By Andrew Marini ’13
THE ROUNDUP

“Dark Knight Rises” – Starring: Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway, Tom Hardy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt

9.5 out of 10

Trying to follow the performance of the record breaking “Dark Knight” is near impossible, but yet again Director Christopher Nolan and actor Christian Bale find a way to impress.

Set in Gotham eight years after the events of “Dark Knight” in a city that seems to have eradicated most crime, Christian Bale (Bruce Wayne, Batman) is in retirement and is no longer running around the streets at night wearing a mask.

Just as things appear to have cooled down, we are introduced to a new villain known as Bane (Tom Hardy) who has many connections and plans on bringing down Gotham by any means possible.

The film continues on with an amazing Climax that will make you feel like all hope truly is lost. Stunning action sequences and scattered connections to the prior two films (“Dark Knight” and “Batman Begins”) make it a fantastic conclusion to the three-part series.

New characters such as Officer Blake (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), and Selina aka Catwoman (Anne Hathaway) fit in well with the all-star cast and present characters that the viewer is rooting for no matter what happens.

Bane (Tom Hardy) does a great job portraying a villain who is equally creepy as he is feared and respected by all. He is not a “freak” as were the villains prior to him, but an actual leader who uses his charisma to help him take down Gotham.

Bruce Wayne, aka Batman, was never the hero the city needed but always the one they deserved, and he does not disappoint as he wraps up one of the best sagas of all time.

With an ending that is unforgettable, and an all-star cast like this it is easy to see why “Dark Knight Rises” earns a 9.5 out of 10, and does an excellent job wrapping up the record breaking franchise many fans have come to love.