"The Dark Knight Rises" is the biggest story Christopher Nolan has ever told. Showing on July 20, the third and last installment in Nolan's Batman trilogy has been sending a wave of geeky thrill and excitement among fans all over the world.

A week before the film is seen in major theatres, director Christopher Nolan and supporting stars Morgan Freeman and Joseph Gordon-Levitt have spoken highly of the film. (Read their insights here.)

Now it is time for the film critics to be heard.

Smart screenplay, heavy gloom

"The fact that 'The Dark Knight Rises' exceeds its incredibly high expectations is due to a number of factors, the first of which is the smart screenplay co-written by Christopher Nolan and his brother Jonathan (with a story assist by David S. Goyer)," writes Scott Mantz of Access Hollywood.

Joe Morgenstern of The Wall Street Journal pays attention to the emotional weight of Christopher Nolan's third and final 'Dark Knight' installment.

"It's spectacular, to be sure, but also remarkable for its all-encompassing gloom. No movie has ever administered more punishment, to its hero or its audience, in the name of mainstream entertainment," Morgenstern writes.

David Edwards of Mirror UK describes the film in three words: "bleak, black and brilliant."

"The Dark Knight Rises" is one of the most highly-anticipated films of 2012. A lot of film critics who got to see the film celebrated the "epic" final installment, but not everyone is thrilled by the entire picture.

Frustration and disappointment, missing the "darkest" Joker ever (Heath Ledger)

Christy Lemire of The Washington Times writes about her "frustration and disappointment" over the movie.

"'The Dark Knight Rises' is plot-heavy, obsessed with process, laden with expository dialogue and flashbacks that bog down the momentum and - dare I say it? - just flat-out boring at times."

While praising the film for being provocative, Lemire reckons that Nolan has taken "some giant leaps with its characters which either make no sense, haven't earned the emotions they're seeking, or both."

Chris Tookey of Daily Mail UK also feels disappointed over 'Rises.' He notes that the dialogue is not audible enough, and Tom Hardy makes for a boring villain.

"Heath Ledger's Joker in The Dark Knight was a creepily memorable figure. Bane is just Darth Vader in a Hannibal Lecter mask, and his words are practically inaudible," he writes.

"The Dark Knight Rises is not as repellently sadistic as its immediate predecessor, but it has pretensions vastly beyond its capabilities, and the special effects drown out the narrative."

In a nutshell

The general verdict: It is an epic production, but it might be too long (2 hrs and 45 mins), too emotionally heavy, or even boring for you. Then again, if you have seen the first two films of Nolan's Batman trilogy, you absolutely have to see "The Dark Knight Rises."

Take all reviews with a grain of salt. You may wind up having a completely different experience watching the movie. All these insights are there to build the thrill and expand your imagination as to what could be waiting for you.