The Prestigious Dark Knight Trilogy
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Tag Archives: Batman
You’re never finished with me
– Where are you?
– I’m not finished yet.
– And you’re not finished with me.
You’re never finished with me.
This was perhaps the most powerful scene (for me) in Part 1 of 2 of the movie The Dark Knight Returns which is the animated adaptation of Frank Miller’s 1986 epic graphic novel of the same name. Not only it is the (one of the depending on your liking) greatest Batman story ever told, it’s one of the greatest graphic novel and pieces of literature ever made, and it was actually the first time Batman was taken seriously as a legendary character. It took years for several Batman veterans to finally adopt it to a movie in 2012/2013, and it sure did deliver. Definitely one of my most favourite movie/lines of all time.
While I could never do justice to it by describing that particular scene (or the book/movie) in words, you should check them out. Here we see an older Bruce Wayne all by himself who goes to find his strength and the scene shows the fact that he can never be done with being Batman with much powerful emotion yet simple dialogue. I like to think we are also never done with what we are supposed to do in/with our lives, and it just keeps going forward.
What makes one a VIP?
Who’s the most important person in your life — and how would your day-to-day existence be different without them?
My answer to this question is a counter question, what makes someone a VIP? (title) I’m myself wondering. Sure there are lot of important people in everyone’s lives, myself not being an exception. My parents are important, as I’m as of yet living dependent on them. Lot of people are important whom I’ve met throughout my life. But I don’t understand what basis to classify people as relatively important. I face this question a lot, not just limited to this context. Even among friends, we have good friends, close friends, best friends, this friends and that friends, depending on how much we trust and confide in. But the truth is, we never actually care about others more than we do ourselves. That is the the sole truth. And the most importance person? Still no answer. I can’t even name myself, otherwise I would sound narcissistic. So I’ll just leave it here.
Fantasies, when the truth isn’t good enough.
The Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny or Santa Claus: a fun and harmless fiction, or a pointless justification for lying to children?
Sometimes… the truth isn’t good enough. Sometimes people deserve more. Sometimes people deserve to have their faith rewarded.
– Batman (The Dark Knight)
Reading the above question, this is what which struck my mind immediately. Now personally I don’t care about these fantasies, since speaking for myself, I always knew they were nothing more than stories (besides I don’t much care for festivals for that matter). But when I say that I didn’t care about them, what I really meant is it didn’t matter to me whether they were true or not, as so-called-grown-ups we are aware, but what about a child who isn’t capable of thinking this?
If you ask me, I feel they are just plain stupid. Not the fantasies and fiction themselves, of course I too love them like most other people, I was the kid who grew up reading/watching Batman and playing Pokémon, both of which after decades I still do, but the main point is, since the start I always knew they were stories. Okay not just stories, in some cases legends, but will come to that later. The point is, why bring up this myth vs. reality right since childhood? Aren’t parents capable enough to up-bring their children in the ‘right’ way? (among many other things that is)
That’s all I have to say. And coming to legends as I said before, do have a look at this. These are the stories having an (positive more importantly) in our lives.
Always be Batman
If you could be any fictional character in the world, who would you choose to be? Why?
For me, this is the answer. And well for those who know me, was pretty much obvious.
Every child needs a Super Hero growing up. For as long as I can remember my super hero has been Batman. I have always been a Batman fan, ever since I could read and make sense of things.
Wait, let me tell you the truth. For as long as I can remember I have always wanted to BE Batman. So it wasn’t just a fictional character, this was a real deal.
I could relate to Batman, if I really wanted it bad enough I could be Batman, and I think that’s why I was so obsessed and motivated by Batman is because Batman was is real, he is one of the only few super heroes with no super powers or whatsoever. Unless you consider money, which is the biggest real world super power. Well not really.
Batman wasn’t born a super hero, he made himself one.
“A hero can be anyone. Even a man doing something as simple and reassuring as putting a coat around a little boy’s shoulders to let him know that the world hadn’t ended.”
– Batman (The Dark Knight Rises)
Anyone can be Batman, you just have to want it bad enough, you can choose to be your version of Batman.
