The Dark Knight Rises...above my expectations.

Rating: 9/10 (18 July 2012)

The Dark Knight set the bar high and beyond reach for any and all superhero films that were to follow in it's grand and intricately indulgent wake, including it's follow up, The Dark Knight Rises.
I'm very happy, then, that The Dark Knight Rises measures up to the standard that The Dark Knight set.
From the opening sequence you get the sense that Christopher Nolan understands the epic proportions he must strive to achieve in order to top off what is surely a spectacle of an ending to a fine trilogy.
The action is so intense and regular that the nearly 3 hour long running time breezes by effortlessly. But the action isn't the only highlight in the film, not to say it isn't spectacular, but the performances of Tom Hardy, and surprisingly Anne Hathaway add much weight and vibrant energy to the film.
Christian Bale is more Bruce Wayne than Batman in this movie and I found that refreshing. We see him at his weakest, his most vulnerable, and that makes you root for him much more. There is one key scene involving Bruce "Rising" , that's all I'll say, and the crowd I saw it with were cheering and yelling for him. Priceless scene.
Even though the The Dark Knight Rises is epic on the action scale, I felt it wasn't as Dark or complex as The Dark Knight, which is my only gripe. I was expecting a more mentally taxing film, but that could be a positive considering Batman is an action hero.
There are a few nice surprises and twists that are sure to excite many fans as well.
I give it a 9/10. I would of given it a 10 if the ending hadn't left me wanting more.
The Dark Knight Rises is a must see.