Disappointing.

Rating: 6/10 (29 July 2012)

I guess this is what happens when expectations are this high. You are easily exposed to a let down, and that's what The Dark Knight Rises is.
There are many things wrong with this film. Many mistakes that a high tier director like Nolan should never make. And there are those scenes where they just make you go "what..?"
Gordon letting EVERY SINGLE COP go inside the sewers. Why, just why did he do that? Why did Nolan give that a go? I know cops and their superiors aren't like masterminds, but in what world is this a good idea? And don't get me started on the cops vs bad guys scene. That was terrible to watch. Nolan was trying to hard to make it epic that it ended up being pretentious.
How about Bruce Wayne being an absolute idiot and being out of character in some parts? I know the ladies is like his kryptonite, but it's ridiculous. He was basically weeping for the first 25 minutes of the movie, still 8 years after the "love of his life" died. But that's OK, all he needed was a wet Talia from the rain to make him forget about her, at least for the rest of the movie.
That's not even that bad. No, not even close. Selina Kyle, portrayed by the lovely Anne Hathaway makes him a full on idiot, fool, whatever you want to call it. This girl kicks his cane and makes him fall, steals his mother's jewelry, steals his car etc. That's OK though, he thinks it's cute. What about when she betrays him and throws him into the pit with Bane? You know, where Bane proceeds to absolutely throttle him? Nah, that's fine too. Here's something to start off fresh. Again, out of character.
There is more that that believe it or not. Like the return to Gotham from "hell on earth", the super chiropractor that miraculously fixes Wayne's back without fail or any sweat, Gordon walking around Gotham and the goons not spotting him, Batman appearing very little, and more.
That being said, the movie also has its upsides. Bane being one of them. He is menacing, he is scary, and he is a great villain. Seriously a contender for best villain of the trilogy. I hated how he went though. Terrible way to do away with him. I loved Liam Neeson's little cameo as Ra's Al Ghul. I loved the whole Bane lore and how he came to be. And the action sequences were pretty top notch. The ending was lovely as well.
All in all, it was a decent movie. Could of been so much more. It obviously shot for "masterpiece" status, but fell short.