Why Batman WON'T Die in The Dark Knight Rises

[Mace Dolex]

Originally Posted by GREEN =w= DAY

perhaps Batman "dies" but Bruce still lives

That's a good way of putting it, this could be one of Batman's greatest challenges against Bane that once it all ends and Batman puts Bane away all of Gotham will finally be at peace and will erect a statue in Batman's honor.

Hollywood movie icons can't ever die, they can be recast/rebooted/remade but never die for ex: Superman, James Bond, Rocky Balboa, Rambo, Freddy Krueger, Jason Vorhees.

[KalMart]

Originally Posted by Mace Dolex

That's a good way of putting it, this could be one of Batman's greatest challenges against Bane that once it all ends and Batman puts Bane away all of Gotham will finally be at peace and will erect a statue in Batman's honor.

Hollywood movie icons can't ever die, they can be recast/rebooted/remade but never die for ex: Superman, James Bond, Rocky Balboa, Rambo, Freddy Krueger, Jason Vorhees.

My idea started the movie with Gordon giving a speech in front of a memorial bronze statue of Batman, and we backtrack to reveal the events leading up to it.

[MrWayne]

I doubt batman will die, if anything this movie is showing exactly why Gotham needs The Batman.

Gotham is a city that needs a protector.

If anything, it's Bruce that I could see dying while Batman lives on as a silent guardian.

[AnneFan]

IMO - Gotham will absolutely need Batman for the final battle. He's the only one that can lead the team to a victory against Bane. But after that? I don't see it being that case. In terms of the Nolanverse, this will be portrayed as the big final battle to end all final battles. The last big threat. I firmly believe the citizens take up the responsibility (not letting such a thing happen again), and a move away from masked vigilantes.

[Nevincer]

Originally Posted by MrWayne

I doubt batman will die if anything this movie is showing exactly why Gotham needs The Batman.

But they're exploring in this film how age is catching up with him, doesn't that bring up the elephant in the room of how (unless he's replaced) there can't be a Batman forever? Without a supernatural element he can't be "back in the game" forever offscreen, and I doubt they're gonna just ignore that subject in regards to a story about a Bruce who's past his youth.

[AnneFan]

Originally Posted by Nevincer

But they're exploring in this film how age is catching up with him, doesn't that bring up the elephant in the room of how (unless he's replaced) there can't be a Batman forever? Without a supernatural element he can't be "back in the game" forever offscreen, and I doubt they're gonna just ignore that subject in regards to a story about a Bruce who's past his youth.

Precisely.

[KalMart]

Originally Posted by Nevincer

But they're exploring in this film how age is catching up with him, doesn't that bring up the elephant in the room of how (unless he's replaced) there can't be a Batman forever? Without a supernatural element he can't be "back in the game" forever offscreen, and I doubt they're gonna just ignore that subject in regards to a story about a Bruce who's past his youth.

That's one of the elements that (what it seems) this movie uniquely explores...and also why it makes such an interesting way to end: the effects of time and age...the costs of being Batman on a mortal man. Actual death may be too 'easy' a dramatic element, but if there's any approach to the Batman story that would be an interesting backdrop for it to happen, it would be this one.

[Harley2004]

I agree about the point that its too obvious that he will die. So it makes you think he will not.

Originally Posted by KalMart

If he does or doesn't die, it's because Nolan wanted it that way.

I would think this. This is not Marvel we are talking about here.

[Happy Jack]

The fact that the marketing has been touting "The Legend Ends" and Batman himself alludes to sacrificing his life for Gotham in the trailer makes me think it won't end with his death. It seems too obvious, too plainly spelled out.

[AnneFan]

Originally Posted by KalMart

the effects of time and age...the costs of being Batman on a mortal man. Actual death may be too 'easy' a dramatic element, but if there's any approach to the Batman story that would be an interesting backdrop for it to happen, it would be this one.

Good points.

