The Dark Knight Rises opens in cinemas across the world in less than 24 hours. US screenings begin at midnight tonight, UK screenings take place at around 5am on Friday so that the film is in synch worldwide. From what I’ve been told those early morning screenings have proved to be amazingly popular and a lot of cinema chains nationwide are sold out or almost sold out for perhaps the most inconvenient opening time in the history of film!
What Culture were fortunate enough to see the film yesterday and you can read our spoiler free review HERE.
I saw the movie at my local IMAX last night at a special preview screening and boy I’ll tell ya, no matter how epic you think The Dark Knight Rises will be now, just wait until you see it. This is by far the biggest scale comic book movie of all time. Yes, The Avengers’ last twenty minutes felt big and was ungodly awesome but the threat feels larger in The Dark Knight Rises simply because it’s so much more realistic. This is our world, a film for our times, and a movie that because of certain events in the last decade or so feel scarily possible. 9/11, July 7/7, Occupy Wall Street, the UK riots last year. That stadium scene that was the focal point of the first trailer will give you goosebumps in the cinema and the vibrations of the film’s astonishing sound will have you shake with emotion.
But I’m not hear to review the film. You’ve already read that… I’m here specifically for the ending and my reading of it;
SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT… CLICK “NEXT” TO CONTINUE
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160 Comments
**SPOILERS**
What about the scene just before the end with Fox? I can’t remember the exactly lines… but he discovers that Bruce had found the fix for the autopilot.
He must have ejected downwards, into the sea. That will have been why he was flying so low – so that the impact into the water didn’t smash him to pieces I guess.
More importantly, wouldn’t a nuclear bomb with a blast radius of 6 miles – that blows up just above the sea – lead to a HUGE tsunami and destroy Gotham in any case? Not to mention the radiation which would have blown in with the wind for the next few decades.
Yeah I think I overlooked the Fox scene. That does definitely make my theory a little harder to support but doesn’t devalue the idea that the ending montage belongs to Warner Bros.
And completely agree with the nuclear blast. A lot of people in Gotham are going to have some health problems over the coming years…
Even if he managed to survive the impact of water. He can’t survive the bomb radius can he?!
You forget… he’s the God-damn Batman.
lolz you made my day with your brilliant comment :))
What about the scene when Fox first shows Bruce Wayne the “Bat.” HE mentions to Wayne that the only thing that doesn’t work is the auto-pilot. Fox then goes on to say that it will take a mind much greater then his to fix it or someone with more time. After the final scene you must assume that Bruce Wayne has fixed the auto-pilot and was never actually flying the “Bat” once it got away from Gotham.
The reactor was a fusion reactor; fusion bombs don`t give off radiation.
Fusion bombs are nuclear bombs, they give off loads of radiation.
Besides Fox. There is also the matter of the pearls. When they are going over the Wayne estate someone mentions that the pearls are missing and no one will believe that a string of pearls just disappeared. In that later moment with Bruce and Selina she is wearing his mother’s pearls. They are so out of focus against her fair skin they are difficult to make out but you can see the definitive blur around her neckline. I think your right. Nolan’s batman has retired, but he left enough doors open so someone else could reboot the series from which ever thread the want to follow.
Yes, dont forget the scene where Fox realizes that the auto pilot has been fixed by Wayne. Additionally when Alfred is telling Wayne earlier in the movie about his trip every year and how he wanted to see Bruce alive and away from Gotham he see’s someone similar to Bruce but not Bruce. If he were imagining things then I think that would have been the time in the movie to imagine them.
Also I didnt see the ending as much as a passing of the torch but rather an explanation. Batman has very distinct enemies and allies known by many even those who dont read comic books. Cat woman and Robin being 2 (who were not mentioned in the previous films). I think Nolan included these characters (especially Robin) to provide fans with his own explanation of how Batman’s allies were going to become his allies in this version of the story.
Either way, overall, it was the best money ever spent on a movie. For me at lease!
You should brush up on your nuclear physics. Fusion bombs/reactors (which by the way haven’t been inveted yet) produce pure energy. This means no nuclear waste or lingering radiation. I’m 14, come’on dude…
No tsunami. A tsunami has way, way more energy than any nuclear bomb.
Batman wasn’t going to die from this. This would be the lamest way to die, dying because you couldn’t figure out how to get a chopper-plane to keep flying straight without a pilot
This film was frigging awesome!!! But I agree…I wouldn’t want to be a resident of Gotham for the next, say, thousand years!
I’m sorry, and mean no personal disrespect to Matt Holmes when I say that this is an absolutely ridiculous review. I honestly don’t think you could even possibly justify this theory.
As its already been noted, the scene with Fox is a gaping hole. I won’t bother getting into that again, but the fact that Alfred isn’t there is huge.
Also, while Nolam’s series uses it as more of a light-hearted/comedic disappearing act, one of the defining aspects of Batman is that he is the world’s greatest escape artists. Wouldn’t saying that Batman isn’t able to have installed the auto-pilot and found a way to escape without anyone noticing here also suggest that Gordon imagines all of the appearances on the rooftop?
I think that the ending is clearly communicated: as per Ra’s advice, Batman has been turned into an ideal and “could be anyone”. The cowl is a symbol. The ending does set up for another John Blake Batman, but now the city sees him as a hero with the statue. This does mark the end of the ark, though Warner Bros probably will use the John Blake opening to milk the cash-cow. Bruce and Alfred have a touching ending, and all loose ties are brought together.
Bottom line, Christopher Nolan’s participation in the franchise is over. Doesn’t mean Warner or DC won’t continue it, regardless of how The Dark Night Rises ended.
THE PEARLS ARE THE KEY!! Only Alfred and Bruce knew the pearls were trackable. When Alfred learned the pearls were missing he tracked them to the cafe and sees Bruce and Selina.
The auto pilot deal is major, the bat signal restored, and the bat cave coordinates are all keys too. But the PEARS – set up earlier in the movie as trackable and announced lost by the estate are the key!
The bomb dropped on Hiroshima barley detonated and spread the majority of it’s uranium as radioactive fallout. Yet, as of 2006 there were 1,154,391 people living in the city. Where do people get the idea that a nuke makes a city uninhabitable?
Has no one suggested that possibly the outcome was that batman died yet Bruce Wayne survived?
that makes no sense it would be the other way around bruce died but the ledgend of batman survives, yeh? the other way around doesnt make sense im afraid
Did everyone miss the water formation at the end? The water clearly pushed upwards, which would lead me to believe that he dropped the “bomb” into the water, which would GREATLY reduce the detonation impact and allow Batman to fly off and scuttle the Bat elsewhere. It seemed clear to me that this is what happened and I only watched the film once.
Damn Matt, you’re an idiot.
So Alfred snuck into MCU and replaced The Bat Signal and then fixed the auto pilot himself and tagged it with Bruce Wayne? Did you stop to think that perhaps the last image of Batman in the cockpit flying out to sea wasn’t actually 5 seconds before the blast but rather a good amount of time before? This image was inserted in a non-linear fashion to make you feel that Batman might actually die. Batman probably just ejected himself out of The Bat before the explosion, and swam to shore(Nolan’s done it before; read TDK screenplay where Batman jumps out of a plane and swims to China). As for what you misinterpreted as Alfred’s “illusion/wish”; this actually happened. That’s why when he looked up the first time he was sad that it wasn’t Bruce, it was instead a goofy looking stranger; if it was his dream he would’ve saw Bruce with a wife and some kids. Why does logic just go over your head like this? You are way to stupid to write articles, please stop blogging and filling the world with your uselessness.
I would really like a black and white answer for this franchises end, inception was good but that was inception… I need bat closure!
Umm… Came out 19 hours ago here in Australia… So no world wide synch… Report fail!!!
Didn’t know that but looking at IMDB a lot of territories are getting it before UK and US.
Does make you wonder why on Earth they are doing 5am screenings in the UK.
I think this ending is like “Drive” where you are able to decide the ending for yourselves. As said above, Fox does find out that Bruce Wayne installed the auto pilot which is a massive clue.
