The Dark Knight Rises

     Wow, what an ending to an excellent trilogy by Christopher Nolan.  After the Aurora, CO shooting, I have to admit I was a little nervous about going to see the film and I waited a week to do it instead of seeing it opening weekend like I had originally planned.  Not that I really expected a gunman to be able to make it to the third floor where my theater was located but still, it unnerves me that someone was that deranged and no one knew it until it was too late.  I even caught myself looking at my watch during the first hour, waiting for the 30 minute mark to pass (signaling when James Holmes entered the theater and started shooting) so I could feel more relaxed.  So now onto the actual film...
     WARNING - SPOILERS AHEAD!!!  As usual all the major players were there preformed by exquisit actors - Gary Oldman (Gordon), Morgan Freeman (Fox), Michael Caine (Alfred), Christian Bale (Bruce Wayne/Batman).  We even got to see some old favorites from previous films, Liam Neeson and Cillian Murphy along with some great newcomers, Tom Hardy (Bane), Anne Hathaway (Catwoman), and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Blake).  While it can't be denied that the late Heath Ledger was the best Batman villain to ever grace the screen, he was also so chillingly realistic that I have a hard time watching the film.  He made the Joker so disturbing that I always walk away from seeing the film a little scared about what might be around the next corner as well as in my dreams.  Bane is not that kind of villain for which I am grateful as I will be able to watch and enjoy this film repeatedly without the nightmares.  He is well played by Tom Hardy who doesn't even look like himself and the audio team needs to be applauded for making his Darth Vaderish voice distinct enough to hear over the explosions, guns and soundtrack.   Catwoman is also wonderful and her humor is a nice break in the drama that unfolds around her. I wasn't too sure about Nolan's choice of Anne Hathaway but she did an amazing job that made me completely forget her Princess Diaries character that has been stuck in my head for years now.   I especially liked when she pretended to be a damsal in distress as the police showed up at the pub and then she kicked butt whenever they weren't watching.  Blake, however, was my favorite character besides Batman.  His desire for justice and strong belief in Batman was intoxicating.  The reveal at the end of the film that he was going to be Robin and join Batman in the bat cave was the best part of the movie for me.  And I wished for a peek at a sequel involving the caped crusader and his sidekick after the end credits, but no dice, bummer.
     I love films with a happy ending and this ones delivers.  While it is violent, like all the Batman films, it has a strong moral center, surprising twists, and more than one hero to root for.