THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)

A Fire Will Rise.


GENRE
Action/Adventure/Crime


STORYLINE
Eight years on, a new terrorist leader, Bane, overwhelms Gotham's finest, and the Dark Knight resurfaces to protect a city that has branded him an enemy.


DIRECTOR
Christopher Nolan

CAST
Christian Bale
Tom Hardy
Anne Hathaway
Joseph Gordon Levitt
Gary Oldman
Michael Caine
Morgan Freeman
Marion Cotillard


MY REVIEW
Gone are the days when you used to expect the villain to have a strong physique, some deadly followers and an evil laugh.   Gone are the days when you would expect him/her to be wearing white/black clothes. The Joker in The Dark Knight set a new standard for villains.   It was one of those landmark films known more for its psychotic villain rather than the Hero.  The Dark Knight lit up the box office, became a instant success with the critics and the audience and created a legacy.   No wonder The Dark Knight Rises was the most anticipated movie of this year.


It is very difficult to repeat success of the magnitude, the dark knight achieved. Films like Matrix Reloaded and Speed II failed to achieve their predecessor's success.   The pressure on the makers to impress the audiences was huge. They had to come up with right story, right villain, right stars etc.   Was the movie successful? Surely, Yes.   The story is really well written with new characters fitting in the script perfectly. Going with Bane as the villain may have been the perfect choice.   The previous villains challenged Batman more on an intellectual level.  It was time The Batman was challenged by a man who is physically more stronger and more quicker than him.   Bringing Cat-woman rather than the side-kick Robin might have been tough decision.   One usually associates Robin with Batman, and not having Robin playing a major role in the franchise is a bold move.   But I must say that introducing cat-woman was a wise decision.   She is known to be mysterious and the audience is kept guessing on whose side she actually is.


As for the plot, this movie is set 8 years after the death of Harvey Dent.  The Batman has retired and in hiding after taking the blame for killing Harvey.  Gotham is almost crime free until The Bane emerges.   Commissioner Gordon wants The Batman back although Alfred is against Bruce Wayne wearing the Cape-suit again.  With the mysterious Cat-woman also coming in, Batman faces his most powerful enemy ever. Its up to him to save his beloved Gotham despite the people branding him as a murderer.

Don't watch this film expecting a Joker like performance.  The Joker was something different.   He was a man not after money, not after heading the mafia or looking to run the city, he was a man who wanted to see the city burn.  He wanted to show the people that even the best of the best can be brought under darkness. He challenged Batman more on an intellectual level rather than on physical level.   The Bane is what the Joker was not.  He is strong, agile and sick.   He wears a gas mask which acts as a analgesic.   He has a menacing voice that is calm, confident yet scary.   He is just perfect for the final movie of the franchise.


As for the performances, this movie belonged more to the Batman than to Bane.   Christian Bale although two films old has new fields to explore in this film. Besides being the best batman, he plays the character of Bruce Wayne also well.   From portraying the guy who has locked himself for 8 years in the Wayne Mansion to portraying the broken yet determined man in Bane's prison, he looks just perfect.   As for Tom Hardy he is the star of the film.   Expectation on playing the new Batman villain were high, some did doubt him but he has managed to silence all his critics.   He is simply unrecognizable as the Bane.  The menacing voice, the strong physique and body language look stunning.   Joseph Gordon Levitt as John Blake looks like a young version of Commissioner Gordon. He is intelligent and is determined to save his city no matter what.   He is not as important as Bale, Hardy or Hathaway yet he manages to catch your attention with his brilliant acting.   Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle aka Cat-woman keeps you guessing whose side she is on.  Sometimes you root for her  while other times you just hate her.  The ease with which Anne Hathaway is able to make you feel these emotions deserves applause. Marion Cotillard as Miranda Tate has a small yet important role.  Gary Oldman,  Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman play their usual roles in the franchise.  They have a smaller role as compared to the previous films yet these legends don't disappoint.  It was good to see Cillian Murphy and Liam Neeson having cameos in this film although Heath Ledger was missed.

This is not the usual mind boggling or thinking Christopher Nolan film.  It is a powerful film that keeps you glued till the end credits. A definite watch and probably the best this year.  All this said I suggest you see the previous two films of this franchise for better understanding and enjoyment.


PS: The film ends like usual Christopher Nolan movies.  It teases you and makes you think about a possible sequel.   Although I loved Tom Hardy as Bane, I missed the Joker.   Heath Ledger was one of my favorite actors and I feel his role in The Dark Knight was something special.


MY RATING  9/10


TRAILER