A perfect ending to a near perfect trilogy

Rating: 10/10 (21 July 2012)

Personally, this has to be one of my most anticipated movies to watch this year, and one of the best (Next to the final LOTR). What I loved about the film is that it is not simply a repeat of The Dark Knight with a different villain, this mixes themes and elements from the first two films, plus adds new style which sets it apart from the other films. An intense opening sequence throws you into the film, setting the pace, and giving a thrilling introduction to the character of Bane (who is very much understandable). The first 40 mainly revolves around the damaged Bruce Wayne and his return as the Batman. Up until that point, the film can feel a little sluggish, and lacking the mood and feel of the previous two, but with his return come the rush of excitement that we have all grown to love. The scale has been upped on The Dark Knight Rises, where the previous films had a few car chases and gun fights, the sheer amount of action and destruction (such as the stadium explosion) dwarfs the other two in comparison. Emotions run high in the film, with many characters in almost constant peril, making you wonder who could end up dying. The final act of the film really grounds it as true action thriller, with a huge battle which takes place in Wall Street, and where Batman fights during the day for the first time. The last few minutes reminded me of '24', with a nuclear threat and only minutes to disarm and save the city, and again, added a sense of increased scale.
All in all, it may not have the presence that The Dark Knight had, but it makes up for it with some brilliant action and a fantastic end scene. Nolan, we salute you!