ST Passing the torch: TLJ & The Dark Knight Rises excel structurally for the same reasons

The Dark Knight Rises and The Last Jedi are both widely seen by critics and film geeks as two modern masterpieces surrounding aging heroes who eventually rise for one final spectacular act to inspire the public before passing on the torch to the next generation of hero. I wanted to look at some of the structural aspects that these 2 films share and also where they split apart with differences by design based on different goals. For the purposes of this discussion we’ll focus primary on the aging Luke Skywalker and the aging Batman and focus a little less on Joseph Gordon Levitt’s role and Daisy Ridley’s because there are massive differences of course between those 2.

The setup
At the start of both films the heroes are in exile for years but for different reasons. Batman doesn’t want the public to lose its faith in Harvey Dent and of hope so he selflessly allows himself to be hated as a potential villain. Skywalker doesn’t want to become the next Darth Vader and is concerned over his Dark Side moment and living in denial over it while also feeling ashamed that he has helped to create the next Darth Vader. He’s taking out both of frustrations on the Jedi Order itself and projecting the Skywalker men failings onto the order and wants to end the Jedi Order once and for all.

Early beginnings
Bruce Wayne had become a drunk recluse wallowing in self pity and grief over the loss of Rachel. All that he cares about is crumbling around him. Wayne Enterprises is in plummeting and he’s so off his game that Catwoman steals his fingerprints and sells them to make him look even worse. He’s quit his fusion reactor project because he’s realized villains can weaponize his efforts for evil. Luke Skywalker is a recluse and living out his days at the First Jedi Temple. Despite his initial goal he can’t bring himself to end the Jedi Order. He’s broken over the Skywalker family issues repeating, and the innocent lives lost but he doesn’t have an Alfred because he’s shut himself off not only from the physical world but from the Force itself. He doesn’t know what’s happening in the world, doesn’t want anyone to find him and doesn’t want to put anyone else at risk from actions related to him directly or indirectly. He thinks he’s helping the galaxy by doing this and wishes people understood. Alfred delivers the first Rey-like call to action to Bruce Wayne in a 3 minute scene that Wayne rejects.

The 2nd call to action for Wayne and first for Luke
John Blake is one of only a few who know Batman’s location. He visits the reclusive Bruce Wayne who walks with a cane and seems disheveled and wants to be left alone and is bitter and seems changed. Alfred tells him he can’t see him at all and Blake tells him he’ll get a warrant for the murder of Harvey Dent if he doesn’t. This is similar to the rejection of the saber initially but since no one else is on the island it’s Luke throwing up the first roadblock for Rey instead of Alfred.

John Blake updates him with what’s going on and how his respected ally (Gordon) needs help. He tells him about the masked man on the rise who is taking over. This is like Rey’s update to Luke. John Blake then tells Batman how he’s found him and the similarities they share. Batman doesn’t need to ask who he is because John Blake tells him and relates aspects of his past life that relate to Bruce Wayne’s. Rey to a lesser extent does the same. Tatooine and Jakku aren’t so different and he sees a little of himself in another young person who doesn’t quite feel like they belong. Difference here being that Luke has already tried to help these people with his Temple before and been hurt by it. Bruce Wayne hasn’t. Blake tells him Gotham needs him even if he thinks they don’t. If he had been further in his development as his own hero it could have made sense for the passing of the torch to begin here but he isn’t and it isn’t his story the way it is Rey’s so the focus remains on Batman and the passing of the torch is saved for him in the end.

The second call to action for Luke
Chewie, R2 and Leia become the second call to action for Luke and he agrees to train Rey.

The third call to action for Batman and Luke

Alfred quits and leaves in a final attempt to inspire Luke. Rey quits her training and Yoda appears for Luke’s first elder moment which kickstarts his return.

The villains gain control and leave Gotham/The Resistance in destruction
Self explanatory.

Batman faces Bain. Rey faces Snoke.

Again, a difference here is that Batman doesn’t pass the torch in TDKR until the end. Rey is the protagonist so her big setback occurs here. They both feature second act setbacks. Wayne’s is physical. Rey’s is psychological and tests her ability to see the good in people and stay on the right path[/b]

Final showdown and official passing of the torch

Luke faces Kylo Ren and the FO. Batman faces Bain. Batman’s more of an anti-hero assassin. Luke is more of a monk-like practitioner of defence and non-violence becoming the spark. Both inspire the public for the rebirth that will follow. Blake inherits the Batcave. Rey saves the Resistance and becomes the Last Jedi.

What do you think?

 

What I found interesting was the role the public play. Both as far as trying to inspire hope or in heroes thinking their exile may help more than hurt.

I also hadn’t realized how many calls to action Batman and Bruce Wayne went through initially and how he had also locked himself away for years.

 

removed - trolling

 

345 film critics who study and analyze film and in some cases went to school for film gave The Dark Knight Rises 87% and The Last Jedi 90%. Both with high individual scores. These individuals who don’t let head cannon or political agenda sway their opinion on how a film functions have already decided en masse that both are blockbuster masterpieces. Movies that will be regarded as such by the taste makers for the rest of time.

With general audiences on IMDB the Last Jedi gets a 7.5 out of 10 with nearly 300,000 opinions in. The Dark Knight Rises is more of a general audiences crowd pleaser worn 8.4 out of 10.

We have another threads for people to complain about arbitrary complaints related to things that don’t impact how a film functions for less controlling individuals. This thread is more focused on how some key story beats compare with The Dark Knight Rises structurally.