Doesn't quite live up as a sequel to "The Dark Knight" but by no means a sub-par film

Rating: 10/10 (28 March 2015)

"The Dark Knight Rises" It's not so much a story about The Batman, as much as a story about Gotham City and the people affected by Bruce Wayne's alter ego. It's a culmination of every action taken by The Batman coming down in the form of some menacing villains. It's the most anticipated movie of 2012 and because the bar has been raised so ridiculously high, it doesn't quite live up to the expectations. That doesn't mean that is a bad movie. DKR has excellent performances, a tense story that will keep you on the edge of your seat, cool additions to the Batman mythology and a compelling villain. The climax is one intense experience and what Tom Hardy does with just his eyes and his voice is unbelievable. He is a truly frightening foe for The Batman. Some of the criticisms I have concern the pacing of the film. I felt like at times it runs slightly too long and some of the slow beginning should have been cut a bit. Once the momentum gets going you won't want to miss a single second. It's a satisfying conclusion to the Christopher Nolan trilogy and aside from a few minor things it's pretty much the perfect third film in one of the best trilogies out there. (Theatrical version in Imax, August 29, 2012)