I DARE you to watch this film objectively and judge it on its own merits, and I guarantee you that it will be found wanting. I loved The Dark Knight: it wasn't perfect, but it was very, very good. The Dark Knight Rises takes all of the bad bits from TDK and makes a lengthy film out of them.

Number 1: If I pay to see a Batman movie, I should expect the Bat himself on the screen for a good portion of the movie. Without going into spoilers, I was very, very disappointed of the lack thereof in the second act.

Number 2: The pacing is dreadful. So few action sequences it hurts; so many panning shots of Gotham it's tiring.

Number 3: The plot: not immersive, unbelievable, far from exciting or stimulating. The main threat to Gotham in the finale (I say finale, it's the latter hour-and-a-half) is weak, and, if it were featured in any other film, it would be poo-pood. Why on earth the choice to set it years after TDK? It adds nothing to the story; it only invites further disbelief.

Number 4: The action sequences - absolutely terribly-directed, with the hand-to-hand stuff being reminiscent of West. Just wow.

Number 5: Bane. Lol. I mean, seriously, lol. So unthreatening it's hilarious.

If you've seen it already, do so again. But this time, put out of your head that it's the sequel to 2 very good Batman movies (not hard, given #1). Then we'll talk.

I can honestly say that I wish I had not seen this movie.