The Dark Knight Rises - Women's Agenda

The Dark Knight Rises

As far as Superhero films go, Christopher Nolan ticks all the boxes with the third and final instalment of his personal Batman trilogy. Dark and gritty, the film is an exhilarating end for the reclusive hero who emerges from eight years in exile to grapple with his self sacrificial duty to Gotham.

Christian Bale plays the Caped Crusader with the predictable broodiness we’ve come to expect from earlier portrayals, whilst Tom Hardy’s Bane, the hulkish ultimate archenemies, is strikingly terrifying in his portrayal of the nihilistic brute that leads a menacing – some would say remarkably similar – occupy movement to wreck havoc on the structure of good and evil (though perhaps his characterization might have been significantly improved if the audience was able to understand what he was saying behind the mask – enunciate!)

If Bane is the dark shadow looming over Gotham, it’s the women of the film that serve the entertainment. To date, superhero films are still comfortable with two versions of females – the overly sexualised female superhero or the damsel desperately in need of saving.

While The Dark Knight Rises borrows heavily from the former category, it’s with a refreshing twist. Selina Kyle (not-so-loosely based on the Catwomen, in everything but name) is played with fantastic sass by Anne Hathway who straddles the line between good and evil. The intimate connection between the concepts of good and evil is a vital element of Batman and something that is wonderfully explored through the ‘Cat’ women.

The character is the ultimate antihero, led astray not by a damaging background, but a genuine disregard for inherent privilege, and grapples with her own moral ambiguity. While her hard work is tied up in a hyper-sexed leather package, it’s a refreshing turn of tide in a superhero film where the women ultimately saves the day.

Have you seen The Dark Knight Rises? Do you think that females in Superhero films are still subject to sexist portrayals? Could you understand anything Bane said?

Tell us below

×

Stay Smart! Get Savvy!

Get Women’s Agenda in your inbox