12 Years Later, I Finally Understand The Dark Knight Rises

[@JaredBauer]

🔒Remove your personal information from the web at joindeleteme.com/BAUER and use code BAUER for 20% off 🙌 DeleteMe international Plans: international.joindeleteme.com

[@LuisSierra42]

Do Attack on Titan

[@titaniumteddybear]

YT deleted my comment so I shall try just one more time: this is an excellent video. But I don't think the film was intended to be critical of Occupy Wall Street, because the film began production before OWS even began protesting. However, in the 2 years before the film started shooting (i.e. while the script was being written) The Tea Party movement had made a huge splash in US politics. It is also a much better fit because OWS was never taken over by powerful interests for their own ends, and the Tea Party was. It started as a reaction to the billionaires who caused the 2008 financial crisis. But it was immediately taken over by wealthy conservatives to redirected the protests to pushing generic far-right conservatism. This doesn't change your analysis though. You are still completely correct. it's just that the grassroots movement that was being critiqued was the Tea Party, not Occupy Wall Street. I have liked and subscribed.

[@MarcillaSmith]

Wait... so the film made him a reformist, or a radical?

[@JCUDOS]

Nice thumbnail. Good way to relate to current events and get people to click without making it too clickbait-y.

[@osuhtisibis]

Jared! OMG I had no idea you were still making stuff 😢! I honestly stopped watching Wisecrack when you left. It just wasn't the same without you. Now I accidentally discovered you here - I am so HAPPY 😁

[@enterchannelname973]

I've never understood the critique that Bane's goal made no sense because its clear as day. He wants to carry out Ra's destiny to destroy Gotham but in the process torture Bruce the with the notion that the entire cities rotten to the core. Not only does it tie back to the themes od Batman Begins, but it also brings back Jokers point about how people will eat eachother when the chips are down. Theres some weak spots in the movie but as far as the themes and emotions present, TDKR is a masterpiece

[@Alacaelum]

The subplot are the weak parts, they arent bad, but they weren't meshed well with the central plot... which is very good. I understand and even agree with some of the grievances, both in the writing and composition of scenes, but this still is a solid 8/10 movie and compared with the slop hollyweird tries to pass as profound it is straight up a 10.

[@matthewgagnon9426]

When that movie came to Blu-ray I was low-key obsessed with it. I watched it probably a dozen times over the course of a couple months because of how... not very good it was overall. Bane was just so damn bizarrely awful in a way that appealed to my sense of loving terrible things. Plus, it's a very fun voice to impersonate. I can't do it as well as I used to, but it's just so goofy.

[@LastAphelion]

@@matthewgagnon9426 The easy cheat for the voice is talk into an empty mug 😂

[@martinprovo2389]

​@@LastAphelionI use a paper towel tube as a Bane voice changer lol I'll have to try the mug voice changer. 😂

[@davidbucky7634]

Its one of my favorites but yea there is some very big plot holes for one Talia knows bruce is batman and decides to sleep with him and she could of easily just like killed him then

[@JackDeanPictures]

Literally did not realize until watching this video that the pit is Nolan’s version of the Lazarus Pit and him leaving is a rebirth. Wow. Thanks for the great vid!

[@gibster9624]

I liked how he has so much symbolism within it as well. Batman hides his fear under his anger, and he keeps failing to leave the pit. Once he lets go of his fear (the rope), he can jump farther now that his fear isn't weighing him down. His anger is what led him to be Batman in the first place and he more or less spent his time punishing the criminals of Gotham rather than trying to save Gotham. Once he no longer had his fear and his anger, he no longer needed to be Batman.

[@leehunts4327]

The problem with Rises is that it doesn't get inside the heads of the people enough. We don't see the events through their lens. Much of this could have been articulated more clearly if "Robin" had been more embedded in the everyday lives of the people.

[@GS42SCHOPAWE]

That’s a great point, that’s why it feels a bit wonky, we don’t hear or empathize with the citizens’ perspectives or struggles enough to care about the city and its fate

[@o-wolf]

Its an elitist copaganda movie that got garbled to crwp ehen occupy happemed becaide he ess trying hard to piggyback on it while the substance of the movie is occupys antithesis

[@Ryzard]

@@o-wolf bro if you wanna use le epic philosophy words please spell the rest correctly

[@eyespy3001]

@@RyzardDespite the garbled wording, he’s not wrong. I saw this movie twice in the theater when it was released. The first time, I was impressed by the sheer Batman-ness of it all. The second time, though, the veneer was gone, and all that was left was this really shallow 1%er, capitalist propaganda nonsense of a movie. The billionaire comes out of retirement to be a vigilante again because a group of revolutionaries descend upon the city to disrupt the status quo. The wealthy are kicked out of their Park Avenue apartments and we’re supposed to feel bad that they’re forced to answer for their crimes against humanity in a kangaroo court. The big weapon of mass destruction is a form of sustainable “green” energy that would have supplied free energy for the entire city. In the end, the billionaire playboy who moonlights as a vigilante supposedly sacrifices himself for “his” city, but all he really does is evade persecution by jetting off to Italy where he can lounge around all day with his hot new girlfriend drinking at cafes. Meanwhile, back in “his” city, the people are left to pick up all the pieces and repair the mess he contributed in creating. This movie is hot garbage.

[@Iskander448]

​@eyespy3001 ​ Both of you are completely wrong. The "revolutionaries" were only interested in creating chaos or anarchy. Only immature people or people with ulterior motives promote such ideas. They never think of the end game(except if the end game is societal collapse) I.e. what happens when the revolution ends. There is a reason why some revolutionaries end up as tyrants e.g. Robespierre, Castro, Gaddafi etc. What makes it even worse is that the "revolution" was manufactured by outside actors with ulterior motives (I e. League of Shadows). That is the reason why I respect the V character from "V for Vendetta". V was very clear about being a destroyer. He was also aware that a revolution can only succeed when there are two phases - destruction and creation. In almost every case, these phases have to be led by different sets of people or thoughts. The mindset has to be different. That is why he made Evey his successor. Only a few revolutionaries have the humility to make that decision. You can see the effects of the chaos on the people who are supposed to benefit from it. People like Catwoman and Robin are still on the outside. Gotham is now a police state. There is still a social hierarchy which is now determined by arms instead of money. Your criticism of Bruce Wayne is also way off point as it shows someone who is out of step with the rest of his peers (income wise). While others were intent on acquiring, he was more intent on giving. At the end he realises that the legacy of Batman is not something just for a person of means, it is a legacy that should be open to all. That is why he makes a person from a completely different background his successor. John Blake and Bruce Wayne were from different ends of the economic spectrum but they both shared the loneliness and rage that came from losing loved ones in addition to the sense of justice and need to protect others from suffering a similar fate. Those feelings are universal and not the sole properties of one social class. The take on the energy source does not make any sense. Like most things, something designed for good can be corrupted. E.g. petrochemicals on their own are not a problem but society's overconsumption has created the environmental issues. That perfectly applies to the energy source which was corrupted by the people you described as "revolutionaries" into a weapon. You conveniently chose not to add that the energy source was being developed for ALL of Gotham. The movie depicted it as a loss making project which had upset Wayne Enterprise shareholders (who were more focused on profits).

[@dannyruggles7020]

so does this mean Anne Hathaway has been in 2 films about the french revolution? lol

[@LaNguyenBTong]

Nice catch.

[@ShankarSivarajan]

_Les Misérables_ was NOT set during the French Revolution.

[@Fordo007]

@@ShankarSivarajanit’s a French Revolution

[@deckardcanine]

In the same year, no less.

