The final instalment of Chris Nolan’s Batman trilogy will officially clock in at 164 minutes and 27 seconds in length (2 hours, 44 mins). So, set aside an entire afternoon or evening of your time, get a large Coke, large popcorn, a pillow, maybe a blanket and a blow up mattress because you’re gonna be in this one for the long haul. Incidentally, Rises clocks in at just over 15 mins longer than its predecessor The Dark Knight which came in at (an already lengthy) 152 mins.
The film has received a 12A certificate from the BBFC and is noted for containing “moderate violence.” Expect a similar rating from the Irish Film Classification Office.
I’m a big Batman fan, particularly Nolan’s Dark Knight universe, but I sincerely hope this isn’t a bloated, self-indulgent Bat-fest. Don’t get me wrong, I’m ridiculously excited to see this movie, and there is a direct link between the length of a film I’m excited to see and how happy that makes me feel.
I don’t want to rain on people’s (including my own) parade of excitement, but this sounds a bit long to me, indeed it is Nolan’s longest film to date.
What comforts me, however, is that he is the most critically and commercially lauded director of the last decade, aswell as one of my favourites. As a consequence Christopher Nolan could make a 14 hour film about sand and probably retain my attention and interest throughout.
Also, given what we’ve seen from trailers thus far, I don’t think I have anything to worry about.
A new synopsis for the film has also been released:
It has been eight years since Batman vanished into the night, turning, in that instant, from hero to fugitive. Assuming the blame for the death of D.A. Harvey Dent, the Dark Knight sacrificed everything for what he and Commissioner Gordon both hoped was the greater good. For a time the lie worked, as criminal activity in Gotham City was crushed under the weight of the anti-crime Dent Act.
But everything will change with the arrival of a cunning cat burglar with a mysterious agenda. Far more dangerous, however, is the emergence of Bane, a masked terrorist whose ruthless plans for Gotham drive Bruce out of his self-imposed exile. But even if he dons the cape and cowl again, Batman may be no match for Bane.
