Rise.

This review needs no introduction. The final film of the Christopher Nolan Dark Knight trilogy has finally come. Incorporating elements from The Dark Knight Returns, Knightfall, and No Man's Land, The Dark Knight Rises tells the tale of Bruce Wayne donning the Batman costume once again after having been retired for 8 years following the death of Harvey Dent. In the years following Dent's death, he has become a martyr and started the catalyst for a new law that led to the Gotham City Police Department gaining new power that led to the complete dissolution of gangs and the mafia in Gotham. John Blake even jokes to Gordon that soon enough, they'll be busting people for petty crimes.


In the 8 years since he retired as Batman, Bruce Wayne has become a Howard Hughes-like recluse. After a series of events involving Bane plotting to destroy the city with a nuclear bomb, Wayne makes the decision to become Batman once again, to Alfred's objection.


What follows is a film with some flaws, but a persistent theme of rising. Though the movie starts slowly, the stakes, action, drama, etc. all pick up until the final battle between Batman and Bane happens. Generally, I reserve saying the phrase "the best part was when it ended" for movies I hated. In the case of The Dark Knight Rises, the best part really is when it ends. The final 20 minutes are monumental and grandiose, right up to the final second when the title of the movie appears to signal the end, including quite possibly the worst kept secret in Hollywood proving to be true (no, not that one, the other one).


Final Score: 5 Leaps of Faith out of 5


So how do you follow that?


Inevitably, more Batman movies will be made because they're good money and there will come a time when a new generation of kids will have only seen the Dark Knight trilogy on TV or on video. No more Christopher Nolan, Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, or Gary Oldman. Really, how does a new crew possibly follow the previous 3 movies? There has been suggestion that due to the success of the Marvel movies, it is possible to make a Batman movie that more closely follows the comics, including supernatural villains and sidekicks without making it campy. I say it's possible, but the best decision wold be to simply allow the Batman film franchise to stay on ice for a few years and not attempt what Sony did with Spider-Man.