IGN gave The Dark Knight Rises a 9/10 score but were keen to indicate that the film is not without its flaws. That said, it goes on to describe TDKR as the grandest, most emotional and superheroic chapter in Batman saga. Variety reports that the film doesnt quite match the cinematic brilliance of its predecessor The Dark Knight, but goes on to reiterate that this hugely ambitious action-drama nonetheless retains the moral urgency and serious-minded pulp instincts that have made the Warners franchise a beacon of integrity in an increasingly comic book-driven Hollywood universe. While both of these reviews are keen to insist that The Dark Knight Rises is great but not perfect, The Playlist seems to insist that its not only a near flawless movie but its an important one for the zeitgeist too. It describes Nolans trilogy-capper as: A cinematic, cultural and personal triumph, The Dark Knight Rises is emotionally inspiring, aesthetically significant and critically important for America itself as a mirror of both sober reflection and resilient hope. TimeOut however is much less enthralled by the film, although does admit that it ticks most of the right cinematic boxes. The review asks and answers Can at least live up to the eye-popping standard he set with 2008s The Dark Knight? The answers are yes, no, and mostly. However, it does go on to admit that Sublimating CGI in favour of real crowd scenes and massive cityscapes, Nolan creates a grand, dirty, engrossing world, and his action sequences just hum. Among the reviews that insist TDKR story is somewhat convoluted but that Nolans direction is sound is comingsoon.net. This review prescribes that the story isn't quite as solid as "The Dark Knight" and the main villains aren't quite as memorable, but having a director with such a strong vision and conviction to fulfill it makes Nolan's Batman finale pay off at least as a bookend to "Batman Begins" even if it may require quite a bit more patience than both previous films. Click "next" below for more reviews (we are adding more all the time)...
