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The Dark Knight Rises

Starring: Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Tom Hardy, Joseph gordon-Levitt, Anne Hathaway, Marion Cotillard, Michael Caine, and Morgan Freeman
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Screenplay by: Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan

     Let me begin by saying simply that this is absolutely one of the best endings to a trilogy ever!
     It's been eight years since the death of Gotham City District Attorney Harvey Dent.  But it's also been eight years since anyone's seen Batman or Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale).  Gotham City has essentially been rid of organized crime and has returned to a more peaceful place.  Until now.
     There's a new player this time.  Bane (Tom Hardy) is the most powerful and most feared villain that the city has seen since the Joker.  Commissioner Gordon (Gary Oldman) isn't sure that Gotham will survive much longer without the return of Batman.  Slowly, the city is falling apart and lawlessness is taking over everywhere.  The police won't be enough to stop Bane and his conquest of the city.  Will Bruce Wayne/Batman return as the hero that Gotham needs before Bane brings Gotham its day of reckoning?
     Throughout the whole trilogy, Bruce Wayne is challenged with the question of being a hero that saves Gotham from all of its villains.  However, this time, the stakes are higher, making Wayne's struggle even greater.  The story involves a villain who has more physical strength and power than Batman.
     Many new characters are introduced in this film that weren't in either Batman Begins or The Dark Knight.  The best new edition to the film is Selina Kyle, better known as Catwoman (Anne Hathaway).  Just when the action is getting a bit boring (which does happen a few times), she shows up to spice things up.
     The action sequences are a bit more violent in this film than in the previous two films.  They look like they could almost be taken straight out of a Michael Bay movie and made more awesome, if you like explosions.
      Much of the movie seems relatable to today's world.  There's a sense of class warfare between the rich and the poor.  Although much of the trilogy shows a Gotham City that is teetering on the edge of complete chaos, this film shows Gotham unleashing all of its chaos.  While today's world isn't chaotic in the same sense, one could argue that it has the potential not to look so different.
      Christopher Nolan is one of the best and most innovative filmmakers and storytellers of our time.  His films never fail to completely blow my mind.  All of his films include a little bit of mind bending in order to draw us back to watch the film again in order to discover something new about it every time.  The Dark Knight Rises is no different.  There are things in this film that can easily be missed and require a second viewing.  But since this film is so awesome, who wouldn't want to do that?  
      This was my number one most anticipated film of 2012.  I expected a lot from it and was not let down in any way.  This movie simply cannot be skipped.
      The Dark Knight will rise to the grade of A+.

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