The third and final installment in Christopher Nolan's Batman film trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises continues eight years after the events of The Dark Knight Rises. After assuming the death of D.A. Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), Batman (Christian Bale) has disappeared from the public eye, his hero title replaced with that of fugitive. Now, under powers granted by the Dent Act, Commissioner Gordon (Gary Oldman) and the Gotham City Police Department have nearly eradicated organized crime. But when a new terrorist, Bane (Tom Hardy), threatens Gotham, the Dark Knight must come out of retirement, and with the help of a headstrong detective (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and a cunning cat burglar (Anne Hathaway) restore order to a city that has branded him an enemy. Clifton Lyons
With: Bale, Caine, Oldman Hathaway164 MinutesRated PG-13
A highly riveting film, "The Dark Knight Rises" is an effective and dazzling end to Nolan's Batman saga. While muddled with a few large plot holes, "Rises" redeems itself with its superior direction, mesmerizing cinematography, impressive score and jaw-dropping visuals. Others may be disappointed that the film does not shock as much as its predecessor, but with this movie, Nolan has finessed his storytelling abilities to weave in multiple subplots without confusion. Rohail Premjee
Nolan continues to raise the standards of superhero movies in "The Dark Knight Rises," a gripping, action-packed story of the masked crusader's return to Gotham. Despite a lengthy prologue and a poorly-designed mouthpiece for Bane, it's the stars who ultimately deliver in this final installment. Bale takes on a complex Batman haunted by his past mentor, while Hardy is as formidable a physical presence as Bale and Hathaway adds a much-welcome comedic air to the film. Jenny Che
