The Greatest Superhero Movie of All Time

Rating: 10/10 (20 July 2012)

I just got back from the premiere screening with my parents, and I must say...The Dark Knight Rises will forever remain as a ethereal memory I will never forget.
Going into the movie, I'm aware of the unreal expectation Christopher Nolan has to live up to, especially after The Dark Knight 4 years prior. And I also realize so many people will consider this movie to be inferior to The Dark Knight. But, not me. To me, not only this movie is the best out of the trilogy, this movie is the greatest superhero movie of all time. And I don't throw around "the best of all time" title in any genre or sub-genre that much. I know people would say the lack of Joker effects the quality of TDKR as compared to TDK, but I daresay this movie is perfect without The Joker. Because this series is never about The Joker, it's about the journey of Batman. This is the end of that saga and what a finale it was.
The story is set 8 years after The Dark Knight, with all the impact of Harvey Dent's death being felt. Batman was literally buried beneath the hatred of many people until Bane arrives and forces him to don his bat-suit again.
From the storyline perspective, this is easily the most powerful and emotional out of the trilogy. The idea of the loss of loved ones, redemption, hope, and faith is revisited and hinted many many times throughout the movie, and I couldn't help but cry over certain scenes, particularly Alfred's farewell, Bruce Wayne finding his faith back in the hole, the first & second return of Batman, the surprising twist involving a knife, and of course the perfect ending. The story is gripping from start to finish, and the 164 minutes screen-time isn't even actually felt thanks to how tight the story clinches your attention.
About the characters & the acting...I can only say, wow, they are all perfect! Christian Bale gave the strongest performance of a Bruce Wayne ever. Anne Hathaway practically told Michelle Pfeiffer to step aside just like Heath Ledger did to Jack Nicholson. Gary Oldman had a memorable performance as a tormented "war hero". Michael Caine, as always, was emotional and powerful in every delivery you could imagine. Tom Hardy successfully made Bane the most threatening & powerful villain you'll ever see in every comic book adaptation. Marion Cotillard played the luscious surprise convincingly. Morgan Freeman provided the much needed supporting character. And lastly, Joseph-Gordon Levitt displayed himself as an amazing sidekick & eventually a future hero.
And for the umpteenth time it seems, Christopher Nolan has outdone himself yet again! Regardless of the haters, it's obvious Mr. Nolan is the best living director today and will more than likely reign as so for a long time. I'm proud to call myself a Nolanite.
All in all, this movie is very well made and I have never seen a greater superhero movie than this. And I truly doubt I ever will. This is an otherworldly experience and I'm lucky to have seen it. 100/100. Recommended for an eternity. >_<