The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Few things are harder than finishing what you started, especially when the whole world is watching. Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight Rises" may not quite reach the mythic heights of its predecessor, but it's a magnificent conclusion to his brooding Batman trilogy, as rich in literary resonance as it is in timely social insight - and an epic crime drama packed with breathtaking action. Set eight years after "The Dark Knight," the film finds Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) broken in body and spirit. Gotham is at peace because Batman took the blame for Harvey Dent's death, and only Commissioner Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman) knows the truth. But a new threat rooted in conflicts first explored in "Batman Begins" is coming, and you honestly won't know whether hero and city will survive until the final, exhilarating moments. The script by Nolan and his brother Jonathan juggles a battle for Wayne Enterprises, a clean energy source that could save or destroy the world, a desolate foreign prison, terrorist attacks and a master jewel thief who is Catwoman in all but name. Anne Hathaway plays Selina Kyle with sassy fun and sexy menace, and she's joined by newcomers Marion Cotillard and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Tom Hardy's masked Bane is the toughest physical challenge Batman has ever faced. He can't quite match Heath Ledger's Joker, but his menacing swagger makes a striking contrast to the moral battle raging inside Batman. Bale gives his most dynamic performance yet, and Michael Caine, Oldman and Morgan Freeman return with more emotional weight than ever. The spectacular set pieces, including a midair airplane hijacking and the crippling of an entire city, are made even bigger by extensive IMAX footage. At 164 minutes, it's a deeply satisfying conclusion to a saga that stays relevant, resonant and thoroughly entertaining.