Gotham's Redemption vs Gotham's Reckoning: The Parallels of Bane and Batman

I've seen The Dark Knight Rises three times. The first time was in theaters, the second was part of a marathon at home with all three movies and the third was standalone where I just analyzed the movie. The following comparisons are taken from that third viewing.

In the opening scene of the movie Bane has a line where he says "Nobody cared who I was until I put on the mask." Essentially the mask is less a pain reliever (as many assume) and more of a way of becoming a symbol of fear, much like Bruce Wayne did with Batman. When he puts on the mask he becomes more than the man he was before. Now he's BANE, not just a person but a symbol. He really is the evil version of Batman when it all boils down.

Both Bane and Batman had the same training. One was trained by the league of shadows and left because it went against his moral code and the other was kicked out for being too extreme. In a way they both had the same beginning but took separate paths at that juncture. Bruce Wayne left with the training but also with the need to fight the type of people who would corrupt others. Bane left with the training but with the extreme need to corrupt and destroy.

They both also use hope to aid their overall plan and purpose. Batman uses hope to inspire people to stand up and become better. Bane uses it in a similar way, but only so they will fall even farther in their final moments. Batman uses his symbol to inspire true hope, while Bane uses it to create a false hope, a mockery of hope.

They're also both drawn to the darkness in similar ways. Batman is drawn to the batcave because it's what he fears. If he can embrace that fear he can be invulnerable in his mind. Bane lives under Gotham, in the sewers. A very similar environment, but with a different effect on him. The sewers represent the basic structure of which man builds upon. The purpose of the League of Shadows is to tear a structure or town down once it gets too big and out of control. It makes sense that he would put his base at very bottom.

After analyzing the character and his parallels to Batman, I've decided that he might actually be my favorite Nolan Batman villain. He's the Faith to Batman's Buffy. The Silva to Batman's Bond. Two men who mirror each other in almost every way but managed to end up on opposing sides.

Mood: Chillin'

YoshioKun13 at 02:49 AM Dec 14

I noticed that the part on Batman's mask which is open, the mouth & chin area, happens to be exactly where Bane's mask covers his face.

Happenstance, or does it also go along with this parallel?

Nite Owl at 03:10 AM Dec 14

It's notable as well in terms of how they mirror each other in how Batman used the C.I.A. sky hook to capture Lao in TDK so he would hopefully squeal on the mob when in police custody, and Bane used it in the opening sequence of TDKR to keep Dr. Pavel from squealing while in C.I.A. custody.

The Renner Stretch

Mood: Chillin'

JohnLocke2342 at 01:28 PM Aug 30

DAT MAN!!

WalkAway at 02:05 PM Aug 30

OldKingClancy at 02:30 PM Aug 30

I like. I like a lot. I like more than I thought I'd like.

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UNCHARTED AND THE PARALLELS TO INDIANA JONES

The Uncharted series is, in my opinion, one of the best video game franchises ever made, and I don't think it's a coincidence that it shares many similarities with what, also in my opinion, is one of the best film trilogies. The themes behind the three games and movies are not only similar (in order, no less) but the main characters share quite a few traits as well, beyond the obvious treasure hunting.

Uncharted 1 vs The Raiders of the Lost Ark
In Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones races against a rival treasure hunter to find a cursed treasure that was never meant to fall in the hands of man. Uncharted 1 has the exact same plot, with minor differences in the setting, the artifact and the actual curse.

Uncharted 2 vs The Temple of Doom
In Temple of Doom, Indiana Jones seeks to find an artifact that leads him smack in the middle of a ritualistic tribe, dealing with the supernatural. In Uncharted 2 Nathan Drake's search for a lost city ultimately lands him in the middle of a supernatural, ritualistic tribe who have gone mad.

Uncharted 3 vs The Last Crusade
The Last Crusade opens with a young Indiana Jones acquiring an artifact that would appear to begin his obsession with treasure hunting. Uncharted 3 has a very similar flashback in the first 20 minutes of the game. Both the third game and movie have the hero and love interest no longer together. Considering Temple of Doom is a prequel, I look at The Last Crusade as a sequel to the first film, where Indy rode off into the sunset with Marion. In Uncharted 2 Drake more or less did the same with Elena. Both also deal with the relationship between the hero and their father/father figure (In Uncharted, Sully) as well as show what lengths they are willing to go to for "Fortune and Glory".

Nathan Drake vs Indiana Jones
Finally, let's look at that last sentence. Fortune and Glory. Both Drake and Jones seek to be more than they are. Just another person living in the world, or just a college professor. They want to make something out of themselves and see treasure hunting as a way to do so.

*MINOR SPOILERS FOR UNCHARTED 3*
In a cutscene about midway through the game the villain hints that Nathan's last name might not even really be Drake. That perhaps he's so unhappy with who he is that he's making his own past, and using that to shape his own future. He seeks fortune and glory because he feels without it he's nothing.
*END SPOILERS FOR UNCHARTED 3*

Mood: Chillin'

JohnLocke2342 at 11:06 PM Aug 13

This article is why this is my favorite game series of all time... Amazing write up dude, honestly. Fortune and Glory is the perfect comparison between Drake and Indy since both of them learn and progress through the trilogy. I like that not only is the plot similar in Raiders and Uncharted but just when everything seems "normal" you're hit with the paranormal aspects in the final act.

