"The Dark Knight Rises" defeated by its greatest enemy—"The Dark Knight"

Rating: 8/10 (31 August 2012)

The Holy Trinity of movie franchises: Harry Potter, Star Wars, and Batman. The top three moneymakers based on total gross according to boxofficemojo.com, these films will never fail to make money when in theaters. But the Harry Potter franchise concluded in 2011, and George Lucas hasn't cranked out a Star Wars film since 2008. This leaves us with the "caped crusader," whose franchise recently concluded this summer with the debut of its latest film.
When Batman first surfaced in 1939, you never would have guessed that he would still be fighting crime nearly 75 years later. And in an entertainment world where the higher the body count the better, it is hard to believe that a hero who refuses to use guns, much less kill people, would still be considered interesting. But the Dark Knight has stood the test of time, and once again rises to defend Gotham's streets in Christopher Nolan's third and final Batman installment, The Dark Knight Rises.
For the most part, The Dark Knight Rises is everything that the conclusion of a comic book film franchise should be. It's the total package: action packed, tinted with romance, seasoned with emotion, a dash of comedy, and a perfect ending to a trilogy that has done just that--ended. Tom Hardy does a fairly good job of portraying Bane, a villain whose backstory is stitched together from pages of the Knightfall comic book arcs. Similarly, the ever objective Catwoman is well played by Anne Hathaway, who holds her own against the legacy of Michelle Pfeiffer. And let's not forget Michael Caine as Alfred, who brought me to tears every other time he was on screen worrying over Bruce Wayne. Last but not least, the handful of new toys Batman gets to use against the bad guys, most notably "the Bat," are always entertaining.
And though Rises is a good movie, it falls just short of being a great film. The Dark Knight Rises has dull moments, particularly during many of Bane's monologues. The dialogue is often repetitive, and I wouldn't be surprised to find a movie specific drinking game out there with people taking shots every time someone mentions the people of Gotham or Harvey Dent (or auto pilot). The plot has many twists and turns that may entertain casual viewers, but seasoned comic book fans will see most "surprises" coming from miles away. The script provides an excellent build, but seems to fizzle out as it concludes. And this all may have been overlooked had it not been for Rises' biggest enemy: The Dark Knight. With a villain like the Joker and a seamless plot, The Dark Knight seems to outshine its successor in more ways than one. The Dark Knight left me with high expectations for the trilogy's conclusion, and The Dark Knight Rises just didn't meet those expectations.
Despite its flaws in continuity and pacing, The Dark Knight Rises is a must-see film. It's worth several viewings in fact. Like its counterparts, The Dark Knight Rises has a little something for everyone. But in terms of Nolan's trilogy, it ties with Batman Begins for second best.