Poll: The Dark Knight Rises - Was Bane a good villain?

[thejboy88]

Having watched the recent Christopher Nolan film, the Dark Knight Rises, I can say that overall I felt it was a good film, although when compared to it's predeccessor, it felt somewhat lacking.

One of the main things about the film that interested me the most was it's most prominent antagonist, the mercenary, Bane.

In many ways, this character ticks all of the boxes I personally have when deciding if a villain is a good one or not. He had a memorable first impression, he proved a legitimate and intimidating threat for the protagonist to overcome, he had a connection to the hero's past (i.e. having been part of the same organization)and his backstory was interesting.

But on the other hand he had many flaws to him. For example his plan and his reasons for doing it often confused me, and like many elements of this film, when compared to the villains of the previous film, Bane seems like a downgrade in comparison.

But I'd like to get a feel for what others think of him. Do you consider Bane to be a good antagonist or a bad one?

 

[Chris Mosher]

But on the other hand he had many flaws to him. For example his plan and his reasons for doing it often confused me, and like many elements of this film, when compared to the villains of the previous film, Bane seems like a downgrade in comparison.

But I'd like to get a feel for what others think of him. Do you consider Bane to be a good antagonist or a bad one?

SPOILERS......






Well, I think that the plan makes more sense when you realize it was Talia's not Bane's. Bane's motivation is his desire the protect and server the girl who he met in the Pit.

Bane was everything you said he was until Nolan reveals his big twist about Bane and Talia but I do have to give Nolan props since if you pay attention to the stories told about Bane and the Child who escape from the pit it is clear that they they are not the same person. Mind you it took my second viewing to notice this.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

I enjoyed Hardy's Bane a great deal. His voice didn't bug me the way it did some people, and his physical presence was absolutely menacing. He wasn't as iconic as Ledger's Joker, but he was just as threatening (in a far more direct way). Favorite part...gently laying his hand on Daggett's shoulder..."Do you feel in charge?".

I like all of Nolan's Batman villains, though. In truth, they were what elevated the series. I love Christian Bale and thought he was an excellent Bruce Wayne, but he was something of a corny Batman. It's the excellent villains that made the films work.

 

[Mr.Mattress]

To me, Bane is an okay villain in the film, but he felt a bit like a Poor Man's Joker: Unlike the Joker who was truly Anarchaic and didn't care if the city burned or thrived as long as he could do whatever he wanted, Bane simply used Anarchy (with hints of Communism thrown in) as a rouse to ultimately destroy the city from within. Still a pretty nice villain, just a sucky one compared to the Joker.

 

[Casual Shinji]

His voice sounded like it was on a separate sound file, or whatever you call it. It stuck out from the rest of the movie's sound like a 30-foot sore thumb.

And seeing as his voice was basically the only thing used to give him character, having it not work made the entire character not work. I don't know much about Bane within the Batman universe, but from what I've seen, he's always struck me as a roid raging lunatic.

A part Tom Hardy excels at.


Don't know why they went with what ultimately appeared in Dark Knight Rises.

 

[Amethyst Wind]

His voice sounded like it was on a separate sound file, or whatever you call it. It stuck out from the rest of the movie's sound like a 30-foot sore thumb.

And seeing as his voice was basically the only thing used to give him character, having it not work made the entire character not work. I don't know much about Bane within the Batman universe, but from what I've seen, he's always struck me as a roid raging lunatic.

A part Tom Hardy excels at.


Don't know why they went with what ultimately appeared in Dark Knight Rises.

Bane in the comics was a drug lord who discerned Batman's identity on his own and broke his back (like in Rises). He mostly gets his maniac-junkie trappings from the animated universe. In the comics he's generally portrayed as pretty savvy.

On the subject of his voice, I actually really liked it. I thought it played well into his 'avenging god' persona he was affecting on Gotham.

 

[Casual Shinji]

On the subject of his voice, I actually really liked it. I thought it played well into his 'avenging god' persona he was affecting on Gotham.

