II.I BATMAN III
THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS (2013)
Frank Miller, DC Comics ©
Logline
When several inmates escape from Arkham Asylum in a mass breakout, Batman pushes his body to the limit to protect Gotham City. Things only get worse when Bane, the man behind this madness, confronts an exhausted Batman and breaks his back.
Source Material
The Dark Knight Returns
Batman: Knightfall
Batman: Prodigal
Plot Summary
Bane, an inmate of the underground prison Peña Duro, escaped during Ma’alefa’ak’s invasion (see Justice League) and has since arrived in Gotham City with the sole purpose of destroying Batman. He starts by freeing several inmates of Arkham Asylum. The Joker, Victor Zsasz, and Firefly among them. Commissioner Gordon is due to retire and is being replaced by Ellen Yindel, a fierce critic of Batman. As the new Police Commissioner, her first act is issuing an arrest warrant for both Batman and Black Canary.
Barbara Gordon, as Oracle, reaches out to Batman to help him recapture the escaped inmates, especially as The Joker is one of them. Whilst Batman no longer has the support of the G.C.P.D., Sgt. Bullock and a small squad remain on his side. Batman sets about recapturing Firefly, while Black Canary goes after Victor Zsasz. Thanks in large part to Oracle's intel, Batman and Black Canary are able to locate and subdue their opponents. Batman finds Firefly in an abandoned warehouse while Black Canary finds Zsasz breaking into someones home.
Oracle receives intel about The Joker on a rampage at Gotham County Fair. Batman leaves Firefly tied up and unconscious and Oracle alerts the authorities to the criminal’s location while Batman makes his way to the county fair. Black Canary takes Zsasz back to Arkham, knowing he’s too dangerous to be left on the street. Once she does, she makes her way to the fair too. Batman pursues The Joker, though he’s already killed several people before their confrontation. Black Canary arrives at the fair and confronts Abner, The Joker’s henchman, who’s about to release a poisonous laughing gas. Ellen Yindel and the Gotham City Police arrive, they cordon off civilians to safety and begin searching the grounds.
Batman gouges in one of The Joker’s eyes but stops short of killing him. Taunting Batman as a coward, The Joker twists his head until his neck snaps, committing suicide, and framing Batman for it. When Yindel discovers The Joker’s body she gives the police a shoot-on-site order for Batman. Black Canary is detained by the police after incapacitating Abner. Batman manages to escape, but not without taking a bullet to the shoulder from Yindel. Batman makes it home, physically and mentally exhausted. Bane, who’s now deduced that Batman’s secret identity is Bruce Wayne, is there waiting for him. Bane easily overpowers Bruce and breaks his back, leaving him incapacitated.
Black Canary escapes from the police cruiser escorting her to the station. She arrives back at Wayne Manor and discovers Alfred unconscious on the floor, and Bruce writhing in pain on the stairs of the batcave. With Bruce incapacitated, Bane assumes control of Gotham City, taking over a number of illegal operations within it. Bruce enlists the aid of Dr. Shondra Kinsolving to help him through the rehabilitation process. Kinsolving helped Barbara following her paralysis at the hands of The Joker.
Dick Grayson returns to Gotham City at Alfred’s request. After a long discussion with Bruce, Alfred, Barbara and Dinah, Dick agrees to don the Batman cowl while Bruce recovers. Bruce is initially reluctant to the idea, but knows that Gotham needs a Batman. As Batman, Dick is careful to never directly engage Bane. Instead, he focuses on taking down his operations which are run primarily by Two-Face. However, Bane maintains a stronghold on the city.
As Batman, Dick goes to Ellen Yindel to strike up a truce. They agree that without each other’s help, the city will soon be a no man’s land. Yindel reluctantly agrees to join forces with Batman until Bane has been dealt with. Yindel seeks advice from James Gordon on working alongside Batman. With Oracle’s intel, and the G.C.P.D’s resources, they’re able to stop Two-Face and his goons. Bane however, is still too much for them.
After several months of intensive treatment from Kinsolving, Bruce re-dons the cowl to face Bane, but he doesn’t do it alone. He lures him to a mud-hole near Gotham Harbour, where he, alongside Nightwing, Black Canary and the G.C.P.D, fight and defeat him in front of his subordinates. Bane is incarcerated in Blackgate Penitentiary and Yindel revokes Batman’s arrest warrant. With Bane subdued and Bruce re-donning his cowl, Dick leaves Gotham City, returning to Bludhaven though Barbara is quick to give him her number before he departs.
Post Credits
In Blackgate Penitentiary, Bane receives a visit from Talia al Ghul. He provides her with sensitive information he stole from the batcave.
Cast
Josh Brolin (Avengers: Infinity War) … Bruce Wayne aka Batman
Scarlett Johansson (Iron Man 2) … Dinah Drake aka Black Canary
Sebastian Stan (Captain America: The First Avenger) … Dick Grayson
Elizabeth Olsen (Avengers: Age of Ultron) … Barbara Gordon aka Oracle
Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy) … Bane
Tom Hiddleston (Thor) … Joseph Kerr aka The Joker
Cate Blanchett (Thor: Ragnorok) … Commissioner Yindel
Mark Ruffalo (The Avengers) … Harvey Dent aka Two-Face
Michael Douglas (Ant-Man) … Jim Gordon
Anthony Hopkins (Thor) … Alfred Pennyworth
Lupita Nyong’o (Black Panther) … Shondra Kinsolving
John C. Reilly (Guardians of the Galaxy) … Harvey Bullock
Natalie Portman (Thor) … Talia
Jon Favreau (Iron Man) … Abner
James Badge Dale (Iron Man 3) … Victor Zsasz
Georges St-Pierre (Captain America: The Winter Solider) … Garfield Lynns aka Firefly