But there is some evidence there that Batman did die.
Lining them up together though, i would say there is more evidence that he is alive. While someone can walk out nearly having a choice of thinking if he survived or not, i do think the evidence of he’s survival out weighs the evidence of he’s demise.
(i appreciate escaping a nuclear bomb is insane but he has some pretty gear)
Yeah, it wasn’t like he was flying a refrigerator or something. #Indy4Sucked
The main Character in Drive survives, the author wrote another book about him.
http://collider.com/drive-sequel-driven-james-sallis/170688/
His, not he’s, HIS you moron!
Because the UK is about to enter shutdown film-wise as the Olympics begins. The distributors need to squeeze the box office before the Opening Ceremony.
Shouldn’t the film open at midnight then?
Indiana Jones survived being at ground zero for a nuclear explosion. It should be a cinch for the Batman.
lol
ROFL :D
Batman survived in my opinion.
I agree
I had the exact same conversation with my mates as we left the cinema last night.
My argument was exactly yours. My mates said the same thing regarding the Fox scene. My interpretation of this is that it made Bruce Wayne’s sacrifice even greater!
Though I’ve yet to see it, I’m one of those fans who doesnt mind spoilers because I want to SEE the film & for me–it doesnt ruin it to know the ending. While I understand and respect the reviewer’s analysis of the final scene–for ME–it tells me that Batman/Bruce survived, BUT was ready to pass the mantle & this was his way of doing so & then being able to actually go away and enjoy the rest of his life. Maybe it IS an “Inception” choose your own interpretation ending, and if so, that is the one I choose.
I don’t know you, but I hate you for looking at spoilers before you’ve seen the movie.
Your pretty stupid for caring about that at all, Charizard.
I haven’t seen the film yet but perhaps this ending is supposed to reinforce the Nolan interpretation of this dark superhero trilogy. I mean, people flock to these movies not only because of the hero, but the dark twist of characters and story and the fact that they’re not good superhero flicks — they’re great films in general. With more superhero films being produced in recent years, we’re seeing a little bit of a greater struggle with characters and what not, but it seems that Nolan doesn’t gratify us with an ordinary superhero ending that preaches happiness and excitement because everything just works out in the end. And for that, I respect what he’s done here for the end of this trilogy.
I would compare this to the Knightfall saga. Where perhaps in the end, the Bat is Broken the mantle is passes to Blake (Nolan’s version of Jean Paul Valley)who eventually loses himself only to have Bruce come back when he emotionally fixed and ready. There can be many tellings of Batman. I really don’t like Nolan’s story. I am a die hard Bat and continuity has always been my short fuse. I would compare Nolan’s films to Smallville and how it mangled Superman continuity. I loved Smallville, don’t get me wrong, and I like Nolan’s films as well. But I would not have had Batman go out this way. I just keep telling myself this isn’t much different that Knightfall, Knightquest, and Knightsend. Plus I am hoping that after WB tackles The Dark Return (animated) that we will at somepoint see a three part Knightfall animated movie.
So… Avengers and Batman has the same dramatic final? I mean, Tony and Bruce ”Sacrificie” with nuclear bomb?
actually its more like captain america.
The ending is simple:
Bruce Wayne installed the autopilot six months earlier (as revealed to Lucius fox) and bailed well before the nuke exploded, most likely during the confusion of the last big explosion right before the Bat flies out over the ocean. Further evidence that he survived is that his beloved mother’s pearl necklace is not amongst the estate after his “death”
John Blake’s legal first name is revealed to be “Robin” and Bruce Wayne left him directions to a new Batcave in his will. He will most likely take on the role of Nightwing, not Batman.
“He will most likely take on the role of Nightwing, not Batman.”
Highly doubtful, since that would go agianst everything that Nolan has built over three films regarding Batman as a symbol- the man can be destroyed; the symbol can not. Not that it matters; Nolan’s story ends here and the next Batfilm will be completely unconnected, so we’ll never actually see Blake taking on any role.
Nah Batman said that he was only a symbol and anyone can be batman. So it makes sense if Blake becomes Robin, as like I said, Robin can be like batman as well.
We should always think that batman is a franchise. Warner brothers makes a lot of money from it that it would cost a lot to just simply let go off the series. From an fan’s point view, I’ve always wanted to see the other characters from the comic book franchise which might not happened for this trilogy but may soon become reality…
Matt, I like your theory. You put some work into it but I think Willis did kill it a little bit. Mind you, I have not seen the film yet, so I’m going off what I have read here. Inception was not really an open ending to me as many thought. The fact that the top keeps spinning is just a thematic element of the film. Leo’s character saw his real kids, and he didn’t need any proof of it. When he saw them, he knew it was real because of his love for them. That’s the true message at the end of that film. Nolan likes to play with people’s minds and make them think he has some super complex ending, when in reality, it’s quite simple and easy too understand if you are emotionally connected to the film.
BATMAN/BRUCE WAYNE IS ALIVE based on the evidence you have provided me. I teach this stuff in college which should build my ethos just a little more for you.
Nolan wouldn’t have slipped in that comment by Fox for nothing. He wants to communicate to you that “Batman might have gotten away”. Peter Willis made a good point. Bruce knew what Alfred told him and he was making his dream come true after so many years of Wayne family anguish and at some level Bruce wanted that for himself too. Even if Alfred was daydreaming to give in to your theory, the Fox statement is GOLD. The one thing that has always been true about Batman, is that if he has a way to escape or win, he does it. It also leaves the possibility for Christian Bale, the MONEY COW, to return to the series to takeover Blake’s failures as Batman. Same thing happened in the comics. I agree with you both about the massive wave. However, radiation is minimized by explosion in or over water which is why countries like North Korea test over waters. However, it’s not good for the poor dolphins…
This may be Nolan’s last, but I highly doubt it’s Bale’s regardless of what he may or may not say. Just like Batman to Bruce, Bale will always be the Batman. He deserves an Oscar for his constant portrayals of The Dark Knight. People like to make fun of the voice but it seems like something a normal person would do in the Bat costume which makes Christian Bale, at least to me anyway, more endearing and the most memorable.
“Blake finds coordinates to the Batcave entrance (where we presume he will take on the mantle of Batman for the next director)”
Nope- Nolan’s francise is over and DC/WB is rebooting. No Batman flicks without Bruce Wayne.
Hey, its a movie?
I think WB force nolan into having the audience think regarding the ending of the dark knight rises for the re-boot of the batman franchise. Bruce Wayne will come back to assist John Blake in fighting crime in Gotham City. Blake will fail miserably as the cape crusader in the 1st reboot, which will dictate that Bruce Wayne will return as The Batman. Blake will realize that Bruce will need help as well then switch over to the customery role as Robin in the next franchise. That way WB can make the Robin transition smooth for Batman fans an jump start the Justice League movie as well, depending on how The Man of Steel does @ the box office, that my theory. Nolan not only gave in to the pressure of WB but assured his success as a top director as well, in addition to providing WB a cash cow.
I actually had the same thoughts about the eventual “reboot”
I doubt Blake will become Robin because his real name was Robin, so he will most likely become nightwing.
This was my least favorite film of the three from Nolan. Great to look at, had the best action, but a ridiculous plot line. Plus, the HUGE plot hole in the middle (escaping the Pit Of Despair – and getting back to the US…how? His POWER was SHUT OFF at Wayne Manor, for God’s sake…).
Bruce is alive, due to auto-pilot getting fixed. He bailed out of the Bat, and fled to safety.
That’s my $0.02.
You´re a moron. He already travelled the world without having any kind of paper, money or id in Batman Begins. Meaning: He knew how to do that and therefore, how to get back.
I would love to get a definitive answer on if he survived but i am starting to believe that there is no answer and Nolan left it up to everyone to discuss and make up their own opinions and there there is no actual right or wrong answer.
