The Dark Knight Rises 8 Years: Active or Retired?

[obin_gam]

If he's been retired for 8 years, why does he have an updated batcave? Why didnt he just scrap all Bat-things after TDK?

 

[LegendInMyMind9]

Rag and a few others' theory that he's not gone for 8 years, but that he faded about 3 to 5 years after TDK sits better with me than the "8 year retirement" scenario. I hope this is the case.

What is the actual purpose of that? At least if he's been retired for 8 years there's a pretty compelling reason for it. If it's 3 to 5 then that's just random and pointless. Like, what eventually DID force him out then and why the hell aren't they exploring THAT? All the quotes and evidence point to the fact that he has actually, legitimately been gone for 8 years and people are still denying it because 3 to 5 sits better with them?

Now I know I haven't seen the movie, but this particular aspect seems pretty obvious to me. People act like if that's the case then he quit or something. How do you "quit" right after you win? It's like saying Jordan quit after winning his sixth championship.

 

[Nevincer]

I think this bears requoting:

Sometime within the 8 years, he stops being Batman. it's the option everyone seems to be overlooking

This. Not rocket science, it's not like after TDK 'peace time' occurred overnight.

What is the actual purpose of that? At least if he's been retired for 8 years there's a pretty compelling reason for it. If it's 3 to 5 then that's just random and pointless. Like, what eventually DID force him out then and why the hell aren't they exploring THAT?

They are. It's called the Harvey Dent act, and it's being explored. Like I said, this piece of legislation wouldn't be created overnight, so Batman would still have a job to clean up the streets for a while. It would be within that time when Gordon seems to have everything under control and a 'peace time' has occured from Dent's posthumous image that Batman would have looked for an 'out' again IMO. No point in giving in the towl when he's not even sure his plan has worked, and how would he have taken the 'fall' convincingly when he disappears along with Dent?

All the quotes and evidence point to the fact that he has actually, legitimately been gone for 8 years and people are still denying it because 3 to 5 sits better with them?

It's not denial, it's just opening the mind a little. He could be gone for the eight years, it would be odd because it would change the implications of the end of TDK if he went into exile that fast, but there are other options to consider based on what little info we have.

 

[BestGirl]

What you need to know, with highlights:

Spoiler

Empire, January 2012 issue:

LA Times, December 2011:

Entertainment Weekly, January 20th, 2012

Entertainment Weekly, April 20th, 2012:

Leaked synopsis from Film Cells:

Bruce Wayne is emotionally frozen because of the events of The Dark Knight, and has nowhere to go. He is still-grieving, he is a glum, he is aging, damaged, and is not in prime condition. He is recovering mentally and physically from the damage inflicted by The Joker and Two-Face. A sacrifice occurred at the end of TDK and so Batman is gone, the symbol is detested, and Harvey Dent is the symbol that is liked as Gotham gets better after The Dark Knight, thanks to the deception and things such as the Harvey Dent Act.

That line from your article makes me think that his limp is from the fall he sustained at the end of TDK, and it has become a psychosomatic injury.

 

[BestGirl]

What is the actual purpose of that? At least if he's been retired for 8 years there's a pretty compelling reason for it. If it's 3 to 5 then that's just random and pointless. Like, what eventually DID force him out then and why the hell aren't they exploring THAT? All the quotes and evidence point to the fact that he has actually, legitimately been gone for 8 years and people are still denying it because 3 to 5 sits better with them?

Now I know I haven't seen the movie, but this particular aspect seems pretty obvious to me. People act like if that's the case then he quit or something. How do you "quit" right after you win? It's like saying Jordan quit after winning his sixth championship.

To play devil's advocate, his career may not have come to a sudden stop but rather experienced a slow tapering off after a 3-to-5 year period. Such an occurrence wouldn't be interesting enough to put on film. However, Magnar's articles, which claim that Bruce is still suffering physically from his showdown with the Joker and Two-Face make me believe that he quit after the events of TDK.

 

[dark_b]

i notice two versions on SHH and interenet. some think that after TDK bruce newer fights crime as batman. and some think that he was batman in the 8 years and that in the beginning of TDKR he is about to end being batman.

 

[The Joker]

They are. It's called the Harvey Dent act, and it's being explored.

Indeed:

In fact, fans may want to revisit that second film, as Nolan tells EW that the last chapter of his cinematic saga explores the ramifications of The Dark Knight’s chilling climax, in which Batman and super-cop Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman) hatch a conspiracy to cover up the sins of Gotham City’s so-called “white knight,” the late Harvey Dent, a.k.a. Two-Face (Aaron Eckhart).

http://popwatch.ew.com/2012/01/11/this-weeks-cover-dark-knight-rises-forecast-2012/

 

[shauner111]

OK so ive always been in the camp of "Bruce hangs up the cowl after TDK, doesn't return for 8 years, has injuries from the fall with Two-Face but using the cane is more mental than physical after all that time". So for the people who agree with that statement, im curious...what's the timeline here? Does he come back as The Batman and get pummeled by Bane, tossed into prison and returns a SECOND time??? Or is there a different order of things?

That's the only confusing thing for me. Im a supporter of the 8 year hiatus but when somebody brings that part up about "why would he come back, stop being batman AGAIN because hes been beaten up, then return one last time only to either die or hang it FINALLY for good at the end of the film". THAT IS WHAT MAKES ME RECONSIDER! Then i start thinking well maybe theyre right and hes been active a little bit.

So for the people on the team of 8 Year Absence, how would you write it? Unless those people are just over-reacting the amount of times he retires. And he simply 1) gets the lecture from Gordon in the hospital. 2) Returns as Batman. gets chased by a million cops. 3) Fights bane in the sewers and gets his ass whooped. thrown into prison. 4) breaks out of prison after training and comes back to Gotham to go straight into battle with Bane in daylight.

Now that sounds good enough for me but the final question is. Will it be too much for Bruce to retire for good as the hero by the end of the film? 2 Retirements (an 8 year hiatus, a months return & permanent retirement in happiness) is it too much? Will they have to write it as Batman dies? for it to not be repetitive.

Hope that wasn't confusing lol. The only way to fix it would be if Bats was still active through the entire 8 years, then it would flow smoothly. But this is just for the peeps like myself who believe in the 8 year break.

 

[AnneFan]

I think my feeling is he continued to be Batman after TDK, but some time during those 8 years he stopped. Hence when he visits Gordon in hospital "he must come back". Then he gets smashed and Gotham overtaken for good.

 

[BuddhaWasABat]

I think my feeling is he continued to be Batman after TDK, but some time during those 8 years he stopped. Hence when he visits Gordon in hospital "he must come back". Then he gets smashed and Gotham overtaken for good.

That's what I think. I don't see why it has to be either he was active the whole 8 years or he was gone the whole 8 years. I would say he probably stopped somewhere in the middle. I don't think immediately after TDK all of Gotham's problem just went away. Things took time. Eventually, who knows how long it took, Batman was no longer needed.

 

[kvz5]

That's what I think. I don't see why it has to be either he was active the whole 8 years or he was gone the whole 8 years. I would say he probably stopped somewhere in the middle. I don't think immediately after TDK all of Gotham's problem just went away. Things took time. Eventually, who knows how long it took, Batman was no longer needed.

And I thik that's what brought his depression. He started needing Batman more than Gotham "needs" Batman.

 

[BuddhaWasABat]

"I don't think the day will come where you no longer need Batman." - Rachel

 

[AnneFan]

And I thik that's what brought his depression. He started needing Batman more than Gotham "needs" Batman.

Yeah. And Batman going on for a while after TDK explains the updated cave. But then he stops at some point and leaves it sitting there.

 

[sly]

"He's MIA as the story begins" doesn't mean his last appearance was eight years ago. It could be two, four or five years ago without changing one word of the quote.

Exactly.

And MIA could just mean he's still on the run.... hasn't been arrested yet... still in "hiding".

From what we know of the Bruce Wayne/Batman character, he wouldn't retire for 8 years after putting everything into becoming the city's hero... then rebuilding the Batcave... etc. Crime didn't completely stop in Gotham.

And I like the idea of Batman fighting more of the rogues gallery between those 8 years, too.

I'm all in on the "active" side.

 

[dark_b]

Yeah. And Batman going on for a while after TDK explains the updated cave. But then he stops at some point and leaves it sitting there.

i agree. this is the best way for the character.

 

[Blue Sugar]

A great way of explaining the absence of Batman and at the same time allude to that he hasn't been gone all the eight years would be to just have some media outlet comment on the matter.

Like: "The last sighting of The Batman is now 5 years ago from today" "Who was The Batman?", "Where is The Batman now?"

Kind of like in TDKReturns.

 

[zmystico]

What confuses me most about all of this is the "jail" with Bane. I can understand Bane beating him and putting him in "prison", but I don't see how that fits in with this film.

How does he get out? Does Bane expose him...if so, why wear the mask in the final fight?

 

[AnneFan]

How does he get out?

We think he climbs up the tunnel.

Does Bane expose him...

I doubt it. It would go against his negative narrative of the rich.

if so, why wear the mask in the final fight?

The whole suit is his battle armour. It makes sense to wear it in the final showdown. It is true "the legend ends" in the sense people know who Batman is, but I think there's a quote somewhere that says people still fear his capabilities, be it night or day.

 

[Nevincer]

Hah, LegendInMyMind just got banned for some. Guess it was KRIM or some other banned user trying to return.

 

[Laderlappen]

A great way of explaining the absence of Batman and at the same time allude to that he hasn't been gone all the eight years would be to just have some media outlet comment on the matter.

Like: "The last sighting of The Batman is now 5 years ago from today" "Who was The Batman?", "Where is The Batman now?"

Kind of like in TDKReturns.

That brings up questions of why he quit 5 years ago. It would be alot simpler if he just quit after TDK.

 

[Nevincer]

It would be alot simpler if he just quit after TDK.

But why would he? It essentially goes against Gordon's monologue of saying "he can take it", clearly not if he went into hiding and left everything in Gordon's hands.

 

[MrWayne]

Yea there seems to be a lot of that going around lol

To reiterate, Batman has not been retired for 8 years, maybe a few, but not the entire 8 year gap.

 

[MrWayne]

That brings up questions of why he quit 5 years ago. It would be alot simpler if he just quit after TDK.

Wouldn't make sense.

At the end of TDK Batman tells Gordon, "You chase me, hunt me, sick the dogs on me..."

He knew he would be a wanted criminal on the run because he knew he would still be out there.... as Batman.

Crime wouldn't just go away over night. Talk about realism, I mean how unrealistic is it to assume Gotham became peaceful just after that night? No, it would take a gradual process of years to undo the amount of damage that has been done to Gotham and it's citizens. Even then, you cant truly eliminate crime...

 

[CaptainSpunk]

I dont see why people think Batmans been ******ed for 8 years. I mean he fell off a couple story building and was shot but none of that hit his head...

 

[Nevincer]

I dont see why people think Batmans been ******ed for 8 years. I mean he fell off a couple story building and was shot but none of that hit his head...