Thanks for writing this

Venom3344 at 12:03 AM Aug 14

That's why this video game series would never work as a movie trilogy, both this and Indy are too similar. Plus you can't capture in a movie what the video games brought to the gamer.

JakeLikesMovies at 01:47 AM Aug 14

Everything you said is spot on!

I think the only difference between Indy and Nate are their absolute worst phobias. Snakes for the former and for the latter ... well clowns.

An MFC meetup, would you really be interested?

I've been thinking about this a lot lately. While we are a fairly strong community, most of us are strangers. Some prefer that, others don't. There are small groups of people on MFC who have already met, and at least from my perspective, have become better friends. I'd be seriously interested in an MFC meetup, possibly even planning and hosting one, if enough of you would be interested as well.

I'm not talking "what if" here though. This is a serious proposition that would require serious planning, but I really do want something like this to happen. I think it could only strengthen the community as it is, once we're no longer strangers. Opinions are longer judged as harshly and people have a better idea who each other are.

My idea for this is simple enough, and as fair as I could get it. Nebraska. Yes, that's where I live. But it would give two big benefits. The planning for the event would mainly be in my hands. That, and it's more or less in the center. That way it's less of drive for those who AREN'T in the bulk (from what I gather, east cost).

Right now this is just an idea, one that's been posted many different times in many different ways, but is there any genuine interst for this to actually happen? It doesn't HAVE to happen this way, I'm open to any suggestions.

Share your thoughts and discuss what you'd like to happen, where and when.

Mood: Chillin'

ghostman123 at 09:37 AM Feb 25

A few good points about Nebraska grelber, it's really not as bad as people make it out to be, and I blame media portrayal for this, but if I were to plan the event, football would in no way take place. I grew up in a small town where everyone was a fan and it drove me crazy (and still does). And you know, everytime I've been in a lincoln bar it's been fairly calm and empty or filled with older people. Honestly if it were in my hands to plan a Schmoe Getogether, it'd probably be a rented out theater for Avengers or The Dark Knight Rises followed by a simple beer garden type place where we drink outside in the summer night and just socialize.

You do have a point about a possible outcome, but much like ONLINE, not everyone is going to get along. But I honestly believe that this would speed up the process of people deciding whether they like or don't like someone. They get an actual peek and who each other really is, which would make communicating ones thoughts and opinions a lot easier once you have a better understanding of what the person is like and how to present it.

But in all honesty, I think if this ever happened it has a better chance of happening around NYC, as you mentioned. There are Schmoes in Mayne, New Jersey, New York, Georgia, Florida. Then there's some in Texas and California. Me, I'm lucky. It's about an equal drive no matter which direction I have to go, but the majority of MFC seems to be on somewhat close to NY.

Esco at 11:44 AM Feb 25

Make it in Chicago and do it at Moreno's place!

Seriously though NYC is a great place to do it. Maybe during New York Comic Con in Oct.. Get Law to come down for it and cover it the site.

Laksmikanti at 05:12 PM Feb 25

I think the best way for you guys is to meet at any Comic.Con, for those what can afford it, meantime I will see the post from here since I am unable to travel right now. Lovely and awesome idea Ghostman123.

Read all 15 comments >>

An idea for some arts! (suggestions welcome)

As some of you know I used to go to an art college and have done a few pieces in the past. However for the past two years I haven't so much as picked up a colored pencil. That may be changing...

While watching the Lord of the Rings Trilogy a very weird but interesting idea popped into my head. What if Sauron ran a daycare center? The basic idea would be a single playroom, with Sauron in the center toward the back of the room. The human characters (and Legolas) would be toddlers while the hobbits, gimli and gollum would be babies. Pippin would have two bottles, one labeled Breakfast and the other Second Breakfast. Baby Frodo and Baby Gollum would be fighting over one of those small yellow rings, you know, the ones that stack around the pole thing. Idk the name of the toy, but moving on! Boromir would be strutting around with a toy horn and Arogorn would be playing with Orc toys.

That's my basic idea, any suggestions? I try to figure stuff out as much as possible BEFORE I start sketching because one of my biggest peeves with artwork is having to redraw the same thing over and over. Idk how the classic animators did it!

Mood: Chillin'

Jonathan Frey at 07:32 AM Jul 11

This is an awesome idea.

Any thoughts on Gandalf's role (if you want him in there)? How 'bout he's seen way in the background, through a window that's probably off to the side of Sauron (maybe a window on an adjacent wall), standing in the parking lot near the open door of a parked car? Like he's really distant and maybe not the first thing you'd notice about the drawing, but you get the implication (from what you can make out of his face and body language) that he might be like a parent, either picking up or dropping off, who's got kind of a bad feeling about this day-care center.

Then again, might be too hard to convey without a vague pedophile connotation.

ghostman123 at 07:50 AM Jul 11

Honestly I was thinking I might just leave Gandalf out of it. I know he's a big character, but I still don't know what to do with Gimli and Legolas. I imagine they'll be doing whatever it is they do together. Some kind of competition. Idk. Might also have to make Gimli a toddler for that to work. Still in the very early stages of planning, but I imagine even a toddler with a giant beard would look funny.

Also to clarify when I say Sauron I mean a miniature version of the EYE of Sauron. That was the whole basis for the idea in the first place. A watchful eye.

randychico at 04:53 PM Jul 11

Maybe Gandalf could be fighting with Saruman or playing with Toy Ents