If you have not seen "The Dark knight Rises," please do not read this.
If you are a Nolanite, please do not read this.
We good? Great, let's move on. Please understand, this is being written with love. As a fan of Batman, from comics to film to animated to television, I love the character. This isn't an attack on the Chris Nolan's movie. Its the voicing of frustration a lot of Batman fans are probably feeling after watching this film. It's my humble opinion, so take that however you want.
The fatal flaw of this movie is that it ignores the core essence of the Batman character.
Let's touch on the first two films quickly and get it out of the way.
"Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight" are great interpretations of the transition from Bruce Wayne to Batman. The trauma of seeing his parents gunned down before him, making the decision to never take a life, and utilizing his vast fortune to wage a war on Gotham's criminal underworld.
But in the latest and last film, we see Bruce Wayne living as a recluse pining for his lost love, and letting Gotham go on without it's protector. This is very, very wrong.
It would never happen. Bruce Wayne is not Batman. Batman is Bruce Wayne. He defends Gotham so that if possible, no child will ever face the trauma that he did. He has a psychotic drive for vengeance that makes him the character that we love.
Batman is often referred to as "The Most Dangerous Man in the DCU." Know why? Because Batman does not quit. Ever. Take away the belt, the gadgets, the car, and he will still find a way to fight. To win.
DC Characters are pretty simplistic. As a fan, I can admit that. Superman is the good that we all want to aspire to. Wonder Woman is the ideal for both men and women, beautiful, strong, and perfect.
Batman is will. Pure human will. We've all thought about it. You'll never be able to fly. You'll never have Spider powers. But with enough money and time, and if you have the will to do it, you could be Batman.
The other point that I wanted to make is the matter of planning. Batman always has a plan, whether its a vault of Kryptonite, or plans to take out the Justice League, regardless of the situation Batman always has plan.
Now if you haven't seen the movie, really don't read this, but what the hell was up with the second fight with Bane? I understand underestimating him the first time. I can see that from a story perspective. But the second time? Batman is not going to walk into a fist fight, in broad daylight with Bane. Again, this is contradictory to the core of the character. Batman evaluates his previous mistakes, looks at the evidence, and develops a plan. "World's greatest detective," you know?
In closing, I as a lifelong DCU and Batman fan, would really like to see a director/ studio give us the Batman we know and love. I'm tired of seeing directors "interpretations." I want Batman from the comics. I want grim, stoic Batman, brooding in his cave. I want Alfred to be witty and wise and caring. I want cutting edge forensic technology, research, fingerprint analysis, and dna profiling. I want the Dark Knight to swing across the Gotham skyline and for criminals to cower in fear. I wonder if Bruce Timm would be willing to work on a live action movie?
Ok, I'm done. Let the profanity begin!!!!
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