Truly wonderful!

Rating: 10/10 (27 August 2012)

This was better than I expected, and I was expecting a lot. Never have been in a 2'45" movie that kept me so enthralled! The cast was, with one small exception, brilliant. Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, and Morgan Freeman go without saying - they have been excellent throughout the entire series. Anne Hathaway stunned me - she can actually act, and how come she has never been so sexy before? Marion Cotillard was her usual very competent self (with the exception of the very end of her final scene - a bit comical, maybe). However, I have to save my best plaudits for Tom Hardy. I have disliked him since his execrable performance in the equally execrable "Star Trek: Insurrection". However, I was enthralled by his character. To be able to sell Bane so well with the mask over his face,and seemingly without using any emotion in his eyes, is the mark of a very fine actor. Of course, the voice helped - though I don't know if it was his, or dubbed by someone else (it sounded a bit like Max von Sydow).
That small exception - Joseph Gordon Levitt. I just couldn't buy into him as the tough-nut police officer. He seemed to be trying too hard, and it came across as if he was Acting, not living the part.
Christopher Nolan has worked his directorial magic again, and, with one exception (Jim Gordon getting out of the truck after it has gone down into the underpass), the whole story is internally consistent.
The DVD is definitely going to be on my Christmas list! Thanks to all concerned for making such a gripping, enthralling film that made me feel ambiguous about what was going on (am I the only one that felt good about the "revolution"?)