Thoughts on The Dark Knight Rises

 Note: Spoilers are grayed out.

Of course I watched it in IMAX, one of the only films next to its predecessor that actually makes use of the entire 6-story tall screen! Don't know how else to express the craze for this third installment, which closes in the most brilliant way possible for this series. It is most definitely recommended that people watch the sequels before watching this final entry as it makes references and minimal-but-significant flashbacks. More importantly, this movie is a part of the trilogy, serving as the final act of the entire Nolan-Batman story.

 I do not care if this does not top the box office record of the previous installment (and it probably won't) but I find this to be the better of The Dark Knight (2008). If I were to rank the order of the three, it'd be Rises, Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. While I loved the political issues dealt with in The Dark Knight, it did not feel so much like a Batman movie like Begins did. Rises took what was forgotten and pushed the envelope.

 Bane was so well portrayed, was actually worried they'd turn him into a mindless Juggernaut, banging his head thru endless walls. He is intelligent with physical brutality, as he should be known for.

Anne Hathaway has to be the best Catwoman ever adapted to screen, even better than Michelle Pfeiffer. I also loved how it wasn't directly implied that she was Catwoman as they made no mention of that word at all. And don't worry, she does not do multiple back-flips followed by a meow, as it is her character that drives the name, not the costume.

 Gordon-Levitt's character, I KNEW he'd be Robin. There were subtle hints but the one I picked up was when Bruce was 'mentoring' him on how to be a figure of Batman ("you wear a mask to protect the ones you love", etc). I put the two and two together with John Blake being beside Wayne like a sidekick then snap - the ending fit the surprising puzzle. Everyone in the theatre went wild when it happened. It's clearly obvious that this was done as fan service, not that he'd take Robin into his own name. It's indicated that he's taking over Batman's mantle while Bruce is living to what Alfred envisioned his future to be.

As for the entire cast, I wouldn't have thought of anyone better to play their respective roles (and it seems that once you act for one Nolan film, you're guaranteed to be on the next - at least three cast members were from 2010's Inception). I am both sad and satisfied with what's witnessed over the years in what is perhaps the best Batman films ever made.