Batman had to earn everything he had. I loved thinking like this. It made even the impossible, possible. They aren’t just the best stories in the world. They aren’t just stories. They are life lessons. Legends.
Speaking on this subject, let me introduce you to this project, a documentary about you, the fans. Experiences about bat-fans from many walks of life, and how Batman has had an impact on our lives. A must know for every bat-fan. Legends of the Knight. Spread the word and be a part of it!
WE are BATMAN.
The Perfect Ending
When I think of a great ending, what comes to my mind is my most favourite of all time, The Dark Knight Trilogy, here the ending of the last film The Dark Knight Rises. It was perfect, the way I would have always wanted it to be. The legendary director Christopher Nolan nailed it. Let me remind you, here these 3 films unlike all the rest of Batman stories in comics, animation, video games and others are Batman stories, this was the story of Bruce Wayne, his human side.
They say nothing is perfect, despite so called flaws, if there was something near perfect, it is this. After about 2 decades of struggle (not counting childhood) we see Bruce finally finding some measure of peace, which we will perhaps never see in another medium as it is like a curse of Batman to forever being the caped crusader. Even in the acclaimed Justice League TV series which ran from 2001-2006, we see the most possible end of the (animated here) universe, with a over 80 years old Bruce Wayne guiding (in his stone cold fashion as he is known for) his successor as the Batman Beyond.
Well after all the fear, chaos and pain (the themes of each respective movies) he finally finds someone to share his love, Selina Kyle/Catwoman and disappearing to Europe and possibly worldwide, while subtly hinting to his closest friends Jim Gordon and Lucius Fox that their friend is alive and well, appearing before his life long oldest friend, guardian, butler and father figure Alfred possibly for the last time and bestowing all his secrets and ‘the cave’ to his protege. I couldn’t ask for more. Thank you Nolan.
P.S. Well with who knows how much billions of secret stash of money and going away with Selina who is played by the gorgeous and hot Anne Hathaway, gets to spend the rest of his life fucking her somewhere in a luxurious place? Not much of a sacrifice eh Bruce 😛
Speaking of Skills
If I could choose to be a master of a skill in this world, while there would be many to choose from, if it were to happen magically just out of the blue, then it would be my power of observation. The science of deduction. Analytical power.
Years ago when I was a kid, I took this aptitude of some sort which gave results of me in different areas. While it was good and showed I’m a genius of sorts in many areas, the only thing which I still remember today was I was relatively ‘weak’ (not that it was stated so, comparing to other stats) in ‘my surroundings and world around me’ category. Perhaps that got over my head among other things, and that has perhaps helped me in certain aspects of myself today. I’m a people reader, fascinated with human mind, behavior, crime and psychology. I might still not be much speedy in world affairs but this is a ever growing ‘skill’.
Here I was being realistic which will continue to slowly happen anyways, but if I encounter some genie or god which make this happen to the ‘maximum level’ in an instant, this would be it, and by extension, also highly fit and a top class martial artist trained in most forms of fighting techniques. After all, the world’s greatest detective aka Batman is not just a genius, but also the one of the most fit humans, and favourites like Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot are no less. And who wouldn’t want to be Batman?
Well that too is actually feasible, just in my case that would take a lot more effort and dedication. To let all imagination loose, the biggest ‘skill’ I would want to master is flying. Supersonic flight. Or better teleportation. Instant transmission!
Breaking the Law
The last time I broke a rule might not have been even a day ago. I chuckle at the very though of the question when was the last time I broke a rule, major or minor. I don’t think it’s a good idea to share most of the (major) crap I have done, which range from arrogance to utter stupidity and carelessness, to ultra superior motives and intentions, ‘unethical’ and few even illegal. Well not going beyond that, atleast I’m safe without much harm 😛
Writing that brings to my mind lot of them which I have done. If I were to share one big-breaking-the-rule law, I once crossed the border of India and stepped into China back in ’06 with a few others, in one of my travels and meeting army personal who guard our nation’s border. I remember it being a very emotional moment for many all of us seeing our brave soldiers guarding our borders while we live our lives here. That was the only time I actually went ‘outside’ my country, and considering they didn’t mind us jumping out the border and the Chinese didn’t shoot us, safe to say it was no big deal even though it can be considered illegal or so. I hope to travel around the world someday (legally that is). And well hopefully, this shouldn’t land me in trouble in the future for visas, my potential boss and the charming person of my life, if there is one.
