Uncanny Plot Similarities between The Dark Knight Rises & Batman Begins (SPOILERS)

[Jordanstine]

I did the marathon for the movie and after just seeing Batman Begins freshly engraved in my mind again, watching TDKR just seemed like it was a redo of Batman Begins, complete with the same plot, the same end game, even the same League of Shadows villain.

Not complaining at all, but it was weird to watch what happened in Batman Begins was like a retelling of what was happening in TDKR.

- Batman vs the League of Shadows

- Batman disappearing from Gotham City for 8 years in TDKR (Bruce Wayne disappearing from Gotham City for # of years to train in BB)

- Batman learning to deal with his fear climbing out of the Lazarus Pit (the Batcave in BB)

- TDKR had a Fusion Reactor stolen from Wayne Enterprise to use against the city (Microwave Emitter stolen from Wayne Industries in BB)

- Same plot of bombing and burning Gotham City to the ground

- Same plot by breaking out the Prisoners to run amok

- Maria Tate is revealed to be Talia-Al Ghul all along in TDKR (Ducard was revealed to be R'As Al Ghul all along in BB).

Any other plot similarities?

[joker1524]

The way how talia died when the truck went off the bridge reminded me of how ras died when the train went off the track....FULL CIRCLE! lamest crap ever

[Jordanstine]

Originally Posted by joker1524

The way how talia died when the truck went off the bridge reminded me of how ras died when the train went off the track....FULL CIRCLE! lamest crap ever

Oh man, like father like daughter!

[Nevincer]

Nod to an important character in the batmythology at the end (Robin in Rises, Joker in BB).

[joker1524]

The way how bane walks with his hands close to his chest is similar to Ras

[American_Idiot]

Originally Posted by joker1524

The way how talia died when the truck went off the bridge reminded me of how ras died when the train went off the track....FULL CIRCLE! lamest crap ever

I was just going to say this, minus the part about lamest crap ever. Full circle, and loved it.


Note Ra's' gas mask is visually similar to Bane's.


How about some similarities to TDK?


Joker and men hold up a bank and Joker escapes via schoolbus.
Bane and men hold up a stock exchange and Bane escapes via motorcycle.


Joker places explosives everywhere.
Bane places explosives everywhere.


Harvey Dent ends up in intensive care before being back on his feet, ready to settle the score.
Gordon ends up in intensive care before being on his feet, ready to settle the score.


Dent is Gotham's White Knight, picking up much of the slack for Batman.
Blake is a White Knight of sorts, picking up much of the slack for Batman (while he's away)


Crane gets a bit part (both films)


Joker seemingly puts the people's fates in their own hands.
Bane seemingly puts the people's fates in their own hands.


There are definitely reoccurring themes throughout this trilogy.

[American_Idiot]

Oh and TDK and DKR both open with a 6 minute prologue showcasing an amazing feat by the film's main antagonist to show us what Bats is up against.

[Jordanstine]

Originally Posted by American_Idiot

I was just going to say this, minus the part about lamest crap ever. Full circle, and loved it.

Note Ra's' gas mask is visually similar to Bane's.

How about some similarities to TDK?

Joker and men hold up a bank and Joker escapes via schoolbus.
Bane and men hold up a stock exchange and Bane escapes via motorcycle.

Joker places explosives everywhere.
Bane places explosives everywhere.

Harvey Dent ends up in intensive care before being back on his feet, ready to settle the score.
Gordon ends up in intensive care before being on his feet, ready to settle the score.

Dent is Gotham's White Knight, picking up much of the slack for Batman.
Blake is a White Knight of sorts, picking up much of the slack for Batman (while he's away)

Crane gets a bit part (both films)

Joker seemingly puts the people's fates in their own hands.
Bane seemingly puts the people's fates in their own hands.

There are definitely reoccurring themes throughout this trilogy.

Good ones! Didn't realize those yet!

[TomPiltoff]

Originally Posted by American_Idiot

Note Ra's' gas mask is visually similar to Bane's.

No it isn't, except that they're both masks.

[XtremelyBaneful]

Originally Posted by Jordanstine

I did the marathon for the movie and after just seeing Batman Begins freshly engraved in my mind again, watching TDKR just seemed like it was a redo of Batman Begins, complete with the same plot, the same end game, even the same League of Shadows villain.