But then again im so tired atm i might not be seeing the obvious lol
I think one key element everyone is forgetting that satisfies his survival is the clean slate device. The whole movie they have you believe it’s for Selina but in reality it was for Bruce, he wanted it more. This was his chance to claim death and move on from Batman and Gotham. He fixed the autopilot six months earlier, manage to make time to update his will with instructions for Blake and the missing pearl neclace and then used the clean slate device on himself and vanished. Well played Nolan.
I have the complete spoilers posted on http://www.dark-knight-rises.com from start to finish!
No prob – Jack Bauer and Evelyn Salt were waiting below in a fast-dive mini-submersible. Jack’s survived A-Bomb explosions so many times he glows in the dark, and Salt will make Bruce forget all about Selina…
Stay tuned for the inevitable ‘Bat-Salts in 24′ cross-over…
My posts from yesterday didn’t show up so he’s the summary of why it’s NOT dream –
Bruce had already fixed the auto pilot. Sacrificing himself when the Bat could’ve flown itself only lessons the impact and makes it look like he WANTS to die. Though earlier in the film several people pointed out he did want to die.
A key point is that Alfred only saw Selina briefly at the party and didn’t know she and Bruce continued their relationship. So why did he see her? Must be real.
Batman fixed the autopilot + Alfred worried earlier that he wants to die = Batman is dead. He martyred himself for Gotham as a way of resolving his conflicting motivations for being Batman: social justive vs. personal vendetta. Lucious’ discovery shows he COULD have escaped but chose not to; controlling his fate/legacy rather than choosing to live his life. This interestingly makes Batman’s sacrifice really self-serving; totally passive-aggressive also, which is a Batman hallmark. Meanwhile, Alfred “lets the truth have its day” or whatever when he admits to his own failure, at the funeral, but to cope long term he hallucinates Bruce’s survival, demonstrating in the first place what Bruce and Gordon already knew: sometimes the messy truths of life’s choices simply cannot be endured (recalling another Alfred idealistic prod from TDK). This is Nolan’s boxing of idealism and conscience within the rude narrative interruptions of life experience into our best laid plans.
Plain and simple, this is classic christopher nolan story-telling at it’s finest. It is why his movies are some of the best. No other director let’s us the viewers decide how we want the movie to be. A wonderful thing these days if i say so…
Hey Guys, about the Nuclear radiation. There is no radiation. It is a FUSION reactor, not a FISSION reactor. This is why nuclear fusion is a kind of a holy grail of sustainable energy, it does not produce harmful radiation
Let us not forget that Batman is also known as the World’s Greatest Detective. It is only right and fitting that Det. John Blake, who was promoted by Gordon in the movie, would be better suited as a Batman with more detective skills. John Blake did a lot of sleuthing in the movie and was proved correct more often.
Wrong. I was explaining this to my friend as we were leaving the theater that Blake appears to be loosely based upon Tim Drake. Remember that at a young age, Drake deduced that Bruce was Batman (as Blake did as an orphan in the boys home). So Blake could actually end up being “Robin.”
Essentially, I had little problem with the ending. I thought it was purposely constructed as a way to allow viewers to put in their own interpretation as well as allowing a “wink” to all of the Bat fans out there with the possibility of a Robin and a Bruce and Selina romance. As for my self, I agree that Bruce survived and I don’t think that ending made it impossible, if he felt the need, to resume the Mantle of the Bat – hell it is a common plot line throughout the comic. So back to your earlier point, as for Blake’s “detective” skills, they are (as with Tim) advanced. However, even possessing these skills, where does he learn the hand to hand/ninja/League of Shadow skills that Bruce dedicated his life to learning?
Wow…did I come up with another reason why Bruce survived?
In the first Florence incident, Alfred sees the back of someone he hopes is Bruce, but sees he’s not when he turns around. In the end Alfred sees Bruce and there is no second look that shows he’s someone else–He’s alive!!
Saw The Dark Knight Rises tonight. I enjoyed it and to be honest, for some reason, this movie felt like a shortened version of a 3.5hr movie.
As for the ending, its pretty clear he lives, however, if Nolan had the balls he would not of shown the Selina/Bruce image just after Alfred smiles, that would of left it as one of the great ending ever.
I will be honest, I was completely shocked at Robin.
Overall, the not the best of the three, but the last 60 seconds is what saved it.
I AGREE! Nolan could have ended it during Alfred’s facial shot of him smiling. That would have been amazing
Ive enjoyed reading all the theories and haven’t seen it yet but definitely going to pull for it topping Avengers, seeing as how TDKR will be the best part 3 of any trilogy EVER. Avengers couldn’t possibly hold that kind of momentum. BB was the most lackluster of the 3 (if that’s even possible) so the only way was up from there just like any trilogy, BUT, The Avengers started out so epic that they need the Infinity Gauntlet to keep up. We all know (whoever has read that series) how many Marvel stars are involved and how dark it becomes, so there is a tremendous amount of pressure for the next director if Whedon isn’t at the helm. kudos to Joss for introducing Thanos which makes the pressure inevitable. I’m not a fanboy of DC or Marvel, I love good movies and they are upping the ante which is great for all us fans of whoever.
bruce is dead! noticed they dont show catwoman w him at the end? just a dark haired gurl! but alfred is so upset he will think anything.
That is Catwoman with him. It is Anne Hathaway, not another actress. Alfred didn’t know Bruce had kept in touch with Selina. So how could Alfred have imagined i.
I can guarantee that it WAS catwoman.
i believe that Bruce Wayne is alive. i was brought aware that when the “Bat” went above that building before it crossed the bridge it made an explosion that was at first thought to be the nuclear explosion but, was actually the hiding of Bruce Wayne’s ejection to make him escape. He then turned on auto-pilot and escaped safely, hence all the clues at the end how he fixed the auto-pilot at the end.
I had that thought too… but then I remembered that they showed a brief cut of Batman, in the cockpit of the “BAT”, like 5 seconds before the bomb went off. So therefore, he could not have ejected over the city and sent it out to sea on autopilot. I wish they would not have shown him in the cockpit. He would not have had time to eject safely out there and survive the blast, so how did he survive?
There was mor than one bat.
Keep in mind that Bruce gave Selina the program to clear her name so I don’t understand why they both couldn’t use it to start new lives..
Just to add to that an interview that Bale did saying he would consider playing Bruce Wayne again for films after this one!! So not dead!
You all want to know what I think is funny. Nolan makes one movie, Inception, and you all think that Nolan makes all his films with inconclusive endings. Nolan does not and would not kill off Bruce. You can try and put the Inception ending to this all you want but it just does not stick. He gives a clear ending to this film and all his other films too, granted there are some crazy twist to all his other films but never-the-less they still have a fixed ending. I enjoyed this film much like all his other ones Nalon is good at what he does.
memento, prestige…. insomnina to a certain degree… Not just inception..
One word, or rather Two, “Justice League” anyone?, and yes they left it open for various reasons. It is a Billion Dollar Franchise after all!!! Batman can never die and Batman will probably always be Bruce Wayne!!!
You wish to believe Batman is alive because he is a beacon of hope and justice.
He is a legend, a saviour. Long live Batman
Spoilers:
I would hope Nolan didn’t kill off Batman. It’d be pretty egotistical wouldn’t it? He often refers to “his Batman” but you can’t own Batman. He’s been good at respecting the source material i’d think it in bad taste compelling story or not to kill off Bruce for your own means.
In order for the Batman franchise to stand the test of time as it has, the characters have to have a certain degree of elasticity to them; they have to be able to withstand being pulled in different directions and being creatively distorted by those writers (or directors) who decide to take them on all while still being able to return to their original form.
Batman has survived Tim Burton, Joel Schumacher, and whoever created that god-awful The Batman animated series. Why should we have any reservations about what Nolan’s done with the character? I’m glad Nolan and crew ran with his vision for the character. Kill Batman if you want to (Grant Morrison did!). I’m not interested in hearing the same old Batman story again and again, I want to see him put in new situations.
The great thing about the Batman mythos is that it “re-starts” itself each time you close the comic book or leave the movie theater. They could “re-boot” the Batman series a hundred times, and so long as they added something new to the character, or took him to a place he hasn’t been before, I’ll buy into it.
