The Dark Knight Rises Tom Hardy as Bane XXV

[JAK®]

 

[KalMart]

Still not bigger than Superman.

 

[venus_ice]

I will lick all of that Bane.

 

[godisawesome]

Eh. I still like the tactical vest myself. As grotesque as those traps are, which is awesome for the movie monster feel we're supposed to be getting, I actually think his arms look even punier here. But Hardy still looks monstrous, and I'm curious how they're going to play his shirtless moments. Is he more vulnerable there? Is he meditating? Is he demonstrating his command over his body by ignoring incredible cold?

And when it comes to Bane's motivations and how ambiguous he is, I kind of think we shouldn't be thinking 'hey, Bane has some good points.' I feel that Ra's Al Ghul already covered that philosophy, since that bit where he points out how his evil ninja organization could infiltrate all of Gotham with nary a peep in protest admirably demonstrates just how messed up Gotham is. I wouldn't mind if Bane's army, the LOS and all those people who rise up with him have some good points and just complaints, but I think Bane needs to be much more heartless and brutal then they are.

I think Bane should be more like a Napoleon figure when it comes the whole revolutionary theme of the movie; someone who is ultimately a tyrannical autocrat, but is completely sane about it and argues that some kind of rule by the strong is best. I don't want him to be Lenin, leading a righteously furious but overzealous downtrodden mass against the old system, and I don't want him to be Stalin, a power hungry sociopath who just uses ideology as a stepping stone to power.

I keep thinking that Bane's initial revolt is fueled mostly by the dispossessed but later events conspire to have them returned to their old place at the bottom of a much worse food chain. Bane's going to be employing rapists and murderers from Blackgate and will still have a sizable army when the Dark Knight rises. I think this means he will be using the most ruthless and cunning of Gotham to maintain his rule. Little Johnny and his starving family don't matter if they can't prove themselves valuable.

How about if Bane follows this film's theme of pain? Someone with such a sympathetic and sorrowful back-story of being raised in prison that his complete lack of mercy and goodwill is understandable if horrifying. He'd be this guy we could understand and feel for in a way (like Ra's Al Ghul) but devoid of almost any current reddemable traits (like the Joker). And the old comic idea that he sees the world as a prison with one top dog to rule it or die trying would be a nice change in his motivation.

(Plus, I really like the idea that if Bane's Napoleon, Tatalia is Robespierre and Catwoman's a kind of Danton figure. It's fun.)

 

[JAK®]

If Bane is Napoleon, is that why he is so short?

 

[Travesty]

@Jak: I agree about the height issue. I think it would've helped sell Bane as being more visually intimidating compared to Batman.

As for the pic: I think it's an IV tube or something. It's hard to tell.

 

[Boom]

Damn you for that manip, JAK. Damn you .

 

[Brother Jack]

This may sound odd, but I'm very glad Bane will be shirtless at some point. My favorite image of the character is still the first with his huge, exposed back. It evokes that monster-esque vibe that Nolan has mentioned. I've always been satisfied with Hardy's build, here especially he almost has the core girth of a circus strongman.

 

[The Shape]

People past it as a joke, but Bane's design from B&R is really cool in it's own right. Not only is it true to the comics, but it looks like a version of the comic come to life. The presentation of the character in the film is another story altogether...

And my two cents are that Hardy looks GREAT. Those traps are huge and his arms look bigger in this shot than we've seen before. It's also clear what they have done to the character, though I don't think some are aware.

You see, much like the perma-white debate with Joker, there is little need for this version of the character to appear as a hulking brute. This Bane is clearly in great shape and gives off an aura of strength and power. However, the lack of mass (and VENOM) has been replaced by the breathing device on his face and the scars down his spine (from a procedure). As we know from Lindy Hemming, Bane suffered a great trauma and needs this device so that he does not experience pain the way he would without it. Therefore, it can assumed that altogether, Bane would feel less pain than the average person. If he is punched, it simply does not hurt in in the way that it should. His men have probably seen him defeat many formidable foes. They have witnessed him do incredible things. He must appear to be an unstoppable monster, which explains his ominous reputation and ability to conquer and reign the people of Gotham.

In TDK, The Joker was not permanently white due to an incident that fractured his psyche and set him on a path to take on his twisted clown persona. Rather, his face was disfigured at some point, which in turn, must have fractured his psyche and...you get the point. So instead of Bane relying on what is essentially a steroid to make him powerful, his power comes from whatever procedure was performed on him (and whatever comes from his mask). He's not just this normal dude who "fights really good". He does has an advantage over others and Batman, in particular. JUST like in the comics.

The essence of the character is completely intact, in my opinion, just as the Joker's was in TDK. People love to complain, but this is what makes "interpretations" so awesome. We get to see how these filmmakers take the source material and draw from it, while still keeping so many key elements at play. The same can be said for the Batman character in these films. Classically, some interpretations are more direct and a little more "safe" than others (when compared to the source). I, for one, am glad that Nolan hasn't just played it safe with this series. His risks really do pay off.

 

[JackWhite]

I heard a while back Tom was going to wear lifts in his boots. Was that ever debunked or is it in fact true?

 

[Travesty]

I heard a while back Tom was going to wear lifts in his boots. Was that ever debunked or is it in fact true?

And there was a TON of talk about "camera trickery", which clearly wasn't used at all. So no, it doesn't look like he used any kind of lifts.

 

[KalMart]

I heard a while back Tom was going to wear lifts in his boots. Was that ever debunked or is it in fact true?

So they used them in Catwoman's shoes.

 

[Tacit Ronin]

Of course he's using lifts. Hardy is three inches shorter than Bale yet Bane is just as tall.

