A nice wrap-up to Nolan's Batman trilogy

Rating: 8/10 (17 November 2016)

I much enjoyed the THE DARK KNIGHT RISES. While not being on the same level as it's predecessor (hardly any movie is), it's nonetheless a satisfying movie in it's own right. Too many people that criticize, simply do so because it's NOT the TDK. I don't view that as legitimate criticism. Anyway, TDKR is action-packed, exciting and has strong character portrayals all around. Tom Hardy is Bane, one of the few villains in Batman lore to have actually defeated Batman in combat. Hardy brings a subtle but menacing presence to the character who hold Gotham hostage. Anne Hathaway is good at Selina Kyle/Catwoman, however they could have done a little more with her character. Bale again does a fine job reprising the role of Batman, Gotham's defender. Other solid performers are again Gary Oldman as an aging Commissioner Gordon and Michael Caine as Alfred Pennyworth. There's also a brief appearance of Cilian Murphy in his role as Doctor Crane/Scarecrow from the previous two movies. All in all, a good final chapter to the trilogy, although I would have liked to see Batman not give up his caped persona at the end. I just don't buy Joseph Gordon-Levitt's John Blake as Batman's replacement. This part of the ending doesn't ruin the movie for me, I just didn't care for it. Overall, I give it an 8 out of 10.