No villain could come close to matching Ledger's inspired Joker, but give Hardy credit for supplying Bane with plenty of conviction and gravitas in a movie that, frankly, is less about actors than knockout set pieces captured in eyeball-popping spectacles.

As befits the saga's engagement with the economics of Gotham City, a great deal of topical material floats about here, insufficiently digested.

The pleasure, however preposterous, is in Nolan's dedication -- creating, maintaining, and to an extent defending a universe in which people still take this stuff very seriously.

If there were ever doubts about Christopher Nolan and his ability as a filmmaker, he puts all things to rest and declares himself one of the most innovative and visionary directors working today.