Boycott Dark Knight?

[arely staircase]

Last edited Fri Jul 20, 2012, 10:19 PM - Edit history (1)

The writer says he's a staunch conservative and compared romney to batman and ows to the villian bane.

Edited to say this is a question, not a call to boycott.

[Comrade_McKenzie]

1. I'm in. nt

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. I don't think that's a good idea.

It's not the movie's fault.

[Politicalboi]

5. But the staunch conservative

Makes money on it. I haven't been to a movie since 2007, but I never was into the Batman super hero movies.

[arely staircase]

7. well, chick fil a's owner's statements aren't the sandwiches's fault nt

[gopiscrap]

3. Yes boycott that fucking bastard's work!!!

any time you can "kick" a repuke when they're down go for it, it's the only thing they understand!

[Curtland1015]

4. Wait, the writer of Dark Knight, or the creator of batman?

Now I'm confused.

[arely staircase]

14. the writer. nt

[F. Kafka]

6. No offense

but WTF are you talking about?

[randome]

9. Chuck Dixon, the current writer of Batman, is conservative.

There have been dozens of writers of Batman over the years, though.

[F. Kafka]

16. Who created Bane. OK.

But beyond that didn't have anything to do with TDKR, right?

[randome]

17. I don't think he had anything to do with the movie.

Batman is something that transcends ideology. If you're into that sort of thing. I no longer collect but I still have about 6,000 comics. The guy who ran the comic book shop I used to go to owned 36,000 last I talked to him.

[arely staircase]

21. didn't have anything to do with it?

it is based on his work, he'll make tons of money off of it.

[randome]

23. I doubt it. DC probably owns the characters.

Although that situation has changed over time. Maybe he does get something from the film but I doubt it's much.

On edit: Chuck Dixon is no Alan Moore. I really doubt he owns the character of Bane.

[white_wolf]

26. Moore is really good. I also like Alan Grant a lot as well.

Right now, though my favorite writers are Scott Snyder and Grant Morrison, mainly for returning Superman to his populist roots.

[randome]

32. Grant Morrison's Doom Patrol is my all time favorite series.

I don't collect any more because I have enough to re-read for the rest of my life. But Doom Patrol was damn near perfect.

[white_wolf]

34. I'll have to check that one out.

Pretty much anything by Morrison is awesome. I've actually heard he's pretty liberal. I think Dixon and Miller are pretty much alone in the comic book industry.

[sabrina 1]

70. Moore is great.

[white_wolf]

18. He isn't the current writer. He is the creator of Bane.

However he isn't writing anything right now. The 4 Batman books in print are Batman by Scott Snyder, Batman & Robin by Peter Tomsai, Batman: The Dark Knight by David Flinch, and Detective Comics by Tony Daniel. I have copies of each of them on my book shelf. Dixon isn't involved with any of the current Batman books.

[arely staircase]

22. but surely he is getting a cut from the movie

since it is based on his work, no?

[white_wolf]

25. He is.

Normally, that is something I like about DC. They give their writers a cut, whereas I've heard a lot of the creators of Marvel characters have gotten stiffed by the studios.

[F. Kafka]

27. No.

DC owns the character. He gets no cut or percentage. That's one of the long-held sticking points of corporate comics vs creators. (See: Alan Moore. Or, hell, probably Batman creator Bob Kane, for that matter.)

Classic a-hole Frank Miller's adapted independent work, however, is a different story. I'll never see one of those again.

[white_wolf]

28. I loved Year One, but I hate Miller. Such an asshole. n/t

[F. Kafka]

29. Year One is gorgeous.

And Dave Mazzuchelli's art is perfect. But Miller has lost his mind.

[white_wolf]

31. Year One was so much better than Dark Knight Returns.

I've never understood why Dark Knight Returns was so hyped.

[F. Kafka]

37. Because it was such a shock for the time, I think.

Altered the way the popular culture thought about the character. But absolutely: Year One's a masterpiece, and its influence is all over Nolan's trilogy.