[@ayu5tails]

Yes

[@jonathonclary1681]

There is a significant point that was missed with 'Rises' But I think you missed it too. The point of the movie was that ultimately the Joker won. Specifically if you attack 'good people' they will show you what kind of animals they really are. His only mistake was that he targeted the wrong class of people. The Dent act was the Joker's legacy, an oppressive law that targeted anyone who was a threat to the wealthy and influential. It allowed the wealthy to gain unprecedented wealth while any potential threat was removed without due process. Yeah crime was down, but does that mean that anything was better for the average joe? No, they weren't celebrating the Dent act with everyone else. For them there were just more oppressive laws to be followed, and more fearful consequences if those rules were broken. Frankly the state of the movie at the beginning was right out of a Frank Miller take on Batman. People don't just revolt for no reason. Certainly the French citizens before the revolution were free. But why were they free? The French government was on the verge of financial collapse and the aristocracy realized they could buy time against the imminent disaster by cutting the little people loose. Property owners became a source of revenue with taxes and the Aristocracy were no longer obligated to ensure that their serfs had shelter and food. People who had spent generations relying on meager social supports from their lords were now left to their own devices. Meanwhile the aristocrats had no less power over them than ever before. So while people starved to death in the streets the wealthy and well to do had lavish feasts and partied in their mansions, fully aware that the disaster was coming, but hoping they would be dead and gone when it happened. They literally sold out their own children to party down today. The movie served as a cautionary tale for allowing our society to be driven by fear. Fear drove the wealthy to the Dent act, a knee jerk reaction that took the freedoms of the lower class by force. Bane's words struck home with the masses because he promised them a world where the people were free, at the meager cost of the wealth of their oppressors. When they took Bane's bait, they Proved Ra's al Ghul's point as well. That sometimes the only possible solution is to burn it all down. The ultimate resolution was Batman sacrificing himself to prove that there was a better way. Rises was absolutely the weakest part of the trilogy, but there are points a plenty.

[@Teslacrashed]

Also what's fascinating about Rises is the Joker did more to eliminate crime than Batman did. He pitted gangs against each other, took out several high profile gang leaders, weakening them to be more easily tackled by police.

[@tonyheraldo6525]

Thank you. Was a little annoyed that he tried to make out the French revolution as some sort of entitled whining by a stable and healthy populace when people were starving to death.

[@TF2CrunchyFrog]

The important theme many viewers seem to have missed: Raz al'Ghul, Bane and Talia are demagogues and hypocrits... because it was _they_ who caused the corruption, depravity and chaos! Raz al'Ghul literally admits it! The League constantly worked behind the scenes to make life in Gotham worse, spread corruption, empower organized crime etc. And whenever the people of Gotham tried to push back and repair things, the League of Shadows did everything in their power to break it again so that the lives of the people will be miserable, so that the League can then offer themselves as the "strong leader" who will fix things (things they themselves broke). That's why the metropolitan railway in the first movie is so important as symbolism: The train network that Bruce's father designed, financed and had built as elevated railways above the congested streets, as free public transport to benefit all people of Gotham. We see the trains in Bruce's youth, pristine, economical, a marvel of engineering to benefit the citizens. Then Bruce's parents are murdered, and the city slowly sinks into depair and corruption. When we see adult Bruce on the railway, years later, the waggons are dirty, creaking... but still they provide service to the people. There is a reason Raz al'Ghul wants to blow up the railway, this last and lasting legacy of Mr. Wayne Senior: Because the railway symbolises hope, hope that the League of Shadows tries to crush. It reminds people of a time when someone rich and powerful used his money and skills for the betterment of society, wanting to give something back to the city. That's why Raz wants to use the railway to transport his bomb that is supposed to blow up "the heart of the city".

[@AlexReynard]

"When they took Bane's bait, they Proved Ra's al Ghul's point as well. That sometimes the only possible solution is to burn it all down. The ultimate resolution was Batman sacrificing himself to prove that there was a better way." Huh. So the false hope of communism is defeated by a christ-like sacrifice. That's interesting as fuck.

[@jonathonclary1681]

​@@AlexReynardkeep in mind, in order to save the city, he didn't just give up his life. All of his wealth was redistributed to the needy and his legacy was handed off to someone who earned it as opposed to having it inherited.

[@xxsilentreatmentxx]

Such a missed opportunity not tying Catwoman and the Clean Slate program with the Delete Me ad

[@Orphoid]

@@xxsilentreatmentxx right?!

[@petethegm.z4161]

Was thinking the same thing

[@seewhativescene]

He was overjoyed at opportunity to take down Harris in the name of misogynist populism ​@@petethegm.z4161

[@MrBryan1776]

This is so much of current politics all across the world. Freedom from personal responsibility is a huge hook, no matter who offers it.

[@giovannibertaina2621]

Well said!

[@tomhorn1876]

You can see this in people's willingness to blame the corruption of "systems" but not the corruption of the people inhabiting them and making them function. Systems are like any other inanimate object. The are without intent or will. They are just a tool. A thing. And as a thing, it just sits waiting for some ONE to use or abuse it.

[@KennethLyVideography]

Also explains why Trump is so popular despite being intellectually incomprehensible. It's been made very clear that he makes sense emotionally to his supporters and this is probably one of the key reasons to why Harris and the Dems ended up with 15 million people of their base not even voting this time.

[@lukesayers5850]

​@@KennethLyVideographyI was wondering who was gonna address the orange elephant in the room. I can't pretend not to smell him anymore. ❤

[@Rainbow_Sish_Kabob]

@@KennethLyVideographyOr she was just a bad candidate from an unpopular administration

[@nikhook9430]

Bane is a disingenuous revolutionary. The whole point of The League of Shadows is to show the depravity of Gotham. Talia proved that the city was evil at its core.

[@Copperkaiju]

What is "the core" of the city? Is there something about the architecture that inspired Gothamites to be bad? Is it cursed? Sometimes I wonder if the League is right about the city but it's hard to see Gotham as some kind of magical place that is doomed for whatever reason. It makes sense that Batman would see it as capable of being like any other city because why not? Of course we as the audience understand that it's because the writers and the fans demand it be this way because it gives a reason for a beloved character in Batman to exist but it's interesting to see the in universe reasons given for Gotham's corruption.

[@leonardopizzini1443]

I Always took It as Revenge from Thalia. The Plan Always was to let him See the City He swore to protect die while being imprisoned.

[@TF2CrunchyFrog]

"The whole point of The League of Shadows is to show the depravity of Gotham." Except Raz al'Ghul, Bane and Talia are demagogues and hypocrits... because it was _they_ who caused the corruption, depravity and chaos. Raz al'Ghul literally admits that! They constantly work to make life _worse,_ spread corruption, empower organized crime etc. And whenever the people of Gotham try to push back and repair things, the League of Shadows does everything in their power to break it again so that the lives of the people will be miserable, so that the League can then offer themselves as the "strong leader" who will fix things (things they themselves broke). That's why the metropolitan railway in the first movie is so important as symbolism: the train network that Bruce's father designed, financed and had built as elevated railways above the congested streets, as free public transport to benefit _all_ people of Gotham. We see the trains in Bruce's youth, pristine, economical, a marvel of engineering to benefit the citizens. Then Bruce's parents are murdered, and the city slowly sinks into depair and corruption. When we see adult Bruce on the railway, years later, the waggons are dirty, creaking... but still they provide service to the people. There is a reason Raz al'Ghul wants to blow up the railway, this last and lasting legacy of Mr. Wayne Senior: Because the railway symbolises hope, hope that the League of Shadows tries to crush. It reminds people of a time when someone rich and powerful used his money and skills for the betterment of society, wanting to give something back to the city. That's why Raz wants to use the railway to transport his bomb that is supposed to blow up "the heart of the city".

[@SolDizZo]

@@Copperkaiju I think Batman exists solely to lower the average IQ of Gothamites one punch at a time

[@seewhativescene]

​ Bane trump led the poorly educated to revolt while flawed cop batman Harris was trying to set an example ​@@SolDizZo

[@zephaniahgreenwell8151]

12 years later, and I finally understand what Bane was saying.

[@Hairlesswookie62]

Perfect comment.

[@DWSmith-x6c]

OK. Yeah, good one.

[@igodreamer7096]

"Liar!" (as Anakin would said) 💀

[@MALICEM12]

Lol

[@peterreitan7550]

Well said! You win the internet!

[@hungchoonghow5857]

It has been 12 years? Time really flies.

[@thecloudtherapist]

It's not the years, it's the mileage.

