I am back after watching The Dark Knight Returns (TDKR) in the cinema hall and thought it better to pen down my thoughts in a blog (after a rather long hiatus, I must admit). My reading of the movie has been largely influenced by this book by M.K. Raghavendra.
TDKR concludes the Batman trilogy by Nolan. In doing so, it reasons why Batman should return for one last time: to keep the bad guys out of course! It is established from the opening scenes that Batman is not what he used to be: powerful and feared by his enemies; a reference I feel to the current state of affairs in America: a nation bruised by the recent financial crisis and lumbering to a recovery. It is implicit in my previous statement that Batman himself epitomises the American nation-state. One could read more into this symbolism by recapping that in the movie's prequel, Batman takes the blame for Harvey Dent's [representing the administration/ruling class] demise somewhat playing to the American common man's subconscious reading that the nation state tolerated the presidency appeasing the filthy rich in the bail-outs it gave out during a crisis which is the business classes' own doing. Be that as it may, the symbolism does not end there.
An ailing Batman cannot nurse the city back into normalcy without the help of aides (Cat woman and Robin). The latter, I believe characterises the American middle-class: the bourgeoisie. Cat woman if not Robin, is disillusioned about the prevailing state of affairs in Gotham city; she goads Batman into running away from the crisis since he has done enough for the people already. Also, she is somewhat nihilistic in that she does not think there is going to be any normalcy after what has happened. However, in the end, it is not without the help of Cat Woman that normalcy is arguably restored in the city: an appeal to the middle-class to not lose hope and stay the course. Robin, on the other hand, believes in Batman's ability to fight evil and help the people overcome the crisis. He can be seen as the segment of the bourgeoisie that still believes in the spirit of America to overcome its present troubles.
Bane represents the angst of the working class, the latter epitomised by the inmates of the city's prison most of whom have been unlawfully convicted by the Dent act. This is a more conscious play on the Occupy Wall-street movement and the woes of the 99%. The film features scenes from a kangaroo court where people decide the fate of the rich and powerful: the first one to be sentenced is evidently a businessman; someone who in an earlier scene is shown to care for nothing else other than money.
Cat woman feels that the overthrow of the ruling class is for the better: the rich peoples' homes is everyone's home now. However, the topic of the overthrow of the ruling class and the ensuing anarchy is dealt somewhat cautiously for, the true goal of Bane is to blow up the city and NOT to give power to the people. This, according to me, signifies a warning by the American State (Batman): although the present state of affairs has led to a lot of injustice, be wary of what might replace it. Cleverly, I feel, Bane is presented as someone from erstwhile U.S.S.R (he speaks Ukrainian afaik) forwarding the views of a communist-style revolution. To add to this, the fusion reactor that is being used by Bane to annihilate the city is one designed by a Russian scientist, albeit originally meant for the noble mission of providing a sustained source of renewable energy. The casting of the villain as the other person (non-American) speaks of a perceived threat to America from the outside.
In the end, the film consciously chooses not to provide a solution to the present state of affairs. One is angry about how things are but also cautious about how to move forward. The working class is forgotten towards the end by proposing to the audience the Bane (the working class hero) and his accomplices are truly wicked and don't deserve sympathy. So is Batman confined to stopping "evil" and "saving the city": one knows little of how things will play out in the city after Bane and co. are removed.
TDKR concludes the Batman trilogy by Nolan. In doing so, it reasons why Batman should return for one last time: to keep the bad guys out of course! It is established from the opening scenes that Batman is not what he used to be: powerful and feared by his enemies; a reference I feel to the current state of affairs in America: a nation bruised by the recent financial crisis and lumbering to a recovery. It is implicit in my previous statement that Batman himself epitomises the American nation-state. One could read more into this symbolism by recapping that in the movie's prequel, Batman takes the blame for Harvey Dent's [representing the administration/ruling class] demise somewhat playing to the American common man's subconscious reading that the nation state tolerated the presidency appeasing the filthy rich in the bail-outs it gave out during a crisis which is the business classes' own doing. Be that as it may, the symbolism does not end there.
An ailing Batman cannot nurse the city back into normalcy without the help of aides (Cat woman and Robin). The latter, I believe characterises the American middle-class: the bourgeoisie. Cat woman if not Robin, is disillusioned about the prevailing state of affairs in Gotham city; she goads Batman into running away from the crisis since he has done enough for the people already. Also, she is somewhat nihilistic in that she does not think there is going to be any normalcy after what has happened. However, in the end, it is not without the help of Cat Woman that normalcy is arguably restored in the city: an appeal to the middle-class to not lose hope and stay the course. Robin, on the other hand, believes in Batman's ability to fight evil and help the people overcome the crisis. He can be seen as the segment of the bourgeoisie that still believes in the spirit of America to overcome its present troubles.
Bane represents the angst of the working class, the latter epitomised by the inmates of the city's prison most of whom have been unlawfully convicted by the Dent act. This is a more conscious play on the Occupy Wall-street movement and the woes of the 99%. The film features scenes from a kangaroo court where people decide the fate of the rich and powerful: the first one to be sentenced is evidently a businessman; someone who in an earlier scene is shown to care for nothing else other than money.
Cat woman feels that the overthrow of the ruling class is for the better: the rich peoples' homes is everyone's home now. However, the topic of the overthrow of the ruling class and the ensuing anarchy is dealt somewhat cautiously for, the true goal of Bane is to blow up the city and NOT to give power to the people. This, according to me, signifies a warning by the American State (Batman): although the present state of affairs has led to a lot of injustice, be wary of what might replace it. Cleverly, I feel, Bane is presented as someone from erstwhile U.S.S.R (he speaks Ukrainian afaik) forwarding the views of a communist-style revolution. To add to this, the fusion reactor that is being used by Bane to annihilate the city is one designed by a Russian scientist, albeit originally meant for the noble mission of providing a sustained source of renewable energy. The casting of the villain as the other person (non-American) speaks of a perceived threat to America from the outside.
In the end, the film consciously chooses not to provide a solution to the present state of affairs. One is angry about how things are but also cautious about how to move forward. The working class is forgotten towards the end by proposing to the audience the Bane (the working class hero) and his accomplices are truly wicked and don't deserve sympathy. So is Batman confined to stopping "evil" and "saving the city": one knows little of how things will play out in the city after Bane and co. are removed.
