IMO, it's the first live-action Batman to reach the level of the animated Batman: Mask of the Phantasm movie. And that's highest praise I can give it.
Good stuff!
"Go see it. Now."
Agreed. This truly is the first Batman film. IT nails it. Forget the other movies. This is why I read comics. Powerful, serious. It does resonate on many levels. It does seem metaphor to the war on terror, and for the right reasons, one man CAN make a difference. A lot of conservative values in this film.
Comic fans are raving. Finally, they got it right.