[@seewhativescene]

Bane trump weaponized pandemic frustration to cause chaotic revolt in 2020 & 2024 ​@@thecloudtherapist

[@samuelrowbotham6322]

This comment makes me feel so old

[@MonkeyBombdotcom]

Still one of the most creative ways of portraying the Lazarus Pit

[@Faenwolf]

I just realized that for the first time… didn’t know the prison‘s name but now it’s making so much sense… brilliant

[@MsTriangle]

Yeah I always said it was Nolan's best idea to understand "resurrection" this way

[@Vidiot-Savant]

It's also a great visual/thematic metaphor for depression. Bruce has to embrace life in order to crawl out his own pit of despair to live in the light again.

[@starwarsroo2448]

Yep and push ups help fix a broken back

[@Vidiot-Savant]

@starwarsroo2448 Nowhere in the movie does it say that his back is broken, just that he has dislocated vertebrae. Which can be put back into place, but it's usually done more gently than by just slapping it.

[@ChrisGuerra31]

It's been weird hearing people call Biden and Harris communists, but not as weird as Trump being called a vessel of God.

[@RoamingAdhocrat]

was weird hearing Christian friends saying they'd vote for the party/candidate/outcome that is objectively most harmful to the vulnerable - the ones the Bible says a lot about a community's responsibility to protect - for reasons like "Tony Abbott is a Christian, he'll pray before making decisions and God will guide him". (his opponent was also a Christian)

[@evanthesquirrel]

​@@RoamingAdhocratwe literally believe your candidate does more harm to more people. We believe you are blind to actual suffering as most of your advocates just want free stuff and are already in the global wealthy. They want slavery and child sacrifice.

[@kroon275]

What is weird is that ive literally never heard Trump called that, not once 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@bryceanderson4864]

​@@kroon275lucky you

[@Oncopoda]

​@@kroon275and yet I have.I also don't believe you. Do a simple search on ANY social media site. You're being super disingenuous.

[@bryttonica6286]

As much as I don’t like the practice in general, I still think TDKR should’ve been split into two parts. I think it would’ve given more time for such a stuffed finale to breathe

[@Henez89]

Just cut Batman's initial retirement. It slows the opening to a crawl and doesn't serve the character anyway.

[@fiaschampion3379]

I agree. Part One could have been Knightfall/Dark Knight Returns and Part Two could have been No Man's Land/Knightsend.

[@ankershiv]

@@fiaschampion3379 Knightfall is such a brillant title tho.

[@SirEEf13]

I heard that, before Heath Ledger died, it was supposed to be a two-parter anyway. However, I think that rumor made TDKR the first part with a different ending and Nolan Batman 4 would have had the Joker as the villain again as he would have been freed with the other prisoners in Bane's reign of the city. Not sure if there is any truth to that, though. I always thought the Joker was originally supposed to be what Bane ended up being (give or take), given how much Bane differs from the comic version and how many of his lines could easily be said by the Joker as well.

[@shumanbeans]

​@@SirEEf13 I remember hearing back then that Nolan didn't intend to make a trilogy. The Dark knight was supposed to be the final movie.

[@shleaumeau7740]

“Mass movements don’t need a god but they do need a Devil” This is so true about all extremists

[@lovecraftianleviathan8918]

It should’ve been a two-parter like originally envisioned, with part one ending with Batman being broken by Bane and dragged off to the pit, Gotham in chaos, the rich torn from their homes, Bane giving his big speech in voiceover and prison breaks from Blackgate and Arkham Asylum, with the final shot being of a lone Joker, sans makeup, stepping through the smoke and rubble of Blackgate Prison in an orange jumpsuit, looking around at the carnage, going “Hmmp” before quickly side-stepping off-screen. Cut to black. Imagine the hype for part two! Infinity War couldn’t even top that. This also would’ve given the writers more time to explore the “Tale of Two Cities/Occupy Gotham” storyline. Oh, if only Ledger hadn’t died!

[@philipwhitcomb5358]

Dear God, that is brilliant! Oh, if only it could've been. That would've been utterly insane! 🤩😎

[@jasonmilton]

President Bane is now going to Release all of the J6 prisoners.

[@erikschwartz1214]

Your ideas for a part 1 finale are very juvenile, especially the Joker part.

[@philipwhitcomb5358]

@ Not at all. They're excellent!

[@lovecraftianleviathan8918]

@ Aww, now I’m sad.

[@GOODEUSMAXIMUS]

My favorite of the trilogy. “Ah you think darkness is your ally”

[@LuisSierra42]

It's not my favorite but i've always thought it's much better than people say

[@LaNguyenBTong]

He was indeed philosophical.

[@vcdonovan5943]

I love the way Bane just naturally counteracts all of Batman's "superpowers." Darkness? Ineffective! Gadget tricks? Saw that coming! Strength and skill. Bane is faster, stronger, cleverer (and more confident) than Batman. Bane is a so much more *intimidating* villain than even the Joker because Batman has no moves that can work against him. Batman has the physical and intellectual advantage over *everyone*... But Bane is like walking, mumbling cryptonite to Batman.

[@seewhativescene]

You wrote this with a Bane, Make Gotham Great Again hat on right? ​@@vcdonovan5943

[@BrandonHeat243]

As a lifelong batman fan, I despise the movie because it fundamentally goes against what the character is. Batman retiring at the end to get a "happily ever after" with Selena is like the least Batman thing ever. That is not Batman. At all. Nolan completely missed the point of the character. Bane was cool though.

[@davidjr.tolson6831]

Jared says that "cement drivers [and] shoe shiners" are recruited by Bane. That isn't true. If you remember Batman Begins, Ra's al Ghul tells Bruce Wayne, "You are defending a city so corrupt, we have infiltrated every level of its infrastructure." It makes sense that when Talia took over the League of Shadows, they stayed in Gotham in secret, waiting through the chaos of The Joker and through the relative peace of the eight years between The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises.

[@mckenzie.latham91]

actually they had cement and etc workers because they used Dagget Dagget even says to bane “you have my construction crews and trucks going all over the city” Dagger wasn’t league of shadows he was just a pawn they used

[@ayanjit9196]

​@@mckenzie.latham91Bane tickled him to death in the end 😂😂😂😂

[@matthewkuchinski1769]

There is an excellent book titled "How to Be a Dictator: The Cult of Personality in the Twentieth Century" by Frank Dikötter which delved deeply into why people cling to demagogues with vague political ideologies. He reached the conclusion that because many people view the world as themselves rather than in its greater plurality, and because they feel dissatisfaction for their lives even in what are supposedly times of great prosperity, they need a scapegoat to blame for their supposed troubles. Thus, even with no real plan laid out for their own betterment by their so-called leaders, only a perceived threat, many people will steadfastly favor them as surely as if they were children reaching out for a safety blanket to comfort them, creating an atmosphere of fanaticism that is difficult to break or upend.

[@egomz123]

God DAMN! What a way to sell the book. Good job I'm definitely buying it now 👍🏼

[@timt5381]

That's now called the MAGA conundrum, seems it's all rooted in the fear-based conservative mindset. Trump made them afraid they'll lose all sorts of things which are not at all under threat, it gets a lot of reinforcement too, churches that are plainly political and operated for profit and a huge media network make populism much easier.

[@jason_odonnell]

You just perfectly described the current Democratic Party & the Woke Mind Virus

[@egomz123]

@@jason_odonnell you're right, but you forgot the other half of that sentence... And also the love for Trump and the MAGA movement

[@LeviBulger]

The US is over as a democracy and people think it's a good thing because they've never understood or experienced it. Life is going to be miserable for Americans for a very long time except for the very top of the wealthy. I bet they never hold elections again, or they will be like Russia where they do fake elections where the incumbent gets a mathematically impossible 110% of votes lol. I feel bad for women and minorities in the US. They're gonna be the first to start being killed by the fascists.

[@anonymone453]

1:50 I need to stop you there. The point of The Dark Knight is that the Joker was wrong. The two ships didn't blow each other up. It's the climax of the movie.

[@chrisblanc663]

I didn’t like that because up to that point joker was absolutely right about society and individuals, only wrong once, at the climax, and there really wasn’t a reason for him to be wrong just that one time. I think it would have made more sense for a couple people in each boat to be inspired by Harvey from something earlier in the movie, emphasizing to the viewer the importance of Batman taking the fall at the end for Harvey’s actions.

