The Dark Knight Rises Batman: To "Die".. or Not To "Die:?

Just because its escapist does not mean that art [can't] have deaths of a hero in it, movies have done it for years.
True, but neither does in mean the story must end with the death of the hero... and lets face it that the 'hero lives' is far more often the case. But I digress, the original post to which I responded presented the argument in absolute terms, i.e., if you can't expect it in life, don't expect it in movies, which, of course, is nonsense. Not all movies are or need be escapist entertainment—take Revolutionary Road for example, a very very good movie but depressing as all hell and it took me days to get out of a funk after having watched it. There is and should be a place for this sort of cinema (I couldn't be bothered with film if there wasn't) but it's complete bollocks to say we shouldn't expect things in movies because that's not what we can expect in life.
 
The idea of Batman "dying" makes no logical thematic sense.

Nolan's trilogy, the entire trilogy, is Batman beginning, not just the first film, every film. He's not really the full Batman we all know and love, he's still developing. We're seeing him honing his skills, facing his first major tough decisions and watching his rogues gallery slowly building.

For Kane's sake, he just now has gotten an actual Batcave (I would think).

It makes no sense in any way, shape, or form for him to die just as he is actually becoming the fully fledged Caped Crusader. It would be like Luke Skywalker getting killed in Jabba's Palace or if Micheal Corleone died in the bathroom of the restaurant.
 
True, but neither does in mean the story must end with the death of the hero... and lets face it that the 'hero lives' is far more often the case. But I digress, the original post to which I responded presented the argument in absolute terms, i.e., if you can't expect it in life, don't expect it in movies, which, of course, is nonsense. Not all movies are or need be escapist entertainment—take Revolutionary Road for example, a very very good movie but depressing as all hell and it took me days to get out of a funk after having watched it. There is and should be a place for this sort of cinema (I couldn't be bothered with film if there wasn't) but it's complete bollocks to say we shouldn't expect things in movies because that's not what we can expect in life.

That is true to a point. But do know that Nolan is still an independent film maker at heart. I mean it's odd to have the love interest blown to bits, and the hero to be on the run and lost the battle at the end(TDK). Nolan does not do the typical.

But next year we shall see.

The idea of Batman "dying" makes no logical thematic sense.

Nolan's trilogy, the entire trilogy, is Batman beginning, not just the first film, every film. He's not really the full Batman we all know and love, he's still developing. We're seeing him honing his skills, facing his first major tough decisions and watching his rogues gallery slowly building.

For Kane's sake, he just now has gotten an actual Batcave (I would think).

It makes no sense in any way, shape, or form for him to die just as he is actually becoming the fully fledged Caped Crusader. It would be like Luke Skywalker getting killed in Jabba's Palace or if Micheal Corleone died in the bathroom of the restaurant.

Eh those comparisons at the end really don't work. Luke really did not become the full Jedi until after he threw down his saber towards the Emperor.

I can see the concern, but it very well can make thematically sense. All the sense your saying it does not make is the fact that "he has not been the true Batman long enough".

I can see the point, but he will be come it, how long he is it does not matter, what matters is again the legacy the symbol carries, that is what Ra's talked about with him in the first place, you become more then just a man, a symbol something eternal. Thematically it would be a tragic hero story, which is what Batman is, I really recommend for people to read or listen to some tapes by Joseph Campbell, if there is anyone that knows what the hero is, its him. (Which is what Lucas took all his inspiration from for Star Wars).

It can be done thematically. Because one thing we do have to understand is comics are released every month for little money. Films take 3-4 years to make with lots of money backing. With a comic in a year we can have an entire story arch told to us and feel satisfied, with film you have to have a closing or people will not feel satisfied and feel that the story is just dragging on and on.

By the time its released it will have been 9 years it took them to make a trilogy, and over 7 years to learn the entire arch. So we can't have the hero go on and on and on. We have to have closure and a thematic arch for the character.

Now whether that ends in death or not, we may find out in the next year or until we see the film itself.
 
I've said it before, but if it were entirely up to Nolan, without any studio suggestion or interference, he would, I believe, kill off Bruce.

But the studio would not let him do that, so no one has to worry.
 
I've said it before, but if it were entirely up to Nolan, without any studio suggestion or interference, he would, I believe, kill off Bruce.

But the studio would not let him do that, so no one has to worry.

Well, they have to reboot it, the studio was reported mad with him at first. I can't remember what Gill said on that topic. I dunno, I think probably to get him back, and after the vast success of his past two film they probably got pigeon held into doing what Nolan wants. To me definitive is a strong word that they have used for it. That is why I think this topic is interesting. And could very well work.