 

[BatmanBeyond]

People past it as a joke, but Bane's design from B&R is really cool in it's own right. Not only is it true to the comics, but it looks like a version of the comic come to life. The presentation of the character in the film is another story altogether...

And my two cents are that Hardy looks GREAT. Those traps are huge and his arms look bigger in this shot than we've seen before. It's also clear what they have done to the character, though I don't think some are aware.

You see, much like the perma-white debate with Joker, there is little need for this version of the character to appear as a hulking brute. This Bane is clearly in great shape and gives off an aura of strength and power. However, the lack of mass (and VENOM) has been replaced by the breathing device on his face and the scars down his spine (from a procedure). As we know from Lindy Hemming, Bane suffered a great trauma and needs this device so that he does not experience pain the way he would without it. Therefore, it can assumed that altogether, Bane would feel less pain than the average person. If he is punched, it simply does not hurt in in the way that it should. His men have probably seen him defeat many formidable foes. They have witnessed him do incredible things. He must appear to be an unstoppable monster, which explains his ominous reputation and ability to conquer and reign the people of Gotham.

In TDK, The Joker was not permanently white due to an incident that fractured his psyche and set him on a path to take on his twisted clown persona. Rather, his face was disfigured at some point, which in turn, must have fractured his psyche and...you get the point. So instead of Bane relying on what is essentially a steroid to make him powerful, his power comes from whatever procedure was performed on him (and whatever comes from his mask). He's not just this normal dude who "fights really good". He does has an advantage over others and Batman, in particular. JUST like in the comics.

The essence of the character is completely intact, in my opinion, just as the Joker's was in TDK. People love to complain, but this is what makes "interpretations" so awesome. We get to see how these filmmakers take the source material and draw from it, while still keeping so many key elements at play. The same can be said for the Batman character in these films. Classically, some interpretations are more direct and a little more "safe" than others (when compared to the source). I, for one, am glad that Nolan hasn't just played it safe with this series. His risks really do pay off.

Good post, dude.

 

[Boom]

Looking at Bane's boots, you can tell that he's had a few inches added to his height.

 

[AnneFan]

I'm not being clever or dismissive here, but just looking at the picture above without going into scientific analysis, I think Hardy looks fine. I wouldn't want to meet him in a dark sewer.

 

[Schlosser85]

Glad to see Bane shirtless at some point. Liev Schreiber bulked up for X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and then they wasted it by dressing him in a coat the entire movie so you couldn't even tell.

I think Hardy looks pretty big.

 

[joker1524]

i think the vest makes hardy look small...thats pic shows him having good size

 

[KalMart]

Hard to unsee......

 

[Roose Bolton]

It's funny, Bane actually referred to himself as the next Bonaparte in an issue of Secret Six. Nice symmetry

 

[Harley2004]

Not massive enough

 

[Piuchén]

True.

He looks fine, I didn't expect an 8 foot tall, 800 pounds Bane anyway.

I didn't even expect him to look like a body builder considering a physique like that takes years to craft and Tom is just an actor who worked out for a few months prior to shooting.

One thing I find odd though are his traps...Hardy always seemed to have traps that are massive in comparsion to the rest of his body.

I'm not sure if it's genetics or a combination of steroids and too many traps exercises, I'm no expert.

Less than two months to go, can't wait.

Plus a bodybuilder is not the strongest guy out there and would not be able to do the things Bane can do!

 

[flickchick85]

And my two cents are that Hardy looks GREAT. Those traps are huge and his arms look bigger in this shot than we've seen before. It's also clear what they have done to the character, though I don't think some are aware.

You see, much like the perma-white debate with Joker, there is little need for this version of the character to appear as a hulking brute. This Bane is clearly in great shape and gives off an aura of strength and power. However, the lack of mass (and VENOM) has been replaced by the breathing device on his face and the scars down his spine (from a procedure). As we know from Lindy Hemming, Bane suffered a great trauma and needs this device so that he does not experience pain the way he would without it. Therefore, it can assumed that altogether, Bane would feel less pain than the average person. If he is punched, it simply does not hurt in in the way that it should. His men have probably seen him defeat many formidable foes. They have witnessed him do incredible things. He must appear to be an unstoppable monster, which explains his ominous reputation and ability to conquer and reign the people of Gotham.

In TDK, The Joker was not permanently white due to an incident that fractured his psyche and set him on a path to take on his twisted clown persona. Rather, his face was disfigured at some point, which in turn, must have fractured his psyche and...you get the point. So instead of Bane relying on what is essentially a steroid to make him powerful, his power comes from whatever procedure was performed on him (and whatever comes from his mask). He's not just this normal dude who "fights really good". He does has an advantage over others and Batman, in particular. JUST like in the comics.

The essence of the character is completely intact, in my opinion, just as the Joker's was in TDK. People love to complain, but this is what makes "interpretations" so awesome. We get to see how these filmmakers take the source material and draw from it, while still keeping so many key elements at play. The same can be said for the Batman character in these films. Classically, some interpretations are more direct and a little more "safe" than others (when compared to the source). I, for one, am glad that Nolan hasn't just played it safe with this series. His risks really do pay off.

I completely agree. Great post.

 

[munchie64]

But that just seems rather shallow, doesn't it?
Wouldn't it be more interesting to have a bit of moral ambiguity? I have tried to get excited for this film, I really have. Despite the lack of any decent marketing campaign, it's basically been up to us to hype the film for ourselves.

What? The rest of your post is very well done, but really? Unless your definition of the word "decent" is "near perfect", I really don't understand wht you're talking about here.

 

[craigdbfan]

Bane with the sword reminded me of this. Assuming that is in fact a sword he has in his hand.