The moment you stop letting writers and directors take chances with the character is the moment you begin to make the character stale, and that’s the only REAL way to kill Batman.
He 100% survived, if not from the above the fact that the pearl necklace was reported missing.
I’m surprised theres debate, I’m not sure theres supposed to be
Bruce Wayne lives. Fox realised that the auto-pilot feature was fixed six months ago, which allows Batman to escape, most likely during the blast through the building. The bat signal was also fixed and Alfred saw Bruce and Selina, and the fact that they acknowledge each other shows that it is real. Batman is dead, but Bruce Wayne lives. I’m just wondering though, are there two “the bat” helicopters? I mean, how can Fox get hold of the aircraft when it should have been vaporised since it was in the middle of a NUCLEAR explosion, unless there is another which was updated as well. Can someone please give me an answer to this?
OK i dont know if someone has already posted this but I want to point out that the ending is totally alfreds dream coming to fruition ill tell you why.
1.Bruce has always wanted to move on with his life and alfred gave him that closure by telling him the truth about rachael
2.Bruce was ready to pass the torch to dent so he could live a normal life
3.Id have to review the movie again but i think it was six months since the bane martial law and he states at the end that bruce waynes ID was used six months ago to fix the autopilot so he says his goodbyes like hes going to die and he knows it then puts it on autopilot and takes off ejects on the out skirts of the city or in the water and moves on with his life
I hope my interpretation may help put things in perspective
“are there two “the bat” helicopters? I mean, how can Fox get hold of the aircraft when it should have been vaporised since it was in the middle of a NUCLEAR explosion, unless there is another which was updated as well”.
i want to know this also, i assume there is two but the one at the end of the film appears a little battered, did it survive and was it salvaged.
I must admit when i saw the bat fly off with the bomb i had a lump in my throat but reealised afterwards Bruce is still alive. He wanted Batman to die so he could move on. I am also wondering wether there was some kind of shielding on “the Bat”.
my thoughts on this is… The Bat was a prototype vehicle from Wayne Enterprises’s R&D division… Bruce Wayne FIXED the autopilot 6 months prior to Batman’s Bat exploding, BUT recorded at Wayne Enterprises that he had fixed the autopilot (and I assume, kept the specs for the working auto-pilot at the company which would help the company sell the chopper to military and regain certain losses from Bane’s Wall Street stunt with Wayne’s fingerprints). They had just built a new using the old specs, with Bruce’s auto-pilot fix.
The explosion on the building that batman created at the end while carrying the bomb off, couldn’t have been his distraction for an ejection from the bat because the next seen shows batman inside the bat flying it while it is over the sea. It is only plausible that he ejected over the sea but before the explosion occurred
are there two “the bat” helicopters? I mean, how can Fox get hold of the aircraft when it should have been vaporised since it was in the middle of a NUCLEAR explosion, unless there is another which was updated as well.
Or, the bat survived and was salvaged?
I can see the logic behind the illusion theory. However, when they did the flashback to Alfred’s earlier trips to that little cafe, they did show him realizing it was NOT Bruce. He never actually saw Bruce’s face when he was telling that story. He saw the back of a man’s head with similar hair, then when the man turned around, it clearly was not Bruce Wayne. There was another clue I didn’t catch reading through some of the comments… The pearl necklace was not accounted for with the estate. Bruce had gotten it back form her earlier in the movie, so I’m adding that to evidence that he took that necklace for her when they left disappeared togther.
Agreed. That and the clean slate device… The whole movie you are believed to think it was for Selina when in reality it was Bruce that wanted it more then anything. This was his chace to peace from the title as Bruce, Batman and the pressures of being Gotham’s prince. Auto pilot was fixed, will updated to show Blake the Batcave and remove the necklace from the estate and clean slate deviced used to start fresh.
Even if Batman had corrected the auto-pilot do you really think that he would take that chance with a nuclear bomb? Although it sucks to imagine, but Batman probably would have made sure that thing made it out to sea.
It is this humble cinema goers opinion that Nolan both did and did not kill Bruce Wayne.
1) The exploding building (clearing the way for the bat to clear the skyscraper.) Bruce was trained by the League of shadows. Are not shadows and misdirection one of the most important lessons Bruce learned whilst training?
2) The fixed auto pilot going back 6 months. Bruce already fixed the ‘bat’ and did not inform anybody he had done so.
3) The USB with the means necessary to make someone disappear. Is it not feasible that Bruce always intended to use the key with Selina to get the life he had always wanted.
4) The will, the missing necklace and the location of the Batcave. Bruce clearly got what was left of his estate together. He left the mansion (but not the contents) to Alfred (who turned it into a home for Orphans.) We know he got the necklace back from Selina but we never see him give it back to her. With it being missing, (and I’ll have to re watch to confirm this) is it not seen on her at the cafe? Also, the batman was always a symbol and not the man behind the mask. Leaving the location of the cave to ‘Robin’ shows that Bruce finally knew he had the means to leave the cape behind with someone he could trust to do the right thing.
5) The cafe sequence. I don’t think this is a dream. I really think Alfred has seen Bruce and Selina and done exactly what he said he would do during the 7 years a younger Bruce was finding himself.
6) Hans Zimmer’s Rise – The final 2 minutes of this track are more jovial than the opening minutes, with hope and a twinge of happiness attached to it. This to me is an example of the soundtrack helping to tell the story. Hope is Blake taking up the mantle and happiness is Bruce finally getting the life he always deserved.
In conclusion, I feel this is enough, at least for me to say that Bruce Wayne the identity is dead along with Selina Kyle but, that both are now living a happy life.
The only spanners I can see with my idea are that a) We see the Batman in the cockpit (supposedly) a mere 5 seconds before the bomb goes off. b) I highly doubt Selina would leave her young charge/apprentice behind to live a new life is she is anything like her comic book counter part. We really don’t see enough between Selina and her charge to know if this is the case.
All in all, a very satisfying climax to Nolan’s trilogy.
PLZ NO MORE SEQUELS WB!!!!!!!! JGL WOULD NEVER WANT TO CONTINUE NOLAN’S BATMAN TRILOGY!!!
JUST REBOOT IT AGAIN WITH A NEW BRUCE WAYNE.
GIVE IT TO THE GUY WHO DIRECTED BLACK SWAN
OK, so as I was reading the comments made I came to a realization. I have always been sure that he survives the blast but I was with everyone else when it comes to how did he do it and how would the “bat” not be destroyed by the bomb. That is when I decided that it is possible that he dropped the bomb in the water just before it went off and was able to fly to safety before the blast. He was probably close enough to have it damage the aircraft and then he bailed leaving it to was up on the shore. That is my theory at the moment. There is absolutely no evidence that Alfred fixed anything or even knew enough about Salina or Robin to have done all that work at the end. It had to have been Bruce Wayne which means he lived.
I think we are unnecessarily complicating a simple enough ending. Bruce Wayne doesn’t die. He manages to fix the autopilot (Fox’s revelation scene as a lot of you have pointed out) and bails out in time. What Alfred sees isn’t some illusory manifestation of his desires or coping mechanism for the loss. There is no loss. Bruce Wayne lives well and good.
I personally found the scene where Robin inherits the mantle (the stone slab rising out of the water as he looks on in awe) one of the most poignant scenes. I hope WB decides to continue the franchise (favoring Joseph Gordon-Levitt as the new Batman, maybe Batman Of The Future-esque?) albeit with a new director. I would hate to see another reboot, no matter how promising they make it sound. Besides, there will be an overwhelming pressure on the next director to trump Nolan’s genius work.
JGL was fantastic, but I think we’re a far ways away from seeing a live-action Batman Beyond
I walked out of the cinema thinking this same thing, until I remembered the Fox scene.
Plus, did I imagine this, or, when Batman was describing is plan of flying the Bat out to sea with thw bomb, Catwoman asked if he was going to do it and he replied with something along the lines of “No, the auto pilot will”?
To the Inception pseudo intellectuals who believe everything Nolan does needs to have a cavernous meaning, you have already disregarded all the evidence provided like the auto-pilot, Selena in Florence etc.
