. Even though I like Bane better in the comics, Joker was represented better in film. There was some violence, sensuality, and cussing. But overall this was less mature than the other two. But some kids might not be able to handle the 3hrs, speaking that about 1/3 of it is slow dialouge.
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Teen, 13 years old
July 20, 2012
13
OK for kids & up
 
SO AWESOME
The Dark Knight Rises was one of the best movies I've ever seen... maybe because I haven't seen a lot of movies, but either way, this movie is awesome! I watched it the day before it came out (xD I'm special), in an IMAX theater. The action scenes were amazing. There was a lot of violence right from the start, but that's what made the movie interesting! This movie really got to me and made me think... the characters were epic and their stories were interesting, I almost cried! My friend and I were spazzing out at the end, OMG it was so amazing... DO NOT MISS THIS MOVIE.
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Helped me decide (80) | Had useful details (92) | Read my mind (90)
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