Movie Review: The Dark Knight Rises

The Dark Knight Rises is also not just a movie, it's a moviemaking miracle and a buffet of eyeball orgasms - one that contains enough visceral thrills and proof of Chris Nolan rising as the superhero of the movie industry.

The Dark Knight Rises
Starring: Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway, Tom Hardy
Dir: Christopher Nolan
U/A; Action
Rating: **** (out of Five)

In the four years since 'The Dark Knight' the fandom for Nolan’s Batman trilogy has grown to astronomical levels - you’d have to live on a different planet to not be familiar with these films. Nolan’s lavishness in imagination and passion for real emotions has made the first two parts transcend from mere films to spiritual experiences. The Dark Knight Rises is also not just a movie, it’s a moviemaking miracle and a buffet of eyeball orgasms – one that contains enough visceral thrills and proof of Chris Nolan rising as the superhero of the movie industry. It’s a sprawling epic, the darkest, most complex segment of Nolan’s Batman trilogy.

The first two were character triumphs on their own, but it is obvious that Nolan was saving all the goodies for last. The Dark Knight Rises obliterates the bar with gritty physical effects sprinkled with CGI. The effects are so realistic it’s impossible to distinguish between real and CGI, and are seamlessly woven into the sweeping exhilaration of Wally Pfister’s cinematography. It is in your best interest that you keep away from story details before watching the film – know that the plot takes eight years after the events of The Dark Knight, and Bruce Wayne has turned into a recluse, as the villainous Bane not-so-silently plots an apocalypse.

At a mammoth two hours forty five minutes, The Dark Knight Rises tends to have a slightly bloated middle section. The film shifts to a cave under the sands of Jodhpur and fast forwards three months without much consistency. I foresee complaints along the lines of Bane not being as awesome a villain as Heath Ledger as the Joker, but that complaint becomes irrelevant, because no one can possibly be as awesome as the latter. To make up for the choppy middle section, the third act of The Dark Knight Rises is an hour-long post-apocalyptic action set piece and is one hell of a rousing stretch of eye and ear candy.

The recurring cast including Gary Oldman holds a more poignant resonance this time, and Bale is particularly excellent as the tormented superhero. Michael Caine is unforgettably haunting as the distraught butler seeing his surrogate son fall. Anne Hathaway isn’t as sexy as she is oddly endearing as the Catwoman, but Joseph Gordon Levitt is great as a Gotham cop. Bane may not be The Joker, but Tom Hardy does all he can to emote with his face covered. The only real problem is that Bane’s voice is still not completely audible, and watching the movie in a theater that doesn’t have very high quality speakers will make Bane almost entirely incomprehensible.

Even with its ginormous set pieces, scope and SFX, The Dark Knight Rises separates itself from other blockbusters because it rarely loses sight of its humanity and mission to meet insane expectations. It’s outstanding entertainment, a victory of mad passion and cinematic artistry, with a sly final payoff that gives you goosebumps and leaves you drooling for more.

By: MidDay

Freida romances Batman

Tree Of Life director Terrence Mallik has cast Freida Pinto in his next project, Knight Of Cups, along with Batman actor Christian Bale.

A source reveals that the story is about a man in search of love and truth, and that Mallik watched all of Pinto's previous films before casting her in the project. The source says, "Freida and Christian broke the ice immediately. They have casually bumped into each other at Hollywood events in the past, but never worked together. During the shoot they were quite playful and flirty."

The film also stars Oscar winners Natalie Portman and Cate Blanchett.

TNN | Jun 29, 2012, 12.00AM IST

Christian Bale picks best supporting actor Oscar

Los Angels, Feb 28 – Actor Christian Bale took home his first Oscar by winning the best supporting actor at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards here for his role in ‘The Fighter’. 

The actor plays a troubled boxer Dicky Eklund in the movie, which also stars Mark Wahlberg.

Bale was competing with John Hawkes (‘Winter’s Bone’), Jeremy Renner (‘The Town’), Mark Ruffalo (‘The Kids Are All Right’) and Geoffrey Rush (‘The King’s Speech’) for the award.

‘The Fighter’ is about two brothers Dicky Ecklund (Bale) and Micky Ward (Wahlberg) who, against all odds, come together to train for a historic title bout that will unite their fractured family and redeem their past. 

IANS

Oscar-nominated ‘The Fighter’ to hit Indian screens Feb 25

New Delhi, Feb 1 – Oscar-nominated ‘The Fighter’ starring Christian Bale and Mark Wahlberg is set to hit Indian screens just two days before the Academy Awards. 

Directed by David O. Russell, ‘The Fighter’ is about two brothers Dicky Ecklund (Bale) and Micky Ward (Wahlberg) who, against all odds, come together to train for a historic title bout that will unite their fractured family and redeem their past. The film will release Feb 25.

The film has been nominated in six categories at the prestigious Oscars – best picture, best actor in a supporting role for Bale, best actress in a supporting role for Amy Adams and Melissa Leo, best director for Russell, best editing, and best writing (Original Screenplay). 

IANS

New Superman Henry Cavill is delighted to be latest British star to land role as iconic hero

They are America's three most famous superheroes - but now Superman, Batman and Spider-Man are all flying the flag for Britain.

Henry Cavill was yesterday unveiled as the latest to don the red cape of Superman, following Christian Bale as Batman and Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man.

Scots comic genius Mark Millar hailed the trio as the vanguard of a super-powered generation of British actors.

