The Dark Knight Rises released it’s first full trailerMonday and HOT DAMN. For those of you who do not know, Christopher Nolan‘s concluding film to his blockbuster Batman trilogy takes place 8 years after the previous one and will feature antagonists Bane and Catwoman. Warner Bros. also released a 7 minute prologue to The Dark Knight Rises attached to the IMAX release of Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol which was an introduction to new villain Bane. Warner Bros studios has since received a lot of criticism for one particular issue that kept coming up: no one can hearwhat the primary antagonist Bane was saying. Bane dons a grim-looking mask strictly of course for fashionable purposes but does so however at the cost of having a muffled and hard-to-understand voice. The legend himself Christopher Nolan has reportedly commented that the studio is fully aware of the issue but will not make significant changes to the sound. Apparently Nolan wants his audiences to have to listen up and ‘participate’ rather than just be dumb stupid idiots. What Nolan evidently is not aware of is the fact that 99% of people are in fact dumb stupid idiots. Despite Nolan’s slight misconception let’s take a look at The Caped Crusader himself and his well-rounded supporting cast.
Bruce Thomas Wayne is an arrogant billionaire industrialist and notorious playboy by day, and a ruthless masked vigilante by night. Characterized by his physical prowess and technical ingenuity, Batman‘strikes terror into the hearts of criminals everywhere’. Indeed Batman has a thick skin and is a hard-nosed utilitarian, doing whatever it takes to get the job done. Bold, daring, impulsive and adaptable with a strict adherence to utilityThe Caped Crusader is undoubtedly an Artisan.
Alfred Pennyworth is Batman’s trusty, faithful, and tireless butler, confidant, and surrogate father figure. Alfred has served the Wayne family and maintained Wayne Manor for all of Bruce’s life, and essentially raised him. Serving as a beacon of strength and stability, Alfred helps Bruce Wayne keep his tumultuous two-sided life on an even keel. Highly dependable, extremely stable, serving as a provider and a pillar of strengthAlfred Pennyworth is a classic Guardian.
Lucius Foxis Bruce Wayne’s financier, gadget man, and the President and CEO of the international corporate giant that is Wayne Enterprises. Fox is extremely intelligent and business savvy, and turned Wayne Enterprises from a failing venture into a successful multinational conglomerate. Fox is very knowledgable in the realm of technology, and heads a lot of Wayne Enterprises‘ engineering projects like the creation of the Batwing. Highly pragmatic, astutely skeptical, technologically intelligent, serving as a voice of reasonLucius Fox is a prime example of a Rational.
Finally Commissioner James Gordon is Batman’s trusted ally, connection to Gotham City’s Police Force, and a dear friend. Commissioner Gordon and Batman share a deep and unrelenting desire to ridGotham Cityof evil no matter what the cost. A man of integrity and honor, Gordon quickly realized that Batman was one of the only men in Gotham City that he could trust. In a city riddled with crime and corruption, Gordon is a beacon of light and hope, and has made many sacrifices in the name of making Gotham City a better place. Highly altruistic, tacitly optimistic, and undeniably spirited serving as a bright light in a very dark city Commissioner Gordon is a true Idealist.
Let me get this straight. You think that your client, one of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the world, is secretly a vigilante who spends his nights beating criminals to a pulp with his bare hands; and your plan, is to *blackmail* this person? …..Good luck.
Marvel Studios and Walt Disney Pictures have strategically released independent films providing backstory for the Avengers’ four major characters. Those being Iron Man, the incredible Hulk, Captain America, and Thor. And like any dynamic and complex set of major characters, these four ‘Avengers’ together represent all four basic personality types. Captain America is of course the stalwart Guardian who defends justice with his iconic shield. Hulk is likewise the emotional and impulsive Artisan who transforms into a raging beast when angered. Iron Manis the Rationalindustrialist and ingenious engineer that utilizes a mechanical suit. Finally Thor is the championingIdealistGod of Thunder who fights ‘for Asgard’ and is constantly learning life’s lessons. Together, they assemble to fight against threats to humanity. Much like the four temperamentsassemble to do the same.
Captain America is the hard-hittingGuardian who actually leads The Avengers into battle, with his infamous battle-cry ‘Avengers Assemble!‘. A born leader, defending justice with his iconic indestructible shield, The Sentinel of Libertyis undoubtedly a Supervisor Guardian. Strong, dependable, and hard-working: ‘Cap’ is a poster-boy for the ideals of our nation, a nation that was indeed founded by a Guardian. Dutiful, commanding, and disciplined Captain America is the vocal leader of the Avengers, and knows like all Supervisors do that one must ‘lead by example‘. The ‘first avenger‘, Steve Rogers is very much the back-bone of The Avengers, much like Guardians are the back-bone of society.
DC/Warner Bros. has made it known that it has similar aspirations to assemble it’s own superhero team in a similar way and put a Justice League Film together by 2013 in order to directly compete with Marvel’s The Avengers. One could argue that they are slightly behind schedule, since Chris Nolan’s Batman franchise will not be connected with a JLA (Justice League of America) film, and neither will Zack Snyder’s upcoming Man of Steel. That leaves DC with only one established character in the Justice League Universe that of which being Green Lantern who’s film without being too cynical was quite the thespian blunder. Warner Bros. president Jeff Robinov has made it clear however that a Justice League film in 2013 is the studios top priority despite all evidence to the contrary. Earth’s Greatest Hero’s assemble in theater near you on May 4, 2012.
