The Dark Knight Rises
Director: Christopher Nolan
Cast: Christian Bale, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway
Rated: PG-13
Running time: 164 minutes
Christopher Nolan has made one of the best Batman story arcs the world has ever seen. Big words, sure, but by all expectations this movie has passed all bars. For starters, and what many might not realize (myself included) is that his two previous movies were not stand-alone films. Rather, Batman Begins, and The Dark Knight were the first two movies in a trilogy that erupts in a fantastic finish.
We start eight years after The Dark Knight, when the world remembers Harvey Dent as a hero and Batman as a monster. The Bat has all but disappeared and Bruce Wayne has gone all recluse in the far wing of his estate. In steps a remarkable/evil plot aboard an army plane when we're introduced to the new supervillain, Bane, played by Tom Hardy. It would be foolish to try topping Heath Leger's insane Joker, but thankfully Bane brings a fantastic supervillain with an evil plot to the table that is impossible not to enjoy. Another standout role is Anne Hathaway as the cat burglar Selina Kyle, who plays both the good and evil sides with remarkable agility and believability.
Unleashing every post 9/11 nightmare scenario in just under three hours while tying two seemingly unrelated movies together is no small task and the final product is certainly worth your entertainment time and money. Lastly, and most awesomely, this movie gives everyone a good reason to watch the two previous Christopher Nolan Batman films. Not that we needed one.
