The Dark Knight Rises...3.5 out of 4 Skittles

Rating: 9/10 (6 September 2012)

Director Christopher Nolan has done it. He has turned his Batman franchise into quite possibly the greatest trilogy of all time. True fans of all great trilogiesStar Wars, Lord of the Rings, Indiana Jones, The Godfather, Bourne Identity, or even Toy Story can argue the points of why their movies are the greatest, but Nolan's Dark Knight series has deservedly staked a claim at the top of the heap.
The Dark Knight Rises is the delicious cherry on top of this version of the Batman sundae. From the beautiful panorama shots that are scattered through out the film, to the superb writing and acting that bring to life the gritty and dark realism that make this version of the beloved DC Comics character more believable than ever.
Sure, the film has its flaws. For oneit's bloated with some unnecessary story. With a 2 hour and 44 minute running time The Dark Knight Rises has its slower moments, but for the true fans of Nolan's tale the extra detail will be welcomed with open arms, and the film's fantastic 45 minute action packed finale will make the slow start all worth while. Seriouslythis may be the most satisfying ending for a trilogy of all time easily destroying the stupid ewok celebration from Star Wars, or the sappy never ending goodbyes of The Lord of the Rings, not to mention the waste of space that became The Godfather 3. Like it's two predecessors, Nolan's script penned with brother Jonathan is in perfect sync with the DC Comics spirit delivering nugget after nugget that should appease the hoards of comic book aficionados and movie lovers alike.
Batman veteran actors Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman are solid as expected putting their characters to rest in pure style. It's the acting newcomers who get to come in and have the most fun in the finale. Anne Hathaway (The Devil Wears Prada, Alice in Wonderland) is surprisingly perfect as the kick-ass cat burglar Selina Kyle (she's never mentioned as Catwoman, but we get the point) playing her fake damsel in distress act and towing the line of good and evil as needed. Tom Hardy's (Inception, Warrior) take on the villain, Bane, is utterly frightening and fascinating. Marion Cotillard (Inception, Big Fish) and Joseph-Gordon Levitt (Inception, 50/50) round out the talented cast that could intimidate any other big-time movie cast.
The Dark Knight Rises is the finale of what all big budget Hollywood films should strive for. Yes, it has the money to splash around and dazzle on special effects, but also the script to give this story a reason to be told, the truly talented cast to fully bring the comic characters into the real world, and the right director to put all the pieces together and make a film that lives up to the advertising hype. The Dark Knight Rises is the fantastic final piece to one of the greatest movie trilogies in the history of cinema, and what all blockbuster movies should hope to one day become.
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