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Maybe Nightwing fails, everyone that tried to become batman's shadow fails, bruce returns and creates a new suit, fights until he's 60's, gets a heart problem then Terry McGinnis pops in, then Batman Beyond franchise is born.
Haha, Batman Beyond was pretty dope so I wouldn't complain.
Warner Bros has to reboot the Batman franchise in a few years since it's such a crazy money making franchise.
I just can't imagine how it'll be better than the Nolan movies though - I just hope they keep it semi-realistic and not go back to shit like a 300lb Penguin using his flimsy spinning umbrella to fly.
oh no!..i got confused & said part 3 when i should be meaning the next film
Basically what happened is you didn't see Batman Begins, you saw Dark Knight after everyone raved about how good it was and thought TDKR was the 2nd in the trilogy (since everyone says the world "trilogy" here) and when leaving the theater, you thought "Oh shit, Robin will be in the next movie when Bruce Wayne comes back from France to fight Mr. Freeze in the 3rd movie!"
Stop me when I get close.
And I enjoyed this movie. I don't think it's as good as The Dark Knight, though but I was more entertained than in Batman Begins. The difference is that The Dark Knight...you can make the argument for it as a top 10 of all time. It's an amazing example of acting, screenwriting, direction and filmmaking. TDKR...it was more of a popcorn flick. More depth than Avengers but I felt like this was so much more of a stereotypical summer blockbuster compared to TDK.
Oh and loved the IMAX experience. Every action scene in IMAX and every dialogue scene in 16:9 is perfect. When the bars disappear, you know some shit is about to go down. The way the movie is shot takes full advantage of the IMAX cameras...beautiful, wide, incredibly immersive shots.
I saw a few people saying they don't "get" 4:3. I don't know what the hell you're talking about but let me explain to you what you just said.
The reason widescreen is better than "normal" 4:3 is that you get more of the actual movie on screen. You could always tell which one of your friends doesn't know anything about movies when they complain about the "black bars" when watching a widescreen movie. Fullscreen usually just crops so it's cutting off detail and footage you get in widescreen.
In IMAX, they're basically doing the same thing...filling the black bar areas of a 16:9 movie with MORE MOVIE.
If you don't get it, normal movies are shot in widescreen and then idiots cropped it to 4:3 for fullscreen so you're losing detail. IMAX, however, is shot natively in 4:3 resolution so you're gaining compared to widescreen.
Now that Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy has come to a conclusion with The Dark Knight Rises, everyone is talking and debating the meaning of the end of the film, and what happens to Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s character John Blake. So let me break it down for you and explain, including perhaps the one obvious thing that everyone seems to have missed so far. Read on! But be warned, here there be SPOILERS!
First of all, let me clear one thing up right away — yes, Bruce Wayne really is still alive at the end. For some reason that escapes me, a segment of fans are insisting it’s “open to interpretation” whether Bruce actually is sitting in that cafe, or if it’s just Alfred’s imagination. But there should be no confusion, the shot of Bruce at the cafe comes amid a montage of scenes showing each person close to Bruce finding out a bit of information revealing Bruce survived the nuclear blast. Lucius finds out Bruce secretly did repair the autopilot on “the Bat,” Gordon finds a repaired bat-signal on the roof of the MCU (contrary to some reviewer’s misunderstanding, Gordon didn’t repair it himself, he walks up and looks shocked to find the new bat-signal, runs a hand over it, grins, and looks around, all in the montage about Bruce’s actions), John Blake gets a big bag full of equipment and a GPS locator, and Alfred gets Bruce’s money and then sees Bruce at the cafe. Bruce’s arc ends with him finally being able to move on with his life, and without that fulfillment Bruce would actually have no true character arc (getting his back fixed and climbing out of the hole to fight Bane again is not a full arc, for those inclined to say the climb out of the pit is the major point in his arc).