If I were to further expand on this topic, I would say any one of us who is genuinely trying to make this world a better place by being a good citizen, is in face a criminal as we are governed by corruption as it is. Being a good guy is a crime in itself, and ‘innocence’ is loosely thrown about. Well this for another time.
We are criminals. Always have been. – Batman
Tonight WE are the Law. I AM THE LAW.
In a crisis
Honestly evaluate the way you respond to crisis situations. Are you happy with the way you react?
Another interesting daily prompt. If I were to evaluate myself on how I handle situations, it widely varies. My immediate reaction tend to be very spontaneous, while I tend to analyze the situations at other times. I tend to overdo it sometimes though.
I’m more of the leader-entrepreneur types so I don’t tend to look back after I’ve taken a decision. Well no point in thinking afterwards right? Life is no RPG where you can always reload and choose a different option for a different outcome.
So far I’ve managed to get away/solved, whichever applicable. So I do okay I guess, not taking into account most shitty instances though 😛
And wish I could do this:
Someone whom I admire
There are quite some individuals whom I admire, most notably Steve Jobs who has been my life long idol. But here I would like to be a bit different and talk about someone quite different and uniique.
To start with I’ll list some of his traits:
- Trained to physical and mental peak
- Arsenal of gadgets, vehicles, and advanced technology
- Inventor, detective, genius-level intelligence
- Expert in most known forms of martial arts
- Trained in all aspects of criminology
- Mastery of the physical sciences
- Computer expert
- Master of disguise
- Photographic memory
- Trained in stealth and espionage techniques
- Expert escape artist
- World’s Greatest Detective
- Unbreakable Will
By now (especially looking at the last 2 points for sake of humanity) you must be sure about whom I’m talking about- (the goddam) Batman. You must be thinking, hey he’s not even real! But let me tell you this – Batman has been more real than any hero on earth, and let me try to tell you why and why I admire him.
Batman is a fictional character created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger who came into this world in May, 1939 making him one of the first superheroes (#2 after Superman in 1938) and after over 73 years with various iterations from a funny costume guy running with bombs to the most sophisticated/complex character ever created, is still the most, immensely popular in practically all areas ranging from comics, books, video games and movies. He is a phenomenal icon in pop-culture and needs no further explanation and this will be just another post about him among hundreds or even thousands of fan sites and others.
Now why me? I grew up reading and watching Batman, and I would safely say that must be probably one of the first things I’ve read when I became capable of reading. What I listed above are more of his skills/attributes than traits, but I would like to highlight the last one – Unbreakable Will. Although he is a fictional character and anyone can spin up a story about always trying and never giving up, that is perhaps the single most thing among the others which always gets to me.
While there are many other characters with whom we people can relate to more, and Batman being more of a god. There is in fact a famous line which goes:
“There are only two gods – Death, and Batman”
Okay honestly, I made that up and full copyright goes to me. If that goes viral by any chance, then odds are I will be able to buy a Ferrari than claim I said that, but oh well letting you know just in case. There is no doubt he has been an inspiration for me and personally and millions in the world. The very purpose of his character was perhaps give hope to people in our real world, that anyone can be a hero and stand up to make a difference, just like his fictional world (and make billions of $ for DC)
Thank you Bob Kane and Bill Finger. I can keep on quoting from hundreds of sources, but I will end this with the one which really got to me and must have had a tear in my eye:
“And as the sun, that had been too afraid to show its face in this city, started to turn the black into grey, I smiled. Not out of happiness. But because I knew… that one day, I wouldn’t have to do this anymore. One day, I could stop fighting. Because one day… I would win. One day, there will be no pain, no loss, no crime. Because of me, because I fight. For you. And one day, I will win.”
The Nameless One 