"The Dark Knight Rises" is a mess of a film full of many plot holes and underdeveloped characters. Many use the term epic for this film but I strongly disagree. Christopher Nolan's attempt to create something epic, or memorable, is laughable.

The film has a slow start as we are introduced to many boring, one-dimensional characters. This then leads to a dull second act until we get to the bloated, pointless action at the end. The film does not flow; this is due to the many unnecessary side stories. It would have worked better if John Blake and Miranda Tate were done away with.

Bane is one of the worst villains in the franchise. He is not menacing, he talks weird, and the plot twist involving him is a giant slap in the face. Selina Kyle is somewhat interesting but her motives are unclear, especially at the end. So the film could have used a better villain or better handling of them.

There are plot problems all over the place. Many of the things that happen are implausible; any sense of realism is lost. We also have strange plot devices such as the prison that has no guards and a way to escape. Really? "The Dark Knight Rises" comes off as a poorly written, rushed film.

Definitely the weakest in the trilogy but you may like it if you don't mind underdeveloped characters, bloated action scenes, and plot holes. "The Dark Knight Rises isn't an intelligent film; it fails because it tries too hard to be complex.