He Came, We Saw, He Conquered

Everyone who experienced the magic in director Christopher Nolan’s preceding Batman movies, Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, went into the cinema halls with their fingers crossed. Everyone was scared about setting the bar too high after the tremendous success of the earlier films. The only question playing on everyone’s mind was – Is Nolan good enough to better his previous masterpiece? Yes, would be the unanimous answer. Not only has The Dark Knight Rises matched the class of its prequels, Nolan, one dare say, has taken a step further. The film is a fitting end to the Batman Trilogy, which is arguably the most worshipped movie series we have witnessed recently in the league of The Godfather and Lord of the Rings.

The film takes off from where it left in the previous edition – the death of Harvey Dent. Eight years have passed and Gotham City has forgotten its Dark Knight in times of peace. But “there’s a storm coming” its way and the Dark Knight will have to put on his costume again to save his city and its people. The plot keeps you gripped to your seat and even if you are a casual viewer, the content compels you to switch your phone off and witness its greatness. Many of the twists in the story are a little expected by those who have read the Batman comics but one might still be surprised by the way the plot points are revealed.

The performances are par excellence. Special mention needs to be given to Sir Michael Caine’s Alfred who is perhaps the lesser talked about character. In an intense scene with Bruce Wayne, his performance is enough to define the character’s motive throughout the series. The dialogues are very well scripted. Nolan’s minimalist impact-value dialogues from Dark Knight are unmatchable but this movie has a charm of its own. The decision to not fall into the trap of 3D was a good call on the part of whoever took it. The uniformity it brings to the series, overall, makes it look tidy. The action sequences are wonderfully choreographed and the special effects are mind blowing. While the visuals take your breath away, the background score runs beneath subtly but powerfully. 

All in all, this film is what keeps alive the spectacle of cinema. You go into the hall to watch a movie but experience something greater. You come out of the theatre having been given the gift of hope that helps you get on with life. You go into a dark room and after appreciating 165-minutes of genius inside, you don’t simply come out; you rise.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Published in DNA After Hrs (Pune) on July 21, 2012