Now, I’ll move on to the main question about the film’s end, and the one most of you are probably still unsure about — what happens to Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s character at the end, and who exactly will he become? I previously wrote, prior to the film’s release, my theory that the character John Blake would be Nolan’s version of Robin in this film, and it of course turned out to be pretty much true. Blake has the background of Jason Todd and Tim Drake, for the most part (his father is murdered due to a debt, and he later deduces Batman’s identity while still a young kid), but then grows up to have Dick Grayson’s adult life (being a police officer and ally of Batman who has dealt with the tragedy in his childhood in a more productive and healthy way than Bruce dealt with his own tragedies, plus that whole chalk emblem, all adds up to a “realistic” incarnation of Nightwing). Then, we find out that his actual legal name is Robin. So I’d argue that yes, he definitely served the role of Robin in The Dark Knight Rises. Meaning he was ALREADY Robin, he isn’t going to become Robin in the future.
Who is he going to become, then? Obviously, Batman. I know most fans seem to feel Blake is going to continue being Robin, and will just now use a mask to disguise his identity — although, that would mean his “secret identity” is his actual literal first name! Nope, that isn’t the meaning of the end of the film. A major theme in the story is “Who was Batman? He was just Batman, the person under the mask doesn’t matter, because ANYBODY can be Batman!” We hear this several times, and it speaks back to the longstanding concept in the Nolan trilogy that a symbol is eternal and cannot be killed or destroyed, and that is what Batman became — an eternal symbol for Gotham, a symbol that would be anybody.
Then, Bruce gives Blake a bag full of equipment to help him locate the batcave, which still contains all of Batman’s equipment. Meanwhile, Gordon was given a brand new bat-signal to call Batman. And as Blake crosses the cave to approach the bat-equipment Bruce has left behind, he is enveloped in a swarm of BATS — just like Bruce’s own initial moment upon entering the cave, in the iconic symbolism of the scene from Batman Begins when Bruce slowly stands amid the swarm of bats to represent his crossing of a threshold on his journey to become Batman.
With Blake getting a cave filled with bat-themed equipment and suits while crossing a swarm of bats just like Bruce did, and Gordon having a signal with the bat-emblem on it, that’s some additional strong evidence that Blake is indeed going to become a new Batman.
But there’s one final piece of evidence, and it’s the “big guns” in my argument. I’ve not seen anyone mention this yet, despite how powerful the imagery is. Consider…
What is the very last shot in the film? It’s Blake, stepping forward in the batcave as the big platform comes up out of the water to lift him into the air toward the Batman equipment that we can see in the distance. The platform lifts Blake out of sight, turning the screen black. And what comes next? The title: The Dark Knight RISES.
Yep, that title has many meanings in the film, including Batman coming back from retirement, Batman climbing up out of the pit to save Gotham, Batman rising as a symbol of hope again in Gotham, and Batman’s general victory over Bane and over the tragedy in his own life. But it has one final meaning, symbolized extremely clearly in the final shot of the film when we see John Blake step forward and that platform RISING to lift him to claim the legacy of Batman that Bruce has passed on to him. The Dark Knight will rise again, with someone else taking up the mantle to keep the symbol alive.
You simply cannot ignore the overt imagery of Blake rising on that platform followed by the title appearing on screen. Notice that Nolan’s films always leave the title until the very end of the movie. That’s where the title of each film has its final, full embodiment: from the announcement that Batman has begun; to the proclamation that Batman is Gotham’s dark knight protecting the city; and lastly to Batman rising to his final, firm status in Gotham as an incorruptible symbol that cannot be killed.
While of course people are free to interpret the story and the end of the film however they wish, I feel that there’s too much importance in the symbolism of that final scene, and in Blake having already served the role of Robin before moving on to serve as the man who will keep Batman’s legend alive. Without those things, the story has a gap and doesn’t truly come full circle with all of the themes of the trilogy. Just as Bruce being alive is necessary for his arc to be fulfilled, so to is it necessary for Batman’s arc and Blake’s arc to be fulfilled by John Blake assuming the mantle as Batman.
And there you have it, dear readers, the real meaning behind the end of The Dark Knight Rises. No doubt, the debate will continue, but I think the evidence is pretty overwhelming and supports my conclusions. What say you, fans? Sound off in the comments below!
I buy JGL as a do-gooder cop, as Robin, or even as Nightwing. But not Batman, sorry. I suppose it wouldn't be Bruce Wayne, so the actor could be totally different from one who would normally make a good batman... but come on.