PS--Nice to talk comics with you. A welcome distraction from the day's news.

[white_wolf]

39. I recently watched the Year One animated movie online.

It was very good and you can really see how much it influenced Nolan. The scene in Begins where Bruce calls the bats using sonar is lifted directly from Year One. I will admit I probably owe Miller thanks as fan, because I like the more serious tone of comics. I doubt I would be a fan if we were still in the Silver Age. I've seen some of the Batman show based on the Silver Age, I curse the name Adam West.

PS- it's good talking to you too, it is a nice break from the day's sad news.

[arely staircase]

12. sorry, the writer

Bane’s creator, Chuck Dixon, came up with the villain in 1993 so yes, in fact, I do think it’s a coincidence. But don’t take my word for it. Dixon himself says this conspiracy theory is ridiculous.

“The idea that there’s some kind of liberal agenda behind the use of Bane in the new movie is silly,” Dixon told ComicBook.com. “I refuted this within hours of the article in the Washington Examiner suggesting that Bane would be tied to Bain Capital and Mitt Romney appearing. Bane was created by me and Graham Nolan and we are lifelong conservatives and as far from left-wing mouthpieces as you are likely to find in comics.”

Bane is hardly a symbol of venture capitalism according to Dixon.

“As for his appearance in The Dark Knight Rises, Bane is a force for evil and the destruction of the status quo,” Dixon said. “He’s far more akin to an Occupy Wall Street type if you’re looking to cast him politically. And if there ever was a Bruce Wayne running for the White House it would have to be Romney.”

http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2012/07/20/conservative-bane-creator-says-rush-limbaughs-dark-knight-rises-conspiracy-theory-is-silly/

[randome]

19. Just like a conservative's narrow world view.

Bruce Wayne equals Mitt Romney? Because, you see, they're both rich! Jesus.

[white_wolf]

30. When Mitt Romney risks his life and fortune for others he can claim to be Wayne.

Seriously, how much of his money has Bruce Wayne blown on his crusade? How many times has he risked his life for others? Romney wouldn't risk his life for anyone. He is a sociopath.

[mythology]

65. Hey the Romney family has dedicated a lot of time to national service

as long as you count his sons supporting Mitt's run for president as Mitt has said in the past.

His own words "My sons are all adults and they've made decisions about their careers and they've chosen not to serve in the military and active duty and I respect their decision in that regard. One of the ways my sons are showing support for our nation is helping me get elected because they think I'd be a great president."

It just brings a tear to my eye thinking about how brave those sweat vest wearing clean cut trust fund boys are to have risked being seen with people who can't afford to have a car elevator. But it's always nice to see that somebody is willing to jeopardize life and limb like that to protect the otherwise helpless uber wealthy. It just makes me want to break out in a rousing USA USA chant.

If necessary, pretend I added a sarcasm smilie here.

[F. Kafka]

20. Ahh. I see.

Well, I saw it this morning and thought it was exceptionally done...and one of the things I like best is the fact that it's not any kind of simple allegory but is complex and leaves a lot to ponder. Certainly not as simple as Bane/bad guys=OWS and Batman=status quo. I haven't sifted through my thoughts yet, honestly, because Colorado has made it difficult to think of the film as a film.

[ChazII]

74. Just got home from seeing the 9:40 a.m.

showing. Your post maakes excellent points. I did feel uneasy during the 'court' scenes.

[OverseaVisitor]

8. Why?

n/t

[NYC_SKP]

10. Fuck Batman, the producer, Ann Romney, and the Horse.

Fuck them all, I'm done.

[RedStateLiberal]

13. So much wrong with this.

It was a comic book author and creator of the Bane character not the film's writer.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2012/jul/19/dark-knight-rises-mitt-romney?newsfeed=true

[Manifestor_of_Light]

15. I'd boycott it because it has no message other than violence.

At least that's what I understand.

I won't waste my time. I don't care how technically well made it is.

[Dawson Leery]

24. I would not call my actions a boycott since I am not a comic book fan.

I was never a fan, that includes the time of my childhood.

