So let me preface this article saying the following:
1) This is merely an opinion, so don't get your panties in a knot
2) I will try to organize this in the most logical manner
3) Unlike many of the articles written on TDKR, this will appeal to logic rather than emotion
I will address the prologue, and the trailers as I have seen all and was fortunate enough to see the prologue when it was released in IMAX prior to the Mission Impossible release (Thanks Lu).
The Prologue:
This is written for those of you who have actually seen the prologue. I will not recap it for those of you who have not. I strongly advise seeing it before jumping to conclusions. There are a few key points that I would like to note about this scene, and some hints about the tone of the film.
First off, the CIA agent brings Dr. Pavel on board the plane along with 3 masked man. He informs them that he contacted central command saying that only he, his men, Dr. Pavel, and 1 masked man would be on the plane when it lands. The CIA agent has one of his men open the plane door and ask questions about Bane. The man did not respond and was killed by being pushed out the plane. The second man to be held over the edge speaks (this is Bane obviously). This means there are only 2 masked men left on board. When the plane is hijacked, Bane's men that are hijacking the plane bring a body in a duffle bag. Now pay attention carefully to the prologue (I know it is hard because the shots are so quick. The body/face looks similar to Dr. Pavel. Bane draws blood from Dr. Pavel and inserts it into the corpse. Bane and Dr. Pavel eject.
So you are probably saying, what are you getting to? Well, Bane is a mastermind and is widely known in the comics as being one of Batman's smartest foes. Therefore, what he did is eject with Dr. Pavel and ask his associate to stay (who agreed). This would assure that headcount was the same and that Dr. Pavel was dead. When Bane left the plane, there was the CIA agent, his crew, one masked man, and a "Dr. Pavel" left behind. When the crash would be investigated, the headcount would be the same as when the CIA worker contacted headquarters. The blood was transferred to the other man because when a DNA test would be done (if even possible), there would be traces of Pavel's DNA left in the body.
This is a great example of how smart and capable Bane really is, the lengths he will go to, and his personality. I also believe that this prologue presents a reference to the League of Shadows. I know there has been much debate going on, but let me reference the dialogue (Yes it is accurate, I listened to it like 50 times):
When the CIA agent holds Bane's head outside the plane door, and Bane speaks, he pulls him bang in and asks "Who are you?". Bane says "It doesn't matter who WE are, what matters is OUR plan". Why would someone respond in that manner? The Joker and Scarecrow all spoke in the first person (I). The only other person that spoke like this was Ra's al Ghul: "This is the most important function of the League of Shadows. It is one WE've performed for centuries. Gotham... must be destroyed." Notice that the cause of destroying Gotham is a collective goal that is referred to as a group goal regardless of whether or not one person leads it.
Trailer Allusions:
Now since the prologue, we have experiences two trailers and let me try to explain my thoughts as I break it down one at a time.
Teaser Trailer:
This trailer brought us re-used audio from Batman Begins with the taglines "Every Hero Has a Journey", and "Every Journey Has an End" (keep that in mind). It also includes the shot of Commissioner Gordon telling most likely Bruce, that they were "in it together" and that he was gone. It was time for Batman to return. We also saw a shot of a man in jail doing pushups. Some thought this was Bane, but when looking closer when I saw it, the man has hair and a beard. In addition, it shows a figure climbing out of a well area (and at that time we could not tell who it actually was). After seeing this teaser, it was exactly like some girls in high school...a tease. Except after being teased this time, I couldn't say that it would give me blue balls and get something out of it. I had to play the waiting game....
