The Dark Knight Rises Joseph Gordon-Levitt as John Blake III

[ThePhantasm]

You can have an opinion but one must question why do you have this opinion in light of so much evidence against you and so much evidence and detailed speculations going other ways?

I think "opinion" = "wish" here.

 

[The_Raganork]

I think "opinion" = "wish" here.

I agree
and to be fair to Tim, a lot of people do this on these boards.

I understand wanting something but that doesn't mean it has a chance in hell of happening. Sometimes it can be difficult to divorce the two, I get that.

 

[Tim_Riggins]

Could happen, could not, nobody can tell, let's leave it there. I'm just saying, that for me (and probably loads of others), it'd be just cooler if he turned out to be an interpretation of Robin, Azrael, Nightwing or whatever.

I'm talking about the cool factor. I've seen other people "wishing" that he's more than a cop, and it's not pejorative when I say that, it's the idea of being something MORE than a cop, something beyond, a symbol, as Batman is.

 

[The_Raganork]

No one is wishing he's a cop because we're not interested in "Cool" factor.

We're interested in a story and telling a good story. You never should sacrifice story for what's cool. If you want Robin because he's cool, go play Arkham. This is a film with a story and as I detailed to you the story with Blake is cohesive and consistent with the narrative of the other two films.

If you can show to me how Robin works in this narrative and keeps a heavy weight in TDKR in relation to BB and TDK and on it's own, I will change my mind.

 

[MrWayne]

It would be interesting if the bridges are blown up by the government, and not necessarily Bane, like specualted.

The explotions could be part of a controlled explostion.

The look on JGL's face when it happens is like "damn, they're leaving us to fend for ourselves, I can't believe it."

Either way, the new trailer footage has really got me more intrigued with Blakes role.

 

[Tim_Riggins]

No one is wishing he's a cop because we're not interested in "Cool" factor.

We're interested in a story and telling a good story. You never should sacrifice story for what's cool. If you want Robin because he's cool, go play Arkham. This is a film with a story and as I detailed to you the story with Blake is cohesive and consistent with the narrative of the other two films.

If you can show to me how Robin works in this narrative and keeps a heavy weight in TDKR in relation to BB and TDK and on it's own, I will change my mind.

"We', 'we", I don't want to be a pain in the ass, but I didnt know you spoke for everyone.

I don't have to show anything, the idea of it is cool to me, if you can just understand this, the IDEA, he can keep protecting the city while Batman is gone, Bruce will have faith in him to do what is right, Blake becomes a sort of white knight.

I don't like the fact that you're being a bit (a lot) condescending in your messages. I've seen the other movies multiple times, I'm not a moron.

 

[blknrdcllctv]

There's no real reason to think that JGL is anyone other than Blake. Most people like to cite my ideas that Tate didn't have to be Talia as an error on my part.

Look; Tate didn't HAVE to be Talia as time went on more proof came out but at that start it was just fandom insisting that since Marion had an accent she had to be Talia which is stupid, even if it's right.

With JGL it's even MORE stupid because we have 2, count them, 2 scenes with JGL and Bale. One where he's escorting Bruce into a police car, they share no words in what we seen and they drive off. The other is in the masked ball and all we see is JGL is dancing in the background.

Other than that there's no real indication of Robin, Azrael or anyone else. He's supporting Gotham clearly but every character that supports Gotham doesn't have to be a secret character. Was Rachel actually Vikki Vale? Was Stephens actually the Flash?

Sometimes as a writer you like to write your own characters and have them do some amazing things, when adapting other works you aren't always confined to using characters that already exist.

We haven't seen much of it but from all the info we have it's a little clear that it's GORDON who takes Batman's place and starts a rebellion to fight against Bane. Blake's character description says he's on GORDON's special task force. If anything he's like Gordon's Robin if we're looking at the facts.

I've said it a bunch. Blake is an extremely important character to the story in terms of understanding Gotham's mind and Gotham taking control of itself and fighting for it's very survival. He's a character who loves his city and throws himself deep into the mix and faces danger after danger to protect his city. No different than Bruce, Rachel, Gordon, Harvey or anyone else who stood up against crime in Gotham.

