Well, yes actually! Although one reviewer does seem to have a few problems with the pacing, and points out a other issues too. But the general consensus so far seems to be that The Dark Knight Rises is a resounding success, and a worthy conclusion to a great trilogy. Anyway, read on for yourselves, there are no real SPOILERS to speak of, but as usual if you want to know as little as possible about the movie before seeing it, I'd skip this.
Here are snippets from the next wave of reviews.
We'll start with Empire, who give the movie 5 stars..
"..He raised the bar so high, no-one could be expected to clear it. Still, whether you believe this betters Begins or eclipses Knight, it is certainly a satisfying conclusion to what is now — we’re calling it — the best superhero series of all time.
As ever, Nolan’s Batman is at its best in the more intimate moments — whether it’s a man finally realising a hero’s identity, or the scene- (and jewellery-) stealing introduction of a new character. As slinky burglar Selina Kyle, Anne Hathaway is superb: physically dangerous, emotionally intriguing and sexy without milking it. (It’s a very different take from the Catwoman portrayed by Michelle Pfeiffer, but no less enjoyable.) As ambiguous as Kyle is, her journey shares with Wayne’s a sense of struggling for a fresh start, for a clean slate, ultimately for redemption.
With spectacle in abundance and sexiness in (supporting) parts, this is superhero filmmaking on an unprecedented scale. Rises may lack the surprise of Begins or the anarchy of Knight, but it makes up for that in pure emotion. A fitting epitaph for the hero Gotham deserves.
Total Film also award 5 stars, but actually manage a to sneak in a comparison between
TDKR and
Batman And Robin..
"Luckily for everyone, there aren't many points of comparison between The Dark Knight Rises and Batman & Robin. But Christopher Nolan's epic and Joel Schumacher's epic fail do share something: scenes where you truly feel the love between Bruce Wayne and his ever-faithful butler Alfred.
And yet, gruff, gritty and gothic though it is, TDKR may bring a lump to your throat that isn't popcorn-related. Its chief summer challenger Avengers Assemble may have bigger zingers, but this has one thing Whedon missed: emotional engagement; a genuine sense of jeopardy; deepening human drama. (OK, three things.)
Spider-Man 3, X-Men: The Last Stand, Blade: Trinity… third time's often the harm for superhero movies. Not on Nolan's watch. A smart, stirring spectacle that faces down impossible expectations to pull off a hugely satisfying end to business. Boy, you’re in for a show tonight…"
Hitfix say they expect a divided reaction once all of the reviews are out there, but also give a glowing review..
"We may never see superhero films quite like these again, and that's fine. Nolan had something special to say with his time in the trenches, and he's ended on his own terms. I suspect that the reaction to the film will be hotly divided, but I'm firmly on the side that this is a triumph, a victory for all involved, and one of the year's most impressive efforts so far in any genre, on any subject. "The Dark Knight Rises" confirms that these films have always had an endgame in mind, and it has been a remarkable ride, one I would not want to follow. Whoever Warner Bros hires to reboot the "Batman" films a few years from now, I wish you luck. The bar is as high as it could possibly be."
And finally
Coming Soon , who have a few problems with the movie but ultimately give it an 8 out of 10..
"Trying to pile so many ideas into the first hour leads to an incredibly convoluted plot set-up that's all over the place as it introduces new characters like Joseph Gordon-Levitt's police officer, whose first meeting with Wayne seems as forced as his later romance with Marion Cotillard's Miranda Tate, something that comes from out of left field and may not have been necessary. It takes a long time for the existence and purposes of these characters to become clear, making the first half of the movie that much more frustrating.
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."
I'll be seeing the movie on Wednesday morning, so we'll have a review up later that day (hopefully). But for now, Bat-fans must be very happy with the reception. Do any of you guys who caught early screenings have anything to add?