After seeing TDK and Inception, I think box office wise, it's going to break the record.
Critically, I believe it will be a success; Nolan always has a way of getting better with each film he makes somehow. Action sequences, cinematography, special and visual effects, performances, etc. I want it to be the GREATEST FILM OF ALL TIME, and in all honesty, despite Heath Ledger's unforgettable performance as the Joker..... I do honestly believe it CAN be topped.
I know, I committed a sin saying that. But fact is, just as TDK was to BB, it was different in many ways but at the same time improving in other things as well. It cannot be truly compared, only followed. Why people won't accept this film for being possibly better is that they have this grudge that after TDK, it just can't get any better. While I admit the film is practically flawless and near perfection as near perfection gets, Nolan has always had the balls to go bigger and try new things. And so far after EVERY FILM he's made, he has earned that recognition with flying colors. Whether Hollywood accepts it or not, he is the world's greatest director and story teller that I have so far see come to the big screen.
It will NEVER be the same without Heath's Joker in the series, but when making TDKR, everyone knew the story wasn't at end just yet and the story had to go on. You can outdo what the Joker did to Gotham easily, but it's just a matter of people willing to accept it. And if you know the source material fairly well like myself, this is the film that has to go out with a BANG! It has to increase and get bigger, yet coming to the conclusion that we as fans have been waiting for adapted to in film... successfully. And if you've read Knightfall, you know no other villain could bring this amount of conflict like Bane ever could.
Sure, Joker is Batman's arch rival, but Bane's gotten so much closer to defeating him; in fact, he's the only one who's gotten the closest. He broke Batman of his physical and mental capabilities of cleaning the streets of Gotham for a good amount of time, and at that point... there really looked like there was no hope. I feel that naturally if you don't have a Joker to work with in this franchise anymore, then Bane's next in line. Simple as that.
And by the looks of it, it's coming to a full circle as well, if Batman does the impossible and overcomes all of the obstacles we're seeing right now... I can GUARANTEE YOU that me and the rest of the audience will stand up from our chairs and cheer.
We need to come to our senses and conclude that the only way to go is up.
