Rating: PG-13

Cast: Christian Bale (Bruce Wayne), Tom Hardy (Bane), Anne Hathaway (Selina), Marion Cotillard (Miranda), Morgan Freeman (Fox), Michael Caine (Alfred)

Movie length: 164 min

Director: Christopher Nolan

A lot of the Batman fanatics are going to be pretty upset when we say this... but The Dark Knight is a way better movie than this third installation.

Dark Knight Rises, the last in the Christian Bale/Batman trilogy, did not have the flash and bang, humour and strong storyline that the second instalment had in 2008.

But with all said, Rises is still a good movie.

The Christopher Nolan-directed trilogy continued its good standing of having those love-to-hate villianous characters.

The first of the super villians, Batman Begins (2005) featured Liam Neeson as Henri Ducar/Ra's Al Ghul; the second featured Heath Ledger as The Joker; and the third features a scene-stealing performance by Tom Hardy as Bane.

His transformation into the super-mercenary Bane from his svelte and sweet depiction as Tuck in This Means War (2012) with Reese Witherspoon and Chris Pine is awe-inspiring.

As a wrap-up movie Rises offers the continuity among the instalments and answers most of the questions from the second movie.

But the film does have a few flaws.

For one, the length — two hour and 44 minutes. Nolan (who also co-wrote the screenplay) obviously used the three years in between the movies to think of the best possible way to conclude the story. But did it work?

We don't think so (well, at least most of the times).

Secondly, a few Batman fans are up in arms about how the movie ends (we won't spoil it for you), but it is a bit unexpected.

Thirdly, as perfomances go, Hathaway's Catwoman is not scene-stealing, but it is believable. Very believable in fact. The sweet girl from Princess Diaries is nowhere to be seen when she climbs into her role as the revered thief.

Known for his depictions of realism, Nolan seems to have deviated into realm of fantasism and happily-ever-after that may cause a few fans furrow their brows.

What we do love is the fact that the movie did not follow the route of the other summer blockbusters and show in 3-D (because, let's be honest, very few of them are worth it).

Visually, the film is stunning, as cinemotography and shot selection are two of Nolan's strengths.

Is Rises a must-see for the summer? Definitely.

But don't go into the theatre thinking you'll know how the story ends.

TEENage rating: 3.5