[@fero5540]

Joker was not wrong about the boats either. The civilians wanted to blow the prisoners boat, they were not the good people, but cowards who didn’t want to have their hands dirty. Batman misunderstood what happened there.

[@Watch-0w1]

​@@fero5540true but also, people are sheep that need guidance and leadership to control their morality

[@chrisblanc663]

@ joker was totally and absolutely wrong. That’s the point. They didn’t want to get their hands dirty. Jokers point is, that when people are given a little push, they will do the same thing he would do, which is get his hands dirty. He wasn’t only wrong about the civilian boat, but even the boat full of criminals. He thought that even if the civilian boat wouldn’t do it, surely the criminal boat would have done it, after the criminals revolt and kill the guards, instead, it was one of the criminals who made sure they wouldn’t harm the civilian boat. My argument is, that there was no reason to assume Joker would be wrong, since he was right the whole time except that once. I think either Batman’s influence, or more poignantly, Harvey’s influence should have been why the people in the boats refused to act the way Joker wanted them to. (Batman wouldn’t know that, but we the viewers would know it)

[@mrzfunk]

The joker was both right and wrong. He was right that when people are pushed they'll do terrible things. But he was wrong about the motivation. It's not that people are all bloodthirsty savages inside barely being restrained by society, it's that we all want to be safe and happy and when that's threatened we'll protect it. If our core nature was blood thirsty violence like he implies, we would never build society in the first place.

[@Amp_Edition]

Bible written over 2000 years ago just keeps proving itself more and more, that there will be no peace in the earth until Jesus comes and it will get worse and worse until he does like no other days like it. Sin is the problem and people deny the truth, so this is what we get.

[@stillbuyvhs]

@0:10 Not really true. The first adaptions took themselves seriously, but they were cheap, so they lent themselves to parody. 1960's Batman spoofed 1950's Superman, & 1930's & 40's serials.

[@thedarkfrost2351]

🤓☝️

[@dwc1964]

The mass base of fascism has _always_ been the _petit-bourgeoisie_ and not the working class, though the former like to cosplay as the latter.

[@The_Mosaic]

Literally hasan

[@dante6985]

​@@The_Mosaic truth but it's an older game than Hasan. Bill O'Reilly was constantly branding himself "us, the working class of America". Both liberal and conservative pundits love to cosplay.

[@simonkatz3779]

Amen. I try to share this idea with as many people as possible.

[@86cutty442]

​@@dante6985100% accurate. both parties are just 2 cheeks of the same ass serving themselves

[@jt1765]

Facts. So many dudes in history have used populism to gain power for their own ambitions.

[@allengaible6436]

Society is frustrating and unfair but entrenched, so when an extreme approach comes about (either Batman or Bane), many latch on to it. I think that's why Batman feels such guilt about lying about Dent's death. He's like "I sacrificed idealism for this?!"

[@JamesWolf2001]

Saw a re-showing of this film in cinemas recently and man is it severely underrated, I definitely prefer this to Batman Begins!

[@flyingphoenix113]

I prefer it to the Dark Knight. Nebulous populism is the most dangerous force in the modern world, and yet, mankind is drawn to it every time like a moth to a flame.

[@JamesWolf2001]

@@flyingphoenix113 Woah now thats an unusual opinion, and yeah I think Dark Knight Rises has a lot to say but the message is often misunderstood

[@DennyArcher]

⁠@@JamesWolf2001 have you considered it’s because the message is horribly delivered, and the only reason that it resonates with you now is because of your sensitivity to the political climate in the United States?

[@JamesWolf2001]

@@DennyArcher Erm no. It resonated with me back then and it still does now, I wasn't aware that its message was even considered cryptic at all, I always knew what it was trying to say. It may not be as eloquently portrayed as The Dark Knight but it's message is strong if not a little vague... Its also really fucking entertaining and the villain is cool. So yeah good film.

[@xxsouthxxsidexxroyxx]

If the convicts on the boat in The Dark Knight were replaced with the ones from The Dark Knight rises...they would have blown up the boat of innocent people. That's the biggest problem with Rises. Joker's world view is proven instead of disproven.

[@RudyBoy]

I don’t think it’s a problem, but a more realistic take on society

[@fillbrin]

@@RudyBoy It might be a more realistic take, but it is inconsistent with the previous movie. Supposedly rises presents a society that has evolved/grown since the joker's time. Then why would people have less empathy?

[@sethyoung9792]

I feel like the convicts were only worse in Rises because of what they learned about Harvey Dent. The Dent Act sent them to Blackgate and denied them parole for years. They then found out it was all a sham; Harvey was a psychopath, and Gordon lied about it to keep them in prison. This doesn’t justify their reaction, but I think it makes it more understandable.

[@xxsouthxxsidexxroyxx]

@@RudyBoy is it really though? Given what we know about criminal behavior being tied to economic circumstances; if those circumstances are supposedly turned on their head? Why would lawlessness and crime be the default behavior?

[@xxsouthxxsidexxroyxx]

@@sethyoung9792 I think that's fair. Resentment and rage and injustice can certainly create a worked up fervor of violence.

[@lorcan545]

Any movie can overcome its flaws by having Hardy in strongman enforcer mode: Bronson, TDKR, The Bikeriders.

[@PanicbyExample]

does that make Capone the inverse? i don't think i could get through it a second time

[@MikeManich]

Lawless

[@johannvonbabylon]

You used the word "depravity" incorrectly. It refers to being wicked, not to being deprived.

[@351cleavland]

I often use in reference to losing gravity.

[@patrickday4206]

Isn't it about deprived morals

[@Prophet_of_Colour]

@@patrickday4206 depraved. deprived morals does not make sense as a term.

[@DavidUnger-j6f]

The missing ingredient is envy.

[@Baronnax]

Maybe he meant deprivation.

[@edbrooke75]

I just finished the tale of two cities, and I would’ve never connected the two stories. But now that you mention it, it is very clear.

[@jesser9932]

Can’t believe you did it, but I actually respect Dark Knight Rises a hell of a lot more now. The Tale of Two Cities thing is an eye opener. Also really fascinated by The True Believer!

[@tedley70]

I have long thought that what we see in many Millennials and Generation Z matches this: unease with a lack of purpose - a sense that we should have one, and yet desperate to avoid the personal responsibility that comes with having a purpose of our own. I believe that from this we see a rise in activism on behalf of those we don’t have to actually take care of when we go home at night to please ourselves. Once you got to the “more vague = more compelling” concept, I went “that makes sense - I frequently see college students unwittingly chanting a death sentence for themselves, if the revolution they call for successfully comes to pass upon them.” We all ought to study very carefully what we believe in; only what is worth believing can stand up to the examination.

[@LongDefiant]

Christianity is toxic

[@de.fr.im.a]

Reading your point about "chanting death sentence for themselves if the revolution comes to pass" reminds me of something--unless I misunderstood. I seem to hear a lot of students in my country chanting "eat the rich" or "kill the rich" while a lot of them seems to come from at least middle class families. It is scary for me because I remember on the last deadly riots here, the victims, the "eaten rich" were not the trillionaires or one percents, it's the well to do middle class neighborhoods. Do these students think their families will not be the "eaten rich" chanting violent calls to blood like that?

[@pw6002]

@@de.fr.im.a The silent and well-mannered violence of the rich kills far more people and destroys communities in a far more deeper way than any revolution has ever done.

[@blackshard641]

This same soul sickness plagued Gen X too. Fight Club is literally about how it's a fertile breeding ground for extremism.

[@tss3393]

This felt like a long-winded way of saying, "do your homework" 😂

[@adamfillman9020]

The dark knight rises taught me how to poison the soul with hope

[@seewhativescene]

Occupy Wall Street, pro Palestine, pro israel, and maga movements joined forced to poison MILLIONS of Americans against each other

[@SonGojit456]

Hope is the Only Thing that we can deserve ourselves

[@trevoranderson1812]

Holy shit you’re the wisecrack guy! I had no idea you had your own channel, this is great! I really missed your content there, glad to see you’re still making moves

[@enicot]

I see what you're doing releasing this video in this date. Well played Jared, well played.

