The Dark Knight Risesis likely the most controversial film in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, and the end of theDC Universefilm has aged in unexpectedly poor ways. None of this is to suggest thatThe Dark Knight Risesis among the worst DC movies; the film may not have been beloved to the extent ofThe Dark Knight, but it did do much that resonated with audiences. Among other successes, the film introduced the most comic-accurate version of Bane yet, crafting a truly iconic and memorable villain. Still, the ending did something both familiar and unsuccessful.
For years, many have argued thatThe Dark Knight Rises’endingdoesn’t make any sense, and some of these arguments have credence. While the cast and crew shared their own theories about the ending, which saw the apparent death and reappearance of Batman,the film was actually much less ambiguous than this suggested.With time to process these details, however, it is the thematic close to the trilogy that was perhaps the least satisfying element. This has actually aged poorly in the greater superhero context.
The Dark Knight Rises Ending Said Anyone Could Be Batman
Nolan’s Batman Trilogy Ended With The Indirect Passing Of The Mantle
The ending ofThe Dark Knight Risesmakes the claim that anyone can be Batman, with his mission being passed on to the rest of Gotham.It seems likely that Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s Robin will directly pick up Batman’s mission in this Gotham - however, there are issues with this decision. While the Batman mantle has been passed down over time in the comics, no one has ever genuinely lived up to the power and mission of Bruce himself. Without billions of dollars to fund their endeavor, no one else can reasonably take up the Batman mantle.
This idea of passing down superhero names and titles hasn’t happened much yet in the cinematic superhero landscape, but is beginning to occur. To audiences, superheroes are intrinsically linked to their identities in notable ways, and deviating from that is difficult. While theSpider-Versefilms have succeeded in it, they have only done this by their entire stories centering around interrogating that same question.
The Joker 2 Shares The Dark Knight Rises' Message
The Latest DC Sequel Examines Similar Ideas To Mixed Results
Joker: Folie à Deuxhad effectively the same ending asThe Dark Knight Rises, and the critical and commercial failure of that film might bring the efficacy of this theme under the microscope. Theending ofJoker: Foile á Deuxsaw Joker being killed, and seemingly succeeded in the title by his killer.This suggested a passing down of the villainous name, and contributed to an unsatisfying ending that made that which came before seem that much less successful. With audiences discovering they weren’t necessarily watching the real Joker before, the efficacy of that first film is significantly diminished.
Audiences come to seeJokerorBatmanfilms to see those titular characters and all that they inhabit.Going against that is contrary to what audiences want and expect and, while there can be value in subverting those expectations, they must be done successfully to resonate. For audiences, who - unlike the characters in the film - know the identities of everyone involved, the person behind the symbol matters as much as the symbol itself.
Why The Dark Knight Rises Ending Is Still So Controversial
The Ending Of Nolan’s Batman Trilogy Made Some Strange Choices
Christopher Nolan’sDark Knighttrilogy was about Batman, but it was also about Bruce Wayne.Examining Bruce’s trauma and history - as they linked to his training with The League of Shadows and his social presence in Gotham - was integral to his journey as Batman.While it makes sense for the citizens of Gotham that Batman’s title could be passed down, audience understanding of DC and MCU heroes has to do with relatable characteristics. Removing that, and thus some of the humanity behind the idea of Batman, contributes to an unsatisfying ending.
While the ending ofThe Dark Knight Risesmakes sense for the city of Gotham, Gotham is a fictional city that is nowhere near as important to viewers of the films as the characters themselves. As a result,the hope for the city that accompanies Bruce’s retirement does not feel satisfactory.A world without Bruce Wayne fighting crime is ostensibly a world without Batman, and one unlikely to be examined in cinematic entries. Without Bruce, this open-ended ending feels almost meaningless.
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Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy has only improved with age. In the era of superhero movies, some scenes even stand out as vital precursors.
The canon ofranked Batman moviesclearly shows thatThe Dark Knight Riseswas a success and that much of the film resonated effectively with audiences.It is, however, worth interrogating the ending and the themes that it examines, especially more than a decade later.While Nolan’s Batman universe appears to be closed, and will likely not receive any more entries,The Dark Knight Risesmade some strange choices in its ending that may not be as effective as desired. Hopefully, the future of Batman stories will learn from its successes and failures alike.
The Dark Knight Rises
Cast
The Dark Knight Rises follows Batman as he returns to Gotham City eight years after the death of Harvey Dent. Now pursued by law enforcement, he faces new challenges from Selina Kyle and Bane, a formidable terrorist leader who threatens the city’s safety, compelling Batman to defend a city that sees him as a foe.
