This is definitely the second movie in a trilogy - expect to walk out of the theater feeling like you have been beat up.
The story is believable and it makes you really question the nature of good and evil, as well as what makes a hero. For me a good movie is something I walk away from having learned more about myself and this delivers that in spades. It isn't fluffy, it isn't feel good. It is raw and emotional and all about what you do in order to do the right thing. Even better, it doesn't rely on gore or shock value for the emotional response like so many movies do. This gets you emotionally through good acting and a great story - it puts you in the drivers seat on the problems and has you questioning several times "what would I do?"
This movie deserves every A rating it is receiving. I have watched every comic book movie that has come out. I won't say this is the best out there (Iron man has that for me), but it is the best in a different way. If you liked V for vendetta and how that made you feel - this movie is like that.