The Amazing Rise of the Avenging Dark Knight!!!

I guess this was inevitable. 2012 has by far been the year that was designated for the superheroes. What began with the Avengers, was soon webbed by the Amazing Spiderman and more recently we have been left salivating for more of after the Dark Knight's Rise to reel life immortality.

I will take into account the debate that is being waged on which one is the, more superiorly presented, film
that has jolted the world with the sheer weight of the superheroes involved. I will try not to be biased, but it is tough to maintain equilibrium on the scales when unconsciously, many are leaning towards the Christopher Nolan school of thought.

To say that current crop of superhero movies have surpassed all previous renditions of the characters, and in the case of the Green Lantern, have set a niche pedestal for all future superhero sagas is a safe presumption.

The thing about appreciating a superhero movie is that, you need to be a comic book buff. As Sheldon Cooper from the Big Bang Theory so eloquently states, Comic Book characters are not to be confused with Comics - characters like Cathy! When I went to the Green Lantern screening, a lot of people bashed it around for having a baseless story and made no sense. Well, what were they expecting? A slam bang that would not talk about the legacy of the Green Lantern Corps and the hope they instill? Madness, I say!

Along with a few hundred thousands of others from India, I am a hardcore comic book person who has followed most of the Marvel Multiverse and the DC Universe with great enthusiasm and sheer love for the characters that have been envisioned. And, irrespective of what people think, I am proud of my passion and smirk in disdain while listening to lesser mortals wonder why Spiderman is being remade as the Amazing Spiderman, without knowing the difference between the two storylines.

Coming back to the topic I veered away from, The Avengers and the Dark Knight Rises with the Amazing Spiderman standing there and watching a battle of epic proportions. How does it look?

The Amazing Spiderman has got a good looking bloke playing the part of a youngster who is getting to terms with his new found power. Peter Parker looked more the part on Andrew Garfield than on Tobey McGuire. Seeing Gwen Stacy receiving due credit is refreshing. Nevertheless, the Amazing Spiderman sure spins a pretty web around us with Marc Webb at the centre but, he doesn't come close to the battles that the Avengers and the Batman fight.

Both Avengers and the Dark Knight Rises boasts of an ensemble cast of exceptionally talented actors who have put in their best to provide us with a thrill of a lifetime.

While the Avengers had 6 superheroes from varied storylines and fresh from their respective battle exploits who are brought under one umbrella, to fight Loki and the Chitauri; Batman has been in self-imposed retirement and exile from public view to ensure that the Harvey Dent legacy supersedes that of the Dark Knight. Bruce Wayne, battles age and injury to contend with Bane for starters before being broken and realising that it's much bigger than him.

While the Avengers explores the way a team of individual superheroes in their own rights come together and cope with the differences and frayed edges (from egos of superhero proportions) from the lack of space for each one to dance alone, it is the epitome of good prevails over evil when it counts and everyone plays their part in the big picture to the t.

In the meanwhile, the Batman has more mortal supporters in the GCPD, members of Wayne Enterprises and the unlikely Selina Kyle. What he realises is that he is up against, not only Bane, but the League of Shadows, the freed inmates of Arkham Asylum, the Scarecrow passing judgment, and will wonders never cease.. Talia Al Ghul, daughter of the supervillain Ras Al Ghul! What entails is a battle of ordinary men against empowered mortal aggressors and how determination and sacrifice prevails over all else.

To portray this, the industry has seen the best visualisers in play: Joss Whedon and Christopher Nolan. While Whedon had all the firepower from word go, in order to realise his dream for the rest of us comic book worshippers; Nolan had to bring out the hero in normal people to support the fight with the caped crusader. And bringing out the colors from such mundane characters is something that Nolan has brilliantly achieved. If you want a second example, I have one word - Joker.

With that being said, it is grossly unfair to each camp to declare a winner in terms of which movie is better than the other. In terms of story, screenplay, adaptation, and characterization, it is difficult to find a flaw in either movie. But if I had to think of the Oscars and the Palm d'Or, I think the Dark Knight Rises will be my reckoning.

Cheers,
Aamen.