Page 18 THE VILLADOM TIMES II & IV • August 1, 2012 ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ (continued from Entertainment page) of the movie, that sparkle. What he brings to the role of Alfred, and what the younger actors can’t quite manage, is complete command of the screen. Viewers are riveted when Caine speaks, and every emotion is real. It’s easy to believe Alfred’s lifelong devotion to Bruce, not merely as a servant, but also as a surrogate father. Gordon-Levitt continues to build a solid career with his role as a dedicated cop who becomes integral to the plot when he tells his back story to Bruce. Director Nolan gives Gordon-Levitt a great deal of screen time. He seems to be everywhere: at the side of an ailing commissioner, having a tȇte-à-tȇte with Bruce, acting as a guerrilla against Bane’s army, and fighting by the side of Batman. Think about that. There is a reason this character crops up so often. Bale is adequate this time, but fails to convey angst, depression, or even self-pity at having caused the city to blame him for misdeeds he did not commit Bale walks around in a bathrobe and uses a cane. Is that it? He comes off more like a nursing home patient than an unjustly besmirched hero in the throes of self-doubt and resentment. For a movie with “dark” in the title, Bale should have provided a more brooding performance. “The Dark Knight Rises” is predicted to be the biggest movie of the summer. That may prove to be true, but it’s far from the perfect film, or even the perfect superhero film. There are cracks in the construction that keep this good, even very good, movie from being remarkable. New DVD releases (continued from Restaurant page) of weapons of mass destruction that could have worldwide repercussions. The series harks back to 1980s buddy-action cinema and further back still to “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” The dialogue is often witty and far more clever than the standard action drama. The look is slick and stylish, with episodes taking place in many exotic locales. It’s timely and relevant because the underlying dramatic thrust is tracking down terrorists bent on widespread destruction. The six-disc Bluray set contains the DVD version, a digital copy download, and five audio commentaries with cast and crew.