Even though director Christopher Nolan has denied that his soon-to-be summer blockbuster "The Dark Knight Rises" was inspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement (the film was conceived before Occupy Wall Street became global news), similarities between Bane's Revolution and the Occupy movement have everyone from movie critics to Rush Limbaugh talking.
In a recent Daily Beast op-ed, Occupy Wall Street protester Harrison Schultz calls Bane's sinister class warfare grossly incomparable to the Occupy movement.
"I’m glad that themes about wealth inequality and class conflict have entered into the zeitgeist of popular culture," he writes. "In this case, however, I would rather see the these themes in The Dark Knight Rises remain free of any association with the Occupy Movement ... They in no way resemble the comparatively impoverished, peace-seeking protesters who armed themselves with signs, sleeping bags, tents, and iPhones at best in their attempts to fight for social justice."
Schultz argues that Bane's Revolution is less of a social revolution and more of a one man's personal vendetta against civilization. "If we are to talk about this film as if it has any connection to reality, which we should not, because it does not, then I would argue that this film is about revenge more than revolution, and the two are not at all the same thing," he writes.
While Nolan acknowledges "The Dark Knight Rises" may capture the collapse of Gotham City, he insists his dramatic decisions are just that: drama.
"To be perfectly honest, we really try to resist, at the script stage, being drawn into specific themes, specific messages," Nolan told The Examiner. "Really, these films are about entertainment; really, they are about story and character. But what we do is we try and be very sincere in the things that frighten us or motivate us or would worry us when you're looking at, 'Okay, what's the threat to the civilization that we take for granted?'"
While Nolan assures movie goers that these images of social injustice and warfare are purely coincidental, Schultz is concerned that the film will only increase the public's apathy. "Batman’s attempt to inspire others to stand up and take personal responsibility for widespread social injustice will likely only distract millions of people from actually doing so," he writes.
"The Dark Knight Rises" finally hits theaters on July 20.
