The Dark Knight has Risen

Rating: 10/10 (21 July 2012)

Before I start to critique the film, I need to point out that I'm not a fan of comic movies, however I've always loved Batman. Christopher Nolan's trilogy is by far my favourite of all the Batman's ever made. His vision of Gotham, and the caped crusader himself is overwhelmingly detailed and well thought out. Christian Bale as Batman is stunning, many have criticized him, but I find his transition from Bruce Wayne to Batman majorly impressive, his dedication to the role is obvious.
Many believed that The Dark Knight was the best Batman film, and I wondered how it could be topped by the final film in the trilogy. Although a film almost three hours long may seem daunting, I assure you; it's well worth your time. We are introduced to the villain, Bane, in the beginning, and we witness his ruthless nature. Bane is played to perfection by Tom Hardy, who has really proved his acting credentials in the past two years. In truth, Hardy is almost unrecognizable as Bane, both visually and audibly. I fail to see how there could have been a better man cast in the role. Catwoman is portrayed stunningly by Anne Hathaway, and many believe it is the best Catwoman to date, a praise which I am inclined to agree with.
The film starts quite slowly, in honesty, and while some may be bored with this, I found it an interesting way to lead us into the story eight years on from where The Dark Knight left off. The action scenes are intermittent, however most are modest and realistic. The CGI, and blowout battle-scenes are stunning, and definitely worthy of an Oscar nod. The detail involved in each scene is spectacular, almost inconceivable that so much thought be put into every second of a movie.
The storyline is fluid, and brilliantly blended into a film which does not rely solely on such gun-blazing action scenes. There are many tender scenes between Batman and his loyal butler, Alfred, as he Rises again to save Gotham from the sadistic Bane. I feel that the movie remained loyal to the comics, and it truly deserves the praise it has received, and I believe many award nominations will await it during next year's ceremonies.