Christopher Nolan brings the story of our favourite brooding caped crusader to a close with The Dark Knight Rises, the last instalment in the Batman series. There is no doubt that with Nolan at the helm we’re in for a complex and thrilling rollercoaster ride of entertainment.

It has been eight long years since Batman (Christian Bale) vanished into the night, turning, in that instant, from hero to fugitive. Assuming the blame for the death of District Attorney Harvey Dent, our hero sacrificed everything for what he and Commissioner Gordon both hoped was the greater good. For a time the lie worked, as criminal activity in Gotham City was crushed under the weight of the anti-crime Dent Act. But everything changes with the arrival of a cunning cat burglar (Anne Hathaway) with a mysterious agenda. Far more dangerous, however, is the emergence of Bane (Tom Hardy), a masked terrorist whose ruthless plans for Gotham drive Bruce Wayne out of his self-imposed exile. Even if he dons the cape and cowl again, Batman may be no match for Bane.

With an ensemble cast that includes Michael Caine, Gary Oldman and Joseph Gordon-Levitt this film promises more chills, spills and complex intrigue than most other summer blockbusters put together. But The Dark Knight Rises will be a bittersweet experience for all of us who have loved this particular superhero franchise and will be sad to see it come to an end.