Note: For what it's worth, I don't intend for this thread to devolve into a discussion about gun rights in Colorado, or into one about the Bain/Bane conspiracy theory controversy.
Has anyone here seen the new Batman film, The Dark Knight Rises? I personally enjoy movies that engage in thoughtful social commentary, and I found TDKR to be one of those movies. It seemed to do a good job examining the tension between the uneasiness of a mob-mentality revolution--in which individuals would nonchalantly celebrate the fact that one person's home "is now everybody's home"--and the motivating reality that "institutions can become shackles"--demanding that ordinary citizens be empowered to circumvent those institutions when necessary.
Thoughts?
Originally posted by wittywonkaHave not been able to see it yet, so no spoilers if you can help it.
Note: For what it's worth, I don't intend for this thread to devolve into a discussion about gun rights in Colorado, or into one about the Bain/Bane conspiracy theory controversy.
Has anyone here seen the new Batman film, The Dark Knight Rises? I personally enjoy movies that engage in thoughtful social commentary, and I found TDKR to be ...[text shortened]... nary citizens be empowered to circumvent those institutions when necessary.
Thoughts?
Who do you think would feel more of an affinity with this Batman, You or Whodey? or neither.
Originally posted by kevcvs57No spoilers if you can help it.
Have not been able to see it yet, so no spoilers if you can help it.
Who do you think would feel more of an affinity with this Batman, You or Whodey? or neither.
Absolutely. I should have mentioned this in the OP, sorry.
Who do you think would feel more of an affinity with this Batman, You or Whodey?
Again, it's hard to say, because by his very purpose and existence, Batman lives outside the conventional institutions of society, and he recognizes the need for individuals to be able to do so, too, when those institutions fail them. And yet, he recognizes the danger that extending that power to more than just a few people can entail--not to mention the fact that Bruce Wayne's character by definition works to promote and benefit society through more conventional means.
And it's certainly not as though Batman/Bruce Wayne is the only character engaged in this meta-discussion. Several of the other characters make good contributions to the dialogue, too.
So I don't know if there's a clear answer.
Originally posted by wittywonkaI think the character has changed since Christian Bale took the role on film, before 'Batman Begins' the character was pretty two dimensional as were the low life bad guys.
[b]No spoilers if you can help it.
Absolutely. I should have mentioned this in the OP, sorry.
Who do you think would feel more of an affinity with this Batman, You or Whodey?
Again, it's hard to say, because by his very purpose and existence, Batman lives outside the conventional institutions of society, and he recognizes the need for ...[text shortened]... make good contributions to the dialogue, too.
So I don't know if there's a clear answer.[/b]
I think along with character development the films have begun to examine the relationship between the powerful and the relatively powerless, whilst still being rollicking good versus evil blockbusters.
Here are a couple of links to short but insightful analyses of the political undercurrents in the film:
http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/christopher-nolan-dark-knight-rises-isn-t-political-20120720
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dark-knight-rises-politics-bane-occupy-limbaugh-nolan-351136
(If you don't want to know anything about the movie before watching it yourself, you probably shouldn't read the links, but honestly you wouldn't learn any more reading them than if you watched all of the movie's various trailers.)
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I pretty much agree with this review. Rush Limbaugh missed the boat. If there is any political message, it's "conservative." The whole mock trial scene reminded me of the old French Revolution scenes in the B&W version of A Tale of Two Cities.
http://prospect.org/article/dark-knight-romney
Batman has always been the "conservative" hero as opposed to the liberal Superman, whose powers allowed him a more lofty view of human nature. Batman had everything taken from him by an evil criminal, yet was able to lift himself up by his bootstraps without aid of any superpower. And his villains are all caricatures of the conservative culture war - where he fights everything from hippie-like pranksters (Joker/Riddler) to vicious sluts (Catwoman/Poison Ivey). Bane is a class war nihilist of course. Superman's greatest enemy on the other hand was a corporate tycoon genius.
In this latest Batman movie, there is no nuance of human nature depicted. The only positive depictions of of heroic police officers and Catwoman's redemption - unlike the more complex depiction of the second movie where a hardened criminal made the correct moral choice his prison guards were unable to generate. I think they went more for simplicity this time around.
I think National Review wrote a fascinating analysis of the Dark Knight Returns, which came out in the 1980s, and which this movie is partially based on. Maybe it's online. I'll post a link if I find it.
Originally posted by wittywonkaYeah am looking forward to my own interpretation, clearly there is always a danger of populist movements being hijacked for more sinister agendas, but that does not constitute a critique of the movement itself. I think if the film had used the 'Tea party' and the Bane character the GOP would have cause for complaint in an election year.
Here are a couple of links to short but insightful analyses of the political undercurrents in the film:
http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/christopher-nolan-dark-knight-rises-isn-t-political-20120720
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dark-knight-rises-politics-bane-occupy-limbaugh-nolan-351136
(If you don't want to know [i]anythin ...[text shortened]... uldn't learn any more reading them than if you watched all of the movie's various trailers.)
The second link seemed to give a more pragmatic interpretation, I've never made the 'Enlightened Monarch' / Benevolent Dictator, keeping a balance between mutually antagonistic forces, connection before but why not.
I get the impression this is the final Batman by this team .😞
Originally posted by KunsooBruce Wayne hardly "was able to lift himself up by his bootstraps"; he was born rich and being rich enables him to be Batman.
I pretty much agree with this review. Rush Limbaugh missed the boat. If there is any political message, it's "conservative." The whole mock trial scene reminded me of the old French Revolution scenes in the B&W version of A Tale of Two Cities.
http://prospect.org/article/dark-knight-romney
Batman has always been the "conservative" hero as opposed to ...[text shortened]... this movie is partially based on. Maybe it's online. I'll post a link if I find it.
Originally posted by no1marauderThanks, too lazy to post it myself.
Bruce Wayne hardly "was able to lift himself up by his bootstraps"; he was born rich and being rich enables him to be Batman.
Batman up by his bootstraps...LOL...he didn't need a job so this is what he does with his time, runs around at night in underpants beating up impoverished thugs and mentally ill lunatics...
😀
Originally posted by kevcvs57If Batman were sane he'd be a cop.
Both his parents were shot in front of Him, give a Bat a break.
Surely He can be admired for pulling Himself up by his boot straps emotionally and psychologically speaking...... or did He.
Sometimes, I admit, I think of Batman as just a man in a costume.
Superman 😛
Originally posted by AThousandYoung"Thanks, too lazy to post it myself."
Thanks, too lazy to post it myself.
Batman up by his bootstraps...LOL...he didn't need a job so this is what he does with his time, runs around at night in underpants beating up impoverished thugs and mentally ill lunatics...
😀
Not much chance of you pulling your boot straps up any time soon then.