Ooooh, Soooo Gooood

Rating: 10/10 (1 August 2012)

Let's get something everybody is asking out of the way up front -- Was it as good as The Dark Knight? Not quite -- Almost - But, damn close. So close that you should keep reading. You should watch this fantastic movie with just as much anticipation and pleasure as the last... It's that good.
I am the reviewer that does not give away the whole story, but gives you 'The Bottom Line' at the end, and that will be later.
I was wondering for months, like many others, in anticipation, if director Christopher Nolan could pull this off again. First doing a very decent dark-side reboot of Batman. Then getting wide recognition with The Dark Knight, then even more with the GREAT non-comic book film, Inception -- Can he pull off four in a row? Really? Yes he can. Without doubt. He has become my favorite director. Wooow... That man has talent. He has become a name I will pay big dollars just to watch anything he created.
Rises is superb. Really. It's well acted, well written, and sooo intensely directed -- Thanks to the new Crowned Best Director - In my own awards show -- And who should be able to direct anything he wants to with a blank check from now on. I am usually good at picking out what is going to happen later in a movie, and there were several times I found myself saying, "Well, I was not expecting that!" More than once in a film is rare for me.
Don't misunderstand me, there are flaws. It's a little long... Others say - Especially with comic book die-hards that believe Wayne should have never been on a retirement to start with... But the few flaws there are might be my own eagerness for the film to move faster in some parts, even though it probably shouldn't. I found a few points a bit slow. But not for long. It was my own eagerness to 'get going again.' And it did. When it moves... It's fast and you better be ready. A few times, I actually said, "Wooow.... How are they going to get Gotham out of that? That was new for me.
I am a super-hero movie fan that does not love every super-hero movie. I am now willing to say that this series is my favorite. There is no way to do these films better. Even if they do another...
Other reviews give away story points and plots; I'm just here to say that the very few flaws there are can be forgotten soon by the fantastic cast, crew and director because it is just extremely well done by every measure of any film. Nolan's noir is unique and should be regarded (by me) as the best of its' time.
Bottom Line: Rush to the biggest, baddest, loudest theater you can find to watch it with anybody you know. You will love it and so will everyone else... young ones too (above 11). It's Dark, It's dreary, and somewhat scary. OOH..And Ooooh soooo GOOOOD. I do recommend re-watching the others in the franchise first, as they all play rolls for you to remember in the third, but it's not really required. Most movie fans will enjoy it, all comic book fans will love it, For the first time in years, I think I'm going to pay to see a movie twice in a movie theater. I took a 12-year old to it and he said it was the best movie ever. Happy movie going.