THE DARK KNIGHT TRILOGY- The View of Christopher Nolan

         *NOTE*- This is based off of THE DARK KNIGHT RISES documentary titled The Journey of Bruce Wayne, where Christopher Nolan and the crew speak about how they wished to develop and portray the Dark Knight. Here it is:


         The Batman story wasn't really meant to go on for a trilogy, according to one of the crew. Batman Begins was supposed to be the only film, and they left it open for people to think about and wonder. They never expected the film to do so good like it did.

         So when they saw the success of the film, they decided that they had to do another one. And with each film, they made it end in a way where it was open, but it was a definite ending as well. For example, in Batman Begins, they dropped the story where Bruce says he's going to re-build Wayne Manor. So it ends.

         When the crew made THE DARK KNIGHT, their plan was simple, make an even better Batman than the first. And they certainly did deliver. But the aim of THE DARK KNIGHT was to advance Bruce into his years of Batman, and to show his downfall.
         THE DARK KNIGHT had an ending that was also very definite, and it almost seems that the crew was determined to leave it at that. Batman had fallen, Gotham didn't need him anymore. He had done his job, and he had done it good. THE DARK KNIGHT was certainly, in my opinion, the best of the trilogy, as well as the darkest.
          As for THE DARK KNIGHT RISES, the crew wanted to do something special. They wanted to show that yes, Gotham did need Batman back after all. But, Bruce Wayne was "addicted to the suit," as Christopher Nolan. After his downfall eight years prior to the trilogy's ending, Bruce, as Alfred said, "hung up [his] cowl and cape, but [he] didn't move on. [He's] just waiting for things to go bad again so that Batman can come back."

         Well put, Alfred; as that was the aim of THE DARK KNIGHT TRILOGY crew. They wanted to show that Batman was the only way that Bruce could channel his undealt-with anger. He hadn't gotten past the fact that his parents were murdered in cold blood right in front of his very eyes. So, the only way that he could really control it, was with a cowl; with a cape, and with the ability to beat the crap out of petty thugs.

         So when Gotham needs Batman, Bruce can't resist. His opportunity to come back and show that he's really for the City of Gotham has presented itself, and he can't let it slip through his fingers. So he takes on Bane, and you know the story. Well then, why does he retire? you might ask.
         The answer isn't actually in the movie, not defined at least. He retires because he comes to the realization that Alfred was right. He had to move on. That decision was made while he was in the pit. He was thinking about everything that had happened that led to that point. He realized that he could have a life. So, he decided that after he defeated Bane, he would retire. But then the opportunity came to fake his death...
         So he took it. Thus, Batman died... and Gotham mourned the loss of their hero that they never desired, but needed. Now that the city wanted him...

They no longer needed the Batman.

So this... this is the tribute to Batman.

LONG LIVE THE BATMAN