I saw the first Spiderman movie and could have easily lived without seeing it.

[randome]

35. Yeah, if you didn't grow up on this stuff, I can see why it would not have much appeal.

It's hard for me to see these movies from the standpoint of someone who simply wants to see a good movie.

[white_wolf]

40. I actually only recently got into comics.

I tried them on a whim. That being said, I think Avengers is a really fun movie, comic book or otherwise. As for Nolan's trilogy, my friend who is one of those people who hates fantasy, scifi, comics, anything not real, thought Dark Knight and Dark Knight Rises were amazing.

[randome]

42. Avengers have had ups and downs. I have some of the 'ups'.

I can't see the movie without my daughters! And they are out of town with their grandmother visiting their cousins this week! So I'm going to have to wait.

[arely staircase]

46. my batman fanaticism

is limited to enjoying the old series from the 60s the same way I like the Brady bunch, and no im not old enough to remember when the shows were produced. So really, as another poster said. I wouldn't call what im doing a boycott. Having said that. My answer to my own op is that it.depends on of the writer of the comic is based on gets a cut. You said he does others say no.

[boxman15]

33. The writer of a Batman comic book series

Not a writer of the movie. And the movie, in my opinion, is not political at all, and if it is, I'd say it portrays the ruling class and the rich as the causes of suffering in Gotham.

People need to quit being so hurt about things like this though. Newsflash: Not everyone believes the same things you do.

[Incitatus]

36. So? He's just a writer.

The writers usually don't make that much compared to the other parties involved. If DC Comics has taken that position, I might consider it.

[RebelOne]

38. Boycott Dark Knight?

That is pretty asinine. This movie was not the cause of the killings.

[arely staircase]

51. my op has nothing to do with the killings nt

[SunsetDreams]

41. Uh..no thanks nt

[whatchamacallit]

43. Another thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002981494

[rurallib]

44. We can't afford to go out to movies anyway

so we will call it a boycott.
I don't like those kind of movies anyway.
ETA - I think they rot your brain.

[BOG PERSON]

48. i'm with you

the last time i went to a movie theater was to see Tree of Life. now there was a good movie, in spite of its flaws. why don't they make movies that are beautiful to look at anymore?

[Edweird]

45. No. This knee jerk authoritarian thing......

[BOG PERSON]

47. whatever, i wasnt going to see it anyway

i don't like these big budget blockbusters. i wish they would stop making them. or least make them more colorful.

[DerekG]

49. Boycott, my ass! Nolan's trilogy is a masterpiece.

n/t

[chrisau214]

50. Chuck Dixon is the Creator of Bane

Chuck Dixon had nothing to do with the movie and he had only a relatively brief run as one of many Batman writers many years ago.

There is another character who is featured prominently in 'The Dark Knight Rises' and this character, whose name I won't reveal because it's a big spoiler, was created and written by a Batman writer who is very liberal. In fact this liberal writer is a far more prominent and significant name in Batman comics history than Chuck Dixon.

So should the creator of the other character be punished by a boycott simply because Chuck Dixon wrote a few Batman stories twenty years ago?

Should we comb through the credits of every movie and then boycott any movie that had any sort of input from a staunch conservative even if the majority of the creators involved had different political viewpoints?

Because one of the characters in the movie was created by a conservative does this mean that Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy should demand that his scenes in the movie be excised?

[arely staircase]

52. you are almost certainly right

I have learned a lot more from people's responses here than what I read in the Forbes online article. For.the record my op was a question. Not a statement.

[randome]

54. Wait a minute! You're saying Patrick Leahy was created by a Batman writer?

Funny. He doesn't look it.

[hughee99]

62. Morgan Freeman too, I still can't understand how he could prostitute himself

to end up working on a movie where one of the characters was created 20 years ago by a wing-nut. How does he sleep at night.

[treestar]

53. Wasn't going in any event

But if the writer is delusional if he thinks Rmoney is any type of hero.