The difference this time is that he's not aided by Batman, he comes in a time where it's just Mortal vs. God and THAT commitment to Gotham is a wake up call for someone like Bruce who, stymied in his self pity, sits around and initially can watch Gotham slowly come undone.

The point is that there is only ONE Batman and that's Bruce and only Bruce can bring Batman back and fight off Bane but when he doesn't do that, average people like Blake, Gordon and Foley go to EXTREMES to fight Bane. That sacrifice, that willingness to put themselves in a situation that seems like certain death is the spirit of Gotham, the inspiration of good that Bruce talked about in BB and TDK. Not Brian Douglass trying to fight crime with guns as Batman but cops going the extra distance to fight crime and in some ways average people like Selina Kyle putting their lives on the line to fight this crime.

When Blake sees those bridges collapse in front of his eyes, it's a moment. #1 this is happening to his city #2 He's starting to understand this is what HE's up against, without Batman, Just his gun and badge and people like Gordon.

And he still goes forward. This is why he's important because when there's nothing left in Gotham, they're going to need someone like Blake who will help rebuild a city broken in multiple ways.

Yes.
I'm framing this.

 

[Broker]

What if Batman paces the torch to Blake. Does that make him the next Batman? To me: Not necessarily. He could just leave Gotham in Blake's hands because he trust Blake. That doesn't have any allusions to Grayson or Nightwing or Azrael.

He's a trusted cop who will protect Gotham and inspire, like Harvey like Thomas. But not with a suit or going around being vigilante.

Indeed, I agree with your points.

I think Blake is an everyman. Someone the audience can associate with. Someone through whom we can see the events unfold in order to place them in context.

 

[The_Raganork]

@ Tim: oh please

 

[The Guard]

I think it's significant that Blake is younger. And potentially uncorrupted.

 

[a113]

The only way that I could ever see John Blake being anything more than John Blake is different than what most people think.

If Catwoman wasn't in this movie... i could "maybe" see Wayne giving up the mantle to someone else. But since she is.... it would only seem logical for her to get resources and knowledge from Batman/Bruce to save Gotham.

Bruce was trained by the league of Shadows. Azarel was trained to be an elite assassin (but had flaws that kept him from being dominant). Dick Grayson was a world class gymnast / athlete and Bruce spent 2 years training him the techniques of the LoS. And so on, and so on.

At best... John Blake is a black belt... which would make him the Rudy of Superheroes. Wayne trusting a young cop w/ that power after knowing him for a year or two? Highly unlikely. And from a story perspective... sort of dumb.

The only scenario that really makes sense w/ JGL being Dick Grayson is this....


Right after DK ... Dick Grayson has had guidance from Bruce Wayne, fairly secretly for years. Bruce meets him as an orphan. He sees his reckless need for revenge. And takes him under his wing because, like canon, he sees a lot of himself in that moment. For argument sake... let's say that he's 16 and now Blake is 24-25.

Wayne begins to anticipate the war on Gotham, so he asks Gordon to let Grayson work inside the police department for him. Grayson agrees and at times saves Bruce from close encounters with the police. All this time, he remains loyal to a guise that he wants to be the man that catches batman but in reality he's the one who lets him get away.

We at some point find that Gordon-Grayson-Wayne were always a move ahead of Bane and his army... and Grayson was a much needed part of that thus the plan?

That works...

In my opinion.... Blake could be working w/ Catwoman.... Catwoman at her best was a Robin Hood of the world. Her stealing from the rich (perhaps w/ Blake) and giving it to the poor (remember those orphans?) could be part of the bigger storyline.

Or... Blake could be working for Ras Al Ghul. If Ghul came back... he probably came back at a considerably younger age. What if Ghul was one of those orphans?

 

[Just_Human]

The final shots of Batman Begins and The Dark Knight are both in trailers. Nolan is sneaky that way.

Ah ok

 

[batman1115]

No one is wishing he's a cop because we're not interested in "Cool" factor.

