DIRECTOR: Christopher Nolan
CAST: Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Tom Hardy, Joseph
Gordon-Levitt, Anne Hathaway, Marion Cotillard, Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine
RUNNING TIME: 165 minutes
CLASSIFICATION: 13MV
RATING: 5-Stars
Comment :
This go-around, it’s been eight years since the events at
which The Dark Knight left off.
A disgraced Bruce Wayne has hung up his Batsuit
and become a hermit in his family’s mansion.
He needs a cane to help him walk, and is also in need of
another Caine: Michael Caine, reprising his role as Alfred, Wayne’s butler and
often-time confidant.
The city is peaceful now and socialites poke fun at
Wayne, but although he is a recluse, orphaned boys and pretty women like the
wealthy philanthropist Miranda Tate still believe in him.
Then one day Selina Kyle , a sexy cat burglar
who not only has a way with locks but with words, too, steals something valuable
from Wayne.
Basically, Kyle is Catwoman, but she’s not being called
that.
Anyway, her crime triggers events that lead to Bruce
beefing up and fitting into the Batsuit – constructed from 110 separate pieces,
in case you were wondering – once more.
Fast forward to the important bits because this film,
like the last, is ridiculously long.
Enter a terrorist leader named Bane, who was once
a part of the League of Shadows from which Wayne absconded.
With ginormous machine guns for arms and a voice-box that
allows him to speak in a rather creepy tone, Bane is like a bald Khal Drogo with
a mask and a dry sense of humour. With the support of a rogue businessman, Bane
is intent on destroying Batman’s city by pitting the disenfranchised against the
filthy rich.
Bane’s scenes are examples of the kind of action and
fight sequences that show Nolan has stepped out of his extreme close-up shots
and wants you to see who gets their butt beaten.
A lot of the time, that butt belongs to Batman.
This is awesome because it’s somewhat realistic. Batman
has been out of the fighting game for almost a decade now and the lines on his
face and his strength level show it.
It would have been worthy of a roll of the eyes had
Batman suddenly been able to kick ass and take names as though nothing had
changed. His weaknesses drum up even more sympathy from the audience for our
hero. Although, it must be said, Bane’s inclusion is thrilling for action-lovers
and satisfactory for anyone who loves a Robin Hood-esque villain.
As far as conclusions to film franchises go, The Dark
Knight Rises is a good attempt.
Petrolheads are sure to be excited about Batman’s
motorbike – a full-bodied beast with wheels given to blits vinnig 360° spins in
mid-air or on the dirt road.
The special effects are, in a word, “awesome”. And kudos
to Nolan and his team for bucking the 3D trend because the cinematography is
rich and on point. Especially when it comes to beautiful aerial shots and the
contrast between the darkness of a dungeon-like jail and the light exposure
provided in the characters’ memories.
With an ensemble cast with whom we are quite familiar and
new actors who wow with their performances, the film is a must-see for any DC
Comics fan.
This is a way more intelligent film than its closest
comparison, The Avengers, but the branching plot lines can be distracting. Plus,
they make the movie too long.
Save for one silly moment when Cotillard pulls an
expression worthy of an eKasi Stories scene, The Dark Knight Rises is funny
where it’s meant to be and, in true Batman fashion, brings the question of
morals to the fore.
Good entertainment.
I would like to watch it few more times.
