Best modern "candy floss" super hero movie (i.e. pure but light entertainment) for sure - wisecracking script, a cast having fun and a lot (I'd argue too much) of wacky action. I'd rate the orginal Superman to have been just as good in the same vein at the time as a comparison point.
But as a film TDK easily outstrips it for high level quality of script and depth - particularly with the handling of The Joker and Two Face.
To me Avengers is indeed a movie whereas I watch stuff like the TDK as a film - if I can borrow the definition of movie and film from James Cameron and Ridley Scott (Cameron says he makes movies and Scott makes films and that works for me).
Was for sure a lot of fun - but as a more serious guy my eyes are on Prometheus and The Dark Knight Rises as my main meal of the summer. But this was a heck of a good appetiser.
Try to be reasonable... its easier than you think...
