The Dark Knight Rises is a splendid finale that had surprised me from beginning to end. Don't Miss It!

Rating: 9/10 (23 July 2012)

Batman finally returns 8 years after the Joker and Harvey (Two-Face) Dent terrorized Gotham City (4 years to us) in the brilliantly dark "The Dark Knight". Now Christopher Nolan returns to Gotham, bigger and darker than ever with his conclusion of his "Batman" trilogy that began with the incredible "Batman Begins". "The Dark Knight Rises" is a splendid finale that will surprise you and will make you stand up and cheer. In short: It's a crowd-pleaser, however it lacks the edginess and the brilliance of "The Dark Knight", but the brutality and the corruption of power is certainly there. Bruce Wayne, a.k.a. Batman (Christian Bale) has retired from being Batman after the death of Harvey Dent, which forces him to take the blame for that, causing the Gotham City Police to chase after him. But will Batman ever come back? Takes too long for us to figure this out, but it will happen. Anyway, a new terror comes to town: A hulking, face-covered hoodlum known as Bane (a superior Tom Hardy) who comes to watch Gotham crumble down to rubble and nothingness with a deadly force that could destroy the city. Commissioner Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman) and police officer John Blake (a perfectly-cast Joseph Gordon-Levitt) team up to stop Bane and to save Gotham. Also, along for the ride is Selina Kyle, a.k.a Catwoman (The scene-stealing Anne Hathaway), who is a sexy thief dressed in a catsuit with a heart of gold and her sassiness to boot. She teams with the Batman, which will force Bruce Wayne to deal with giving Gotham City a new hero or to remain in the shadows forever. At 165 minutes, "The Dark Knight Rises" focuses more of the character-development and mood, rather than the plot, which is a good one. It's big, explosive and loud, but in the right sense. The brutal violence, the emotional drama and its darker moods are a rather splendid fit and it had surprised me from beginning to its (shocking, but true) conclusion. I think Christopher Nolan is a better action director than Michael Bay, because he doesn't go for mindless action and too much humor. He goes for our hearts and can surprise audiences with its twists and turns without slipping into silliness and I became a fan of what he does as a director, ever since "Memento". He uses IMAX cameras for the action scenes with cinematographer Wally Pfister and they are breathtaking. He gives a lot of support from his excellent all-star cast that also features returning regulars Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox and Michael Caine in an Oscar-worthy performance as Bruce's personal butler, Alfred. Also, new characters joining into the mix including Oscar-winner Marion Cotillard as Miranda Tate, who helps Bruce out in his time of grief, emotionally and romantically and Matthew Modine is superb as a cop who doesn't let anyone get in his way, especially Blake. See if you can also spot some cameos from two of the villains from "Batman Begins" and learn how it all comes full circle. Bane is a good villain, has a limited sense of humor and his voice is altered down for us, which is easy to understand. (Why? You'll find out soon enough.) But he doesn't have what the Joker had: Maximum horsepower. Since this is the last of Christopher Nolan's "Batman" series, I think it's rare that the third and final installment of a trilogy exceeds expectations for people. "The Dark Knight Rises" is one of those rare ones, joining alongside "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King". As the movie comes to an end, it gives us one last twist that proves the old adage, "As one story ends, another begins." Don't Miss It!