If he takes the bomb up and narrowly escapes death, it is still absolutely in line with 'he's Batman until he goes out one day and dies'. The spirit of the comics that that's the only way it can end. Batman doesn't back down from something if it needs to be done, and he wouldn't back down towing a ticking bomb out of Gotham. But if he walks away from the wreckage via an ejection, he finally gets that real go at a life without a burden. Kind of like if James Dean got out of the car wreckage and got a second chance.

[KalMart]

Originally Posted by Happy Jack

The fact that the marketing has been touting "The Legend Ends" and Batman himself alludes to sacrificing his life for Gotham in the trailer makes me think it won't end with his death. It seems too obvious, too plainly spelled out.

Yeah...the bigger challenge would be if he does live...how does he end it and finally leave it behind? How does he find peace in that, and believe it's finally 'over'?

In that way we're looking at a take on Batman that really 'cares' about Bruce Wayne more than any other....like any of us would care about someone important to us. We'd very much want them to find peace and happiness, to find a time where they don't have to endanger their life any more. I can almost guarantee that Alfred wants him to find an end.

That's why dying really is too easy. Maybe what the story is trying to express is that part of being a true hero is also knowing when it's time to stop.

[MrWayne]

Originally Posted by Nevincer

But they're exploring in this film how age is catching up with him, doesn't that bring up the elephant in the room of how (unless he's replaced) there can't be a Batman forever? Without a supernatural element he can't be "back in the game" forever offscreen, and I doubt they're gonna just ignore that subject in regards to a story about a Bruce who's past his youth.

Very true Nev, I guess I just think that this proves that crime and evil do exist and might always exist for many years to come. Crime and evil is global not just restricted to Gotham.

On the other hand, much to your point I may be overlooking the fact that story wise this is the story and arc that exists in Nolans particular universe. So the story being told and the focus may very well be about citizens of a city seeing the worst of the worst and realizing they can be inspired to do great things and make their world (Gotham) a better more safer place to live. No longer needing a masked man to do what they can all do themselves if they all work together for one common cause and in one accord. Batmans job is done and is no longer need but will always be revered and remembered for his services and selfless sacrifices.

Now then this makes me question abd winder, if Gotham was this utopia of peace and mostly crime free city that Bruce and Gordon had hoped to see come to fruition, would Bane still be drawn to Gotham.

And if yes, who could stop such a powerful man and his army?

As we can see it takes the heroics of Batman with the assistance of a few others to restore balance... but not before Bane has unleashed his full wrath upon the city.

[TDKR2012]

http://imageshack.us/f/52/dd849a2e.jpg/

after reading the first section of this article, my jaw dropped.

the ending of the film/trilogy was conceived just like that, 4 years ago, and they stuck with it, which means it really is going to be something special. and it is the ending we deserve.

[serendipity]

Waiting for someone to say - "I was in that diner!"

[Nevincer]

Jett was in that diner, he was invited by Goyer and Chris there to expand on the idea, which he was told about by Goyer personally ten years ago.

[slimshady247]

Bale talking about the possibility that he could return for a Batman IV pretty much debunks any speculation that he would die.

[Picard Sisko]

Originally Posted by Mr. Cy

I believe "the legend ends" is all about Harvey Dent's legend. That he was the white knight.... but somehow, BANE brings out the truth of what really happened at the end of TDK and that is really the "legend" that will end. (The laws/legend of Harvey will be axed because of it.)

If I recall correctly, there is a set photo where Bane his holding up a photograph of Harvey Dent. Perhaps what you said is true?

[Picard Sisko]

I don't think Batman will die in this film, but I do think there is a chance he will get his back broken. His punishment "must be more severe."

[Nevincer]

Originally Posted by slimshady247

Bale talking about the possibility that he could return for a Batman IV pretty much debunks any speculation that he would die.

Naahh. When you discuss hypotheticals and don't want to give things away, you aren't gonna mention things like that. Were it or were it not the case, Bale would know better that to go like "Well maybe it would be impossible to happen" if Batman IV was brought up by the press, you know how Team Nolan works they're careful about inadvertantly giving away story details.