Yeah, no way they would use JGL as Batman. While it's all well and good that it could make sense, I just don't see it. Veering off in a new direction (IE: Nightwing) would be a lot more interesting/make a lot more sense, especially since Nolan has already publicly stated that he wouldn't be directing any further Batman movies. JGL existing as Batman in a world Nolan created on film without Nolan on board? Hell no. Just doesn't make sense to me.
Plus the whole "title at the end" thing is just that - a title at the end. All of Nolan's movies have it. What makes the guy think it's so special in this particular case?
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To some, this film was mediocre because Heath Ledger pretty much carried the previous one. I however thought the 3rd one to be much more deep--tying up loose strings, major plot twists. The complexity of the plot drew me in as it pulls motifs from the previous films. It's far from a typical summer blockbuster flick.
I buy JGL as a do-gooder cop, as Robin, or even as Nightwing. But not Batman, sorry. I suppose it wouldn't be Bruce Wayne, so the actor could be totally different from one who would normally make a good batman... but come on.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kristianhay
Yeah, no way they would use JGL as Batman. While it's all well and good that it could make sense, I just don't see it. Veering off in a new direction (IE: Nightwing) would be a lot more interesting/make a lot more sense, especially since Nolan has already publicly stated that he wouldn't be directing any further Batman movies. JGL existing as Batman in a world Nolan created on film without Nolan on board? Hell no. Just doesn't make sense to me.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SkinnyPupp
Plus the whole "title at the end" thing is just that - a title at the end. All of Nolan's movies have it. What makes the guy think it's so special in this particular case?
You guys are taking it a little too far. I don't think it was meant as a hint towards a new movie without Nolan. Since this was the last movie it's just something for the audience to ponder on and to imagine the untold story that continued after the movie ended.
Now that Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy has come to a conclusion with The Dark Knight Rises, everyone is talking and debating the meaning of the end of the film, and what happens to Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s character John Blake. So let me break it down for you and explain, including perhaps the one obvious thing that everyone seems to have missed so far. Read on! But be warned, here there be SPOILERS!
First of all, let me clear one thing up right away — yes, Bruce Wayne really is still alive at the end. For some reason that escapes me, a segment of fans are insisting it’s “open to interpretation” whether Bruce actually is sitting in that cafe, or if it’s just Alfred’s imagination. But there should be no confusion, the shot of Bruce at the cafe comes amid a montage of scenes showing each person close to Bruce finding out a bit of information revealing Bruce survived the nuclear blast. Lucius finds out Bruce secretly did repair the autopilot on “the Bat,” Gordon finds a repaired bat-signal on the roof of the MCU (contrary to some reviewer’s misunderstanding, Gordon didn’t repair it himself, he walks up and looks shocked to find the new bat-signal, runs a hand over it, grins, and looks around, all in the montage about Bruce’s actions), John Blake gets a big bag full of equipment and a GPS locator, and Alfred gets Bruce’s money and then sees Bruce at the cafe. Bruce’s arc ends with him finally being able to move on with his life, and without that fulfillment Bruce would actually have no true character arc (getting his back fixed and climbing out of the hole to fight Bane again is not a full arc, for those inclined to say the climb out of the pit is the major point in his arc).
Now, I’ll move on to the main question about the film’s end, and the one most of you are probably still unsure about — what happens to Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s character at the end, and who exactly will he become? I previously wrote, prior to the film’s release, my theory that the character John Blake would be Nolan’s version of Robin in this film, and it of course turned out to be pretty much true. Blake has the background of Jason Todd and Tim Drake, for the most part (his father is murdered due to a debt, and he later deduces Batman’s identity while still a young kid), but then grows up to have Dick Grayson’s adult life (being a police officer and ally of Batman who has dealt with the tragedy in his childhood in a more productive and healthy way than Bruce dealt with his own tragedies, plus that whole chalk emblem, all adds up to a “realistic” incarnation of Nightwing). Then, we find out that his actual legal name is Robin. So I’d argue that yes, he definitely served the role of Robin in The Dark Knight Rises. Meaning he was ALREADY Robin, he isn’t going to become Robin in the future.
