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Batman: All 3 films in The Dark Knight trilogy ranked from worst to best

By Michael Patterson

PITTSBURGH - JULY 31: Christian Bale stands in between scenes during the filming of the new Batman: Dark Knight Rises movie at the Mellon Institute building in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Oakland on July 31, 2011. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH - JULY 31: Christian Bale stands in between scenes during the filming of the new Batman: Dark Knight Rises movie at the Mellon Institute building in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Oakland on July 31, 2011. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images) /
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The Dark Knight Rises, Batman
PITTSBURGH – JULY 31: Christian Bale, playing Batman, acts in a scene with Tom Hardy, playing Bane, during the filming of the new Batman: Dark Knight Rises movie at the Mellon Institute building in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh on July 31, 2011. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images) /

3. The Dark Knight Rises

The Dark Knight Rises gets a lot of unnecessary flack because it had a few-too-many plotholes, but are we supposed to pretend that a lot of this doesn’t stem from the fact that it had the impossible task of following the critically-acclaimed The Dark Knight?

It’s true that The Dark Knight Rises has a number of shortcomings, but if we’re being completely honest, it’s arguably the most enjoyable film of the three. You might scoff at such a statement, but the truth is that it served us up with the most engaging character arc of all three films: Bruce Wayne’s redemption.

The man who had taken beatings, bludgeonings and even unnecessary blame for the city he loved had to find it within himself to return to save it – not once, but twice. We had to watch a man revered as a symbol of ever-lasting hope struggle to maintain any of his own as Bane’s brutality robbed him of the last remaining shreds of it that he had. It was portrayed in a raw and authentic way – and that‘s an arc this writer would watch over anything else, regardless of its imperfections.

Hardy is brilliant as the physically-imposing Bane, Hathaway serves up a stellar performance as Catwoman, but it’s Bale who truly shines here, turning in his best performance as the broken Bat. And this trio are largely responsible for the film’s stunning final act.

The Dark Knight Rises isn’t a perfect movie, but it is the perfect conclusion to this epic trilogy – and that’s more than good enough for this writer. In fact, it might just be his personal favorite.

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