A bitter sweet ending to one of the greatest trilogies of all time.

Rating: 10/10 (20 July 2012)

On a rainy July day in 2005, at the age of 12 my father and I decided to take a matinée trip to the movies. We were prepared to see the highly anticipated Batman Begins and by the end were convinced that director Christopher Nolan had put together something special when that joker card was flipped at the ending by Gary Oldman. Nolan had directed the best Batman film up to date and even more fireworks were on the horizon.
In 2008, I was a little older and was anxious to see what was in store for the second batman movie. I didn't leave the theater disappointed as I watched Heath Ledger deliver one of the most powerful performances of all time in his joker role. The only thought that raced through my mind after seeing the Dark Knight was, how could this movie be topped without Heath Ledger?
Going into the movie Friday morning I believed that I would be walking out happy but I walked in with the thought that the Dark Knight was untouchable. Boy was I wrong! The Dark Knight Rises absolutely had it all. Action, suspense, emotion, you name it. There was never a dull moment in this film. I was never once thinking to myself, man! is this thing ever going to end? Christian Bale, in my opinion delivers his best acting performance of his triumphant career as the Bruce Wayne character is in a dark painful stage of emotion until Gotham needs him to be the Batman again. The female roles of Selina Kyle and Miranda Tate portrayed by Anne Hathaway and Marion Cotillard are by far the best female performances of the trilogy as they bring suspense, sexiness, and wit to the film. The rest of the original cast is also absolutely phenomenal as you get to see a lot more of Afred, Luscious Fox, and Commissioner Gordon who are played respectively by Caine, Freeman, and Oldman. Joseph Gordon-Levitt brings a strong best supporting actor worthy performance with his belief in the Batman and could be compared to Aaron Eckharts Harvey Dent character. Finally, although Mr. Ledgers portrayal of the Joker in the Dark Knight is nearly flawless and tough to top, Tom Hardy brings physical and mental toughness to the film which keeps the Batman on the balls of his feet the whole entire movie. You are left with an unbelievable ending and depending on your love for these films, may be shaking by movies end. You won't want to leave your seat and it is worth every bit of your top earned dollar. I was never bored during this film as it executes as great of dialogue and plot structure that you can see in a movie. All praises to the Dark Knight, but this lead up topped the unbeatable in this situation. One of the greatest movies I've ever seen. Instant classic in all forms of the imagination.