Movie Review : ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ (****Four Star)

(By Akshat Sharma) With ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ director Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy comes to an end. The kind of attention and anticipation this movie has generated all over the world is unprecedented. So much so that when certain sections of the media called the movie disappointing there was a counter-wave to prove the critics wrong.

The movie has all necessary ingredients. It boasts of amazing performances from the main actors, stunning action sequences and the enigma of a superhero movie fires your imagination.  It is the length of the movie which is a bit unnerving. It takes too much time to reach the climax but this shortcoming has been addressed by an exemplary ending.

Batman series have been very successful franchisee earning billions for its makers. Success of superhero movies is dependent on the emotional connect between the hero and his audience. Since Batman is a mythical superhero in the true sense of the word the culmination of Batman saga becomes an emotional affair.

The Dark Knight Rises opens with a scene where a powerful bomb has been planted and before the panic spreads the Batman makes a heroic entry and hundreds of people breathe a sigh of relief. Like any other superhero movie this movie also is an engagement of good versus evil. The struggle between both the forces continues till the closing credits. The scenes which narrate this strife are brilliantly captured. Each frame of the movie speaks volumes about Nolan’s acumen to tell a story. No wonder he had claimed that it was the greatest story ever told by him.

Anne Hathaway and Christian Bale look good on screen and they share some the most interesting moments on screen. Bale has done well in both the roles but the real stars in the movie are Michael Caine as Alfred and Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Gotham City police-officer John Blake.

Director Christopher Nolan presents Tom Hardy as Bane in The Dark Knight Rises. In Batman series villain holds the key to the success of the movie. In the previous franchisee ‘The Dark Knight’ it was Heath ledger who personified evil. This time Tom Hardy unleashes fury on screen but the metallic mask impairs his ability to fully express himself. Regardless of the obvious limitation Tom Hardy has successfully managed to send shivers down the spine.

It doesn’t mean there are no flaws in the movie. The screen-play lacks the pace which we are used to in Batman saga and at certain point cine goers get a feeling that the story is being dragged beyond its limits. Director Nolan has done well in these dull moments and the movie never reaches to that critical point where you lose interest in watching the screen.

If you are a Batman follower and fan then ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ is a must watch this weekend.

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