The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Christopher Nolan! What could I say? He has taken a comic book superhero and has delivered the BEST trilogy for years to come. Christopher Nolan has left the Dark Knight series on a high (highest in my opinion) note.

The Dark Knight Rises starts off eight years after the previous, astounding "The Dark Knight". Bruce Wayne has shut himself up in his mansion as Batman had to disappear after taking the blame for the death of Harvey Dent. But his retreat is threatened with the arrival of Bane (formerly of the League of Shadows).

It is Selina Kyle who starts the ball rolling by stealing Bruce Wayne's fingerprints. From then on, Bruce faces financial crisis, has a relationship with Miranda Tate, gets his back broken by Bane and rises (literally) to defeat evil (you know it is bound to happen) in one of the best finales ever seen on film.

If you thought Heath Ledger was the ultimate personification of evil (yes, I do) then, Tom Hardy takes it up a notch with his physique and a very posh-yet-bastardised English accent. It is with such pitch-perfect meance (you will have to see/hear it to believe) he addresses the CIA agent "Perhaps he's wondering why someone would shoot a man before throwing him out of a plane?" While the Joker was more of a cerebral villain, Bane is unmatched in his physical brutality.

Even though he is only on screen for a precious few minutes, Michael Caine provides yet another sterling , heartbreaking performance as Albert, the ever faithful companion (yes, he's more than just a butler to Bruce). And that final scene in the cafe with Bruce and Albert is just brilliant. I am not ashamed to say there were tears. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, plays John Blake (alright, his full name is 'Robin' John Blake), an orphan (now a police officer) who somehow knows that Bruce Wayne is Batman (because Bruce Wayne is also an orphan - a forgivable plot-hole in an otherwise excellent screenplay) and Gary Oldman (promoted to Commissioner in this film) along with Marion Cotillard, Morgan Freeman and Anne Hathaway provide adequate support to Christian Bale who easily slips into eccentric billionaire Bruce Wayne (with a limp) and Batman who has to make an ultimate sacrifice to save Gotham City.

Along with Tom Hardy (my favourite performance in the film), the film is ably supported by Hans Zimmer's score; especially the taut opening scene (which was brilliantly brought on-screen) amplified to an extreme by the score.

In closing, watch it for Tom Hardy who has embodied Bane (a modern day Darth Vader) as Christopher Nolan (along with his brother Jonathan Nolan - co-writer) bring Bruce Wayne's story to a suitable, cathartic conclusion while providing excellent action and a few interesting twists along the way. The story of Batman may live on but most certainly (in my opinion) the story of Bruce Wayne has been wrapped up.

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