The Dark Knight Rises: How the End of the Batman Trilogy Has Aged Poorly
In Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises, the ending sparks debate and controversy. While the film’s introduction of Bane is praised for its quality and memorable villain, the ending may not have aged well. Many argue that the movie’s conclusion doesn’t make sense, and some of these arguments are valid.
The movie’s ending, which sees Batman’s apparent death and reappearance, is not as ambiguous as fans think. As time has passed, this thematic close to the trilogy has become less satisfying. The claim that anyone can be Batman and take on the mission to protect Gotham is problematic. Since no one has replicated the power and mission of Bruce Wayne, it is challenging for others to inherit the cape and cowl.
In the cinematic superhero landscape, the concept of passing on superhero names and titles is becoming more prevalent. The Spider-Verse films have successfully explored this quality by focusing on interrogating the question of superhero identities. However, in The Dark Knight Rises, this idea falls short.
The ending of Joker: Folie à Deux, a recent DC sequel, shares a similar message and suffered a critical and commercial failure. The conclusion’s passing of the villainous name and identity diminished the impact of the first film, highlighting the risk of deviating from the audience’s expectations.
Audiences flock to see films like The Dark Knight Rises because they want to see their favorite characters come to life. Subverting these expectations can be successful, but it must be done effectively to resonate. The passing of the Batman mantle to Robin is another issue, as the responsibilities that come with it would likely prove difficult for anyone to replicate.
The thematic close to The Dark Knight Rises has also aged poorly, as the film’s focus on Bruce Wayne and his character development is what makes Batman so iconic. The idea of passing on the title may make sense for the city of Gotham, but for the audience, the human behind the symbol matters just as much as the symbol itself. The ending of The Dark Knight Rises may not have been well-received, and its impact has been diminished by the passing of time.