[@Ivar-V]

This reminds me of a book by Erich Fromm, Escape from Freedom. He explains why he thinks Germany fell to Nazism. The key point is that freedom is hard for a human to bear and cultivate. As an American who was raised constantly being told we are the land of the free, our ancestors died for freedom, etc., it was hard to see how freedom could be bad. Of course, as I grew older and wanted to have the freedom to access basic things like a good education, a safe environment, a living wage, affordable and quality healthcare, and some sense of political power I realized I'm not really as free as I thought. But even the freedom to exercise this awareness versus willful ignorance takes a lot of bravery. Even more courage to use the little freedom and power I have to stand on my own two feet, be true to my convictions, and actually do something about it. “The frightened individual seeks for somebody or something to tie his self to; he cannot bear to be his own individual self any longer, and he tries frantically to get rid of it and to feel security again by the elimination of this burden: the self.” ― Erich Fromm, Escape from Freedom

[@sergiootero5904]

It's crazy how much intellectual masturbation ppl do to explain away Germany's embrace of Nazism, but ignore the basic facts that arose post WWI like urban/cultural decay and hyperinflation.

[@arthurm4726]

Read Timothy Snyder - especially his definition of ‘freedom from’ vs. ‘freedom to’….

[@curiositycloset2359]

Might want to look into what the average German was going through financially in that period.

[@eyespy3001]

The Nazis rose to power because Hitler scapegoated the country’s financial problems onto the Jews, the gays, and the Socialists, and the people ate it up because Hitler and his propaganda machine said the things he knew they wanted to hear. Sounds a lot like a certain Oompa Loomoa running for president, don’t it?

[@condor727me]

i was thinking of that book too! nice! :)

[@grantwalkersound]

It probably took you 12 years just to understand what the hell Bane is saying.

[@mainstreetsaint36]

🤣🤣🤣

[@modmaker7617]

Bane is essentially a metaphor for Trump but it was 12 years too early

[@TerryBradstreet]

@@modmaker7617I don’t recall Bane spending eight years under publicized investigations looking for any crime they could use to destroy him, and then two assassination attempts when the lawfare failed.

[@X-zag]

@@modmaker7617Ngl I don’t think trump wants to start a revolution

[@Brandon69674]

I do tho​@@X-zag

[@dreamshakejunya]

Bane is the reason this has always been my favorite one of the movies. Just loved the performance

[@thecloudtherapist]

Your punishment must be more severe!

[@therizinosaurus214]

all of the chaos created by Bane was a slow burning fire to distract from the bomb. Everyone though the bomb was set to explode by an unknown person rather than on a timer. Everyone was to busy trying either fan the fire or put it to actually check the bomb.

[@seewhativescene]

Project 2025 is a 900 page manifesto blueprint for bombs to go off in 50 States, MILLIONS of Americans voted for it unbeknownst to them

[@ano_nym]

Why not just blow it directly then...

[@YakoTheGoat]

It completes the trilogy and brings it full circle from Batman begins. Highly underrated movie.

[@michaelotis223]

This!

[@starwarsroo2448]

It really isn't underrated

[@enojahwalker6670]

So your argument is that it is number 3 and Batman isn't Batman at the end of the Batman movie.... maybe you just like a bad movie.

[@eyespy3001]

It’s just pro-capitalist, anti-environmentalist, copaganda that wants you to boot-lick the 1%ers. This movie was a reaction to Occupy Wall Street

[@arkhamftw6186]

Why would you assume the men who work for Bane are actually blue collar workers instead of League of Shadows soldiers acting as sleeper agents.

[@tss3393]

Same reason it so easy to coerce blue collar/working class people to join Project Mayhem

[@dragonhead99]

Good question. The League of Shadows could have been disguising themselves as blue-collar workers in the movie. But, I feel Bane's followers are a little bit both as he recruited orphans or underclass people to attack Upperclass.

[@therealmyers7826]

He was literally appealing to criminals lower to middle class and targeting the wealthy. That was a crucial plot point.

[@megatheinternet]

Because that's the point. The people did it, they just needed a catalyst. Making them sleeper agents, illuminati style, is not the theme.

[@AgentGodzillaRP1701]

The film explicitly showed that he recruited people of the lower classes, like the orphans. If the ones at the stock exchange were just in disguise, it’s definitely a metaphor.

[@geekwithabible4477]

Jared, you are a freaking treasure. In a world full of grifters and fools, you stand out as an authentic human with real insights. Even when I disagree, I do so with the utmost respect.

[@zerocore_]

I think this essay empathizes unintentionally Nolans biggest weak point. Namely that for such a visually strong director, he’s actually terrible at visually communicating his themes, opting to rather tell, not show, through heavy exposition. Neither the TDK and TDKR succeed in selling the idea of a deeply rotted, corrupt society on the brink of collapse. Batman Begins actually does this much better, but Nolan does away with this aesthetic entirely in TDK so he could partly rip off HEAT with TDK. I expect Nolan fans will defend this as actually being accurate to contemporary culture, but to me he utterly fails to show why Gotham actually needs a Batman. Nothing is actually shown to be brewing underneath the surface in terms of escalating inequality. We’re merely told it’s a thing in both sequels. On the flip side, The Batman actually does a much better job at depicting a decaying society rife with corruption and class warfare.

[@pggalantd]

As someone who completely loves Nolan's trilogy, I agree with you. The batman did a way better job at making Gotham it's own character.

[@doctordre3000]

What? So random terrorist attacks happening all over the city does not justify the need of a Batman? Are you serious?

[@zerocore_]

@@doctordre3000 my point is that all of the 3 main antagonists directly address -and are motivated by Gotham’s proclaimed decadence, but only the first film comes close to actually depicting a Gotham that is socially ripping apart at the seams. TDK and TDKR both depict a generic north American Metropolitan city, that seems to be doing just fine socially and economically until the Joker and Bane show up.

[@doctordre3000]

@zerocore_ your point is that the exposé for the main antagonists were not well established, and not Batman’s motivation? If that’s the case, yes, I see your point. Your original message drove me to a different interpretation

[@chrisblanc663]

I agree with your point. Especially Rises.

[@PolarisCastillo]

This is a great sequel to your Wisecrack analysis! I had no idea you had your own channel here

[@josephshriner2850]

Maybe Im crazy, but I always felt that the second film was critique of Bush/Patriot Act style authoritarianism. I always felt the third film was a critique of populism with a poison pill.

[@seewhativescene]

It's true, America invaded privacy in exchange for "freedom" and the 1% enjoyed the rewards

[@josephshriner2850]

@seewhativescene I believe even Nolan backed this regarding the series take on the "Bat Computer" and how it obtained its information. It's hard not to see Bane as larping a revolutionary Communist or Fascist leader. I will admit I didn't know about the Tale of Two Cities connection because I was lousy at literature through my schooling.

[@teacherhomieg]

I love your ending question. I’ve thought about that myself. It’s essentially asking if we can operate as a species by relying more on our frontal lobe vs our amygdala. And frankly I don’t think we can. Our species evolved to have a healthy dose of fear, to ensure our survival. It’s why mass movements can be so easily engineered, by players (I’m thinking of politicians especially) who stoke fear and exacerbate the feeling of angst/anxiety in people. Civilizations like the type we read about in Comics (Wakanda, Krypton, in sci fi shows like Raised by Wolves) are explorations of what’s possible if humans end inequalities, but when will that be? Never.

[@jonathanzappala]

A tale of two cities is a book I wish I had read when I was older. I couldn’t appreciate it in eighth grade.

[@seanhastings4432]

Reading about the French Revolution was more interesting and taught the same lessons.

[@YakoTheGoat]

Another incredible analysis video. Well done.

[@kuroazrem5376]

This proves Nolan is indeed a genius.

[@enthomorf]

Revolutions were not made by the people, they never were. But by privileged intellectuals who devised ideas and projects to execute means of action to organize a group that could be capable of manipulating the rest of the population. In the former Soviet Union, for example, it was intellectuals who started everything, not the workers. Many workers had no idea what was coming. And they were not given the chance to agree or disagree with what was happening around them. Expressions full of euphemism and falsehood such as "Freedom" and "Equality" were uttered in Lenin's protests. However, the citizens and especially the farmers had no idea that all their possessions, including those of the poor, would be confiscated in the near future.