Someone explain to me why the Bat sign was fixed? In the sequence where it is revealed the auto pilot was working/Blake found the cave we see Jim Gordon shocked to find the previously axed to death Bat signal all fixed and shiny, ready for the new Batman. Who fixed it and when? Batman replaced it after the bomb exploded, before he left Gotham.
What about when batman tells JGL he needs to wear a mask to protect his loved ones just before the final battle? Perhaps JGL gets the bat cave for training? Why else would they drop his name “robin”? Mabe just wishful thinking bc for me Bruce is always batman. An I don’t see batman letting someone as untrained as John Blake just be batman. Mabe he is in vacation? Heck I dunno
All this stuff about WB telling Chris Nolan to put in the ending to keep alive the franchise…
Wasnt it said by Nolan that from the first day of writing Batman begins, he always knew what the final scene from the last film would be?
I believe its another inception…But i also think its good, because you can make your mind up for yourself.
I also thought the ending was awesome, one of the best endings to a film ive seen…Even if it did make you hungry for more!
Following the explosion, Batman is hailed as a hero with a statue erected in his honor while Bruce is declared dead. As his estate is divided, Martha Wayne’s pearls are noted as missing; presumably explained when Alfred witnesses Bruce and Selina together in a café in Florence – fulfilling a wish made earlier in the film that Bruce would one day be able to move on. Bruce also leaves coordinates for the Batcave to Blake in his will, and it is revealed that Blake’s legal first name is Robin.
Honstely, I believe the ending was directed in a way that the audience could make their own choice as to what happened. There were plenty of people who firmly hated the idea of Bruce Wayne dying. At the same time, there were plenty of people (including myself) drooling at the idea of Bruce Wayne dying in his final effort to save Gotham. This ending leaves enough leeway for both parties to be happy and believe what they want.
Bruce Wayne is still alive…when the officer arrive at Wayne Manor they reported his mother’s pearls as missing. That’s because they were on Selina Kyle’s neck in the last scene…
I left the cinema with the view that Wayne was dead and the cafe scene was Alfreds imagination, my girlfriend took the more literal Bruce is alive analysis. I did think this was an Inception-esque ending but looking back it is too clunky for Nolan if he was going for this type of ending and I would need a second watch to really focus on these scenes but key points for me are;
1) someone before mentioned it is a fission not a fusion reactor, meaning big blast but not radioactive or vapourising (if true it could have been explained in the film for us non physicists)
2) The Fox scene where the autopilot was fixed. It is leaving too much to the imagination to believe that although it was fixed Wayne decided not to use it, which makes me think it is a deliberate explanation for Bruce surviving
3) I would need to re-watch for this one but when Batman decides to fly the bomb out, Selina asks about autopilot. I thought Batman said “there is no autopilot” but a previous comment thought he said “no need because there is autopilot” or something to that effect. If I heard correctly then why lie to the person he was going to escape with? Because Gordon was present? Or was it a clear explanation “yes there is autopilot”? Any one hear it more clearly?
4) The point about the necklace being missing was deliberate, why include it if it was genuinely just missing?
5) I would need to re-watch but was the explosion before the “Bat” flew over the building masking an ejection?
6) Bruce had clearly arranged the post “death” events prior to Gotham falling under Banes rule
All these points indicate a deliberate faking of his own death but;
7) I would need to re-watch this scene again but it definately looked like Batman was in the cockpit wiht 5 seconds to go
8) It was definately Selina in the cafe scene despite Alfred having next to no contact with her
The non-readiation aspect of the fusion reactor WAS explained in the movie–after all, the purpose of it was to be an energy source for the whole world since it DOESN’T have harmful radiation effects like other nuclear energy sources.
The non-radiation aspect of the fusion reactor WAS explained in the movie–after all, the purpose of it was to be an energy source for the whole world since it DOESN’T have harmful radiation effects like other nuclear energy sources.
Before I give my opinion on the end I wanna say I was so pleased with the way this movie played out. Bane killed it Selina was beyond seductive and JGL was superb.
That being said. Please stop reading way to into this ending this isn’t inception ppl it’s batman.
To me this ending open the possibility of a continuance of the franchise. With either a bale batman and JGL robin/nightwing. Or just JGL as robin/ nightwing.
But there is another route to go down. JGL can become the batman of the future and WB could do Batman Beyond. Which would be Ill. Bring an older Bruce or even just Alfred for now and have Blake hoan his bat skills until
Necessary all the while learning and understanding what batman is and mean and what it means to wear the cape and cowl. Either way I’m satisfied with the Nolan trilogy and can’t wait for supes.
And also…surely they cant reboot the Batman films for a long while after these ones?
I mean, they are a hard act to follow.
He is my favourite action hero, but these were the best films i may ever have seen.
Can someone please quote the fox scene word for word for me?!
Hows about this. Alfred left before bruce/batman ever got romantic with selina kyle. Why is it at the end he sees them together if batman died? That is all I have to say. He lived because alfred would have never seen him with selina he would have seen him with a random female or even a version of rachel or something to that extent. He wasnt even around when he hooked up with talia if you remember they had to break in before he even left.
You guys are thinking way too much into this..
The very FACT that Bruce Wayne was shown in the ending sequence, proves he lives.
If Nolan wanted to mess with our minds he would have simply shown Alfred nodding in approval and cut.
Batman died so Bruce Wayne could live. Thats my cheesy take on the ending. Loved this trilogy with its flaws. Great from the opening of Begins right to the close of Rises!
Kudos to Christopher Nolan for again pulling off an open-ended conclusion that will leave everyone talking. Honestly, these open endings say a lot about the viewer’s optimism/pessimism based on the choice they seem to believe.
Still, I don’t think the ending is nearly as open as Inception was, and everything I gathered after watching it today let me to believe this:
Bruce Wayne as Batman is dead. Bruce Wayne himself, however, is alive and well.
Here are my reasons:
(1. A MAJOR theme throughout the movie is that Bruce Wayne has spent the last 8 years completely void of any real life. Ever since the demise of Harvey Dent and Rachel, Bruce himself has practically been dead inside, which Alfred clearly states when he says, “You’re alive, but not living” (or something to that extent). In every Batman film, Nolan has had Bruce make some kind of self realization. Anyone who reads a lot will know that every protagonist needs to change in order to come to a real resolution. In this final film, the message is that Bruce Wayne can not live happily in Gotham City. As Batman, only imminent doom awaits him. At the end of TDK, Batman has already sacrificed himself to uphold the image of Harvey Dent. For Batman to die at the end of TDKR means there was really no emotional change for Bruce Wayne. He was always self-sacrificing, ready to put his life on the line for the betterment of Gotham City. The ONLY way Bruce Wayne could change as a character would be to find happiness, which is the one thing that had evaded him throughout the trilogy.
(2. During Alfred’s monologue, he talks about “fantasizing” that Bruce was in France with a wife, living happily ever after, but Nolan very carefully chooses not to show the fantasy itself. Instead he shows Alfred beginning to fantasize, which is then interrupted by the person turning around clearly NOT being Bruce Wayne. Point being, that flash back was a literal flash back. As devastated as Alfred is at the cemetery, it is doubtful to me that he would allow himself that sort of fantasy based on his own personal guilt, in the same way Bruce Wayne would never allow himself to find happiness due to his guilt. Based on the literal flashback, it stands to reason that Nolan showed us a literal perspective from Alfred at the conclusion as well. Not a fantasy.
(3. As mentioned above, Alfred had absolutely no way of knowing about any budding romance between Bruce and Selina. Therefore, it wouldn’t have made sense for Selina Kyle to be the woman with Bruce.
(4. Additionally, before the climax, Selena begs Batman to leave with her. Alfred would have no way of knowing this conversation ever occurred between them. Still, when Batman says no, she suggests that she will simply flee the city. When she returns and saves Batman, he is obviously impressed, proven right that she was a good person deep down inside the entire time, leading me to the next major theme present throughout the entire film: Redemption. Batman redeems himself to the public in the light of Dent’s by saving Gotham. Selina is obsessed with a clean slate and redeems herself by returning and saving Batman. But how does BRUCE WAYNE redeem himself? His character can not if he actually perishes in the bomb blast.
