Fuck the Dark Knight!

[whatchamacallit]

Last edited Fri Jul 20, 2012, 07:57 PM - Edit history (1)

And Christopher Nolan too.

Those who are inspired to see the Dark Knight Rises because Rush says it's anti-Rmoney, beware.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2012/jul/17/dark-knight-rises-capitalist-superhero
http://www.salon.com/2012/07/18/batman_hates_the_99_percent/

[GarroHorus]

1. .

[whatchamacallit]

2. ..

[Initech]

5. ...

[Comrade_McKenzie]

3. I am going to watch it to cheer Bane on, anyway. nt

[WilliamPitt]

4. The Dumb is strong today.

Especially in this OP.

[AsahinaKimi]

8. AGREE...

Been looking forward to this movie... for a while, like everyone else.

[whatchamacallit]

21. Whatever man

Judgement passed by the self-appointed superhero of DU.

[zappaman]

37. +1! n/t

[CJCRANE]

6. I'll watch it myself and form my own opinions.

I don't need the Gurdian or Salon to tell me what to think.

[BOG PERSON]

7. superman > batman

batman represents the bourgeoisie in a state of decay

superman represents the objectified virtues of humanity (a la feuerbach)

[coalition_unwilling]

13. I think this might be part of what gets intellectuals a bad name - n/t

[randome]

27. Super inebriation! Yet another power we didn't know about.

[boxman15]

9. I've seen about ten other reviews saying it casts the rich and powerful in a poor light.

It's in the eye of the beholder. The film raises questions about society. It does not take any sides. In fact, I'd argue the film supports the 99%. Bane wouldn't have been able to manipulate the people if the people were not already so angry over the inequality in their society.

It reminds me of the French Revolution more than anything. The people protesting for good are co-opted by a man/group who is not interested in advancing the interests of the people at all. t

In the end, though, this is all just subtext. The film is not overtly political at all. It is a superhero movie. It's about a guy who dresses up as a bat and beats up bad guys. It's a great movie, whether or not you want to read anything political into it.

[white_wolf]

10. As someone who has seen the movie, the pundits are overreacting.

It is made crystal clear from very early on that Bane is no really ally of the people. It is very clear he is an opportunist and a conman.

[whatchamacallit]

18. But of course the people (rabble)

are too simple and gullible to think for themselves, so they are fall under the con man's influence, and must be saved by a caped billionaire.

[white_wolf]

20. The wealthy aren't exactly portrayed well either.

Rats trying to abandon a sinking ship is how I would describe them. Besides, they aren't really conned so much as threatened into following Bane. I'm not going to post spoiler in case anyone wants to see the movie, but the people don't seem to have too much choice.

[whatchamacallit]

22. Either way

the message is clear: "You need us!"

[white_wolf]

23. Well yeah, the movie isn't great on politics, I agree.

I just don't think it as bad as a lot of people thought it would be. I was really expecting Bane to be portrayed as a legitimate hero of the people, who followed him willingly. Instead it was more of a "stay out of my way or die" thing. Overall, I really don't think anyone is going to be influenced politically by this movie. I've always thought that if you go to movies for your political views, you probably didn't have any real views to start with.

[flamingdem]

11. Let's not blame Hollywood, blame Rush instead

Look out here in Lalalandia this is an industry that is under pressure. Let's rather pressure the GUN industry, that's what the focus needs to be.

[ananda]

12. I was never going to watch it anyway.

I watched The Avengers in May and it was awful.
These comic book movies just don't do a thing for me.

I liked The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, and I liked
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, and The Artist.

That's about my speed.

[coalition_unwilling]

15. If you liked "The Artist," be sure to check out this little gem: "The Fall" -

about as close to a perfect movie as you can get, at least since Malick's "Days of Heaven."

[Hutzpa]

14. Your heading is misleading

and comes across more as a knee jerk response than an intuitive opinion just as the journalist who wrote the
article.

[MrScorpio]

16. It's a freaking comic book movie

It doesn't pay to over-think everything.

[whatchamacallit]

24. You're right, don't over think it

just let it wash over you.

[HopeHoops]

17. No thanks. I'm both hetero and married.

[dionysus]

19. it's a comic book movie. people don't watch them to form political opinions.

[SidDithers]

25. ...

Sid

[nashville_brook]

26. Spiderman aligns with Unions -- Batman aligns with Ayn Rand

[white_wolf]

28. Ehh, if we actually want to have this discussion...

Bruce Wayne is a capitalist, of course. But he is never portrayed as an Ayn Rand type. His politics are rarely mentioned, but one of the comics I read mentions that Wayne Enterprise was a Union company.

Now, for superheros who side with unions, read Green Arrow. The guy once shot a store owner for chasing down a thief, because Green Arrow thought charging 4$ for diapers was the real theft.

[nashville_brook]

30. he is an Ayn Rand type aside from the creator's intent -- the billionaire savior

can't do much to claw that back.

[Mutiny In Heaven]

35. With respect, I think that's completely off the mark.

He is a 'hero' shaped by the vision of his parents' murder & subsequent life as an orphan. His wealth enables him to cultivate the Batman persona & procure the technology to carry it out.

In the current movie trilogy, he is portrayed as a flawed man, constantly at odds with the vulgar 'playboy' lifestyle expected of him. There is a constant Wayne / Batman dichotomy, and there is no Randian sentiment whatsoever; if some wish to interpret it in that way, I cannot stop them, but it's a myopic, one dimensional assessment born of little but wishful thinking. As in many of the character's best portrayals, Batman is decidedly morally ambiguous.

As for the idea that Bane is somehow supposed to represent Occupy, despite the film being written and more or less finished before that gained any sort of traction? That's a meme which is really based on a superficial glance at the movie's plot & as I don't wish to spoil it for anyone I shan't elucidate but to say that if you are expecting him to be seen as some kind of "99%" metaphor rather than the leader of a small cult with a pretty fucking big bargaining chip, you'll be disappointed.

[whatchamacallit]

31. That's probably why the Green Arrow

will never get his own movie.

[white_wolf]

33. He is getting a show in October, though.

I really hope they don't ignore the social-political aspect of his character, because if they do he's just Batman with a bow.

[randome]

29. It's Robin you have to watch out for.

Something's not right with that kid.

[white_wolf]

32. Especially the current one.

That kid really is nuts.

[sabrina 1]

36. Rush probably said that to trick Liberals into going to see it. What great publicity

that was for the movie. I wonder how much they paid Rush to create so much publicity right before it opened?

I agree with you, won't be paying any money to see it.