Batman Begins
“Nothing can make injustice just but mercy.” As Robert Frost taught us when he said this, that only injustice can truly be made just by mercy a belief strongly expressed by Bruce Wayne. Batman Begins, directed by Christopher Nolan explores the conflicts within Gotham’s two different socioeconomic classes, and the conflict both internally in Bruce and between Ra 's Al Ghul. Collectively, these complex conflicts teach us about the importance of standing up to injustice and corruption. Batman Begins is set in a futuristic city that is riddled with organized crime and corruption. In turn Bruce Wayne is challenged with the task of standing up to the injustice within the city of Gotham.
The intense conflict between Bruce and Ra’s Al Ghul is used to demonstrate the director’s purpose of standing up to injustice. Bruce’s initiation into the League requires him to execute a man that has not had a fair trial however in Bruce’s eyes the League’s way of dealing with injustice is wrong. Like when the League thinks that destroying Gotham is the right thing to do because of the crime it is facing, Ra’s Al Ghul says. “Gotham’s time has come. Like Constantinople or Rome before it the city has become a breeding ground for suffering and injustice. It is beyond saving and must be allowed to die. This is the most important function of the league of shadows. It is one we’ve performed for centuries. Gotham… must be destroyed.” Ra’s also uses a metaphor to try and convince
The main conflicts in the world of The Dark Knight Returns revolve around escalating crime in Gotham city and forces of the authority attempting to control it. The authority should be a moral force and represent justice. The figures that represent the authority should be selfless and work only to promote the integrity of law and order. Authority proves to be contradictory in Miller’s novel as the authoritative figures express qualities of vigilantism and overall moral ambiguity.
The Dark Knight (2008), directed by Christopher Nolan, demonstrates the idea of good versus evil. Batman is known as the protagonist, and Joker is known as the ultimate villain. The representation of crime in the film is seen from the actions of both characters. The film essentially depicts the act of deviance meaning, “behaviour that violates social norms, including laws”. In normality the government would have the greatest amount of power, but in the Gotham city, power is complex. There is minimal structure of law and order in Gotham city due to powerful people like Batman and the Joker. Citizens of Gotham city can no longer fight for themselves in a world filled with supernatural powers. Therefore, the only hope that citizens have rest in the hands of Batman. Although Batman attempts to save Gotham city from Joker’s criminal intentions. Batman, however, also plays a role in deviant activity while attempting to catch the Joker. Realistically, Batman violates the moral code due to destructive behaviour, and putting the lives of citizens at harm. He does not care for social norms, nor whether his acts are of legality. He is devoted to combat organized crime with Harvey Dent, a district attorney in Gotham city. Batman is in fact, the definition of crime, he understands but does not abide to individual rights and social contracts which make up the rule of law. In addition, the man behind Batman, Bruce Wayne also portrays a form of deviance by disguising himself as Batman.
Heroes have the tendency to fight crime or serve the public without having to have a personal reason, this is not the case for Batman. Batman regularly, if not constantly, fights crime for his own benefit. While Batman was still Bruce Wayne, his parents were killed by a soon to be supervillain, this caused him to have an alternative motive to become a “hero.” Even if he does not directly advance on his parent’s murder, he still attacks ever villain that he thinks did him an injustice. “He smashes any and everything in his way while pursuing his ends,” (Wilson). While Batman smashes through his own intentions, Captain America fights crimes/serves the city for the people not for his own benefit. Batman might seem to be doing what a hero is supposed to do, but he is merely trying to avenge his parents death. “ Police are perplexed, worried the group will turn into vigilantes and doubt that the superhero policy is ever stopped any crime,” (source A). This is the same with Batman; the police do not know what to fashion of him, but are worried that he will insert himself in trouble. Batman might seem to be doing activities for others, still he does them for himself.
Scott Vollum, Cary D. Adkinson. The Portrayal of Crime and Justice in the Comic Book Superhero Mythos. College of Criminal Justice Sam Houston State University, 2003 Journal of Criminal Justice and Popular Culture, 10(2) (2003) 96-108
Bruce Wayne, aka Batman, wants to give in, but is torn. He is at a point of conflict between true immediate protection of the city by showing himself, and not giving in so that he can continue to serve. The twist comes when, just as Wayne decides that he must comply and let the truth out, Harvey Dent proclaims that he is Batman. At first this works but then the Joker starts killing people
The first point is highlighted on many occasions, from times when he gets badly injured yet keeps on fighting, to times where he lets his emotions for people get in the way of true “justice”. Bruce Wayne as a child was brought up in a world where there was seemingly no justice, a world where after his parents were killed never seemed to be fair, Bruce never felt that justice was truly served. He was trained by a group of vigilantes who’s eventual goal was to destroy
Throughout “The Dark Knight” by Christopher Nolan crime and deviance is seen throughout the film. Crime and deviance in The Dark Knight has two faces as society accepts crime for those whose are helping them and at the same time punishes those who are punished. Society in Gotham accepts crime when the Batman commits it to help for the betterment of society; however, crime is not accepted when it is committed by mob bosses, gangs, criminal cops, and most importantly through the joker. The forms of deviancy/crime which are seen throughout the film is the Labeling Approach, Human Rights Approach, and Human Diversity Approach.
