The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

* * * 3/4

At its high points this film delivered all the essentials from a good superhero movie and in the style you would expect from Nolan’s films. The ending, not to give any spoilers, is amazing and leaves the audience with a sense of anticipation - as you would expect.

The new characters played by Tom Hardy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Anne Hathaway and Marion Cotillard enhance this film by creating terrifyingly formidable villains and new heroes for the fans to support. The old-faithful’s are as strong as ever, especially Michael Caine in his loving role as Alfred.

There are points in this film that are amazing but most of these come at the end, and these cannot eclipse the 2 hours of mumbled conversation, occasionally hindered further by an overbearing soundtrack. It is unfortunate that the film can have so many good aspects however is pushed nearly to the point of boring due to, what is essentially, a sound problem. 

I wish I could give this film the 4 stars, or more, it deserves but I feel that due to the fact that I checked my watch several times during the first 2 hours I cannot give it higher than 3 and 3/4 stars.