"Boy, you're in here for a show tonight."

Rating: 10/10 (21 July 2012)

First things first. Refresh yourselves with Batman Begins as the plot contains key elements from the first movie of Nolan's Batman reboot. One more thing, do not dare compare it with The Dark Knight, because that might let you tiny bit down. Otherwise, the movie is a brilliantly crafted conclusion and leaves you with that feeling you get when you're leaving the theater after a great movie.
For a stretching 164 minutes, the pace never drops down even with the most emotional and monotonous scenes. Just when you thought, "God, what is happening?" the genius storyteller surprises you and all you can say is, "Man, that was something!" And in the end it's worth watching that long, arduous journey of a retired Batman. If anything, you feel why isn't there more of it.
Performance wise Bale has outdone himself. In previous movies, he transformed from an eccentric billionaire into a vigilante and then into a dark, silent and a watchful protector. Here he gives his everything to an aging Batman who is tested to his very core by a villain for whom he's no match. One of the scenes where he's attempting to get out of an under ground prison just gives you goosebumps.
Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman and Gary Oldman return to their respective roles with both Alfred and Lucius trying to convince Bruce Wayne into what they think is the best for him. The bond of Alfred and Bruce turns a bit emotional, in fact the movie is all about that human aspect of a superhero.
Hathaway's Selina Kyle brings that missing element to the table with a sparkling chemistry with Bale and some mysterious motives. Marion Cotillard is Miranda Tate, an investor who tries to persuade Bruce to make use of his wealth to better the world.
Hardy's Bane is an incredible presence, right from the beginning(though not as good as the joker). He's fierce with his hulking size, his mask which helps him manage his pain and an amplified Darth Vader like voice. He is the physical test which the Batman fails for the first time in the trilogy. He literally breaks the Batman, as all the comic lovers would have read("Break you!!").
Gordon-Levitt is another new entry into the franchise in the role of a pro Batman cop John Blake. He empathizes with Wayne as both of them are orphans and by the climax it seems he might even reprise the role in a spin-off.
Set on the backdrop of a french-revolution-cum-Charles-Dickens scenario, the city is on verge of an apocalypse. Every bridge to the outside world is blown off and the rich and the privileged are tried publicly with exile or death as their only options. A great Background score from Hans Zimmer means you'll be on your toes all the times. As if all this wasn't enough, the emotional climax will but sweep you off your feet. Nolan has mastered this art of leaving the audience with an awe and add to that some amazing cinematography, 72 minutes worth of IMAX shots and some swash-buckling actions sequences.
I say go for it, it's all you've been waiting for and more!