After taking the fall for Harvey Dent's crimes to protect the city's only hope for salvation following the Joker's reign of chaos, Batman became a wanted fugitive - hunted by the police and cast out by the very people he'd once tried to protect. It's now eight years later, and the Dark Knight hasn't been sighted in a very long time. Gotham City, it appears, is finally at peace.

But when Commissioner Gordon (Oldman) uncovers a devastating plot to destroy Gotham from within, a broken Bruce Wayne (Bale) must reluctantly come out of retirement to become Batman once again and protect a city that has turned against him. Awaiting his return is Bane (Tom Hardy), a deadly terrorist who will stop at nothing to decimate Batman's legacy, and the mysterious Selina Kyle (Hathaway). Nothing is as it seems however, and Batman soon discovers that there is far more to his new adversaries and allies than meets the eye.

The Dark Knight Rises is the third and final chapter of director Christopher Nolan's trilogy, and while most of us would rather he continue making these for as long as humanly possible, make no mistake about it: this is indeed the end. Nolan has taken us full circle, and delivers a tragically fitting and suitably epic conclusion to the legend he began with Batman Begins seven years ago. Brutal, unforgettable and awe-inspiring, this is one film that you really needn't be convinced to come along to. Absolutely essential viewing.