The Dark Knight Rises (2012): Thoughts! Questions!
Tools vs. weapons; citizens vs. enemies of the state
Like its predecessors, The Dark Knight Rises boasts fabulous actors. There are the usual suspects, of course. But now we also get Marion Cotillard, William Devane, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Burn Gorman, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Ben Mendelsohn, Matthew Modine, Juno Temple (I kid you not), and even Aidan Gillen (an ill-fated CIA Op), also known as Lord Baelish/”Littlefinger”/the tool of Westeros.
I love the middle pivot of The Dark Knight, when Harvey Dent/Two-Face (Aaron Eckhart) gives his best pitch to rally Gotham’s citizens to hope. He tells them that the night is darkest before the dawn, but reassures them that the dawn is coming. I hate, hate, hate (as in, “I’m watching, riveted, while clutching a stuffie for comfort.”) the middle pivot of The Dark Knight Rises. With no sound other than Bane (Tom Hardy) and Bruce Wayne/Batman (Christian Bale) pummeling each other, all there is to do is witness Batman’s escalating vulnerability. It’s chilling, every time I watch it.
Plus, this movie’s got a banger of an ending.
Anyway, hello, welcome, and thank you for stopping by. For new visitors, here’s what this situation is all about:
With Savor the View, we’ll watch, think, and talk about movies and the things that matter. A special welcome and thanks to our regular crew!
Each Monday, I share brief, spoiler-free remarks and questions to frame viewing a movie on our own.
Each Thursday, I share post-viewing questions to poke at the issues, ideas, quandaries, inspirations...whatever...that movie might have summoned (spoilers, ahoy!).
Paid subscribers can talk it all out in a weekly Discussion Thread.
General thoughts?
The universal/general
There is some serious, literal class conflict happening in this movie. How does economic inequality figure in this story? Does it meaningfully reflect or critique anything in the real world?
What’s a “tool” vs a “weapon?” What about the risk of a tool becoming a weapon in the “wrong hands” – should such tools still be developed or not? Under what circumstances?
The specific/unique
These movies are set in the fictional Gotham City. Yet, while The Dark Knight shows off transparently Chicago features, The Dark Knight Rises showcases New York cityscapes. Why? How does this inform the broader story?
There’s a thing in this film called the “Dent Act.” What is it and why does it matter?
The viewer is always present
How do you feel about Bane (Tom Hardy), apart from the obvious (admiring his badass coat)? Is he more or less frightening than other villains, within these Batman movies but also more generally? Why?
How do you feel about Selina Kyle/Catwoman (Anne Hathaway)? Does her “Robin Hood-esque” character strike you as plausible?
Worthwhile Reads
Next Week’s Movie?
For July – the month of “Blockbusters” – Wonder Woman (2017)
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