Holy Trilogy, "Batman"!

Christopher Nolan’s eipic Batman trilogy resurrected the embarrassing franchise filmed in the 90’s (the ones not directed by Tim Burton). Nolan’s Batman is relatable, and the world he inhabits believable. This realistic approach is what made the films the masterpieces that they are. There is so much that could be discussed about the three films. The overarching theme, however, is the question of whether Gotham city is redeemable. Bruce Wayne/Batman is steadfast in his belief that redemption is possible. The League of Shadows is bent on Gotham’s destruction.

This dualism is explored in many ways. In “Batman Begins”, the League uses the mob and Dr. Jonathan Crane to release a psychotropic neurotoxin in the city. This sets up the Joker’s rise in the “Dark Knight”. Although not part of the League’s plan, the Joker’s goal was to show everyone how “crazy the city had become,” that he and Batman were just “ahead of the curve.” The mob that the League had empowered soon empowered the Joker to wreak havoc in Gotham. Near the end of the film, the mob is done and it’s the Joker’s town now. There’s no telling what the third film would have been like if the untimely death of Heath Ledger hadn’t happened. I like to think that it would have been a continuation of the “Dark Knight,” an epic showdown between the Joker and Batman. That character was amazing! Instead, in the “Dark Knight Rises,” Bruce is a disgraced wreck, both physically and emotionally 8 years later. The loss of Rachel, his unjust status as a criminal, and the physical tolls from fighting have almost crushed him. Bane enters the scene, and his goal is to finish the job- to crush Bruce completely.

Batman is attacked mercilessly, falling again and again in all three films. One comfort that he clings to is something his father said to him when he was a child.

“And why do we fall, Bruce? So we can learn to pick ourselves up.”

And learn to pick himself up he does. His belief that Gotham is worth saving, that there’s hope, and that he stands in the way of total destruction motivates him to keep fighting.

He overcomes challenges differently in each film. In the first film, he has to face his fears. He has to become his fears so that he will be feared. In the second film, his identity is questioned. Is he really crazy, dressing up to fight crime? The Joker’s assertion that they both belong at Arkham is a provocative accusation. However, while the Joker’s goals are to create chaos to bring “order” to society, Batman’s goals are to bring order to society by fighting chaos. The Joker really is the antithesis of Batman in every way, and it’s interesting to see what this means as they duke it out through the film. The Joker is no physical match for Batman, and he knows it. He doesn’t even fight back when hit. He seems to welcome it, in fact. No, the Joker fights with his mind, with his intellect. And he almost wins. Contrast that to Bane in the “Dark Knight Rises.” He’s a physical match for Batman in every way- in fact he’s more than able to beat him in a fistfight. Now it’s Batman’s turn to fight with his intellect instead of his fists. In order to face Bane after being exiled in prison, Bruce must be afraid to succeed. His attempts to climb out and jump for the ledge are thwarted by the fact that he’s attached to a rope in case he falls. Fear of falling to his death without a rope is what he needs to succeed.

What motivates Bruce to fight in each film? It’s that he sees the potential Gotham has to be a society that works. The philanthropic ideals passed to him from his father help shape him into the hero Gotham needs, but doesn’t deserve. Sacrificing his life is worth it to him, as he knows he’s just a part of a bigger picture. What do you think? Is humanity redeemable? And what will bring about that redemption? Nolan’s Batman trilogy does a great job exploring this question, and does so with intelligence and style.