We're interested in a story and telling a good story. You never should sacrifice story for what's cool. If you want Robin because he's cool, go play Arkham. This is a film with a story and as I detailed to you the story with Blake is cohesive and consistent with the narrative of the other two films.

If you can show to me how Robin works in this narrative and keeps a heavy weight in TDKR in relation to BB and TDK and on it's own, I will change my mind.

This sums up the entire forum for all genres. Well said sir!

 

[GregComicFan]

John Blake will be an every man... audiences will fall in love with him... and he will die... and that's one way Nolan will cause audiences to be emotionally distraught in TDKR.

My theory. I'm sticking to it.

 

[Naked Shia]

The reason John Blake needs to be nothing more than John Blake is because every speculations about him being Dick Grayson or Azrael or Billy Batson make zero sense, and show how unnecessary it would be. I prefer a great story over some easy nods to the fanboys.

 

[Sharkboy]

I just want him to be just a cop to selfishly wipe those smug fanboy faces for people who think there needs to be robin or azrael in this film, for some superficial illogical fangasm they can have in the cinema. This ain't no marvel studios film.

 

[batlovescatDC]

The reason John Blake needs to be nothing more than John Blake is because every speculations about him being Dick Grayson or Azrael or Billy Batson make zero sense, and show how unnecessary it would be. I prefer a great story over some easy nods to the fanboys.

Billy Batson?! Okay, I already have a hard time understanding that there are people out there that honestly cannot accept the fact that the man who made the freakin' movie himself said that he would never put Robin in his films.

So please for the sake of everything sacred tell me that there are honestly not people idiotic enough to think that Nolan would put Captain Marvel in the concluding chapter to his Batman series. I will lose a little bit of hope for humanity if this is true.

 

[CapedCrusader14]

The best way to look at John is that he is a rookie cop, and the face of Gotham for us all to see. He is very much the good of Gotham all in one man and a character we can root for.

 

[venus_ice]

I just want him to be just a cop to selfishly wipe those smug fanboy faces for people who think there needs to be robin or azrael in this film, for some superficial illogical fangasm they can have in the cinema. This ain't no marvel studios film.

Don't worry, he will be. And then those people can disappear forever.

 

[Sharkboy]

Don't worry, he will be. And then those people can disappear forever.

Along with the "Hardy is too small" people? They will probably disappear into the large crowd praising him.

 

[Naked Shia]

Billy Batson?! Okay, I already have a hard time understanding that there are people out there that honestly cannot accept the fact that the man who made the freakin' movie himself said that he would never put Robin in his films.

So please for the sake of everything sacred tell me that there are honestly not people idiotic enough to think that Nolan would put Captain Marvel in the concluding chapter to his Batman series. I will lose a little bit of hope for humanity if this is true.

Nah, it was just me making fun of those assumptions

 

[3rdstone]

Nah, it was just me making fun of those assumptions

t: It made me laugh as well, but for a moment I thought you might had mixed up some names or something.

I'm really looking forward to see what JGL:s character will be about, although I believe like many others that he will visualize the "good cop", as well as one of the citizens of Gotham that are facing the situation that Bane has put them in.

 

[Naked Shia]

I'm glad my joke worked, I was proud of it t:

 

[Naked Shia]

- Hello I'm Dick Grayson
-....? Wasn't your name John Blake for the whole movie?
- Lol, I'm an undercover, my codename is Azrael, my agent name is John Blake, my real name is Dick Grayson.
- would you mind wearing green and red panties?
- Ok, I'm robin.
- Seriously? Just like that? we've know each other for 5 minutes and you act like you're my ward? does it really make sense in our story?
- I don't care; It's cool.

 

[The_Raganork]

- Hello I'm Dick Grayson
-....? Wasn't your name John Blake for the whole movie?
- Lol, I'm an undercover, my codename is Azrael, my agent name is John Blake, my real name is Dick Grayson.
- would you mind wearing green and red panties?
- Ok, I'm robin.
- Seriously? Just like that? we've know each other for 5 minutes and you act like you're my ward? does it really make sense in our story?
- I don't care; It's cool.

Someone is reading this and saying

"YES! Why can't they understand this is what's best for the film?"