Various Spoilers abound and I'm not going to bother hiding them. You're warned

I chided Sexual Chocolate for referring to the movie as Fascist, since I really hate how people use that word as a synonym for totalitarian, or even just Republican. But let's assume he meant right-wing, which I believe he did...is that actually true?

I mean, it felt like the movie characters wouldn't shut up about clean energy. And, sure, turns out Marion Cotillard wanted to use said energy for destruction, but I didn't feel that we were supposed to say "See! Alternative energy is going to blow up the world!"

Also, the depiction of the Wall Steet executives was very pro-Occupy. Note how the asshole condescendingly treats the shoe-shine man. So even if Bane was the Occupy movement, there's sympathy here for the downtrodden and scorn for the 1%.

But on the other hand, there are definite echos of the French Revolution, and all of them negative. Considering that modern Conservatism was born as a reaction against the excesses of the French Revolution, that can't be denied.

So what do you think? Where does TDKR fall?

I'm currently working on an essay called "The Dark Knight Rises: A Fascist Film.". I say "working" because it's rather lengthy. That should give you an idea of my take on the film's politics.

Hopefully by then you'll have learned the definition of Fascism

Thanks Ken. That kind of clears up my ambiguity, in that he doesn't seem to have picked one side over the other

Oh, I know what it is. The way I see it, a lot of people have accepted the radical, militaristic nationalism of American conservatives as normal. I have not, and I'm more than willing to call them for what they are.

I can't really say that I noticed any real political leanings. Bane had a kind of eastern European accent and used a lot of communist rhetoric, but it was clear that he was a phony only using that as a motivational tool to bond a bunch of bad actors to a common cause. I think there was some cautionary tale about proliferation of weapons and how they will come to be used against you, but I wouldn't necessarily tie that to any political leanings.

My only 2 cents to this conversation would be the scene where Selena Kyle chides Bruce Wayne early on about how all the fat cats are lounging about while the rest of society "got nothing." Clearly an occupy sentiment which I found humorous since not only was Wayne a philanthropist, but his alter ego was anything but idle in the cause of society (the past 8 years notwithstanding). If I was to draw a political conclusion, it would be that the filmmakers were pointing out that some of the OWS aggression may be misplaced if their belief is that just because you are part of the "1%" then you are part of "the problem."

Anti-communist in the great American tradition.

Look at how supposed revolution panned out. Ordinary people killed or jailed whist the thugs run the system. The People's Court is nothing but a mechanism for Bolshevik-style "death or exile" justice. Death and exile of course being the same thing.

I don't see for the life of me how it could be fascist.

Fascism is -

Militaristic - the military are nowhere to be seen and don't even bother buying Wayne Enterprise's equipment

Collectivist, with a possible pro-corporate slant - the film does not advocate collectivism and the corporate suits are the bad guys

Racist - no evidence of racism

Socially Darwinistic - Batman wrecks himself physically, mentally and financially helping those less capable than himself

Oh, you little conservative scamp Frogster.

I think DKR's politicial leanings are definitely Central North-East, with strong winds coming in from those damn commie tea partiers.

Oxymoron alert!

It's almost like the whole sentence is nonsense. Surely the poster in question wouldn’t have put an intentional oxymoron in there as a joke. That would be scandalous!

You guys are a bunch of hippie Nazis, you know that?

My personal dream has always been to be the dictator of an anarchist group.
-Jeremy

Mcbain to base, under attack by commie-nazis.

I must get these UNICEF pennies to the puny children who need them.

I believe it was Ferris Bueller (/ John Hughes) who coined the term "fascist anarchists"..

"They could be fascist anarchists, it still doesn't change the fact that I don't own a car."