The final film in Christopher Nolan’s iconic Batman trilogy premiered last weekend, with much acclaim and profit. It was a box office hit, with its opening weekend earning over $160 million, and it broke the record for a 2D/IMAX midnight premiere by grossing $30.6 million. The film has done well domestically, as well as internationally, despite the nation’s sorrow surrounding the shootings during the film’s midnight premiere in Aurora, Colo.

“The Dark Knight Rises” was a highly anticipated film even before preproduction began, in part due to the monumental success of its predecessor, “The Dark Knight.” Having now seen the film, I must say Nolan does an excellent job of finishing up the trilogy in his own mind-blowing cinematic style for which he has become renowned. I won’t spoil any details for anyone who has yet to see the movie, but I will say I found the ending to be an appropriate and realistic finale for the series.

Going into the film, I wasn’t too sure about some of the cast, particularly Anne Hathaway, since I have usually seen her play happier or goofier roles. However, I was pleasantly surprised to see all of the actors in the movie truly deliver with their characters, especially the female roles. Marion Cotillard, who is well known from Nolan’s “Inception,” and Hathaway give strong performances that are believable and captivating. Christian Bale is just as powerful in this portrayal of Bruce Wayne as in the past and seems more humanized and emotional near the end.

My only qualm with the acting was the antagonist, Bane. While I enjoyed Tom Hardy’s depiction of the criminal, I found it difficult to understand much of his dialogue because his mask muffled the character’s speech. I only understood roughly half of everything Bane said. There were some continuity issues with his plan, as well. I won’t go into detail for the sake of those who have yet to see it, but Bane’s plan ultimately didn’t make much sense to stop Batman and destroy Gotham. He took multiple unnecessary risks, and in many ways, came across as a cliché villain.

In my opinion, “The Dark Knight Rises” was overhyped prior to its release. Audiences were largely expecting a movie that would be as good as or excel above “The Dark Knight,” which the final film does not do. While it is a wildly entertaining and accomplished cinematic feat, it does little to top its predecessor as a truly iconic film. It has several plot ties with the first film, “Batman Begins,” that seem to connect the two on the same playing field. Both are great films, and I highly recommend them. But they do not surpass the cinematic quality of “The Dark Knight” – it stands alone in its own category.

If you’re wondering whether or not to spend the money, I recommend going to see “The Dark Knight Rises,” especially if you’re already a fan of Nolan’s Batman trilogy. It is a fitting ending to a magnificent story and accomplishes the basic goal of any film the audience pays money to see. It entertains.

– Matt Ford