Didn't read the thread, just posting my thoughts, so if these have already been brought up, well, stfu.
TDKR was good, better than BB but not as good as TDK. It was a good movie but not a great movie. I felt that, for all its length, it was a bit undercooked in some areas, however, that is not to say that it ever felt all that long to me, just that some aspects were a little... rugged. The performances were all good, with Hathaway, JGL and Bale bringing the most. Micheal Caine was Micheal Caine, reliable and good. Hardy was good as Bane, but the Bane character didn't do much for me. As much as I'd hate to compare him to the Joker, well, he was no Joker. He didn't have the presence to carry the movie through its faults the way both Ledger and the character of the Joker did with TDK.
I really, really hate being 'that guy' who is endlessly comparing against Ledger but I think my feelings have less to do with Hardy's portrayal (which was good) and more to do with the writing. Bane and The Joker are different villains, but they're similar in the way the plots revolve around them
The sewer fight, however, is easily the best filmed fight scene in the trilogy. Not that it really had much in the way of competition, but it was well done and it really showcased Bane's strength and brutality.
I also wasn't a fan of the 'League of Shadows Wants to Destroy Gotham 2: Electric Boogaloo' storyline. It didn't work for me in
Batman Begins and it didn't do much for me the second time around. I thought Bane's Revolution had the potential to be much more interesting but whatever.
The Talia twist totally got me, though it really shouldn't have. In retrospect, it's fucking obvious but well-done on Nolan for doing it convincingly and not hamfistedly like some directors. The only bad thing I can say about that is that, for me, it cheapened Bane's character and there wasn't much to cheapen anyways. I also didn't totally buy her motivation, but that's nitpicking.
There's some social commentary going on, but I don't think it really
says all that much.
Some people and critics have complained about the first act but I loved it, probably more than the last part of the movie. Seeing a physically and spiritually broken Bruce Wayne 8 years after TDK was fantastic and Bale really did well on that part. Him getting re acclimated to the life of being both Batman and Bruce Wayne especially once Batman
finally shows up after the Stock Market scene. Pretty epic that. I do wish there had been a bit more with Daggett, but the movie's long enough and he's only a tertiary character really.
I liked Blake taking up the mantle at the end. That was a neat scene and I'd be really interested in a possible continuation with JGL under the cowl (as Nightwing maybe?) in some sequels.
The atom/neutron/fusion bomb plot macguffin thing wasn't as stupid as the microwave emitter from Begins but it was pretty dumb. Only one guy knows how to disarm it and he can turn the reactor into a bomb in like 5 minutes? The Nolan Plot Convenience Factor is high in this one. It's only there to drive the plot to a dramatic, time-sensitive conclusion, but if you think about it too hard, then it just sounds idiotic. Like all the masterful planning and timing and plot-conveniences the Joker would've required for most of his plans in TDK to go off. The opening, villain intro in TDKR is ripe with this as well though, unfortunately, TDKR doesn't have a Joker character to keep you from looking at the flaws too hard.
I can't believe people are actually complaining about how Bruce got back into Gotham near the end. What the hell? He's the fucking Batman. Talk about small potatoes.
So that's it. A good movie, but not flawless and certainly not better than The Dark Knight. I do hope it gets better on subsequent viewings rather than worse (like
Batman Begins) and I want to watch it again just to see what I missed and how my opinion changes. I enjoyed The Avengers more than this, but they're two really different movies so it's kinda pointless to compare them, but whatever. That's what the internet is for.
tldr