It is a great movie, but only because of Heath Ledger`s Joker. Take him out of the movie, or put a less charismatic actor, and the whole thing is just generic Batman. Probably the problem with the Dark Knight Rises, whoever played Bane couldn't hold a candle to the Heath Ledger.
As others have mentioned, it's Heaths performance that really makes that movie. I can't get enough of it, and it's a shame he passed away before he could see just how many people praise his portrayal of Joker. He was second to none.