Dark Knight Rises: Good, but not as good as I had hoped

Rating: 8/10 (22 July 2012)

After The Dark Knight, my expectations for The Dark Knight Rises were very high. Though I didn't think it COULD be better, I hoped TDKR would be as good as its predecessor.
Clocking in at nearly three hours, TDKR never dragged. The visuals were amazing, and it was nothing short of epic. But even so, after TDK, I was slightly disappointed.
The acting was phenomenal. Christian Bale, stellar throughout the entire trilogy, reaches new heights while portraying a broken, reclusive Bruce Wayne. Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, and Michael Caine excel in their familiar roles, but the new additions are the ones who really shine. Marion Cotillard portrays Miranda Tate, a beautiful socialite who has not yet given up on Bruce. Anne Hathaway (who I admit I doubted) is the perfect Catwoman: full of witty one-liners and ingenious plans, lethal fighting skills, and a snarky but understated costume.
But my favorite is Joseph Gordon-Levitt as young rookie cop John Blake. A strong new presence in Gotham's police force, Blake is idealistic, honorable, and brave. He still believes in Batman, but believes he has to do his part too, focusing on his police work with a lovable, honest intensity.
The story starts with a reclusive, moody Bruce Wayne hiding in his mansion, refusing to see anyone. Many people have tried to bring him out of his shell, but it isn't until a mysterious thief enters his room, steals a valuable necklace and obtains his fingerprints for purposes unknown, that he emerges to face the world again. And when he does, he realizes that he has been hiding for far too long.
Evil has risen. Chaos reigns in Gotham and their hero is missing. While a broken, desperate Bruce languishes in prison trying futilely to escape, Blake, Gordon, and a few others fight the mobs of angry criminals that Bane has unleashed to prey on the system that put them in prison. All bridges in and out of Gotham are destroyed. Streets are turned into a violent no-mans-land. And meanwhile an unstable atomic bomb is armed and ready to explode if Bane so chooses.
When the climactic battle arrives, Batman, Bane, Catwoman, Gordon, Miranda Tate, John Blake, all of Gotham City's freed criminals, the entire Gotham City Police Departmen, a flying Batmobile, and an armored truck, all tangle in the streets while the seconds tick by towards the bomb blast that will destroy both sides.
So, after watching TDKR, I was blown away by the special effects, extremely impressed by the acting, and very pleased with the new characters. Is it good movie, great, even? Yes. Is it the best of 2012? I'm willing to bet it will be. Does it live up to my extremely high expectations? No. Not quite.