(5. The biggest argument in support of Batman’s actual physical death is that he is in The Bat merely five seconds before it erupts. However, pay attention to the way Nolan handles time throughout this film. For example, the bomb goes from 23 days to explosion to 12 hours in one cut. Time is clearly being toyed with for dramatic effect. Even if Batman was in the pod 5 seconds before the bomb explodes, as Batman the character has proven time and time again, if anyone could escape such a dire situation in the nick of time, he could.
(6. Lastly, Lucius very clearly states that Bruce is the only one capable of fixing the auto-pilot. I believe he does in fact do this. However, during the climax, Batman is surrounded by everyone – Lucius, Gordon, etc. I believe by now, Bruce is aware of two things: One, he will never be happy in Gotham City as Batman. Two, Gotham City needs a Batman. If he is to move on from Batman and fake his own death, he wouldn’t tell anyone that the auto-pilot was fixed. That would be necessary to convince everyone around him that he must self-sacrifice.
With Batman FAKING his death, he achieved resolution in every aspect of the characters. Batman is redeemed with an heir to carry on the symbolic mantle. Selina Kyle is redeemed and free to start over with a clean slate. Alfred’s guilt is alleviated by knowing he did not fail as Bruce’s surrogate father. But what about Bruce Wayne? This entire trilogy has focused more on the personal struggles of Bruce than ever before, and by faking his death, Bruce Wayne (no stranger obviously to sudden disappearances) finds redemption by allowing himself to lead a normal, happy life. The End.
But then, I thought Two-Face lived after TDK, so what do I know.
Two plots have been played out at the same time, the plot that involves the death of batman and bruce wayne as far as the characters can go in this film trilogy. batman had offered selina kyle aka catwoman the chip that would offer her a clean slate, why did he have the chip? was it for him, her, or them both. With the autopilot fix, and scene with alfred, it can noy be accepted as his sole perspective as much as it discounts the oth clues as to his true fate.
The second plot that was being delivered involed setting up a new character, and giving him enough of a connection to allow the you to see and accept the potential in a new hero, does not have to be Batman, could be Robin, or even Nightwing, you could even play it out with many years and have Batman beyond.
This is sold in to the plot, for comecial gain, and can also be accepted as the Batman legacy is a the case batman is bruse wayne and vise versa, no one else can be batman, no backed up by standard comic history, would stretch the public perception to far.
But enough plots have been given, to give the public a descent modern take on Batman, and enough credible material to allow some continuation and to explore alternate story arcs that would not deface the comic or character history…
Is batman dead, its kinda is realy up to you, what you accept, and how you accept it…
if they make a reboot of batman again is going to suck as* big time, first of all cuz if they do one of the villains would have to be the joker, hes the main villain come on you have to have to have to put him in there. BUT! unless they can dragon ball heath ledger’s ass back to life, there is no person in this world nor another one that would make such a great joker like he did so he is heath ledger is just going to eclipse the new joker all the way from sweet heaven and make it a not worth it movie. this trilogy ended well it was original robin inherint the cape bruce lived and it was awesome
BRUCE WAYNE LIVES! Some comments are saying how Alfred could not have accepted (by nodding and smiling at the end) that BOTH Bruce and Selina were together. Alfred DOES KNOW Selina Kyle from the very first scene with her in the kitchen when she volunteers to take the tray in. Bruce researches her on the computer with Alfred standing right there. Alfred even mentions THIS VERY IMPORTANT PIECE OF INFORMATION THAT MAKES THE BRUCE WAYNE ALIVE ENDING VERY PLAUSIBLE:(not exact words until I watch again tomorrow)…Alfred says something along the lines of “Take her out on a date. You two would make a perfect pair.” Something along those lines. So Alfred does know Selina Kyle enough. Plus with the span of time in this movie with the bomb and Bruce’s rise in the pit and his journey back, there is a time lapse from when Alfred is crying at the grave to when he goes to Florence. Lucius Fox and him and Blake and Gordon were all at the grave, presuming his death but no burial since the ground is solid.
As for as my theory as to how Bruce survived, I am going to review exactly what happens in the last half hour, or from the point when Talia dies and detail it all here tomorrow. All the lines and actions, every shot, so that we can understand exactly what Selina Kyle and Bruce discuss before he takes the bomb to the very end.
Bruce Wayne died, but Batman did not. As a symbol, he became incorruptible. He became an inspiration for people like Robin. Who knows if Robin will follow in Batman’s footsteps? But that is a whole different story. This film does not clearly depict anything by the end, because what matters most is not what happened to Batman, but what he stood for. Nolan leaves it up to you to determine what actually happens.
Well what about the explosion on the building right b4 batman left gotham city, the one where John Blake thought it was the fusion bom, what if batman used that as a distraction so that he could eject from the “bat” and engage the auto pilot, thust Bruce Wayne still being alive.
Anyone else think that nolan can just do a new franchise of robin movies with gordon-levitt?? The only thing that deflates that idea is that the bat symbol is fixed with the bat on it but i still think its a possibility. Nolan said he isnt doing another batman movie but he never said anything about robin…
People, you can’t just examine the ending. You have to look at the film as a whole. This is what I understood from the film. Remember the argument between Bruce and Alfred. Alfred was disapointed, that even though he retired the Batman after loosing his love, Bruce decided not to live his life. LATER ON, Bruce get some advice on fear and death. So, by the time Batman is flying off with the bomb he knows what’s really important and makes a choice. BATMAN/BRUCE has friends who loves him and he loves them right back. He had a reason to live. He choosed life. Pay attention to the emotions. These Dark Knight films isn’t just about violence, it’s about love and sacrifice.
He’s dead – Bruce Wayne fixing the autopilot only signifies that it was his choice to die for Gotham. The scene where Lucius finds out that the AP was functional is used to show that it wasn’t a case of Batman died because he had no choice, he totally made the decision to see it through.
Earlier in the film when Alfred discusses with Bruce how he fears that there’s only one end for Batman, he’s right.
Bruce Wayne died the night his parents were killed – he is Batman, and this is the ultimate sacrifice which will save his city.
This is what he wants to do…he even foresees it when speaking with Selina when she says ‘you’ve given everything for these people’, returning with ‘No, not yet’.
He knows that this heroic gesture will galvanize the city, therefore his journey in creating a powerful symbol for good is complete.
Nolan already showed earlier when Bruce was talking with Ra’s al Ghul in his cell that he’s not afraid to drop in an image or vision of someone who has died. This is all it is when Alfred sees Bruce at the end.
SPOILERS
I haven’t got the time to read all the comments in relation to this article, and I’m sure there have been some fine arguments put forward.
However, I’m in complete disagreement with the writer of the article.
Yes, Alfred is distraught, but Bruce knew all about this ‘ideal’ of Alfred’s, and it makes sense that Bruce lives up to it. Crazy, he couldn’t have lived – yeah, whatever.
Now for some theory, Bruce has given ‘Catwoman’ the ‘Clean slate’, where she can erase her past, and her record. If Bruce is with her, in France – He can also do this. So it is perfectly viable that Bruce is alive.
How? Simple, he fixed the autopilot on the Bat. He escapes from the craft, lets it fly off with the bomb and boom, he ‘dies’. What really happens is he somehow hooks up with Catwoman after evading the bomb’s blast. They head to France and have a clean slate.
By passing on the mantle of Batman, he has killed kept it as a symbol (as referenced throughout the movie), the mask shows that ANYONE can be Batman, and he is simply finished with being Batman himself (allowing Nolan to end the saga). It wraps up nicely, Bruce as Batman is indeed dead, no one expected him to live. By giving up the house, having the burial and such, everyone presumes him dead. Then using the ‘clean slate’ he leaves and lives for whatever length of time, doing what he wants outside of Gotham for the rest of his days.
