Very cool montage of all three Nolan Bat-films with a voiceover of Gary Oldman’s speech from the end of DK.
https://youtu.be/_qmK3lpkgVo
Interesting how this video showcases all the unique angles Nolan adds to the Batman mythos while at the same time clearly displaying the utter lack of restraint when it comes to drawn-out, moralizing, Cliff-notes like speeches.
Just my opinion. I actually like much of Nolan’s writing, I just feel that he sometimes goes overboard in constantly spelling out people’s motivations, particularly in this trilogy. Especially with a character as mysterious and unknowable as Batman. I mean is the answer to why a grown man goes around dressing like a bat and fighting criminals THAT obvious?
In my opinion this really was the weakest aspect of Begins: to build a film around the idea that there’s some kind of formula for figuring out why Batman is who he is. It’s also kinda funny that, at least in my opinion, Cillian Murphy’s Scarecrow was the FAR more interesting character, mostly because Nolan DOESN’T attempt to pull together every single theory about exactly why the man loves literally scaring people to death. (Nolan and Murphy did both say that Crane had been bullied as a child, but it’s never actually referred to in the film. There wouldn’t have been ANYTHING wrong if the film HAD referred to it, say with a flashback, but suppose there had been countless monologues on every single reason Crane had become the Scarecrow? Would that really have made his character more “interesting”??). In Rises there were still many speeches but the characterization somehow felt a lot more subtle for some reason. Particularly with Bane and John Blake.
One more thing: my hands-down biggest problem with DK, bar none: Bruce wanting to stop being Batman and leave the mantle to someone else, the naturally heroic Harvey Dent. Total spit take. Is Nolan KIDDING? Batman is DRIVEN to be Batman out of obsession and torment. He would never “mull over” not only retiring from it, but actually choosing a replacement, and not just anyone but an unshakable member of the establishment. Batman is not part of the establishment. He never was. At the end of DK, Batman tells Gordon: “You’ll hunt me. Because that’s what needs to happen.” Duh! Batman is a vigilante...or at least he’s supposed to be one. That’s who he was in the comics for decades and who he was in Burton’s two films. Vigilantes get hunted down by the law. Comes with the territory. (In the 89 and 92 films it’s pretty clear right from the outset that even with the Batsignal, he’s outside of Gotham’s society on every level. Even after he gives Vicki the information on Joker’s chemicals, neither she nor anyone else seems to really trust him. There’s nothing outrageous or revolutionary about any of this. It’s been the foundation of the character since Bob Kane created him.)
Case in point:
Jim: Because he’s the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now. So we’ll hunt him because he can take it. Because he’s not our hero. He’s a silent guardian. A watchful protector. A dark knight.
Um, no. He is NOT the hero we “deserve”. Batman’s world, our world, is a dark and frightening place. He IS our hero but he springs from a place of rage, pain, and grief. “We’ll hunt him because he can take it,” is said by Gordon as though it’s some huge revelation. Of course he can take it, he’s Batman. We’re already aware of his background and psychology (after all, this is the end of the second film!). And as far as being “the hero we deserve”, the world-view of Batman comics (and definitely the Burton films) completely contradicts this. Society in general and Gotham in particular is completely messed up. There’s selfishness, greed, brutality and avarice. The whole point is that we may not deserve Bats (in fact we probably don’t) but he’s here. And he’s fighting for us anyway.
Again: These are just my opinions. I’m open to all discussion!
You can’t just have your characters announce how they feel! That makes me feel angry!