[@comradethatmetalguy]

I do not agree with the argument of the author you are talking about. Places like France before the revolution were not a time of economic growth or stability, far from it. The greatest mass movements of the 19th and 20th centuries were the result of economic inequality, extreme poverty or an unbearable situation like Russia in 1917. Regarding Russia, the wealthy peasant class was far more reactionary to change. On the subject of the German middle class supporting the Nazis, it is something similar to what happens in the United States today, a middle class that sees its class interests threatened and reactionary voices tell them that it is the immigrants who are the problem. It seems to me that the message of the film was already quite reactionary and the analysis only makes it more apparent. And with respect, I must clarify that liberals are not "left". The violence of the liberal revolutions brought with its good and bad things the society we have today, something radically different (although in some things similar) to what there was before. The potential for transformation exists, but it is an inherently violent birth.

[@mattgilbert7347]

Agreed. It's a slander against the proud tradition of Leftist, pre-and-post Marxist philosophy and praxis, that film. It's Neo reactionary propaganda.

[@doh4828]

Exactly👏🏻

[@JonasGoldek]

Thank you

[@LuisRomeroLopez]

I think you have two problems there: *1)* Growth doesn't equals equality as Equality doens't equals imrpvoment. If anything, most likely you get an increase in inequality when life improves to everybody after growth (look for a 2019 article about increase in inequality in China after 1980 by Piketty tittled *«Income inequality is growing fast in China and making it look more like the US»* published in the page of the London School of Economics); and even the video doesn't points to any decrease in unequality. (Watch 6:28 - 6:36) 2) Also notice that (judging by what Jared said) Hoffer seems to refers to social improvments, not decrease in inequality. (Watch 6:42 - 7:00) Consider that pre-revolutionaries France and Russia may look incredible unequal and backwards to you (in 2024), but (levaing aside any growth and improvment with or without increase in inequality) they probably look like unprecedent development to people in their respectives ages (where their points of comparisons were late feudal age for france and early XIX century with serfdom still in place in Russia); and hence you have the *more contemporary* assessment by Tocqueville. (Watch 7:00 - 7:17) So the improvments where there: enlightenment and the emergence of bourgeoisie that had to (mathematically brute force as a by product of appearing) a more equal distribution of wealth (with the aristocracy) in France and abolition of serfdom in Russia; being that in the first case (France) had a wealthier and more educated class with new ideas that started the revolution (For example: Robespierre was able to afford h higher education, becoming a lawyer.) And it is not atypical that many revolutions were started by middle or upper social classes that were nourished with new members and had access to education and (particularly) new ideas. Look also for and old (1960s or 1970s) paper titled *«A Theory of Revolution»* by Tanter and Midlarsky. It makes an important distintion between types of revolutions, touches on the same point of improvments before French and American revolutions, mentions how more economic freedoms for peasents in France (relative to peasents in the rest of Europe) made any remanent of feudal social institutions more annoying, and has a similar conclussion about expectations not growing at the same pace as social improvments, ending in a revolution.

[@VitaminCBable]

It's not entirely false, though. Slaves tend not to overthrow systems, as life is difficult enough as is, and the "middle class" become scapegoats of the regime. Frustration aside, revolutions are fueled by sentiments. Take a look at how social movements at the moment even work. Look at the social movements you've referenced- they reworked society into a new form- it just happened to lead to horrific side effects. Like mass murder.

[@remain_]

14:24 reminds me of the quote from a 19th century philosopher, "Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of a readiness to die." GK Chesterton

[@gabrieljordan8015]

This movie was practically a prophecy for the events of this year. And as I write this we are still 2 days away from the election so things are really about to get crazy.

[@johnmacleod2487]

whatever happens the next couple months will just be a taste. summer is riot season. weather is nicer

[@gabrieljordan8015]

Yep. I cant wait

[@SolFireYT]

Lmao would you look at that the better candidate won with both votes and no riots. Yet at least

[@baligong3592]

⁠​⁠@@SolFireYT The Uproar all over Social Media has begun, with people going through extreme measures of embracing or coping with the next term. It hasn't even started and this is how everyone's acting. The next 4 years will be hell for everyone

[@Zhanrock]

Better candidate won, eh ​@@SolFireYT? Really, wheres your Lamborghini? Or yacht? Private plane maybe? Your taxes wont be cut if it's not in the garage or hanger, in fact they'll be raised. Everything you buy will increase in price, everything else will water down the money you have resulting in crushing inflation. Give it a year of a breakdown of vaccines and incredibly dumb people and a return of hugely infective, treatable diseases return. Every woman you know not in a blue state already trying to codify the right to it will be at risk of death when they need a rape abortion. American presence on the world stage will shrink with Putin doing everything in his power to undermine our support against his tyranny, especially considering his well-made investments into bankrolling right wing talking heads for the last year did their job turning the party of Reagan into the lapdogs for putin. Netenyahu only laughs because he's done the same thing to both sides of congress instead, gaining every possible inch he can when the butchers behind him donate their country's tax dollars to buy the weapons they make, resulting in only the M.I.C. Getting richer. You and everyone around you supporting them are the dumbest, most shortsighted scum that has ever licked a boot, and you only love to do it more.

[@joshuachigumira4064]

Harvey Dent revealed to be a villain set it in motion, along with Joker. Bane knew, as did the entire League of Shadows, about Gotham being corrupt, since the beginning. A perfect loop

[@ghostlightning]

Superb analysis. I've always liked this film. The end was even better than the beginning perhaps, because it had something more to say.

[@LegendStormcrow]

I've stood by slow changes. It's hard to reverse course when bad side effects happen, and frankly, when a protest turns violent, but then wins, the other side is likely to follow suit.

[@nicknumber1512]

To nitpick an otherwise great video, at 7:45, I think "poverty" is the intended meaning, rather than "depravity".

[@blacksuede]

Yeah, I agree is a slave depraved because of their situation? Good observation.

[@Justanotherconsumer]

@@blacksuededeprived, perhaps.

[@ameer8966]

@@JustanotherconsumerAgreed. I believe he meant deprivation.

[@jor9423]

Dark Knight Rises was always my favourite. The most technically flawed perhaps but the most emotionally resonating

[@kwadjodanso]

This is the film and lit analysis we deserved

[@IWNDWYT1996]

This gotta be the most modern KZbin video title/thumbnail I've ever seen

[@Jealous_Oberon]

I agree. And yet, not a bad video. So can I fault the guy for trying to get his video out there; to share something he was passionate enough about to put some hard work into (and also get maybe get a little payment for work)? No I cannot

[@KonzaCelt]

Comics weren't all silly/campy right up until the late 80's, that started to fade out in the late 60's. You're missing a rather large swath of comics in the 70's and early 80's that indeed took themselves seriously and mature, without the grimdark ascetic of creators like Miller or Moore in the late 80's and 90's. They were a solid middle ground between the two extremes, and I would argue that Nolan's Batman came from this era. Miller's Batman has a lot more in common with Reeve's rendition in The Batman, and not Nolan's.

[@donaldbernacky9356]

Hi Jared, I didn't know you had returned to your essays. So glad to see you back! I wish you health and fulfillment in your new endeavor!

[@makhnothecossack4948]

16:12 Though Burke was notorious for basically disapproving humanity and human life, and that those that are in the bottom of hierarchy always deserve it while those on the top of it also always deserve it, which is why when people demand better, after generations of abuse from higher ups, it naturally forms a danger to people on top. The question is, are the people on top on top becusse they are inherently good, of would they be exactly similar as the ones on bottom if they would be on bottom?

[@tobykay5749]

I really enjoy your channel and just found it and am just very impressed and happy to find such solid content. You’re awesome dude. Thanks for all the hardwork culminating into something awesome that helps educate the world!

[@mercurius0]

19:43 don’t do that version of a peace sign in the UK 😅

[@findyourspine]

He’s got to be joking here, right?! Check 18:26 for reference

[@yugmi]

Why? What does that mean over there?

[@mercurius0]

@@yugmi it’s basically the equivalent of giving the middle finger.

