'The Dark Knight Rises' Premiere: Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway, Marion Cotillard and Cast Invade Red Carpet (PHOTOS)

Posted July 17, 2012, 12:10 am   •   by Wes Ferguson   •   4 comments

The stars of arguably the most anticipated movie of the year invaded New York City Monday night for The Dark Knight Rises premiere.

Batman himself, Christian Bale (accompanied by wife Sibi Blazic), and sexy Catwoman costar Anne Hathaway ditched their skin-tight costumes for more formal attire as they worked the press line. Bale was also joined by costars Marion Cotillard and Gary Oldman, as well as hunky Tom Hardy and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

The film marks the last installment to be helmed by famed director Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy.

Is Bale also really hanging up the mask as he's previously stated?

The 38-year-old actor said he will definitely hang up the cape after this third time playing the titular character.

Bale's costar Hathaway, 29, makes her debut in the film as Catwoman.

The reviews of The Dark Knight Rises laud the film as one of the summer 2012's best. The Hollywood Reporter's Todd McCarthy called it the best of director Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy.

“Entirely enveloping and at times unnerving in a relevant way one would never have imagined, as a cohesive whole this ranks as the best of Nolan’s trio, even if it lacks — how could it not? — an element as unique as Heath Ledger‘s immortal turn in The Dark Knight,” McCarthy wrote in his review . “It’s a blockbuster by any standard.”

Edward Douglas of ComingSoon gave the movie a similar grade — 8 out of 10 — and for the most part seemed to enjoy Anne Hathaway‘s portrayal of Selina Kyle, better known as Catwoman.

Watch more of Hathaway as Catwoman in Celebuzz's Big Summer Movie Guide, below: