The Dark Knight Rises Anyone else not like the 8 year exile plot?

[Batmansvoice]

Batman's about justice. He isn't going to place crime committed by another man on someone innocent of those crimes, even someone as vile as the Joker.

 

[BatLobster]

I'm not sure why he took the fall for Dent and went into hiding in the first place. If they could blame Batman for the murders, they could just have easily blamed the Joker (or one of his henchmen).

This is one of the most oft-asked questions regarding the ending to TDK, but there's actually a practical answer. If they had blamed the murders on The Joker, it would crumble quickly because someone had kidnapped Gordon's family and The Joker was known to have been captured at the Pruitt building around the same time. If they still had wanted to coverup Dent's murders without involving Batman, it would look pretty suspicious as to why Dent was even there....they'd have to go the route of making imaginary escaped perpetrator, which would be pretty flimsy considering the police had a perimeter around the area. On top of that, Batman wouldn't stand for that as it would lead to a potentially endless witch hunt. No, Batman had to take the blame. It was the cleanest way out of the situation. Blaming The Joker would have only opened up more questions.

 

[Frodo]

I kinda go back and forth on the whole 8 year gap. In order to tell the story Nolan wanted to tell, and in the way he wanted to tell it , I can see why he wanted to have it. I personally would have preferred if Bruce had just remained Batman during that time and basically just kept running himself down as opposed to being retired and doing nothing.

I think Alfred's frustration about moving on and starting to live again is much stronger when Bruce is still acting as Batman and wearing himself down. Otherwise it begs the question as to why Alfred didn't intervene earlier, and why he let 8 years go by before complaining about the way Bruce was living.

However , if you want Batman and Gordon's lie to succeed , then Batman needs to be gone. But it all depends on how you want the story to end , and how to get there plotwise. I think it works well in the context of the film , but there are a few issues associated with it that are a bit iffy . All and all, i'm more partial to stories with a Batman in his prime as opposed to ones where he's old, ageing , or retired.

 

[Deserana]

The bit I was annoyed about this whole "Batman takes the fall" idea was that in an Empire interview Nolan said Batman incorporates his murdering reputation in to his intimidation techniques which I could not wait to see!!!!!! But.... was never in the film at all.

 

[DeGenerate10]

I wish Bats would've kept working for a few more years maybe only be gone from the game for 3 or 4 years instead. I think 8 years is far too long for Batman to be gone.

 

[JackWhite]

The bit I was annoyed about this whole "Batman takes the fall" idea was that in an Empire interview Nolan said Batman incorporates his murdering reputation in to his intimidation techniques which I could not wait to see!!!!!! But.... was never in the film at all.

I vaguely remember that.

But I remember thinking it would play into another type of interrogation scene like the Flass and Maroni ones. Deleted scene, perhaps?

 

[uniqueweasel]

I read an interesting idea where it was shortly after TDK that Batman encounters Bane in a sewer fight type of thing and ends up being imprisoned for a few years recovering from his injury, etc. Seemed to make a bit more sense than recovering from a broken back in a matter of months and having eight years off through emotional turmoil and bad knees!

 

[Brother Jack]

I read an interesting idea where it was shortly after TDK that Batman encounters Bane in a sewer fight type of thing and ends up being imprisoned for a few years recovering from his injury, etc. Seemed to make a bit more sense than recovering from a broken back in a matter of months and having eight years off through emotional turmoil and bad knees!

I've heard this said numerous times but technically Bruce's back isn't actually broken. He has a dislocated vertebra which is extremely painful and makes it difficult to stand but is something that can heal within the time frame Bruce recuperates in.

 

[uniqueweasel]

I've heard this said numerous times but technically Bruce's back isn't actually broken. He has a dislocated vertebra which is extremely painful and makes it difficult to stand but is something that can heal within the time frame Bruce recuperates in.

But that isn't the point we are discussing is it, i'm trying to come up with a scenario that explains why Batman could be inactive for a collective amount of years period rather than the one given in the film. A broken/damaged back to me is more of an obstacle to overcome rather than locking himself up for eight years, we know Batmans very emo as a character but imo he wouldn't just retire for the reasons stated, one of his greatest strentghs is his determination.

 

[Brother Jack]

But that isn't the point we are discussing is it, i'm trying to come up with a scenario that explains why Batman could be inactive for a collective amount of years period rather than the one given in the film. A broken/damaged back to me is more of an obstacle to overcome rather than locking himself up for eight years, we know Batmans very emo as a character but imo he wouldn't just retire for the reasons stated, one of his greatest strentghs is his determination.

Well, as is said the Batman wasn't needed. Bruce continuing to don the cowl would have been of no use and virtually impossible for Batman to keep going with the amount of heat he was under. To me, Bruce stopping was him putting Gotham first in his mind over his own contentment. As we see in the movie, without Batman he basically has nothing in his life. He chooses exile to protect the city, if only for a while.

 

[Frodo]

I can by this Batman disappearing if he was no longer needed , though the "public" Bruce disappering is a bit problematic for me storywise. However, he did disappear for 7 years, so his Howard Hughes act is consistent at least. Ulimately the whole 8 year gap thing works for the way this story was put together.

 

[uniqueweasel]

Well, as is said the Batman wasn't needed. Bruce continuing to don the cowl would have been of no use and virtually impossible for Batman to keep going with the amount of heat he was under. To me, Bruce stopping was him putting Gotham first in his mind over his own contentment. As we see in the movie, without Batman he basically has nothing in his life. He chooses exile to protect the city, if only for a while.

Exactly! And that is the point, like has been said many times before, the problem with Bruce/Batman is the fact that Batman is who he really is and Bruce is the 'act' so therefore surely he would of been inactive but would of still been training and preparing, because Batman is an obsessive, and with or without any immediate threat as a character would still be keeping himself ready for any possibility. I can see your argument of a worn down hero who isn't needed anymore so retires, etc. But from my interpretation of Batman as a character and as is portrayed by Nolan, is the hardline inner strentgh fueled by his loss that Batman/Bruce has that makes him continue with his 'mission' and therefore (to me) the exile plot just doesn't fit in with his mindset to me. He may keep low profile to avoid the heat, but inactive totally just doesn't sit right to me.

 

[Brother Jack]

Exactly! And that is the point, like has been said many times before, the problem with Bruce/Batman is the fact that Batman is who he really is and Bruce is the 'act' so therefore surely he would of been inactive but would of still been training and preparing, because Batman is an obsessive, and with or without any immediate threat as a character would still be keeping himself ready for any possibility. I can see your argument of a worn down hero who isn't needed anymore so retires, etc. But from my interpretation of Batman as a character and as is portrayed by Nolan, is the hardline inner strentgh fueled by his loss that Batman/Bruce has that makes him continue with his 'mission' and therefore (to me) the exile plot just doesn't fit in with his mindset to me. He may keep low profile to avoid the heat, but inactive totally just doesn't sit right to me.

I don't think that is suggested by the trilogy. It's not that Batman is fake, the only true mask is the public Bruce persona, but the Bruce that Alfred sees is just as legitimate as Batman, maybe even more so. And isn't as though Bruce abandons crime fighting for all that time; he had the fusion reactor that he tried to invest in. It's also never officially stated by Bruce or Alfred that Batman has been completely absent for that time. Nolan's Batman is primarily fueled by a mission to fix Gotham. He is obsessive and that obviously influences his behavior, but it's always been more about his mission statement. That's why he starts looking for a way out relatively early in the game.

 

[Golgo-13]

I can by this Batman disappearing if he was no longer needed , though the "public" Bruce disappering is a bit problematic for me storywise. However, he did disappear for 7 years, so his Howard Hughes act is consistent at least. Ulimately the whole 8 year gap thing works for the way this story was put together.

It doesn't mesh with the narrative. Alfred said that Bruce was waiting for things to go bad again, and by the looks of things (the batcave finished, Bruce taunting the cops during the Return chase, etc) he was right. As Alfred said, he hasn't lost his taste for destruction. IF Bruce was waiting to come back, then why not stay in shape? Why wait until the events of TDKR to get his leg taken care of? If i was a football player and couldn't wait to get back into the game, i'd stay in tip top shape. The knee thing was just absolutely useless. They're should have gone with Bruce being a drunk as opposed to a cripple.

 

[Doc Samson]

It doesn't mesh with the narrative. Alfred said that Bruce was waiting for things to go bad again, and by the looks of things (the batcave finished, Bruce taunting the cops during the Return chase, etc) he was right. As Alfred said, he hasn't lost his taste for destruction. IF Bruce was waiting to come back, then why not stay in shape? Why wait until the events of TDKR to get his leg taken care of? If i was a football player and couldn't wait to get back into the game, i'd stay in tip top shape. The knee thing was just absolutely useless. They're should have gone with Bruce being a drunk as opposed to a cripple.

I loved it simply because it allowed Bale to do one of the things he does best: physically transform.

My main gripe is that it wasn't played up longer. I wanted to see him out of breath during his first night back. Narrowly escaping gunfire because he's not as quick. Things of that nature. Bruce's introduction in TDKR, lumbering toward Selina on his cane looking disheveled and near psychotic, is one of the best parts of the whole movie to me.

 

[TheBat812]

But that isn't the point we are discussing is it, i'm trying to come up with a scenario that explains why Batman could be inactive for a collective amount of years period rather than the one given in the film. A broken/damaged back to me is more of an obstacle to overcome rather than locking himself up for eight years, we know Batmans very emo as a character but imo he wouldn't just retire for the reasons stated, one of his greatest strentghs is his determination.

The strength of it being self-imposed is that it's his decision to stay in hiding to allow the dent act to work. Ultimately he and Gordon realize that the safety of the city was just a mirage. They were basically a police state - the idea of sacrificing freedom for the 'greater good'.

Also, why wouldn't bane just implement his plan while Bats was sidelined for eight years? Seems poorly thought out, and not nearly as strong character-wise.

 

[Victarion]

The strength of it being self-imposed is that it's his decision to stay in hiding to allow the dent act to work. Ultimately he and Gordon realize that the safety of the city was just a mirage. They were basically a police state - the idea of sacrificing freedom for the 'greater good'.

Also, why wouldn't bane just implement his plan while Bats was sidelined for eight years? Seems poorly thought out, and not nearly as strong character-wise.

Maybe. Or maybe he needed to build up his coterie of mercs, funds, track down Pavel etc. etc. There's any number of things that could've prevented that.

While Talia was in Gotham under the guise of Miranda Tate, the lack of Batman gave Bane and Talia a bit of breathing room for their plan. Plus the police state would only add to the fuel for the fire (harhar).

 

[BatLobster]

The bit I was annoyed about this whole "Batman takes the fall" idea was that in an Empire interview Nolan said Batman incorporates his murdering reputation in to his intimidation techniques which I could not wait to see!!!!!! But.... was never in the film at all.

I remember thinking that myself, and many fans speculating that...but I do not recall Nolan ever saying that at all. All I remember was him saying was that he thought people might be surprised to learn that the movie takes place 8 years later and that Bruce was "frozen in time" and not in a good place.

 

[Human Torch]

I didn't have too much of a problem with the 8 year exile.I guess I'm a sucker for seeing a guy on the comeback trail.

I could've done without the "bum leg" though.Him being banged up and out of practice should've been enough.

 

[the last son]

Hated the 8 year exile. Absolutely hated it. Batman in this movie was not Bruce Wayne. Nothing about him in this movie was Bruce Wayne outside of carrying the bomb. Other than that the Batman in this movie was pretty pathetic. I mean outside of the last scene all hi did in this movie was make wrong decision after wrong decision. I know in the comics Wayne is a super genius and knows too much but I'll take that over this Wayne that seems to know nothing. A recluse for 8 years is just unintersting and not Batman. Some say 3/4 years would be enough. Not. 1 if you feel you have to. As, others have stated would have made a better story if he quit Wayne and became Batman. Enough said! Please, let there be a REBOOT!

 

[BatLobster]

Lol, a reboot was coming regardless.

 

[the last son]

Well saw a few rumors that JGL might play Batman in JL movie. I will not be going to see that movie if that is the case.

 

[Mr.T]

I've seen the movie twice, but can't remember if somewhere in the movie it's stated Batman & Bruce have both disappeared for 8 years? We know the movie takes place 8 years after TDK, but how long has Bruce been in hiding? I came away thinking Batman/Bruce retired for a few years, but the length of time was never specifically stated.

 

[JackWhite]

I've seen the movie twice, but can't remember if somewhere in the movie it's stated Batman & Bruce have both disappeared for 8 years? We know the movie takes place 8 years after TDK, but how long has Bruce been in hiding? I came away thinking Batman/Bruce retired for a few years, but the length of time was never specifically stated.

Bruce went into "Howard Hughes" mode three years before the film starts.

 

[TheBat812]

Hated the 8 year exile. Absolutely hated it. Batman in this movie was not Bruce Wayne. Nothing about him in this movie was Bruce Wayne outside of carrying the bomb. Other than that the Batman in this movie was pretty pathetic. I mean outside of the last scene all hi did in this movie was make wrong decision after wrong decision. I know in the comics Wayne is a super genius and knows too much but I'll take that over this Wayne that seems to know nothing. A recluse for 8 years is just unintersting and not Batman. Some say 3/4 years would be enough. Not. 1 if you feel you have to. As, others have stated would have made a better story if he quit Wayne and became Batman. Enough said! Please, let there be a REBOOT!

He's not the caricature of Batman, he's a human being with feelings and ideals. IMO this is the best version of the Batman world I've ever seen. Hell, it's better than I could ever have imagined. I have little hope that any other version we ever get will top this version in terms of trying to truly understand the character. It being more realistic on every level was something I didn't think I'd see given the other movie incarnations. Here's hoping the next version is more fantastical so we can get some of the crazier villains like Clayface and ****, but hopefully they continue to explore different aspects of Bruce's life.