[randome]

55. Conservative, delusional. What's the diff?

[kalisto2010]

56. Dark Knight

Actually, Batman is anti-gun, he's against using handguns when fighting crime. And he's all for helping the poor. Hardly a conservative IMO.

[white_wolf]

64. Not to mention his strict stance against the death penalty.

If he half as conservative as Romney Arkham would be out of business

[demosincebirth]

57. Too late.

[ananda]

58. Sounds like a good reason to boycott.

It sends a false message about OWS.

[white_wolf]

67. I disagree.

I was worried about the same thing, but without spoiling things, I think these articles are off. Feel free to PM me if you want to hear details about why I think that, but I don't want to risk spoiling it for anyone who hasn't seen it and wants to.

[randome]

71. You could edit your post and then we could read the original version if we wanted.

[white_wolf]

72. I didn't think of that, I'll just do that in this post. Read the original post for spoilers.

[chrisau214]

69. The Movie Doesn't Send Out a False Message About OWS

The basic storyline is lifted from 'A Tale of Two Cities' and several different Batman comic book story arcs and was written long before OWS existed.

Without getting overly spoilerish the movie isn't so simplistic that it can be narrowed down in the way that Dixon described. But the people who do choose to follow Bane are mostly freed criminals who form what is essentially a police state terrorizing both the 99% and the 1%.

Again, without getting overly into spoilers, the citizens of Gotham City are really given no choice but to do as Bane says.

But people are going to see what they want to see and I didn't see anything that would cast OWS in a bad light.

[4th law of robotics]

59. I shall boycott the boycott as soon as I can get around to it.

[DonCoquixote]

60. To boycott this is silly

especially as Batman and Bane have been rewritten tons of times, and will be rewritten again, as they are both remade by every writer that is hired to write about them.

[Iggo]

61. I'm in.

But only because I hate Batman.

[BOG PERSON]

73. me too

its not like movies of the superhero genre have to be super pretentious to be taken seriously. after all, most people have an abiding affection for the (totally unpretentious) christopher reeve superman movies. the first two definitely don't need any defending, as they are Good Movies, even if the second one is tonally different from the first. i personally think the tobey macguire spider man movies were pretty excellent for what they were trying to achieve (even the last one had its charms) - a bright and fun , but dramatically grounded, film rendering of the spiderman story.

but this batman trilogy was ridiculous.

[AsahinaKimi]

63. I intend to see it.

People I know have been waiting months to see this. As a confessed comic book and manga reader, I love when they come to the big screen. I may have been disappointed with some in the past, but its the chances you take when you purchase a ticket. I enjoyed the last two in the series, and I am sure looking forward to seeing this next production.

The only thing is, thanks to yesterdays tragedy, when I sit in those seats, I won't be able to ignore those who died for that ticket. My hearts go out to their families. Not only that, but the idea one now has to now be vigilant when going to a major event that draws large crowds.

It all makes me feel a bit nervous when I head out to such events.

[longship]

66. Idiotic Texas sharpshooter fallacy!

No intent here for any pun. It is what this logical fallacy is known as. In the Texas Sharpshooter fallacy, a cowboy aims his gun at the side of a barn, and then walks over to the barn and draws a bullseye around the bullet hole.

This is a type of a more general fallacy called the Post hoc ergo propter hoc fallacy (after this, therefore because of this).

All told, the claim of the OP is refuted without a connecting statistic, because otherwise there would be any number of data points that connect Holmes to this horrible event.

Most importantly is the plausibility that a crazy guy wanted to make a big splash, so he chose a premier of a largely promoted film, the attendance of which would be large. Given that fact, William of Okham's razor gives OP idea a big shave. If Aurora had hosted the Superbowl last night and Holmes shot up the stadium, would the original poster claim that football was to blame?

Silly! Fucking silly, fallacious logic.

[sabrina 1]

68. Fine with me, do not want to help enrich a Right Winger who thinks that Romney is

Batman the good guy and OWS is the evil Corporation. That's twisted thinking and about as dumb as you can get.