Now I know why Christopher Nolan wanted to end the series...there's no way he could top this.

Rating: Null/10 (27 July 2012)

When the Dark Knight came out, I knew it was highly anticipated. However, I was surprised at just how successful it was. 8.9 on IMDb, smashing box office records, etc. I had very high expectations for it and it definitely met them. However, I admit I was very excited and my friends and I discussed the possibilities the movie could have and over- thought it to death. So when I finally saw the film, I couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed that some of my ideas didn't come to fruition. But that was my own fault for letting my expectations get undoubtedly high. The more times I watched the film, the more I enjoyed it. I did not think Christopher Nolan could top that.
When The Dark Knight Rises was finally put into production, I vowed to myself that I would not let my expectations get too high and that I wouldn't over-think the film again. Of course, I wound up doing that anyways. I was bursting at the seams for this film and did this film meet my expectations? No, it blew my expectations away completely. Anyone who saw the film and I asked what they thought; "wow" is all that came to their mind. I respond to the question "Well, I don't want to over-sell it. But it was one of the greatest movies I've ever seen." The acting is superb, better than the first two combined and they were both top-notch as well. (Seeing as how Heath Ledger won the Oscar for The Joker) the fact that the movie is promoted as the conclusion of a trilogy gives everything a very, shall we say "Mortal" feeling. Any beloved characters have the possibility of dying, as they need not be concerned with bringing them back for a sequel. Which gives the film a much more suspenseful feel. The film strikes a very human and emotional chord with not only Bruce Wayne and Alfred, but with all the characters including the villains. They are all humanized, all their motives are made clear. The film takes you to a very low emotional point, the most grim out of the three films (which is odd, it's usually second in a trilogy) to the point where it doesn't seem possible to come out of this dark place. However, the movie "rises" up from the misery and leads to a perfectly executed, beautiful and satisfying conclusion. Well done to Christopher Nolan, and all the cast. My two biggest regrets are that there won't be a sequel and there won't be a superhero movie done this well ever again. But I'd rather have a fantastic trilogy than have the series turn to crap as the previous franchise did.
P.S. Both Tom Hardy and Michael Caine deserve Oscars for their performances, but being the pretentious load of BS that is the Oscars, I doubt either of them will get nominated. I believe Heath Ledger, while completely deserving of winning the Oscar, only was because he passed away after the film was made. If either Hardy or Caine are nominated, then there may be hope for the Oscars. Even more so if one of them wins.