[@mercurius0]

@@findyourspine haha yes maybe an intentional “symbolic gesture”

[@MillillioN]

It's said to have mocked captured archers, hundreds of years ago, that had those fingers cut off and has been seen as an insult since.

[@jonathanmelia]

The word Bane itself means destruction. It’s used in MACBETH: “I will not be afraid of death and bane/Till Birnam forest come to Dunsinane.”

[@palmtree_3964]

I think the ideas of Dent and radical ideas becoming the people religion can be compared with the passionate left and especially right. When the mass are unable to find connection to religion, God, or a church, they will find means and ways to worship something else. As a conservative myself it’s so damn apparent this side worships “conservatism”, being on the right because they passionate submit their selves to traditionalism and the willingly enslave themselves to “old school” culture. They worship the culture and tradition behind it rather than genuine religious connection to their religion. This can be seen where Trump is a heavy advocate for Christianity, saying he’s a Christian himself, clearly heavily very pro-Christian. Yet when asked about if he ever asks for forgiveness from God, something essential to Christianity(like kinda the whole point), he said he felt he didn’t have to, that he and God were cool like that. He clearly doesn’t worship Christ and except in the context that he’s cultural Christian. This is where Christian Nationalism comes from, the stripping of religiosity, but the heightened preservation of the culture and tradition behind it at odds with the world around it. Find Christ and his religion, not nationalism.

[@jasonmilton]

President Bane is now going to Release all of the J6 prisoners.

[@haaa911]

Great video, gave me so much more insight into this film than I had previously

[@kuningaskolassas4720]

Advertisement ends at 9:33

[@reDeuxinc]

the content you’re putting out now is so great. thank you. i’ve missed it

[@RB01138]

You lost me at the bit about german/italian facists and the middle class. Not because it was wrong, but because it ignores the fact that both parties were built off of movements againts striking workers after WW1. Poor people were fighting for a better world, they had just been violently crushed by what were then proto fascists who had the backing of the ultra powerful. Using the german army would've generated sympathy among the citizenry, but unofficial organizations like the Freikorps gave them legitimacy as it was made to look like regular people taking up arms of their own volition. In reality it was just rich people backing them

[@seewhativescene]

The 1% just came out of the closet to openly purchase an Election for flamboyantly populist trump

[@robs009]

Wish I could be Bane . I relate to a lot of his statements especially “you’re punishment must be more severe” and paraphrasing “when you understand the depths of your failure, you have my permission to die”

[@Bootleg_Jim]

Best KZbinr on the platform 🙌

[@Billy-bc8pk]

My rankings have always been: 1) The Dark Knight 2) The Dark Knight Rises 3) Batman Begins It was never even close. TDKR was always great but everyone was looking for some big blockbuster to succeed The Dark Knight, and TDKR was not that, and thankfully so. It's what makes it one of the greatest trilogies in the history of cinema because it has something to say, it's not like Avengers: Endgame that turns over a decade of some 30 odd movies into a comedic time-caper that has big bombastic moments and lots of explosions, and neeedlessly quippy one-liners. I loved the character study of TDKR and everything that is pointed out in this here video -- it's a shame the movie didn't get that kind of recognition when it first came out, but it will slowly continue to rise up the IMDB rankings with time as more people begin to appreciate its thematic brilliance in maintaining continuity with the previous two films and rounding itself out with some philosophically relevant topic matter.

[@byronhotchkiss1137]

Jared, have you read Ross Douthat? He points out almost always its the professional/managerial class that foments revolutions. They have plenty of wealth, but all their education leaves them thinking they should be at the top, not just near the top.

[@polydex108]

That sounds accurate, but he is a reactionary, correct?

[@kyleschanck7520]

My brother, the French couldn’t afford BREAD to be able to eat. National prosperity DECLINED over 20 years because the French government spent so mucb money on anti-British activities around the world (most notibly the US) and that was just in the 20 years leading up to it. Not to mension the thousands if not millions of Franks spent by Louis the 14th earlier in the century to combat the British in North America with their own soldiers the first time. And the amount of money lost paying Indians to harrass English settlements in North America which only fuelled the fires of anti-native sentiment in the US for 150 years, if not more. It was, in fact, the degradation of the middle class that lead to them essentially eating the rich and destroying the monarchy. You could use the film as a symbol for how it turned out though. Supplanting one idol with the replacement of another and the chaos in between.

[@MelancoliaI]

This is good stuff! It used to be you had to go through pages of fan fourms to sift through this kind of analysis like panning for gold. Now it's a click away! Truly, we live in a revolutionary era!

[@buttersleopaldstoch5793]

I had no idea you had a channel of your own. Happy i found it

[@VideoMaster40K]

My only complaint is that the Joker was not in it. To me the whole of the film would have worked better if the Joker was trying to destory the city and leading the revolution. Thus making it about anarchy versus order, drawing the parallel between the Joker and Batman being two sides of the same coin.

[@billsprestonesq.226]

Can a vigilante be the symbol for "order"?

[@VideoMaster40K]

@@billsprestonesq.226 I would like to point to you this movie clip kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHjJaKxteamUi7c&ab_channel=MarvelousMovieClips4KHDR

[@luison_py]

I've never saw the film this way. The high level of analysis mixed with historical events and literature works give you a complete new perspective of the film. I'm truly missing so much of so many films because I don't speak the audiovisual language. To me Bane's lines "Peace has cost you strength" and "Victory has defeated you" were the most profound and worth analysing material of the film, complete ignoring this revolution orchestrated by Bane. One last thing, only a great film can be bring such deep analysis, and "The Dark Night Rises" is a complete masterpiece.

[@B_Estes_Undegöetz]

15:20 Hoffer’s silly analysis of the third Reich completely ignores the REALITY of economic material conditions. Fascists and Nazis didn’t identify with communism in any way. They made trade unions illegal and executed communists and ALL groups that sought to use collective action to pursue improved working conditions and pay. Fascism and Nazism and Communism ARE NOT AT ALL THE SAME. They are “psychologically” the same or the same in the sense all are “authoritarian”. This misses the fundamental essential difference that they are ECONOMIC theories. Not cultural theories or political theories or psychological theories. The liberal capitalists always want to claim Nazism and fascism and communism are the same in essential ways and different from the vastly superior liberal democratic capitalism. But there’s no essential connection between democracy and capitalism. In fact capitalism is essentially undemocratic; whereas democratic political power is based on one person having one vote, capitalist power is based on one person having as many votes as they have shares in a company … one person can have many votes … or even all of them. Fascism and Nazism were both capitalist in economics too. Communist societies are not capitalist; There are no political parties but everyone instead has voting rights over economic decisions directly, due to common ownership of the means of production. Anyway … Hoffer’s analysis is either a deceptive effort to conceal these facts and try to portray communism and Nazism as identical n psychological phenomena… they’re not. Nazism and fascism don’t solve the working class’s economic problems so how can the psychology of the working class be improved by fascism or Nazism. They’re not. We can give Hoffer the benefit of the doubt and just say he’s mistaken. But given his “patriotic” love of the USA it’s fair to assume he’s going to great lengths to avoid critiximgn capitalism in any way, and Hoffer’s psychological analyis is a rather clever way of leaving capitalism entirely unexamined as to how or why it would be involved in the first place. It is. Fascism is a reactionary conservative ideology to forestall a socialist / communist economic revolution. Hoffer’s just mistaken. So’s this video.

[@MaxCadyS]

Sure, it’s not like Germany had an ‘economic miracle’ where the working class had affordable living and the best work/life balance on earth, but go off. Remember, national socialism has been tried and it worked. Communism has been tried over and over and mass starvations and mass killings are ALWAYS the result. Proof’s in the pudding.

[@Superabound2]

Counterpoint: Were people's lives materially better under Fascism or under Communism? (clearly they are better under Capitalism, but that's not the comparison being made). And I'm sure you'll ask "WHICH people", and to that I'll see "the ones that the Fascists and Communists weren't actively mass murdering"

[@mistermoo7602]

​@@Superabound2 That isn't a counter point, and is extremely backwards. Quality of life becomes irrelevant whenever complacency with genocide normalizes further genocide. Unhoused citizens in America are dying in droves, strategically deprived of resources by the architects of this corrupt government. So much for Capitalism being a success.

