An epic, incredible, and unforgettable cinematic event.

Rating: 10/10 (22 July 2012)

It's finally here. The conclusion to the Batman trilogy, as directed by Christopher Nolan. Skeptics have wondered if Nolan could out-do himself again. After the immensely popular second act in the Batman trilogy, fans and skeptics alike had no clue how Nolan and crew would pull off an even bigger and better finale. And while some won't believe it I daresay that The Dark Knight Rises surpasses the Dark Knight in nearly every department with flying colors. The Dark Knight Rises is an absolutely incredible piece of cinema entertainment, and is the fitting end for the greatest superhero trilogy ever crafted.
First and foremost, the cast here is top notch. Bale plays a better Bruce Wayne, and we see his true battle within himself as he discovers his limits and his motivations. Anne Hathaway is the sly, sneaky, and sexy Catwoman. Her performance is excellent, being both brave and likable without being a sex icon. Props to Nolan and the writers/producers for making a female character a strong and independent female protagonist. While Ledger most likely had the performance of his career in The Dark Knight as The Joker and can't be outdone, Tom Hardy does an incredible job becoming the antagonist, Bane. He's brutal, destructive, and extreme. While The Joker felt like a villain to push the main characters to their limits, Bane forces the entire city of Gotham to its knees. Oldman is more serious in his performance, but continues to play the selfless and brave Commissioner Gordon. Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays newcomer and hothead cop/detective Blake, and ends up playing a much bigger role in the film than expected. And how could I forget Sir Michael Cain, who continues to play an emotional, lovable, and ultimately powerful performance as the butler Alfred. And Morgan Freeman, while having a much more downplayed role in the final installment, still plays the likable and often snappy character of Lucius Fox. As you can see from above, the cast is nothing short of perfect.
Moving beyond the remarkable cast, the film itself is absolutely incredible as well. The pacing is incredibly brisk and intense, beginning with an incredible and action packed scene in the air. The events that begin to unfold are cryptic in their execution, but the way the plot eventually all comes together is masterful. By the three-fourth mark, the film becomes an incredibly twisted and intense crime thriller that actually has weight to it. It's a heart-pounding ride the entire time.
The soundtrack, while simple, is tribal, barbaric and incredible. The way that Bane's Deshay Basha chant works its way into the film is ingenious, if I might add. The sound editing of the film is also incredible, with earth-shattering explosions and incredible sound effects for the created mechanics.
In short, without spoiling much, The Dark Knight Rises is the best superhero trilogy finale I could have asked for. It's incredibly intense, wonderfully executed, performed with expertise, and directed masterfully. While the first film treaded the waters of cheese-ville, and the second being mildly slow and poorly written in some instances, The Dark Knight surpasses both. The Dark Knight Rises could have just been "enough" to wrap up the story. But instead of being lazy, Nolan introduces new and exciting characters, awesome new bat-inventions, and a plot that has as much suspense as one could possibly hope for. And the messages that entire film eventually conveys are smart and ones of hope and redemption.
I've praised The Dark Knight Rises enough in this review, so it's time to wrap up. I think that those who will visit Gotham one more time as envisioned by Christopher Nolan will not be disappointed at all. It is not only an incredible superhero film, but also an incredible cinematic achievement. Bringing together an incredible cast of characters and having them perform well is one thing, but having the spectacle, the cinematography, the pacing, and the film to accompany the cast doesn't happen to often, especially with such stellar results. But today, The Dark Knight has Risen into legend. You've spoiled me, Mr. Nolan. Truly, an unforgettable film.
Extra: The IMAX experience is incredible. It's earth-shattering and incredible loud. It's the finest usage of IMAX since Inception.