I still have a lot of the same issues with the movie I had since it came out. But repeat viewings have shone a light on some its strengths to the point where I now have a better opinion of it.
The DCEU happened
at least thats what I think caused the new found appreciation. Even I'm starting to come around on it and ask anyone here, I used to rag on it all the time.
Nothing changed. It's still flawed. Still the weakest of the trilogy. But it's also a great movie, warts and all. Just doesn't hold a candle to it's two predecessors.
Yeah, yeah, warts. Welcome to the promised land, fellas.
Kidding aside, I will say not just with you all, but as a whole I think the DCEU is causing others to reevaluate Rises. The other thing I have noticed is that while there are still
many detractors for the film (at least among comic fans and purists), it is still a movie that is often used as a barometer stick now. Not in the same way as The Dark Knight. It's now also the "Well, of course The Dark Knight is better... but let's compare
Movie Y to The Dark Knight Rises."
It leaves an impression due to seriously high quality craftsmanship and artistry brought to it on all levels, and since it is memorable, it is still brought up a lot in conversation, which inevitably can elevate its status over time.
On a similar note, and on the far end of the quality spectrum from Rises, I notice a lot of fans are now much more bemused and affectionate toward Batman & Robin, including myself. It is still a terrible movie by all measures... but it is also a fairly memorably "I can't believe someone wrote and paid for this ****" kind of entertaining. That goes a certain distance, too. And now that we have seen a movie just as awful but far more "grim-dark" in BvS, and B&R is no longer the movie that ruined the character... a lot of us have an, "Eh, what the hell?" attitude about it now.
With that said... I still can't watch B&R in one sitting. That is a movie that is very entertaining for about 20 or 30 minutes and then tedium sets in.