[@kittentacticalwarfare1140]

Quite inconvenient that fascists and nazis were both national socialists regimes, the most successful socialist regimes up to date at that.

[@carlwest3441]

Communists and fascists are the same kinds of people who, by mere happenstance, fall into one or the other ideology.

[@amrelfoully]

You really need to make a book club, or at least a monthly books recommendations, especially if each list revolves around a topic diagnosed from different perspectives

[@MrNoPants305]

The poignancy(sp) of this video breakdown after the election seems to be spot on. The two parties have stopped playing the same game, and one is much better at the new dynamic than the other. To hear Jared break it down, taking him and his sources at face value, the current environment was completely predictable. There is a lot of shame to be spread around.

[@FrankyWarrior-zz7bi]

This movie used to be my least favorite of the trilogy. Later on, probably right around 2020, I grew to love it because of its message.

[@eliahdayton3448]

If you cannot see how this concept applies to both sides, you are drinking the Kool aid of somebodies making.

[@petersparker1278]

Thank you. I'm so sick of people dunking on one side and acting like they are so much better. How do so many people not understand the flaw of a "two" party system.... Actually crazy to watch someone call a Trump or Harris supporter stupid just to be wearing the clown paint themselves.

[@painvillegaming4119]

@@petersparker1278there too deep into their own spit Like they go out of there way to anger and spit the other and that frustrating

[@Mikesapien]

Well written and well argued until the conclusions around 18:02. Nolan's Batman is not a candidate running for president, he is a redemptive figure. Gotham supplanting its old symbol of Harvey Dent with the new symbol of Batman is not merely the swapping-out of one arbitrary figurehead for another. Batman represents what Harvey Dent was supposed to be, a self-sacrificial hero. At the end of the Dark Knight, Wayne and Gordon concoct a Platonic lie to turn Dent into a false mascot and Batman into a false scapegoat for Dent's murders, but when Bane exposes the truth, the political order falls apart. When Batman redeems himself by saving the city, they build a statue in his honor. This is critical. It represents the return of truth and self-sacrifice to the literal center of the city. Gotham was once ruled by a corrupt system and false heroes, but no longer. By the end of this trilogy, the people have a reformed system and true heroism to inspire them. That's the path forward out of the problems you describe at 16:30. The people of Gotham need law and order, but they need more than just law and order. They need truth and heroism, because lies and cowardice are a ticking timebomb. A city built on lies and cowardice can be turned into tyranny by people like the crime families, or turned into chaos by people like Joker and Bane. Bruce Wayne uses the character he created in a final act of self-sacrifice and completes Batman's character arc. It took me a long time to understand the scene with Bruce and Selina at the cafe. The important detail is not that Bruce Wayne survived an atomic blast, but rather, that he survived the theatrical deception he created called Batman. He survived the dark night. People tend to dichotomize Bruce and Batman because of the Animated Series, but that is a misreading of Nolan's Batman, which is more integrated. Batman was always a character Bruce created, and when that character serves his ultimate purpose, Bruce retires the Batman identity. He "dies" and rises again, which is the fundamental identity transformation at the bedrock of western society.

[@PK-MegaLolCaT]

16:33 I dont fully agree with that. I mean is true that the movie does a poor job showing what has change. but logically Gotham would never be the same after a revolution like that.. the upper class would not just take again for granted the conditions of the lower classes cause of the wound inflicted during the revolution the same way the lower classes would not be so open to fallow new trending heros after dent and bane turn out to be bade fake idols.

[@valleyscharping]

I am about as far right as is tolerated in society and I really appreciated your take, Jared. Informed and thoughtful. Compelling movie.

[@jesustyronechrist2330]

12 Years Later, and I still think it's a bloated movie with a rapid-fire pace that makes you forget 90% of the scenes that happen.

[@Peer165]

I disagree. Movie is very memorable, much thanks to Bane.

[@GustavoSilva-ny8jc]

2:02 PEAK transition. And HOLY SHIT, i just noticed that both sides are a legacy of a dead man and those 2 were build with misdirection. Also, DAAAAMN, YOURE WISECRACK JARED!!!!

[@barellevy6030]

Masterclass of a video assay. You are able to teach new ideas using movies. Love your work, thank you.

[@TF2CrunchyFrog]

Except he is wrong in many details.

[@Andrewearnshaw]

Brilliant breakdown. Not dumbed down. Beautifully done.

[@chadalactucker12]

Kinda surprised by the comparisons to Harris at the end. The maga movement in the US is certainly more populist and feels much more “revolutionary” than anything on the American left. Super fun breakdown though, the Batman statue observation was one of my favorite parts.

[@doh4828]

The problem with that is that there really is no ‘left’ in the USA. Maybe Bernie Sanders skirted what could be called leftist. So there’s right wing (Dems), far right (the old GOP) and there’s MAGA, an extreme radical right populist movement. ‘Left’ fear in the USA is nothing but a remnant of the McCarthy years.

[@IHSchwingo]

A good faith interpretation would be that at the time the video was being produced, Kamala was light on substance (no wonder, she had only a very short period of time to build up a campaign). But since then she has come out with substantive proposals, whereas Trump still only has concepts of a plan, 9 years into being a politician. Without knowing the politics of this chanel, it reeks of "centrist" fence sitting, but there could be an innocent explenation.

[@mattgilbert7347]

@@chadalactucker12 MAGA people are mostly petit bourgeoise who are about as revolutionary as a wet toilet seat.

[@xXEvolThePsychopompXx]

​@@IHSchwingo Given the area I live in, I needed to hear this. It's amazing how a small city can collectively ignore the truth and pretend what you said isn't true.

[@the3xcessivegamer]

​@@IHSchwingowhat are some of kamala's policies?

[@leviathanfafner]

I think the lack of a drive for systematic change on the left is because the focus has changed from realizing an ideal, to trying to stablize and counter the far right. In doing that the "left" has had to shoulder a much broader chuck of political spectrum, and had to compromise progress for alliance.

[@FireOccator]

A lot of this just sounds like monarchist cope.

[@themeangene]

Monarchy is preferable to direct democracy. Fortunately the United States combines different forms of government together thanks to our founders' wisdom

[@FireOccator]

@@themeangene The US is a democracy.

[@terrifictomm]

I wouldn't dismiss the extent of Nolan's intentionalness in crafting all of these intellectual aspects onto his story. He's a pretty sharp guy!

[@freddyjosereginomontalvo4667]

19:17 I love this question and this ending. I love your videos and your analysis. Take care, and best wishes for you and your loved ones.

[@andrewnelson4148]

I agree that "The Dark Knight Rises" is just a modern "Tale of Two Cities" And they both prove how the authors don't understand why a revolution happens or how they work. Both are reactionary works by people in power who wish to villainize those who are turning against them. I point out that the philosopher that you cite, also don't understand how a revolution work. Revolutions start because of Starvation, but will eat themselves if they don't produce a system that can solve it. The French revolution did not start, because they gave their "slaves"(they called them subjects at that time, it was serfs before that) "too" much "freedom", it was because the people were starving. Marie Antoinette was quoted saying "let them eat cake", when no one had bread. The same with the Russian Revolution. The Russian Empire (the country before Soviet Union, under the czar) was so under productive that it sent soldiers into battle in World War 1 with no weapons. Telling those soldiers that they could pick up those weapons from their dead fellow soldiers. They also had a food shortage due to a lack of manpower from mobilization for World War 1.

[@moatplay]

Dark Knight Rises was severely impacted by Inception. Inception was an original movie that was critical and financial success that gave Nolan a license to do whatever he wanted to do in movies. So, he didn’t feel he needed to work very hard on Rises. Dark Knight Rises felt like it had some really good concepts and probably could have had a really solid script but, the execution was a bit half assed.

[@phenitagomes1292]

How is it that Catwoman can cause the issue and still end up the richest man in the world?

[@HitmannDDD]

Anyone who lived through the pandemic and stood on principle against the medical intervention has an honorary PhD. in mass formation.

[@seewhativescene]

Participation trophies for the frustrated poorly educated who voted for trump to own the libs

[@disturbedenvironmentalist2313]

What does that mean lol