Besides, if he did die fans would doubtlessly make up theories that it was faked or he's alive and well, there's always a way to write yourself out of these things which could easily be exploited by the studio. That won't happen anyway due to the reboot announcement, but what I'm saying is it's not like speaking about a hypothetical Batman IV which we know isn't happening anyway is gonna rule out a story possibility, anymore than them closing the lid on things means he has to die. It can go either way and we need to stop pretending we know something based on things like this that can be interpreted anyway... this time last year people were dismissing a Neeson cameo or Ra's Al Ghul presence due to how coy and misleading he was in interviews.

[Picard Sisko]

TDKR is the last Nolan Batman film, end of story. Anything else afterwards has nothing to do with his trilogy! The Legend ENDS.

[CrypticOne]

Man, that article the OP posted about The Prestige, kinda blew my mind. It does kind of a feel like a "The Pledge, The Turn, The Prestige" kind of trilogy.

[TexanBatman]

Bruce Wayne may die, he may not, regardless, Batman won't "die".

Bruce Wayne drew focus to the mortality of acting as a mere man in the first film, it's why he sought out the persona that ended up being Batman, so that he could be come more than a man, everlasting, something that couldn't be corrupted or killed : A symbol and in time a legend. So if Bruce does die while saving Gotham and getting rid of Bane and his men, he will, in a sense, never truly die as Batman.

Test screening reports are vague, obviously due to the constraints WB is putting on them, understandably, but they are saying the entire audience was in tears at the end of the film and that it was unbelievably well done.

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Hey folks we are talking about Warner Bros here. Warner Bros is the absolute worst studio to have ownership of the DC universe. Mind you, I'm a Superman Batman DIE HARD. But Marvel has run circles around DC on the big screen simply because WB does stupid *****. Stupid ***** like Superman IV, the story line in SR where Superman has a kid out of wedlock with Lois. The travesties of the Batman films with Clooney and Val Kilmer. The laughing stock of Green Lantern.

Don't put it past WB to let Batman get killed off. They are indeed STUPID enough to let Nolan kill and iconic figure.

Then WB will turn right around and confuse the hell out of everyone by trying to start a Justice League movie of course with Batman. Instead of having Nolan to vaugely tie this story into a possible JLA movie.

Batman dying is STUPID AS HELL. The idea is stupid as hell under any circumstance. Broken back yes. Broken spirit, yes. Broken psychology, yes. But how do you kill off Batman? No, its STUPID!!!

But its WB they have an undisputed championship history of trying to destroy super heros on the big screen.

[iamcitizen]

The studio stepping in to "fix" Nolan's movie for the sake of a Justice League film would be Worst Case Scenario for me, no matter what Nolan was planning.

[Art Damage]

Originally Posted by Obi Wan Kenobi

Hey folks we are talking about Warner Bros here. Warner Bros is the absolute worst studio to have ownership of the DC universe. Mind you, I'm a Superman Batman DIE HARD. But Marvel has run circles around DC on the big screen simply because WB does stupid *****. Stupid ***** like Superman IV, the story line in SR where Superman has a kid out of wedlock with Lois. The travesties of the Batman films with Clooney and Val Kilmer. The laughing stock of Green Lantern.

Don't put it past WB to let Batman get killed off. They are indeed STUPID enough to let Nolan kill and iconic figure.

Then WB will turn right around and confuse the hell out of everyone by trying to start a Justice League movie of course with Batman. Instead of having Nolan to vaugely tie this story into a possible JLA movie.

Batman dying is STUPID AS HELL. The idea is stupid as hell under any circumstance. Broken back yes. Broken spirit, yes. Broken psychology, yes. But how do you kill off Batman? No, its STUPID!!!

But its WB they have an undisputed championship history of trying to destroy super heros on the big screen.

If Batman dies in this movie...as long as it works for the context of the story I'm fine with it.

Besides, I'm sure wait 3 years and we'll see Batman back on screen in the yet another reboot WB wants.