I didn't really mind the voice either, but the sound was just way off from the rest of the movie. It was like each time Bane said something someone increased the volume of the TV.

 

[Scarim Coral]

No, sorry but I just find Bane a tad too jolly due to his voice and how he spoke.

Even that I didn't find him overly threatening since I kind of grew up with the comicbook Bane. In another word he wasn't as bulky as I like him to be (no there nothing wrong with him being intelligent since he was like that in the comicbook) nor did they display this feat of strength that good either.

Yes I did saw him smashing that pillar of rock like it was nothing but I still not convince by it (if he had lift a car or something heavy and huge would of convince me of his superior strength).

Aslo before you asked, I still prefer the Nolan version of him than the other film (Batman and Robin) version of him.

 

[Cabisco]

He was okay and he served his purpose to give Batman someone to fight who could actually go toe to toe with him in a fight so in that respect he was 'good' as in, not actually bad but beyond that he fails. I doubt any of us will recall him as a great villain or particular good, just run of the mill average with a slightly funny voice.

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

I thought he was really good, but he could have been awful if Tom Hardy wasn't such a good actor. I think it was definitely a good choice- he's different enough from the previous villains to be interesting and can knock the stuffing out of most people. As much as I don't think he was as good as the Joker was, that doesn't mean he was crap at all; expecting him to be as good as the Joker was would have been a bit too optimistic.

 

[repeating integers]

Loved the guy, personally. That voice was one of my favourite parts about him.

Favourite moment was when the FBI guy at the beginning asked him "Was getting captured part of your plan?" and he just jovially says "Of course!"

 

[thesilentman]

I quite liked Bane. He would have been equal to the Joker if Talia wasn't part of the plot at all. Damn Talia, just had to ruin the whole movie for me..,

 

[IamQ]

He was great until they had Talia go all "Yeah, nope, it was me all along."

I mean, it was so stupid. It didn't help either that Bane died like 1 minute later from Catwoman shooting him.

 

[Smolderin]

I thought Bane was a decent and memorable villain, though not great. I rather enjoyed his voice and his dialogue. At the very least I enjoyed him alot more than I did Scarecrow, but Ledger's Joker still takes it home for me.

 

[Asita]

Yes and no? His stage presence was excellent and I do love it when a villain feels like he's a step or two ahead of the protagonist for a good portion of the story. That said, I think the overall material he was working with was lacking due as much to poor directoral decisions as anything else. The execution of the plot felt forced at times, which - to me at least - took away from Bane's threat level by making it seem he was at an advantage due to plot armor more than individual talent.

 

[Chemical Alia]

I actually preferred the Batman and Robin Bane to the one in the Dark Knight Rises. I was kind of bored with the whole movie, but I'm not sure if it was because of Bane or if this portrayal of Bane was just unmemorable because the story failed to hold my attention in general.

 

[bastardofmelbourne]

He was pretty fatally undermined by the revelation that the Evil Plan was Talia's idea. It was a good twist plot-wise, but it made Bane into essentially an elite mook rather than a criminal mastermind.

Other than that, he had a great stage presence and was an incredibly distinctive villain. I actually liked the voice, mainly because it was unusual.

Basically, he was a good villain who was hampered by a poorly executed plot and very poorly choreographed fight scenes.

 

[Darks63]

He was pretty fatally undermined by the revelation that the Evil Plan was Talia's idea. It was a good twist plot-wise, but it made Bane into essentially an elite mook rather than a criminal mastermind.

Other than that, he had a great stage presence and was an incredibly distinctive villain. I actually liked the voice, mainly because it was unusual.

Basically, he was a good villain who was hampered by a poorly executed plot and very poorly choreographed fight scenes.

Yeah pretty much as soon as Talia appears he immediately looses all of his plot armor and dies in a if you blink you miss it sort of way and the film staggers to the finish line from then on.