The Dark Knight Rises (2012) Film 50/50

There is so much to say. Where to begin?

Well, before I begin, let me give out a potential spoiler alert. I promise not to give away any major details regarding the end (you know...like who lives or dies...that sort of thing). But if you're anything like me, any detail is potentially a spoiler. Let's call this my way of recommending that you see this movie. I enjoyed it.

Okay. Now we can begin.

Let's start with the things I liked about this movie: Joseph Gordon-Levitt in pretty much every scene he had, Gary Oldman in just about every scene he had, Morgan Freeman joking about Bruce Wayne's bizarre requests from the past as he unsolicitedly introduces him to a new batch of fun toys c/o Wayne Enterprises' R&D department, Michael Caine in almost every scene he has (that is, when he's not crying/overacting), Nestor Carbonelli's eyelashes, Congressman Brett Cullen, how loudly the audience applauded when Cillian Murphy appeared on screen, and Doctor Thomas Lennon. FYI...this list could easily run longer.

Things that I disliked about this movie: Christian Bale channeling his inner Howard Hughes for most of the film, Matthew Modine's rude attitude towards Little Joey Gordon-Levitt, how difficult it was to understand Bane at times, not enough actual face-time for Tom Hardy, and the way my "that-was-an-alternate-ending-brought-on-because-of-test-marketing-audience-reactions-to-the-actual-ending" spidey-senses tingled as the credits began to roll.

And now for things that I thought I was going to hate about this movie but didn't: Anne Hathaway as Catwoman. Crazy, I know!

I'm going to leave off with the film details at that. Just know that I love how Christopher Nolan (and his brother Jonathan, too) tells a story. I've loved his (their) work since seeing Memento almost a dozen years ago. And yes, I'm already excited to see how he does with the Man of Steel next summer.

So if you haven't seen this film yet, check it out. Please don't let the tragedy in Colorado get in the way of you seeing/enjoying this movie. While it certainly weighed on my mind (particularly during the action sequences involving guns and explosives), the film is definitely worth seeing on the big screen.