Jersey-born Cavill was the shock announcement to play the alien good-guy in Superman: Man of Steel.

Tom Welling, who plays the character on television's Smallville, True Blood star Joe Manganiello and Mad Men's John Hamm were all tipped for the role.

Kick-Ass and Wanted creator Millar - who has written comic books on Superman and Spider-Man - admitted that many people in the industry can't believe the big three superhero roles are all being played by Brits.

Yesterday, he told the Daily Record: "You always define superheroes with America but something weird is happening with this generation.

"It just feels like suddenly there's an opportunity for anyone. Having the three is a bizarre coincidence.

"What we maybe have is a great new wave of British actors.

"It happened in the Sixties with Sean Connery and Michael Caine and maybe it's happening now.

"The other actor people haven't thought about is James McAvoy, who is the lead in the new X-Men movie "So the idea of having a Scottish guy in it is even better than an English guy. I love it.

"Hopefully it will only be a matter of time before we get a Scottish Batman or a Glaswegian Wonder Woman."

However, Mark said he's not sure how the American public will take to the news that Superman is a Brit.

Mark, who made Superman Russian in his 2003 comic book Red Son, said: "One of my friends who works in the industry asked, 'Can you really have someone who is English playing the part of America's greatest icon?'

"I said you've got to remember Superman is Kryptonian. He's not really American. You guys just adopted him."

But as the new Superman, Cavill has to uphold "truth, justice and the American way".

The relatively unknown 27-year-old will also have to slip into blue tights and a red cape, although he has worn tights previously in his role as Charles Brandon in The Tudors.

Cavill was once dubbed "the unluckiest man in Hollywood" by Empire magazine, after missing out on several of the biggest roles of the past decade.

Cavill was beaten by Daniel Craig to the role of James Bond in Casino Royale after being deemed too young for the part. He was also said to have auditioned for the title role in Batman Begins.

Cavill was also a leading contender for the part when directors Brett Ratner and McG were attached to direct Superman Returns, which Bryan Singer ended up directing.

Brandon Routh beat him to the Superman role in 2006 movie, Superman Returns.

He also missed out on playing Edward Cullen in the Twilight films despite author Stephenie Meyer wanting him for the part. Instead the role went to Robert Pattinson.

No wonder Cavill admitted he is thrilled to take on the coveted role.

"In the pantheon of superheroes, Superman is the most recognised and revered character of all time," he said. "I am honoured to be a part of his return to the big screen."

The new Superman will be directed by Zack Snyder, who has previously directed 300 and Watchmen.

Speaking about the appointment of Cavill, a Warner Brothers source said: "He's got an amazing quality.

"He doesn't look too much like Reeve and Routh but he's big and strong and he has a very modern feel."

In the new film, which is set for a December 2012 release, fans will be treated to some spectacular special effects in a very modern version of the original story.

Cavill joins a long line of actors to play the famous man in tights.

Kirk Alyn was the first actor to play him on screen in the 1948 film serial Superman and its 1950 sequel, Atom Man Vs Superman.

George Reeves played Superman in the first film, 1951's Superman And The Mole Men and the following television series Adventures of Superman.

The most famous screen Superman was Christopher Reeve, who played the mild-mannered newshound Clark Kent and Superman in four films, Superman: The Movie (1978), Superman II (1980), Superman III (1983), and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987).

A horse-riding accident in 1995 left the actor paralysed from the neck down and he later died of a cardiac arrest in 2004 at the age of 52.

During the Nineties, Dean Cain played the Man of Steel in the television series The New Adventures of Superman, while Tom Welling has played a young version of Superman in Smallville since 2001.

Many fans will be disappointed Brandon Routh didn't get another chance at the part.

But Cavill will have a fight on his hands to beat Batman and Spider-Man to box office gold.

The new look Spider-Man will see Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker developing his abilities in high school. Emma Stone plays Parker's first love Gwen Stacy, while Rhys Ifans takes on the role of the Lizard. Martin Sheen and Sally Field will play Parker's uncle and aunt.

To make Spidey's aerial acrobatics even more impressive, the film will be released in 3D and is scheduled to be released on July 3, 2012.

Meanwhile Batman: The Dark Knight Rises will see the return of Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne's alter ego, Michael Caine as Alfred and Gary Oldman as cop Jim Gordon.

Opening after Spider-Man in the UK on July 20, 2012, the inclusion of big names will once again attract fans.

Anne Hathaway will play Catwoman and love interest Selina Kyle, Tom Hardy will play super-strong baddie Bane and there are rumours that Robin Williams will play evil scientist Dr Hugo Strange.

Superman, Batman and Spider-Man. Let the battle begin.

Christian Bale

Batman

The 37-year-old father of one from Wales became a star at 13 when he featured in Steven Spielberg's Empire Of The Sun.

He later starred alongside Ewan McGregor in 1997's Velvet Goldmine and played a serial killer in American Psycho.

Batman first appeared in 1939. Bruce Wayne, a millionaire from Gotham City swore to wipe out crime and created an armoury of gadgets and weapons, donning a bat suit to keep his identity secret.

Andrew Garfield

Spider-Man

The 27-year old was born in California to a British mother and an American father, but was raised in Surrey. He made his telly debut in 2005 in Channel 4's Sugar Rush.

He won a BAFTA for best actor for A Boy and TV trilogy Red Riding followed. Hollywood took notice last year in his role in The Social Network.

Spider-Man first appeared in 1962 when teen Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive spider and given the power to walk up walls and create webs.