The Dark Knight Returns

I am very late on catching up on the Nolan Batman series. I finally got the DVD out of the library and watched The Dark Knight Returns.
It was a fine finish to a fine series of movies that proved comic book characters can make for serious films and still be fun. It is a little ironic that Nolan paved the way for the success of the Marvel Universe using one of DC's Crown Jewels and DC hasn't been able to recreate the magic.
The film is not perfect. I think they took the decrepit Bruce Wayne thing a little too far in the beginning and I think the Wayne's recovery in the pit was a little too fast for belief. I cannot see Bane as leading an army of devoted followers.
Beyond that it was pretty great. The acting was good overall. I could feel the depth of conflict Commissioner Gordon was suffering. I never saw the twist about who was pulling Bane's strings coming. I even thought the chemistry between Batman and Catwoman was good.
The movie, as the one before it, also showed some ambition towards social commentary. It showed the worst and best of humanity and how sometimes they can co-exist in the same people.
At the end of the movie, I was saddened that DC has decided to go a different way with the future Batman movies. The last appearance of the Bat was sad and I have little hope that Justice League will be much better. Here's to hoping Ben can bring a good solo Bat to the screen before the decade runs out.