I just don't see why they would have to reboot it, because you know they don't, they want to continue the Nolan-verse that has made them billions by the end. They do. But to reboot it already, may say something else. But again this is the fun of Nolan film he is entirley unpredictable. And secretive.
 
Eh those comparisons at the end really don't work. Luke really did not become the full Jedi until after he threw down his saber towards the Emperor.

Exactly my point, he's has some of the elements of being a true Jedi, but isn't yet. Just like Batman, he's about there, but isn't. I feel his victory over Bane could be the culminating event that creates the true Batman.


I can see the concern, but it very well can make thematically sense. All the sense your saying it does not make is the fact that "he has not been the true Batman long enough".
He hasn't been the true Batman at all, it seems to me that Nolan is building him up to become the Batman by the end of his trilogy.

I can see the point, but he will be come it, how long he is it does not matter, what matters is again the legacy the symbol carries, that is what Ra's talked about with him in the first place, you become more then just a man, a symbol something eternal. Thematically it would be a tragic hero story, which is what Batman is, I really recommend for people to read or listen to some tapes by Joseph Campbell, if there is anyone that knows what the hero is, its him. (Which is what Lucas took all his inspiration from for Star Wars).

It can be done thematically. Because one thing we do have to understand is comics are released every month for little money. Films take 3-4 years to make with lots of money backing. With a comic in a year we can have an entire story arch told to us and feel satisfied, with film you have to have a closing or people will not feel satisfied and feel that the story is just dragging on and on.

By the time its released it will have been 9 years it took them to make a trilogy, and over 7 years to learn the entire arch. So we can't have the hero go on and on and on. We have to have closure and a thematic arch for the character.

Now whether that ends in death or not, we may find out in the next year or until we see the film itself.
Of course it matters 'how long', especially when he hasn't even become the damn symbol yet. The Batman isn't a normal tragic hero, that's what makes him special. He doesn't have a fall, he doesn't give up or give in, he can actually overcome his flaws and he doesn't die when he's in his mid-20s after meeting five villains. It would be a giant '**** you' to 70+ years of history and heroism if Nolan decided to kill off the one of the greatest symbols of human courage and determination because he wanted to turn Batman into an old fashioned Tragic Hero because it was fit in with how others tell the stories of the Tragic Hero.

I would think Nolan respects the franchise too much to kill Batman, hence him creating a fully rounded origin story for him in this trilogy.
 
I think it's more of a small chunk of the comic fans that don't want their hero to die. (Given I am a huge comic dork all my life) kinda like some don't want to know that Santa is not real.
Let’s be honest here, no one—not you, not I, not the Nolanites, not the fanboys, and neither the GA nor elves—who spends any sort of time thinking about this sort of thing is seriously hoping that Nolan kills off Batman.

There have been stories of Batman retiring or passing on his legacy...
In the comics...

... before and people loved it
... and even there the effect was temporary.

... it will be no different.
... and in the end they always go back to the original no matter how many times they’ve killed ‘em off.

... in the end that is what the GA wants is a good movie
Is Transformers 3 a “good” movie? Do you think the GA would have reacted favorably if Yates had killed off Potter so that series had a more “definite ending”?

Now I don’t profess to “know” what the GA wants, but I can figure the odds.
 
Let’s be honest here, no one—not you, not I, not the Nolanites, not the fanboys, and neither the GA nor elves—who spends any sort of time thinking about this sort of thing is seriously hoping that Nolan kills off Batman.

In the comics...

... and even there the effect was temporary.

... and in the end they always go back to the original no matter how many times they’ve killed ‘em off.

Is Transformers 3 a “good” movie? Do you think the GA would have reacted favorably if Yates had killed off Potter so that series had a more “definite ending”?

Now I don’t profess to “know” what the GA wants, but I can figure the odds.

Comics are a mosaic so they have to continue on, the comic medium and film medium will work differently. My point is Batman has been killed before, and it worked. So going from source material, and the journey of a hero from Greek mythology to now, yes a hero can die, and it can work and keep a profound work.

Your Transformers 3 thing is a odd quote, yea the GA does not need it to be a good film, it is what they perceive to be a good film. And if they perceive it to be a good film they will end of story. That is just what will happen. And again I think what ever way Nolan will do it people will enjoy it.

Potter never died in the source material. Batman has, so again that really does not work. Batman can die if they chose, people have made it work where he has passed on the legacy. If it works well in the context it will work well. If it does not it won't. So again the odds work if the GA likes it, which they have all of Nolan's other films that have not been your typical Hollywood standards. People loved TDK and it ended on a low note. Very low. Actually I will be they will walk out of the theater more happy with a conclusive ending. Whether that be a death or not and again its all about the execution.