Not complaining at all, but it was weird to watch what happened in Batman Begins was like a retelling of what was happening in TDKR.

Any other plot similarities?

bruce wayne was also declared dead twice (once by earle in bb, and once by himself in dkr, makaveli style)

[American_Idiot]

Originally Posted by TomPiltoff

No it isn't, except that they're both masks.

Both masks that follow their jawline and ride just over their cheekbone. Granted I never said they were identical, but one does bring to mind the other, for me anyway. Bane's obviously has more to it.

[drumsnotdead]

Ra's says in BB that (paraphrasing) if someone stands in the way of justice, you stab them in the heart, and Talia stabs Batman in the heart

[VM1138]

I noticed the similarities, too, but Nolan handled them very well. Most directors would have made them too obvious or repetitive, but a lot of the similarities I didn't notice until I got home and thought about it a bit.

Bruce in prison. Character twist in each. The ones already mentioned here.

Most of all, I like the themes Nolan returns to. Both the Joker and Bane tried to make Gotham's citizens turn on each other. In TDK and TDKR rewarding people's faith is a huge theme. Overcoming fear in BB and embracing fear in TDKR was another full circle theme. Sacrifice is another that popped up in every film, but most notably in TDK and TDKR.

I love this trilogy.

[Troy_Parker]

This isn't so much of a plot similarity (or is it?!) but Robin discovering the batcave/when the bats fly past/around him reminded me of that happening with Bruce in Batman Begins. I assume this wasn't just a coincidence.

[Syncope]

Originally Posted by drumsnotdead

Ra's says in BB that (paraphrasing) if someone stands in the way of justice, you stab them in the heart, and Talia stabs Batman in the heart

Sorry, but she didn't.

[DorneyDave]

The music/form of Talia's and Ra's crashes are almost identical...just replace the armored truck with the monorail.

[ThePhantasm]

Originally Posted by Troy_Parker

This isn't so much of a plot similarity (or is it?!) but Robin discovering the batcave/when the bats fly past/around him reminded me of that happening with Bruce in Batman Begins. I assume this wasn't just a coincidence.

That was definitely intentional, and even filmed at a similar angle.

[Rockbottom]

Im not 100% sure but did this film miss out Batman's combat move of controlling a thugs arm and shooting another thug in the foot with their gun? I dont think I saw it this time but it was in both Batman Begins and TDK.

[redfirebird2008]

Originally Posted by Syncope

Sorry, but she didn't.

Not in the heart, but she did stab him from behind just like Ra's said. I thought this was a nice "full circle" touch from Nolan.

[Syncope]

Originally Posted by redfirebird2008

Not in the heart, but she did stab him from behind just like Ra's said. I thought this was a nice "full circle" touch from Nolan.

That's better.

[Jedm1991]

If she stabbed him in the heart, he would die fast, which is exactly what she was trying to avoid.

[MagnarTheGreat]

The stabbing-in-the-heart would make sense if Bruce was completely in love with Miranda...the betrayal itself would be a metaphor for being stabbed in the heart ("If someone stands in the way of true justice, you simply walk up behind them, and stab them in the heart" = betrayal). Unfortunately we got the abridged version of a romance but he was clearly hurt in more ways than one...but it's all quickly forgotten about after she leaves.

[Just_Human]

Guys,


Re-watching BB after having watched TDKR is just ...... WOW

- and not really a plot, but in BB, Alfred runs some tests on the cowl and breaks it with a hammer.
I wonder if Nolan wanted to convey the image that Bane's punches were as devastating as a hammer

[FattieAcid]

I know the lats time someone replied was back in july but I also found something else from BB and TDKR.

Ra's al Ghul (While Henry Ducard): Theatricality and deception are power agents. you must become more than just a man in the mind of your opponent"

Bane: "Theatricality and deception are power agents to the uninitiated, but we are initiated aren't we Bruce"

pretty awesome

[Fudgie]

Of course there's lots of similarities. Rises is just a weak rehash of Begins. Nolan got lazy in this one. Same plot devices he used before.

Some wonder why loads of people call the flick lazy.