The Dark Knight Rises: Spoiler-Filled Analysis/Review
If you haven’t read my Dark Knight Rises review click here. This is a companion piece to that review which will go into more detail and my thoughts on specific scenes, such as the ending. Therefore, if you haven’t seen The Dark Knight Rises...DO NOT READ THIS. Feel free to discuss everything related to The Dark Knight Rises in our forum and give us your spoiler related comments, opinions and theories in the Your Say section. Now, into my spoiler-filled thoughts on The Dark Knight Rises.
Death or Exile?
Seeing Cillian Murphy pop up once again as The Scarecrow was a joy. Again it’s one of the small, little moments which only carry resonance to those aware of his work in Batman Begins and brief presence in The Dark Knight. This appearance is much more substantial and memorable than his one in The Dark Knight, with him being given one of the film’s few funniest lines, “Death...by exile”
Let the Games Begin
The other funniest line comes in what is one of my favourite scenes, the explosion of the football pitch. This entire scene, was cinematic perfection. As the film goes quiet and a little boy’s voice is all we hear as he sings the Star Spangled Banner, we see Bane walk into position as the police flood the tunnels. Blake’s panicked voice briefly interrupts as he states his discovery of Bane’s plan and then, just before Bane is about to make his explosive entrance, he says, “What a lovely, lovely voice” Then, Bane takes over. The wide city shots of destruction are breathtaking, haunting, immense and intimidating. Bane strolls onto the pitch, states that he has a nuclear bomb and then in front of a watching Gotham breaks the neck of the man who claims to be the only one capable of disarming it. That scene from beginning to end is a cinematic triumph. From the silent, creepy build-up, to the Bane comment, through to its explosive and intense finish.
The Man Who Broke the Bat
Going back a bit however, the scene where Bane breaks Batman’s back, is absolutely brutal. That scene may be the best piece of hand to hand combat in Nolan’s Batman trilogy. You feel every single punch, as Nolan brilliantly elects to restrain from scoring the scene, choosing to instead take a Steven Soderbergh, Haywire approach, augmenting the scene as a result. It is a rare moment in superhero cinema, as we see our hero get absolutely pummeled into the ground, well and truly beaten. Bane’s dialogue during the scene is also superb, especially when he says, “You think darkness is your ally...you merely adopted the darkness, I was born in it, moulded by it...I didn’t see the light until I was a man and by then it was nothing to me” When he breaks Batman’s mask, as Bruce lies on the floor, you truly feel that he has physically crushed the Bat, however the worse is yet to come. In a moment of both fan service and immense dramatic significance, Bane lifts Batman above him saying, “I was wondering what would break your first, your spirit...or your body” dropping him against his knee, leaving the Bat broken and powerless on the floor, as Bane strolls away and throws Batman’s mask into the water. The dialogue, staging, sound, cinematography and editing of that set-piece was superb, truly pulling you into the narrative.
Why Do We Fall
That’s one of the best aspects of the film, how they completely destroy Bruce Wayne and Batman. They break Bruce Wayne physically and psychologically. He has seemingly lost his purpose, then his money, his body and his city. When Bane puts the broken Bruce Wayne into an apparently inescapable prison, leaving him with nothing other than a TV screen to watch Gotham’s destruction, Bruce Wayne has literally and figuratively hit rock bottom and you cannot see an escape. Once again Bane is given great dialogue in this moment as he says to Bruce Wayne that he will endure torture, “...But not of your body, of your soul” saying that, “When Gotham is ashes, you have my permission to die” Setting up a brilliant payoff later in the film.
I liked how Bruce Wayne doesn’t get out of the prison on his first attempt. Seeing Bruce Wayne having to regain his strength, purpose and try multiple times to escape the prison, portrays the themes of persistence and truly gives credence to the title, The Dark Knight Rises. It is also a wonderful touch how Nolan visually makes it evoke the well from Batman Begins. In that well Bruce’s fear of bats was born, in this prison Bruce must regain and acknowledge fear, in order to escape. The scene where he finally escapes is a brilliantly staged, inspirational moment. It’s important thematically and to the character of Bruce Wayne and is arguably his most heroic and inspirational action in the film. It is this movement of the film that really solidifies The Dark Knight Rises and this trilogy as Bruce Wayne’s story. This is highlighted by the flashback to Bruce’s father saying, “Bruce...why do we fall?” with those who have seen Batman Begins knowing that the answer to that question is, so we can learn to pick ourselves up. That segment of the movie was Bruce Wayne learning how to pick himself up.
I liked how Bruce Wayne doesn’t get out of the prison on his first attempt. Seeing Bruce Wayne having to regain his strength, purpose and try multiple times to escape the prison, portrays the themes of persistence and truly gives credence to the title, The Dark Knight Rises. It is also a wonderful touch how Nolan visually makes it evoke the well from Batman Begins. In that well Bruce’s fear of bats was born, in this prison Bruce must regain and acknowledge fear, in order to escape. The scene where he finally escapes is a brilliantly staged, inspirational moment. It’s important thematically and to the character of Bruce Wayne and is arguably his most heroic and inspirational action in the film. It is this movement of the film that really solidifies The Dark Knight Rises and this trilogy as Bruce Wayne’s story. This is highlighted by the flashback to Bruce’s father saying, “Bruce...why do we fall?” with those who have seen Batman Begins knowing that the answer to that question is, so we can learn to pick ourselves up. That segment of the movie was Bruce Wayne learning how to pick himself up.
