The Dark Knight Rises

(source)

Some of our seniors may not wish to see the Christopher Nolan trilogy or any comic book movie in general (Lawrence Auster, Dr. Fleming, New Sherwood). They do not understand the appeal of the trilogy or of comic book movies. Without heroes either from stories in a traditional canon that is part of a people's heritage or from history, to what else can Uhmerican males refer except to the pop culture upon which they were nourished? We may be critical of the format and its associations with our political economy, but sometimes we have to engage with the "culture" as it is and lead people to the true and good from where they are situated.

Men are looking for stories featuring male heroism. Superhero movies such as Nolan's Batman trilogy, is entertainment that addresses male psychological and spiritual needs. Men want to make a difference to achieve and excel through physical and intellectual ability (as in the case of Batman) - a combination of brain and brawn. Protecting others, working for something greater than one's self, and to find honor and glory therein.

Granted, movies are rather ephemeral in the minds and imaginations of the audience once they are out of the theater and are probably ineffective in shaping the moral imagination and thus inducing long-lasting moral conversion or commitment.

What if the studios or the comic book companies decided to do some gender-bending,
switching the sex of the hero. There's already a Batgirl, but the change could be explained away as being part of an "alternative universe." How many male fans would accept this?

Some have claimed that Batman has been turned into the wrong kind of hero, seeking revenge because of anger, rather than acting out of a sense of justice. Hence this version of Batman is just too dark. I don't see how anger and a desire for justice are incompatible, and it's not clear to me that the trilogy attributes to Batman a single motivation or such a simplistic psychological state. After all, there is his desire to protect the good people of Gotham City as well as the desire to avoid being an executioner (and hence avoidance of guns) that defines his vigilantism. This sets him apart from the League of Shadows, which sees itself as an force for restoring balance when the corruption of a city or civilization is overwhelming. This goal justifies all sorts of vicious acts by the League of Shadows.

Maybe I'm missing something subtle about Batman's characterization in the Christopher Nolan movies. Or I have to watch the first movie, Batman Begins, over again. But I don't think Nolan's Batman is anything close to the TV character Dexter, for example.

The movie is not without its defenders, though this post asserting that the movie is a Christian allegory may be a bit too much. Then there is the Nietzschean/"traditionalist" intepretation given over at Counter Currents (and other alt right websites) which finds much to praise in the movie.

Batman: Anarcho-Fascist mp3

Rotten Tomatoes
IGN

Was the movie too long? I don't think so. Some of the disappointment is understandable - Bruce Wayen's quick recovery does not seem plausible. Given Chris Nolan's balancing act between comic book movie and "realistic" drama, I was mostly satisfied with his conclusion to the trilogy. But maybe that is because I related to the story in a different way than others. Would the scenes that were cut improve the storytelling if inserted back in?

I would watch the movie again.

*spoiler warning*



There continues to be a contrast between dark and light; initially Batman and the League of Shadows are both in the dark; but Bruce Wayne climbs out from the prison into the sunlight in order to put on his disguise one last time to fight Bane and the League of Shadows and to save Gotham City from a nuclear weapon. The last battle between Batman (and the Gotham City Police) and the League of Shadows and the criminals who have taken over is during the daytime, as well, as the timer for the weapon ticks down the last few hours.

The League of Shadows seeks to restore balance to [global?] civilization by destroying cities that are too evil and threaten to corrupt others? The struggle culminates in the final battle, the melee between two forces claiming to represent order and justice, which may be somewhat lacking. That scene is not realistic with respect to weapons used - some of the officers just have batons, against criminals and LoS soldiers with guns. But it is mostly background as Batman faces off with Bane, though we see the sacrifices made by the police officers of Gotham City.

What of the state of anarchy in Gotham City? Very little of that is shown, other than the puppet trials presided by Scarecrow. Do most of the families stay home? We get a glimpse of "normality" in the orphanage where Officer Blake (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) grew up. While there are those that pillage and loot, or participate in the show trials that sentence the rich and elite to their deaths, there are plenty of good people who do their best. Do they not matter to the League of the Shadows? I suppose God is more merciful than they. The people of Gotham City are not thoroughly corrupted, but many are. I do not think Chris Nolan would accept the interpretation by some that the LoS rationale for destroying Gotham is justified by the actions of the resulting mob. I think Batman is right - there are still some good people in Gotham, and those who truly defend justice will deal with those who are not.

There was one complaint that the League of Shadows should have just procured/stolen a nuclear fission bomb instead of converting Wayne Industries' fusion reactor into a weapon. But it seems to me that this was part of Talia's revenge against Bruce Wayne for killing her father - turning his company and wealth against the city he defends.

What of Batman as a patriot who has nothing else; Alfred points out that there is only pain and sadness in Gotham for him - sad memories of his dead parents or childhood friend Rachel, nothing else, really. Alfred wanted him to retire and find some measure of happiness in this life by leaving Gotham and going abroad (to Europe). Bruce Wayne was somewhat of a recluse, despite pretending to be a playboy. He has no real friendships except with Alfred and Rachel, and maybe Lucius Fox. Is he really fighting for the innocent people of Gotham, out of love for them? Or his patriotism more of an abstraction, with its object a city in which he has roots but no real ties? What has the city done for him in return for his sacrifices? (This is one of Bane's taunts, iirc.)

He wears the mask to protects the ones he loves, Rachel and Alfred. Is there anyone else? At the end of the movie, after his supposed death, a statue to Batman is made and erected in the city in his honor. Does that show sufficient appreciation? Do we get a credible representation of Bruce Wayne's motivations? I think so - I think Batman does have a real patriotism coupled with a sense of justice that Bane and Talia lack. He has not given up on the city; there are plenty of good people in his life - Commissioner Gordon, Lucius Fox, Officer Blake.

What of the noble lie, that Harvey Dent was murdered by Batman so that the city would be galvanized to do something about organized crime, eventually getting the "Dent Act" passed? The city had to be cleaned up through tough legislation that would enable the justice system to put gangsters away in prison. When the secret is revealed, the city government is supposedly discredited, along with Commissioner Gordon, but we do not see the ramifications of that. Some welcome the anarchy from the destruction of the city government and the incapacitation of the police, along with the release of prisoners that is done in the name of rectifying the injustice committed by Gordon and the City. But when order is finally restored, Commissioner Gordon is still the commissioner of the GPD; no hearings or trials for lying to the public about Harvey Dent? Harvey Dent was needed as a figurehead to give the inhabitants of Gotham City hope that the city could be cleaned up and justice prevail. Even though they may have been disappointed by the truth, Batman replaces Dent as the symbol of justice. (Even though he is technically a vigilante? Or is he merely exercising the arrest powers of an ordinary citizen?) He even gives his life to save the city by flying the nuclear weapon away. The good name of the Dark Knight is restored and his image (the statue) made pristine in the clear sunlight.

[Was the character of Catwoman necessary for the story, other than being a love interest for Bruce Wayne? Maybe the relationship between Selina Kyle and Bruce Wayne could have been developed more.]

Related:
Plot holes?
The Meaning Of Joseph Gordon-Levitt's Fate In 'The Dark Knight Rises' - SPOILERS, UPDATED

It's amazing to me that those who have seen the movie can question whether Bruce Wayne is still alive at the end of the movie.