For all intents and purposes, Nolan has succeeded in killing off THIS Batman, and he has left it ambiguous as to whether another will take up the mantle (Robin?). The installation of the Bat symbol on the light, shown to Commissioner Gordan also hints that Batman is not dead, but Bruce Wayne apparently is.
Just one quick thing, not sure if anyone mentioned this, but why would Alfred have imagined Selina Kyle with Bruce at the end? That doesn’t make sense because Alfred didn’t know there was a thing between them at all, so really the only explanation is that he is alive with her and it’s not an illusion.
So, If you look at the scene where John Blake is loading the children back on the bus, and you see the explosion in the background. JBL states that this is it. What if Bruce possibly used the explosion as cover to eject from the bat and allow autopilot to continue his course, whilst Batman Escapes via the rooftops and leaves to Italy with Selina. And along with the John Blake ending, seeing as how His full name is actually ROBIN John Blake, what if he doesn’t take up the role of robin, and his name really isn’t That at all. What if his name is really Dick Grayson. It would be plausible because in the comics Dick Grayson was a cop during the day to use as his alias when he was Nightwing. The name for his duties as a cop was John Grayson. When JBL draws the “bats” in chalk on the walls, You can take that image and turn it upside down and it will look like the symbol of Nightwing’s chest. I believe that this is more plausible than him becoming batman or robin because of the fact that Nolan’s universe is very realistic and having a kid in tights doesn’t seem like something Nolan would do. He would most likely have Nightwing since he wears a sort of armor anyways.
Also, Batman is dead, Bruce Wayne lives on…
Bruce DID SURVIVE and here are the ways how he could have done so…
(1)
Bruce flew the bomb out to sea, dropped it in the ocean and then had time to fly away and escape the bomb’s six mile radius explosion. This theory involves Bruce NOT making use of the fixed auto-pilot on The Bat.
(2)
Built into the Bat was a smaller craft that Bruce broke away from the main body of the Bat, hence why we see him in a cockpit of some sort of vehicle moments before the bomb detonates. This would also cover there being a part of the Bat being inspected back at Wayne Enterprises, with the revelation to Lucius that the auto-pilot was fixed. Not so much as an ejection seat but more a similar take on the Bat-Pod that was part of the Tumbler, before breaking away after its crash.
Bruce COULD NOT have died, as the Bat is found to be in perfect condition back at Wayne Enterprises, when it is discovered the auto-pilot was fixed. The only way that Bruce could have died would have been with The Bat which would have been thoroughly wiped out by the bomb’s explosion.
This matter is being way over complicated! Bruce/Batman ‘dying’ is symbolic. Batman is first an foremost a master of escape and an expert in illusion. No way would he of been finished by that. The Bat is dead, long live the Bat!
Stopped reading half way through because, well, based on what was in the script – you’re wrong. The dozens of people above pretty much mentioned what I had on my mind regarding the autopilot reveal.
Also, if it was a dream, why would Alfred ‘dream’ seeing Bruce with Selina – whom he only ever met once. Silly theory.
Bane specifically calls the device a “Neutron Bonb.” From Wikipedia:
“Effects of a neutron bomb detonation
Upon detonation, a 1 kiloton neutron bomb would produce a large blast wave, and a powerful pulse of both thermal radiation and ionizing radiation, mostly in the form of fast (14.1MeV) neutrons. The thermal pulse would cause 3rd degree burns to unprotected skin out to approximately 500m. The blast would create at least 4.6 PSI out to a radius of 600m, which would severely damage non-reinforced structures.[22] At this distance the blast would cause very few direct casualties as the human body is resistant to sheer overpressure, however, the powerful winds produced by this overpressure are capable of throwing human bodies into objects or throwing objects at high velocity, both with lethal results, rendering casualties highly dependent on surroundings.[23] The pulse of neutron radiation would cause immediate and permanent incapacitation to unprotected humans out to 900m,[3] with death occurring in one or two days. The lethal dose would extend out past 1400m, where approximately half of those exposed would die of radiation sickness after several weeks.
While this would seem to support the notion of neutron bombs being capable of killing the population while leaving buildings standing, at least in the ring between 600m and 1400m, several factors argue against this interpretation. The thermal pulse would create a large fire that could easily spread outside the blast zone, and the relatively small area covered by the bomb would mean that any sizable target would need several dispersed hits to blanket it, with inevitable overlap. There would also be significant fallout, both from neutron activation of target materials and from the fission primary in the bomb itself.”
Thus the citizens of Gotham will not be affected by the blast. The light would not be physically harmful at that distance and the over-pressure would be a non issue. Since this was a fusion reactor it had no fissionable materials so the only danger comes from neutron activation of the air and water. In a bay that leads out to sea and in strong winds the radiation would drop to background levels quickly.
p.s. The bomb dropped on Hiroshima barley detonated and spread the majority of it’s uranium as radioactive fallout. Yet, as of 2006 there were 1,154,391 people living in the city. Where do people get the idea that a nuke makes a city uninhabitable.
BATMAN DID DIE BUT BRUCE WANYE DIDNT BATMANS GONE AND ITS PROABLY BEST FOR IT TO STAY THAT WAY AND NEXT SHOULD BE SEQUEL WITH ROBIN OR LEAVE AND DONT DO ANYTHING WITH I CANT BE BOTHERED WITH A REBOOT
Alfreds only seen Selina Kyle once at the start of the movie and he didnt see them kiss so how would he know theyre together?
Exactly lol
If you have read the dark knight returns you will see how batman did fake his death. A great part of the dark knight rises was based on up the dark knight returns comic regarding old is bruce wayne.
No i dont agree with your idea. Not saying its immpossible i just honestly dont like it, cause i love batman. And if,which is a HUGGE if, there is another movie, i forsee Robin either dying or screwing up so bad that batman is compelled to come forward and fix his mistakes which could happen anywhere meaning the series could literally go anywhere from here.
Laughably stupid. Watch the movie again and focus on the pearls missing at the end and the symbolism there. “I am absolutely certain” he is dead. How do you have a job?
Everyone who doesn’t understand why Blake would become Batman needs to read Batman no. 700.
He can become a new hero of justice, but not Batman.
Dent was presented as a “white knight” after his death so that he would become a catalyst to eradicate crime, albeit a false catalyst.
By sacrificing himself, Batman became the true embodiment of justice and heroism. His death proved that some people will fight for the sake of the city. If Batman came back, this sacrifice would not exist anymore.
As was said during the promotion of the movie : “the legend ends” for Batman. He became a symbol. Other people like Blake will carry his legacy, but will create their own legends.
I want to know when Bruce changed his will to include John Blake. Bruce had to be planning his departure far in advance. Possibly not soon after he first met John Blake. He saw the possibility and new at some point he would want to retire or he knew he could possibly be killed. Bruce survived, but it is clear that he had already decided that this battle with Bane would be his last. Let’s not forget, throughout the trilogy Bruce had a way of always being a couple steps ahead of everyone else in the end.
First thing : Alfred’s vacations did not happen every year since the previous movie. He refers to the seven years gap seen in Batman Begins, when Bruce disappears from Gotham, wanders the world and is formed by Henri Ducard.
Also, in his grieving, Alfred would never want a new Batman, since Batman “killed” Bruce already. Alfred’s emotional speech makes me think he would not want anybody else to suffer from wearing the cowl.
For the coordinates of the Batcave, Blake received them from the reading of the will of Bruce Wayne, as Alfred received Bruce’s belongings. Meaning Bruce himself wanted to transmit them to Blake not Alfred. Furthermore, ALfred met Blake once IIRC, and may not have known that Blake deduced Bruce true identity.
All this, and also the restoring of the Bat signal, Fox’s discovery about the auto-pilot, and Selina wearing the pearl collar, it all points to a true ending, where Bruce, master of escapism as he is, faked his death and began a new life with Selina (and the cleanstate program).
What would be the meaning of Alfred seeing an illusion ? I don’t see much. On the other end, the important thing is rather that Batman and Wayne the billionnaire are dead. To escape the prison, Bruce has to fear death again, meaning in a sense “wanting to live” again. He overcame his grief, his desire for revenge, and chose to protect Gotham.