Trailer 2:
This was amazing and what everyone was hoping for, but still pissed some people off. Some of the things I noticed was that obviously Bane was trying to start chaos and had a plan in place. I mean between the jail break scene and blowing up the football field, that is not something that just happens. I also noticed during this that Bruce Wayne has experienced some hard times since the Harvey Dent era. I believed this was him walking into the nice home with a cane, which led me to believe that Bane may have broken his back at some point. However, I would also like to think this is possibly due to the fact that he fell off of the building saving Gordon's son and limps off to the batpod. We also saw a lot of other images that I am not sure about. Selena Kyle says a storm is coming, a body is pulled out from beneath a dresser in a home that looks like it's undergoing renovations or building (has to be Wayne Manor). We also saw Bruce leaving a jail cell with a beard, people rapelling into this same jail, people repelling down the same well as the teaser trailer, John Blake running away, and the infamous line "when Gotham is in ashes, you have my permission to die"
My take aways from this were:
-When Bruce was in jail has to be the beginning or middle of the film. In all of the jail scenes, his hair is longer (and gray over the ears), and he has a beard. He obviously has to lose this as Batman, so this happens closer to the intro when he is in a personal limbo
-Alfred is willing to protect Bruce at all costs
-This well is going to play a crucial role to the plot. It is larger than the well that leads to the Bat Cave, but I don't believe it is the Lazarus Pit. Read or view any Nolan interview on this trilogy and he wanted a story rooted in reality
- John Blake running away is crucial
-Bruce has an internal dilemma about what to do as Gotham begins to crumble
Third Trailer:
So this was a bunch of new images and even more amazing. I think there are some important take aways again. Selena Kyle tells Bruce that a storm is coming, and he says it sounds like you are looking forward to it, only to have her say that she is adaptable. We also see the image of someone being pulled from underneath the dresser again. We see central Gotham shut off with bridges exploding, Bruce appearing to be in jail again without a beard which is interesting given as how he had one in all jail scenes in the first one. We also see Alfred say again he will not bury another Wayne, a flare being used by Gordon as a bat sign to gain Batman's attention, Catwoman fight side by side with Batman, and Catwoman tell Batman that he has given the people of Gotham enough, and he said not yet.
My take-aways and conclusion:
-This is a film about opposites and changes. Keep in mind that before Gordon said that Batman is the hero Gotham needed and not the one they deserved. With Harvey Dent being gone, the city needs a hero as destruction crumbles around them
-Selena Kyle works against Batman at first, and then with him. She seemed excited about the "storm" coming, but said she was adaptable. Therefore, there is no reason why she would not fight alongside him and we saw it in the trailer. Sidenote...I thought it was interesting that they were at a masked ball similar to Keaton and Pfeiffer
-Alfred will protect Bruce at all costs and will not let him give up. We may see the death of Alfred because of this, and leads me to believe that Batman may not actually die. I never took Nolan to be literal, but this strengthened my reasoning
-Blake is seen running away in the first trailer and at one point in this trailer. Finally he is seen asking Selena why she runs from Bane and we see a John Blake stand up in a pile of rubble next to Bane who pushes him down. We may see this transition and change to stand up to evil which is what Batman has been trying to inspire
-The pit/well plays a crucial role but I am not sure what it is yet
-Bane says he is "Gotham's Reckoning". Most think reckoning means destruction but it actually means "a settling of accounts". Bane has something that bothers him about this town that he needs to handle. This makes me think he wants the city to implode similar to the reference in the trailer
-Lucius Fox was only in a small portion of the trailer, but yet has been crucial to Batman's success. Similar to the past two films, his abensce may indicate how important his role is
My only possible idea that I would like to propose so far is that Bruce Wayne actually survives. Gotham is caught in a class warfare so to speak and Bane tries to shut off the hub of the city from everything else to try to take down the wealthy and powerful. By releasing the prisoners, this would cause the city to implode. Batman fighting for order, peace, and a better way of life could inspire the wealthy and privileged to take a stand against criminals. A hero they deserve, one who inspires them to take up the cause. The hero they need is themselves, to take up the cause and make Gotham better. Batman cannot save Gotham alone. This is why perhaps John Blake, Selena Kyle and others help Batman bring this city back. I think that the legend ends because Batman's identity is revealed as being Batman. Although he ends up having his identity revealed, he fights for the city during its crisis. After this he has inspired Gotham to take up the cause, has become a hero, but is too mentally, physically, and logistically damaged to be the Batman as effectively as he used to be. Also, WB is suggesting a re-boot that Nolan and his wife would help produce, so I doubt Gotham would be destroyed, but we may see a John Blake rise up.
Finally, Nolan is an amazing director and plans as meticulously as some of the villains in these stories. Regardless of how much we may all guess, this man has some tricks up his sleeves. He has however, casted excellently. Hope you all enjoy and think about things a little differently!