In a movie where good and evil are divided by a very thin line, the Dark Knight rises up to fight against injustice and corruption in Gotham City. An action sequel to the original Batman Begins, this installment is a lot darker filled with more explosion, twists, and suspense. For the first time, a comic has been integrated into the issues of the real world. With the help of District Attorney Harvey Dent and Lieutenant Gordon, Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining mob members and clean the streets of Gotham for good. Their success is only short-lived when they encounter the Joker, a mysterious mastermind who is out to prove that nobility cannot hold in a world of anarchy.
Bruce Wayne the protagonist, along with district attorney Harvey Dent and Lieutenant Jim Gordon are fighting a sadistic villein, the joker. Throughout the movie the joker tests their boundaries and force them to make extremely difficult and ethical decisions. The movie begins with Batman’s realization that he can no longer put him
Batman: The Dark Knight directed by Christopher Nolan is non-stop action thriller that continually did the unexpected. The film is based off of the original Batman comic book but additionally changes the perception of the everyday world as good to naturally bad. Throughout the movie, Batman stands for honesty and goodness while the Joker is a symbolism of chaos and evil. Both sides are forced to make quick-witted decisions in order to stop the opposing vigilante from doing his desired work. The citizens of Gotham are put in the heart of this circumstance and feel obligated to go against their values to stop the chaos. Numerous people habitually pursue their dreams and values but often become blinded from their
Batman’s character is based on his will to fight for justice. Batman relates to the modern law through the unique ways in which he uses his intellectual abilities to reason. His reasoning provides insight about ‘true justice’ by operating externally to
1938 saw the first appearance of Batman. More of a mystery comic than a superhero comic book, Batman was inherently different from the pure and clean Superman. He was a gritty and depressing character that has been able to remain in print even to this day. Rather than using superpowers, Batman uses detective abilities that allowed him to solve cases and find perpetrators. (“The History of Comic Books.” TheComicBooks.com.) But not even Batman, Superman, or even Captain Marvel could brace themselves for the arrival of the Marvel comics.
Batman’s violent actions in Frank’s Miller comic book demonstrated the darkness of his heroic personality. After ten year retirement, Batman became more troubled to Gotham City turning to a crime-ridden and a fugitive. According to Joseph Campbell words “everything begins with a story”. The beginning of Batman’s story started after the death of his parents. They were shot by some criminals because they were going to steal and hurt them. Having to experienced this horrible scene on his childhood, traumatized Batman
When comics were first coming out, they were not all that popular but in todays’ world, they have become very popular and well known. Several of these comics have been turned into films, which is one of the many reasons why the popularity has been rising over the years. One of the most well known comics is Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. This comic was composed and released in 1986 by Frank Miller. With the usage of Frank Miller’s powerful, intense lines and the artwork done by Klaus Janson’s and Lynn Varley’s it has elevated this comic up to the very top of mainstream comics. In Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, the skillful illustrations on the pages successfully create the thought that there are underlying meanings, which makes the atmosphere a very intense one throughout the comic. The work of art that is presented on the pages in this comic are embedded in such a way that the pages become the continuum for the meaning. One of the main themes that are imbedded on the pages through the artwork in this book is the ideological struggle between Bruce Wayne and Batman.
There are two main characters that the storyline revolves around, Batman and the Joker. Batman serves as the guardian of Gotham City. The Joker, however, stands as the villain who strives to create a world of chaos. Hobbes’ theory on state of nature says that society is the sole reason that humans act civilized. Hobbes’ believes in the “state of war,”, which is a way of life that is proven to be brutal and short. The Joker’s main goal is to prove that people have the natural capability to do evil. While he attempts to prove this throughout his many twisted plans, he is driven to eliminate the one thing that keeps Gotham City from turning hopeless and chaotic, Batman. Without its protector, Gotham City would soon turn to a “state of war.” Hobbes’ also says, “Fear makes natural man want to escape the