Batman died. He became a legend. His death meant what Dent’s death was supposed to mean : a symbol of justice, for people to follow. If Bruce came back, or if Blake became a new Batman, it would lessen the sacrifice of Batman. The billionaire Wayne was just a cover for Batman, so he “died” too. The true Bruce, the one who had regained his will to live, free from Batman, his guilt and grief, and his former life, is the one we see at the end.
I have just seen TDKR for the 2nd time and there are a lot of things that have fallen into place.
1. the pearls are around Selina’s kneck, Alfred also tracked them down via the tracking device.
2. The autopilot is fixed by Bruce, also the box removed to disable the detonator is the EMP, not the autopilot.
3. The Bat enables it’s afterburners after flying past the bridge.
4. Batman is seen in the cockpit after the bridge but before the 5 second countdown. The time between those scenes could have been anything from instant to 30 seconds, the later giving him plenty of time to escape.
5. Bruce is alive, he faked his death and it’s clear that Bruce and Selina used the usb device to clear their names and start a fresh.
6.Blake had to acknowledge his name as Robin when he collected the bag at the will meeting, Bruce obviously did some digging and found out.
I would like thought’s and responses to my theories please.
good point my man.
I don’t think Alfred would have known about Bruce Wayne’s and Selina Kyles romance because he left Bruce before that started to escalate I believe. So in saying that and assuming Bruce Wayne is alive then could we see a possible “Batman Beyond type story line develop? Just some thoughts
In my opinion, seeing as at the end we see that Bruce Wayne is still alive, I think that he went to that bar with Selina and would go there until Alfred sees him, so he could make his wish come true, of seeing him at that bar, happy, and creating himself a family.
As for Robin, I think that they made it that way, so if something big happens and they decide to make a new Batman in the form of The Dark Knight (with Christopher Nolan, otherwise they can just make it another Batman like they’ve done until now) then it will not be Batman alone, but Batman and Robin. That is also where the Rises could come in, because he later will Rise (again) but not alone, with his fellow companion Robin, but in the mean time, in Bruce’s absence, Robin can start to figure everything out, and will want to make himself an identity, not the same as Batmans, and so, will become Robin. and TA-DAN, we’ve got Batman and Robin :) at least that is what I got out of it.
Now, Gordon and Fox know that Batman is alive and might return if they’re ever in big need, but in the mean time, he is taking a break, and left Robin there, which they don’t know about.
And Alfred is happy and knows that he has not failed :)
Is Selina wearing the pearl necklace in the italian cafe? I watched the movie and this video twice and im 99% sure that she isnt wearing it.
So why do people keep blogging and saying that she IS wearing the missing necklace at the final scene ???
When I was watching DKR, and Alfred was telling Bruce about his yearly trips to Florence… I thought he meant the first time Bruce disappeared, in Begins, before he becomes Batman. When he finally returns to Gotham, most people seem to think he had died.
Probably has no relevance to the rest of the theory (which I think, once you remember the auto-pilot comment when Lucius is talking to his mechanics, is not much of a theory (no offence)), but I thought I’d mention it… I’ve only seen it once, so my memory’s a bit hazy…
Know it’s a bit late at this point, but I do actually agree with the theory posited here…the autopilot being fixed is not “proof” anymore than the arguments for him being dead…it’s merely a grain of hope that he COULDVE gotten out if he’d WANTED to. I believe that both sides have enough ammo to be defended, so it really is a “is your glass half empty or half full” ending. That’s the Nolan bros. style. But the main thing I haven’t seen said thus far is that Bruce wanted to die…he could never live a happy life, let alone with an emotionally damaged professional thief, who is the type of woman you spend a month with then wake up with your apt. ransacked and her gone. He could only live to be Batman, so with Batman dead, Bruce died too. The fact of his seeming desire to die, and certainly lack of fear of it, is one of the main touchstones of the film. I think they did a great job with the ending, as it does allow some room to ‘choose’, but instinctively, and not with a cheap fade out…this is what appeared to happen…so what’dya think?
you haven’t understand the main idea-a hero never dies!
What the hell? I can’t believe so many people didn’t get the ending.
Batman isn’t dead, people. He fixed the auto pilot and ejected way before the blast.
Remember that small explosion in a building when we see the bat appear to the outskirts? Well, that’s when he ejected. The rest of the sequence is from his point of view (from the escape pod on that same building).
Alfred is NOT having a delusion, because he never knew that Bruce Wayne even got acquainted with Selina Kyle, since he left before they met.
Pay attention to the movie next time you watch it! They even mentioned the auto pilot in the end so everybody would understand!
Jesus!
Could be a way to bring superman into the ( justice league movie)
Geez, You guys are pathetic! Here, I give 2 two reasons to stop this annoying arguement of life or death of Bruce Wayne. He lived. And here’s why:
1. Batman had only 2 Batsuits to use. One was thrown away in the garbage by Bane’s Mercenaries after he “broke the bat” and the other one was worn by Batman himself in the the ending scene. Now, tell me if Bruce Wayne died then how come his suit actually magically travelled from the debris about 6 miles all the way to Bat Cave to be given to John Blake?Now don’t tell me he got the broken suit from the garbage given to him by ??? Silenced you right?
2.Now (This might be lame) Batman could obsiviously not jump in the water(That was still 10 storeys below if not far) and swim 6 miles to Gotham. Nor he could drop the bomb and fly away SIX (6) MILES IN 5 SECONDS to save himself. Now let’s come to the Autopilot thing. When he was dodging the missiles to take Bat to get rid of the bomb didn’t it crash a bit to a building and hung for a few seconds (Which a LOT for a Ninja) to the wall and then flew continuously unsteadily as if it was remote controlled?? Now my theory. He ejected in that building. Now you ask me Why and How will Batman eject in 3-4 seconds in an unknown building with no plans for controling? MY ANSWER: That was the Penthouse from TDK where he lived temproraliy. Batman is a clever guy, he set up his plans to eject in that building and set it to autopilot. The DEFENSE RESTS!
Or how about, Bruce Wayne took the words that Alfred said to heart, and he really did survive, and when he saw Alfred in that cafe, he remembered those words and granted the wish to the man who stood by him his entire life?
i loved the ending of it,makes me curious and the fact that christian bale once said he is done but then has since changed his mind !thats another clue out there.i dont think the christian bale/bruce wayne/batman is gone ,look at the first two movies they racked up 1 billion dollars together “Warner Brothers” would be stupid stop it.. my theory he’s alive and its all a secret,the fact that batman said too commissioner gordon as telling a boy “the world doesnt end and puting a jacket on him” he then (gordon) realizes it is bruce wayne,lousious fox knew most likely he wasnt dead,alfred is the closest friend too and now the that joesph levitt had cordnets too the batcave one can imagine.I believe this fanchise is far then being three and done,i look for more it may not be christopher nolan directing it again or it might be ! i dont know…. but in all batman is a lengend he rises time and time again..so this my story and im sticking with it ! look for dark knight movies from nolan or who ever directs it and for christian bale too return too play as the dark knight or who ever.too much money is made by these movies “all dark knight fans out there ” this isnt the last one you can count on that ! And You Can Take That To The Bank.
ok a big question I have, The Pearl necklace is gone? Gotham was in a state of madness for 5 months, for 5 months no government rules and thousands of people died under the ice or elsewhere. Now how can you “not let a pearl necklace just disappear”. I am sure plenty of peoples stuff was stolen, trashed whatever.
Wouldnt everyone in the city wonder why batman and bruce wayne “died” the same day. it ruins his secret.
If he’s “dead” it wouldn’t matter.
Easy before the nuclear bomb went off Superman swoops in saves batman ………………long story short begging of the Justice League. BAM
My theori is Wayne use an autopilot, and eject……so when we see batman at the last 5 second, he already eject him self to the sea
Joseph Gordon-Levitt would make a PERFECT Terry McGinnis in Batman Beyond.