Geeks of the world weep, The Dark Knight trilogy from the epically awesome Christopher Nolan is coming to an end with The Dark Knight Rises.
Eight years on from the events in The Dark Knight, Batman has long since gone from the streets of Gotham and the memory of Harvey Dent (as a hero) has ushered in a new era of lower crime rates and prosperity for the city. Batman hasn't been needed until now.
An eco-terrorist BANE has come to town with an army willing to die for him but Bruce Wayne aka Batman begins to realise that there's more to this eco-terrorist than meets the eye. With Gotham city hours from incineration, Batman must team up with the law enforcement of Gotham and an unlikely hero to save not only their own lives but the lives of every citizen of Gotham.
Gotham City needs Batman but where is Batman?
Who would have thought that The Dark Knight Trilogy would have been so awesome? in the past we've had a Batman suit with nipples, a camp comic book fest and a Tim Burton classic but Christopher Nolan tackled the DC Comic book franchise and actually understood the need for a darker, grittier Batman, a tortured Batman punished by his own indecision and of course the sacrifices he makes.
Christopher Nolan is no Joss Whedon but he comes pretty damn close when it comes to The Dark Knight Rises.
A lot of people loved and loathed this film but I was firmly in the loved camp because Nolan went back to basics with The Dark Knight Rises message and gave us that typical comic book geek warm fuzzy feeling when the film came to a close. It left me feeling as though one man or woman with the courage to stand up and be counted can do anything. You don't need to dream of being the super hero in the cape, the tights or the skin tight rubber suit; to be yourself and find the courage and conviction in your own voice is all you need to change the world!
Yup, it's that age old message from comic book past and present and it's bloody fantastic.
Christian Bale returns as Batman along with a star studded cast including Anne Hathaway as Catwoman, Gary Oldman as Commissioner Gordon, Tom Hardy as Bane, Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Blake (the future Nightwing?) and Michael Caine returns as Alfred.
The cast is superb and Nolan directs them in one of the greatest comic book features of all time. Although I was a little disappointed to see that Nolan wasn't brave enough to make a small change and bring Michelle Pfeiffer back as Catwoman, even if it is to mentor Anne Hathaway who as always does an amazing job in whatever role she plays. She's cheeky, she's sexy and she's a little bit dangerous.
Add to that Tom Hardy as the muscle bound mastermind, Bane and Caine as Alfred and you can't fail.
There's a lot to say about The Dark Knight rises but to be on the same page as movie fans and geeks the world over I think it's only fair that you pick up this film today, however be warned it is part of a Trilogy so why not treat yourself to Batman Begins, The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises in one o f the many box sets making their way into stores worldwide on December 3rd.