The Dark Knight Rises (dir. Lord Christopher Nolan)

When you've been waiting for a film for four years in anticipation, there's never really anything negative you'll be able to say about it upon viewing it. Such is the case with this film. Chris Nolan has stepped it up again. I don't know how he does it honestly. This may be the most biased review you've ever read because Chris Nolan is my favourite modern filmmaker next to Tarantino, so be prepared for fangirling.
Firstly, I would like to talk about how amazing Bane is. Tom Hardy owned the role, honestly almost stole the film. As a fan of the comics, I appreciate the restoration of this character. He is terrifying, brute force obviously being on of strengths. However, I am so glad they included the fact that Bane is horrifically smart, ultimately being Bruce's match in force (perhaps he supersedes him in some aspects) and wits.
Christian Bale is always amazing as Bruce. He always draws out the emotional reaction he needs to get from the audience, as does Michael Caine as Alfred, who is really the heart of this film. Gary Oldman is... Well, it's GARY OLDMAN. Marion Cotillard is always just lovely on screen, so no surprises (...) there. I really want to discuss two of the other newcomers to the franchise. Joseph Gordon Levitt and Anne Hathaway were phenomenal. Anne Hathaway, much like Hardy, steals the show every time she's on screen and is so sultry and yet so sinister. JGL really steps it up in this film as GPD Office John Blake. He is so honest on screen and really plays that pivotal "white knight" role, much like Harvey Dent. He still believes in the Bat and it's so nice to see such a truthful character amongst all the theatricality of the masks that the hero and villain nominate to wear... Well, not so much Bane...
As a massive fan of Batman, I had the one concern that I'm sure every other fan did as well: did Chris Nolan ruin the chances of this film being good by making setting the bench mark so high with it's predecessor the Dark Knight (undisputedly one of the best films of the last two decades)? No, he doesn't. Screenwriter Jonathan Nolan has wonderfully adapted another piece of cinema. The plot is amazing, I won't go into it because it needs to be seen to be believed. The plot twists are great, the characters are great, the stunts are great, the fight scenes are great. Nolan and brother really just deliver a spectacle. It RISES (heh) to the challenge set my the Dark Knight Rises and in a lot of ways knocks it out of the park. Where the Dark Knight is a stand alone film and will always be iconic, as a trilogy this film is the best in some aspects.
The film comes full circle, making reference to Batman Begins rather than TDK, which I love. It rounds out the series terrifically and it is the perfect ending to the trilogy.
Watch out for that last shot though, it gave me heart palpitations (in a good way).
The Dark Knight Rises is pure emotion, I was in hysterics in the last 15 minutes of the film. It's amazing. AMAZING. There's not many ways I can coherently put it into words without rambling on about specific vital plot points, nor can I discuss it without crying.
This is the movie I was waiting for.
Five stars.
★★★★★
-Cassie (now going by Batman)