The Dark Knight Rises is the conclusion to Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy.

It has been years since Batman turned from hero to fugitive. Assuming the blame for the death of D.A. Harvey Dent, the Dark Knight sacrificed everything for what he and Commissioner Gordon both hoped was the greater good. For a time the lie worked, as criminal activity in Gotham City was crushed under the weight of the anti-crime Dent Act.

But everything will change with the arrival of a cunning cat burglar with a mysterious agenda. Far more dangerous, however, is the emergence of Bane, a masked terrorist whose ruthless plans for Gotham drive Bruce out of his self-imposed exile. But even if he dons the cape and cowl again, Batman may be no match for Bane.

So far the film is getting rave reviews as it received 100% fresh on rottentomatoes.com with all reviews all being positive.

“Retains the moral urgency and serious-minded pulp instincts that have made the Warners’ franchise a beacon of integrity in an increasingly comic book-driven Hollywood universe,” wrote Justin Chang of Variety. 

“Big-time Hollywood filmmaking at its most massively accomplished, this last instalment of Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy makes everything in the rival Marvel universe look thoroughly silly and childish,” concurred Todd McCarthy of the Hollywood Reporter.

The film opens on Thursday July 19, 2012 and box office expectations are high as The Dark Knight released in 2008 had a worldwide box office take of just over $1 billion, making it the 11th most successful film of all time. We will see what this one brings but it looks like it will be another megahit, even challenging The Avengers which is also another great movie.