A poetic, affecting conclusion to one of the best trilogies ever.

Rating: 9/10 (20 July 2012)

Christopher Nolan is a genius. I thought that was a possibility after seeing The Prestige; however The Dark Knight and Inception were the proverbial nail and coffin and now TDKR is the hammer. Proving beyond doubt he's the master of the thinking man's blockbuster, Nolan lavishes this trilogy-closer with hugely entertaining set pieces – his usual meticulous attention to detail and seamless blend of practical effects with CGI are key – whilst challenging the audience both emotionally and mentally. He and screen writing brother Jonah invest the characters and story with stimulating layers and thoughtful subtleties rarely seen in comic-book movies, ensuring you genuinely care about what happens to hero and villain alike, as well as garnering a profound interest in where the intricate plot will take you next.
The deep connection with the characters is also owed to the on-song cast. Christian Bale gives his finest Batman / Bruce Wayne portrayal yet, whilst other series regulars Gary Oldman and Michael Caine are ever-impressive as Commissioner Gordon and butler Alfred respectively. No matter how well she pulls off the body-tight leather suit, Anne Hathaway isn't quite as jaw-dropping as I expected as Selina Kyle (aka Catwoman) but remains solid nevertheless, as does Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the relatively straight-forward role of Detective John Blake and Marion Cotillard as high-powered businesswoman and Wayne's love interest Miranda. Make no mistake though, as sure as the last instalment was the Joker's show, this one is Bane's. An utterly commanding presence on screen, Tom Hardy enriches the threatening Bane with not only a phenomenal physical appearance (he's fricken huge) but a mesmerizing dramatic performance that deserves to be free of comparison to Ledger's Joker.
Like its predecessors, this entry transcends the potentially cheesy man-in-a-cape premise and delivers an action flick with unparalleled heart and intelligence. Hans Zimmer's powerful score, Wally Pfister's immersive IMAX cinematography and a fantastically cheeky cameo are icing on the cake; rounding out a superb motion picture in its own right. If Batman Begins was the gritty reinvention and TDK was the memorable masterpiece to follow, then TDKR is the poetic, affecting conclusion that cements the trilogy's standing as one of the greatest of all time.