Who is he going to become, then? Obviously, Batman. I know most fans seem to feel Blake is going to continue being Robin, and will just now use a mask to disguise his identity — although, that would mean his “secret identity” is his actual literal first name! Nope, that isn’t the meaning of the end of the film. A major theme in the story is “Who was Batman? He was just Batman, the person under the mask doesn’t matter, because ANYBODY can be Batman!” We hear this several times, and it speaks back to the longstanding concept in the Nolan trilogy that a symbol is eternal and cannot be killed or destroyed, and that is what Batman became — an eternal symbol for Gotham, a symbol that would be anybody.
Then, Bruce gives Blake a bag full of equipment to help him locate the batcave, which still contains all of Batman’s equipment. Meanwhile, Gordon was given a brand new bat-signal to call Batman. And as Blake crosses the cave to approach the bat-equipment Bruce has left behind, he is enveloped in a swarm of BATS — just like Bruce’s own initial moment upon entering the cave, in the iconic symbolism of the scene from Batman Begins when Bruce slowly stands amid the swarm of bats to represent his crossing of a threshold on his journey to become Batman.
With Blake getting a cave filled with bat-themed equipment and suits while crossing a swarm of bats just like Bruce did, and Gordon having a signal with the bat-emblem on it, that’s some additional strong evidence that Blake is indeed going to become a new Batman.
But there’s one final piece of evidence, and it’s the “big guns” in my argument. I’ve not seen anyone mention this yet, despite how powerful the imagery is. Consider…
What is the very last shot in the film? It’s Blake, stepping forward in the batcave as the big platform comes up out of the water to lift him into the air toward the Batman equipment that we can see in the distance. The platform lifts Blake out of sight, turning the screen black. And what comes next? The title: The Dark Knight RISES.
Yep, that title has many meanings in the film, including Batman coming back from retirement, Batman climbing up out of the pit to save Gotham, Batman rising as a symbol of hope again in Gotham, and Batman’s general victory over Bane and over the tragedy in his own life. But it has one final meaning, symbolized extremely clearly in the final shot of the film when we see John Blake step forward and that platform RISING to lift him to claim the legacy of Batman that Bruce has passed on to him. The Dark Knight will rise again, with someone else taking up the mantle to keep the symbol alive.
You simply cannot ignore the overt imagery of Blake rising on that platform followed by the title appearing on screen. Notice that Nolan’s films always leave the title until the very end of the movie. That’s where the title of each film has its final, full embodiment: from the announcement that Batman has begun; to the proclamation that Batman is Gotham’s dark knight protecting the city; and lastly to Batman rising to his final, firm status in Gotham as an incorruptible symbol that cannot be killed.
While of course people are free to interpret the story and the end of the film however they wish, I feel that there’s too much importance in the symbolism of that final scene, and in Blake having already served the role of Robin before moving on to serve as the man who will keep Batman’s legend alive. Without those things, the story has a gap and doesn’t truly come full circle with all of the themes of the trilogy. Just as Bruce being alive is necessary for his arc to be fulfilled, so to is it necessary for Batman’s arc and Blake’s arc to be fulfilled by John Blake assuming the mantle as Batman.
And there you have it, dear readers, the real meaning behind the end of The Dark Knight Rises. No doubt, the debate will continue, but I think the evidence is pretty overwhelming and supports my conclusions. What say you, fans? Sound off in the comments below!
You guys are taking it a little too far. I don't think it was meant as a hint towards a new movie without Nolan. Since this was the last movie it's just something for the audience to ponder on and to imagine the untold story that continued after the movie ended. And the title at the end wasn't special in just this case it made sense for both BB and TDK. He explains that in the article.
Spoiler!
"That’s where the title of each film has its final, full embodiment: from the announcement that Batman has begun; to the proclamation that Batman is Gotham’s dark knight protecting the city; and lastly to Batman rising to his final, firm status in Gotham as an incorruptible symbol that cannot be killed."
Oh, I highly doubt there will be another film at all. Just based off the speculation that people are talking about, adding to the discussion.
Haha, Batman Beyond was pretty dope so I wouldn't complain.
Not complaining at all, Batman Beyond was my favourite DC series cartoon until they started mashing it up with justice league. Batman Beyond live action movie might turn out like batman & robin/forever movies
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