Film: The Dark Knight Rises (12A)

Director: Christopher Nolan

The third in the series based on the story by David Goyer, Christian Bale is back, all moody and restless, as well as being a martyr. Just to catch you up, Batman has spent the last eight years away from Gotham taking the rap for Two Face’s crimes in the name of the ‘Greater Good’. Hard cheese there for the caped crusader.

And while the Bat was away the mice have certainly played, as uber-villain Bane (Tom Hardy) – chemically enhanced and murderous after a life in prison – steps up as crime kingpin of the Bat’s hometown. Not to mention the vampy Catwoman (Anne Hathaway), who’s hardly playing by the rule book, too. Batman’s got his work cut out here. But then, this is one of the most avidly anticipated films of the year. It was never going to be an easy battle.

Also starring Gary Oldman returning as Commissioner Gordon, Michael Caine as Alfred, Liam Neeson as Ra’s Al Ghul, Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox, and newbies to the series Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Juno Temple and Aidan Gillen pitching in too.

Released Friday 20 July
Showing at Duke Of York’s Picturehouse, Odeon and Cineworld