Editor’s Note: Out of sensitivity to those affected by the shooting in Aurora, we’ve delayed publication of this review until today. We hope that our readers are not offended by our endorsement of what we feel is a film that can and should be appreciated outside of the context of the actions of a mentally ill mass murderer. 

The release of the final installment in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy has been overshadowed by a tragic spree shooting in Colorado. When I arrived at the theater for a matinee showing today, the place was less than a quarter full . . . and it remained that way. People were also clustered near the rear of the theater, and a somber and weird overall atmosphere pervaded the place. And, okay, I’ll admit it, I was feeling a bit irrationally paranoid sitting there as well. It was not a typical blockbuster opening day.

As for the film itself, The Dark Knight Rises is a worthy final chapter in the series that should please both casual fans and comics readers like myself. While I would argue it is the least successful of the three films, and there are some weaknesses I’ll get to below the cut (where moderate spoilers lie), it is still extremely well-put together as we’ve come to expect from Nolan, and it ties up the trilogy neatly (but not too neatly). Read More »