Rise!

Rating: Null/10 (21 July 2012)

In 2005, Christopher Nolan took it upon his shoulders to completely erase the horror that was Batman & Robin.
Today, as his trilogy is complete, heads are bowed before the man who not only redeemed the Legend, but took him to new heights.
To compare TDKR to any of the previous parts is as wrong as it is to compare it with Tim Burton's run on Batman, as wrong as trying to compare it with Knightfall, as wrong as comparing it with anything in this world! TDKR towers and triumphs as a fitting finale to the Gotham City that was personally created by the Nolan Brothers.
Yes, it does have its flaws, most notably being that Batman is and always will be the "World's Greatest Detective" and TDKR pays little heed to that aspect.
Yes, as a stand-alone film, the plot line does become too heavy to carry its own weight towards the latter half.
And Yes, it does leave a myriad of questions unanswered.
But, does it create an all-new tale of the Caped Crusader? One that will be devoured by fans over and over again? HELL YES! Each frame is packed with powerhouse performance pieces, be it Christian Bale's vulnerable Bruce Wayne or Anne Hathway's sexually charged Selina Kyle. Tom Hardy creates a truly menacing Bane – using only his eyes to convey so much. Marion Cotillard as Miranda Tate plays her character to the hilt and the real surprise of the film is Joseph-Gordon Levitt as Officer Blake, who storms through the film, portraying an officer of Gotham PD with true aplomb.
Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine have been superb since the first part and they only push themselves further in TDKR, as does Hans Zimmerman with his outstanding score.
But the true stars of this film, as well as the entire trilogy are the Nolan Brothers who lovingly created this realistic Gotham, who took us on a journey from a young and angry Bruce Wayne to an aging and suicidal one, who pushed each building block of the foundations they had created in 2005 and who lulled the viewers into a false sense of victory and then brought them down like a house of cards, who hoisted them up one moment and broke their backs the other.
In TDKR, the Nolan Brothers bring forth the vulnerability of Bruce Wayne to the forefront, pitting him against Bane, a mercenary with no fear, trying to break the spirit of Bruce and to an extent, succeeding even.
It's a tale of good v/s evil, of might v/s right, of conscience v/s external influences.
It's a tale that is multi-layered, multi-faceted and a delight at multiple levels.
It's a tale, that shall soon not be forgot.