Now that we are starting to go in circles I guess I will end it there lol. And I would reply to the other post above but I have already answered that in my posts past, so I don't want to keep repeating my self lol. But good discussion guys good discussion. In the end what ever works for Nolan to tell the best story he wants to tell is good.
 
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But killing Batman will not make the best story since Batman doesn't stay dead. It's been done, but they bring him back because it doesn't work in any long term, it sort of ruins the whole mythos to kill him off young.
 
Now that we are starting to go in circles I guess I will end it there lol. And I would reply to the other post above but I have already answered that in my posts past, so I don't want to keep repeating my self lol. But good discussion guys good discussion. In the end what ever works for Nolan to tell the best story he wants to tell is good.
I would add only this then... that Batman has 'died' in the comics is as gray as an area can be and as such cannot be taken in-and-of-itself as a means to legitimize Batman's death in TDKR. And with apologies to Homer and Joseph Campbell, Batman is not bound by Greek mythology—Batman is American mythology.
 
I'm curious as to who is meant to theoretically kill Batman, also.
 
Just because it's in a grey area does not mean it can't happen though. It means that it can, if done right of course. And regarding Joseph Campbell. Does not matter what religion, nationality or what have you that is his point of his books. The story of the hero is similar through out time and cultures. The only reason they don't do the heroes death often is mainly because of one thing that has nothing to do with thematic what-so-ever the $$.

That is why they rarely delve into that and jump back with comics. The thing about the movie industry now is reboots have become more accepted which it seems Batman will already have. So it will just be that way it seems. So they can do a different take on his legacy. And hell even comics now for DC are rebooting. And that may become a cyclical thing that happens again and again and again from now on instead of stuff like the Infinite Crisis.

But yea to end this for the day, I will say that either way I have faith Nolan will do it right, he has a major in English literature I believe. And he does understand how to tell a compelling story always has. So I have no worries. I'm just arguing either way it will probably be good.

I mean saying things like definitive. Or "Every hero has a journey, and every journey must end." And also saying the Epic Conclusion to the Dark Knight Legend seems more of a finality then anything else. But again we shall see. I'm glad to have a civil conversation with some one on the boards, it rarely happens with out name calling lol.
 
I'm curious as to who is meant to theoretically kill Batman, also.

That is one thing I admit that makes me think that he will not die. Unless it is Bane in a final moment saving all of Gotham. But again I'm not the writing genius that Nolan is, so I have no idea how they would make that play out but I have a feeling they could. But I have a feeling we will get to see Batman take him down. But then there is so many other things as I said above the title cards in the trailer do indicate a finality. The conclusion of the dark knight legend. But again like I said I can see this going either way. That and the trailer begins with the line from Ra's saying that you become more then just a man....a legend a legend. That to me can point towards the death of the man and the legend/legacy lives on. As it did with Bruce from his parents.

However another theory I have of this finality....we know Nolan likes to jump through time with his editing, because he is the master of editing. I kinda wonder if the finality is where the last 10 minutes or so we flash forward to the end of his days? As an old man? Something else to discuss but probably not here.
 
I mean saying things like definitive. Or "Every hero has a journey, and every journey must end." And also saying the Epic Conclusion to the Dark Knight Legend seems more of a finality then anything else. But again we shall see. I'm glad to have a civil conversation with some one on the boards, it rarely happens with out name calling lol.


It's not like Nolan wrote those cards. They pulled those phrases out of the standard third film trailer/poster wordbank.

You poopbutt.:awesome:
 
It's not like Nolan wrote those cards. They pulled those phrases out of the standard third film trailer/poster wordbank.

You poopbutt.:awesome:

LOL. Reminds me of Naked Gun...Mr. Poopy Pants!!!

And that very well may be true to liov. We shall see in a year....damn that is too far away I need a time machine.
 
That is one thing I admit that makes me think that he will not die. Unless it is Bane in a final moment saving all of Gotham.


If that happened, I would stand up in the theater and yell "This isn't Doomsday!"
 
If that happened, I would stand up in the theater and yell "This isn't Doomsday!"

Hehe. Well December 2012 is coming soon....maybe Nolan knows something. :oldrazz:
 
I meant the character/story arc of Doomsday.

I know I read Supes. lol my point being that maybe he is killing Batman because we are all doomed anyways. But I guess I did not do well with that joke ;)
 
I know I read Supes. lol my point being that maybe he is killing Batman because we are all doomed anyways. But I guess I did not do well with that joke ;)

Oh, okay. I've got ya.
 
I've said it before, but if it were entirely up to Nolan, without any studio suggestion or interference, he would, I believe, kill off Bruce.

But the studio would not let him do that, so no one has to worry.
He would be right to do so too.
 
if any main character is going to die i think it will be alfred.....
 
Reese has more of a chance of becoming The Riddler than Batman dying.
 

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