I Believed in Harvey Dent
Another scene I loved, which once again continued themes from the prior films, is when Bane tells Gotham the truth about Harvey Dent and breaks the prisoners from Blackgate. Not only was Banes speech great and the music as well but what made the scene was the exchange between Gordon and Blake. This is perhaps Gary Oldman’s best part of the movie as he must address his guilt and says to Blake, “When that time comes, I hope you have a friend like I did, who’s prepared to put his hands in the filth...so that you can keep yours clean” This is significant as it not only puts responsibility on Gordon but it also frees him of the pressure of living a lie and reinstates Batman’s power and importance for the people of Gotham.
Talia al Ghul - The Hints
For those of us who knew that Marion Cotillard would most likely be playing Talia Al Ghul, there were a few hints to her characters real identity that were evident first time around, however a second time around, a few more became apparent. Here is a list of the one’s I noticed, any that I missed? Let me know in the Your Say section.
- In Batman Begins, the League of Shadows emphasize doing what is necessary. Late in the movie, when Bruce is stating his course of action, “Miranda Tate” says, “Do what is necessary”
- At the charity ball, “Miranda Tate” talks about, “Bringing balance to the world” a very League of Shadows-esque phrase. She also introduces herself to Bruce in the movie, wearing a mask. Visually displaying her duplicity and hidden identity
- The suspicious scar visible on her back
- Bane pulling her aside when Crane is giving his sentence
- Early on, John Dagget is speaking to “Miranda Tate” and she says how all he understands is, “...Money and the power you think it buys” then later on in the movie when the same character is talking to Bane, he notes how much money he has given him, to which Bane responds, “And this gives you power over me?”
A Tale of Two Women
Another detail that became apparent on second viewing, was the duality of Miranda Tate and Selina Kyle. At one point in the movie, Bruce Wayne trusts Miranda Tate with his company and Selina Kyle to lead him to Bane. Miranda Tate seemingly rewards his trust, sleeping with him in the process, while Selina Kyle betrays his trust and hands him over to Bane for her own protection. Then, late in the film’s third act, Miranda betrays Bruce’s trust in her by literally stabbing him in the back and revealing her true identity, while moments later Selina Kyle rewards his trust in her throughout the movie, by saving his life and killing Bane. While one rewards his trust, the other betrays his trust. It is this realization that makes these two female characters seem much more intertwined and part of the same narrative, rather than disparate parts of a larger piece. For the first two acts, Miranda Tate is an ally, while Selina Kyle steals from Bruce Wayne and hands him over to Bane who subsequently takes him to his lowest psychical and psychological point. Then in the third act, it is Selina Kyle who reveals herself to be in fact heroic and Miranda Tate who reveals herself to be in fact villainous. They are two sides of the same coin and this relation between the two and what they represent to Bruce at different points in the narrative is a layer of depth to the story that will initially elude many, however reveal itself on repeat viewings as one of Nolan’s subtle yet strongest narrative choices. As one woman seemingly ends his life, the other saves it.
The Ending
Now, to the ending. Many have posited the notion that Alfred is in fact imagining Bruce Wayne at the cafe, insisting that the ending is more ambiguous than appearances suggest. While I don’t doubt the director of Memento, The Prestige and Inception could have laced some ambiguity into his conclusion, I personally do not subscribe to that theory. I believe Bruce is really in that cafe for a few reasons. One, the autopilot was fixed, or is Lucius Fox imagining that as well? Second of all, why would Alfred imagine Bruce Wayne to be with Selina Kyle? I personally think it is an interesting argument but one that doesn’t really stand up and seems to be a result of over analyzing and people wishing something that isn’t there into existence. Would I have liked the film to end simply on Alfred’s nod and smile? If we had been given a final scene for Selina Kyle prior to it then absolutely. However I do not begrudge Nolan giving a conclusive, final shot for Bruce Wayne and giving him the happy ending he deserves. Also, while I can live with ambiguity and the implication behind it would have been pretty obvious, it would have lead many people to stupidly complain and unnecessarily over criticize film as a result, if some aren’t doing that already. In regards to the, “Robin” reveal. I liked it as a little nod and wink to the fans and can understand why they said that instead of Robin’s actual names such as Tim Drake or Dick Grayson. Only Batman fans would have understood the meaning behind such names and in calling him Robin, everybody gets the reference. However it does confuse the issue slightly as Robin is renowned for being Batman’s sidekick, rather than the one who takes his mantle which is obviously what Joseph Gordon-Levitt is doing in that final scene. I don’t think Nolan is setting himself up for films with Gordon-Levitt as the protagonist, I merely think it is him continuing his theme and idea that Batman can be anybody and that it is the symbol that is important. Across three films, Nolan has taken Bruce Wayne from an orphaned child to a man who has finally found his peace, able to retire and pass on the mantle, safe in the knowledge that he has created a legend and a symbol that will live on.
