(1.) The first time we see our protagonists is in silhouette at a large social gathering
In The Simpsons the first time we glimpse Homer, in terms of the story, not counting the pre-credits skit where they’re all watching the Itchy & Scratchy movie, which wasn’t Bart banned from seeing? But anyway, it’s at Church, and Homer’s conspicuous by his absence until we see his silhouette the other side of the window.
Car tyres screech to a halt outside. We see the Simpsons’ silhouettes as the family make their way to the church door. Their conversation can also be heard.
Then in The Dark Knight Rises, the first time we see Bruce Wayne is in shadow as he looks down at Harvey Dent appreciation, a social gathering where he’s conspicuous by his absence.
Enthusiastic applause as the Mayor wraps up.
I want to thank the Wayne
Foundation for hosting this event.
I’m told Mr. Wayne couldn’t be here
tonight, but I’m sure he’s with us
in spirit…
High above, on a darkened balcony, a lone figure. Watching.
(2.) Both protagonists are privy to ominous messages about impending danger.
This happens in The Simpsons, when during a Church service, note, large social gathering, Granpa Simpson becomes possessed almost and delivers a prophesy of danger.
GRAMPA
Horrible! Horrible things are going to happen! (he starts pointing) And they’re going to happen to you, and you, and you… (points at Marge) and you! Oh nelly!GRAMPA People of Springfield! Heed this warning. Twisted tail! A thousand eyes! Trapped forever!!
– sorry this one isn’t the best quality.)
Then in The Dark Knight Rises at a Charity function, Selina Kyle warns Bruce of a storm coming.
]SELINA
There’s a storm coming, Mr. Wayne.
You and your friends better batten
down the hatches, because when it
hits you’re all gonna wonder how
you ever thought you could live so
large and leave so little to the
rest of us.
(3.) Both protagonists become obsessed with new elements introduced into their life leading to pleas from family members that they ignore.
This first happens in The Simpsons, when Homer lays eyes on what would soon be dubbed “spider-pig”, no doubt a reference to their box office rival Spider-Man 3. Can he spin from a web? No he can’t, he’s a pig. But thank goodness it also can’t dance awkwardly down the street in broad daylight, like actual Spider-man. Pretty soon Homer’s infatuation is causing Bart’s growing alienation to go unnoticed and for Marge to worry more and more that this is leading to terrible events for Springfield.
Homer: Then say hello to the newest Simpson.
Marge: Homer! l believe what happened in church was a warning about precisely this. Please, get rid of that pig.
Then in The Dark Knight Rises, an insisting that he’s retiring Bruce does an about turn when he lays eyes on a Jet dubbed the Bat. Can it spin from a web? No it can’t it’s a – actually, wait, maybe it can. I mean after all it can produce an inconvenient yet flawless giant bat symbol on a bridge literally hours before a nuclear explosion. So you know, who knows what else it can do? Auto Pilot? Um, I actually don’t know about that. But anyway, the fact that this “new toy” makes Bruce think suiting up is the way forward, leads Alfred to think this will only aid Bane and his threats on Gotham, much to Bruce’s protests.
ALFRED
You don’t. You lead a bloated
police force on a merry chase with
some fancy new toys from Fox. What
about when you come up against him.
What then?
Alfred points to the monitor – Wayne sees Bane killing..
(4.) Both protagonists are responsible for creating an object that leads to great anguish
In The Simpsons this is the overflowing pig silo which ultimately causes the lake to become too, leading to the EPA to dome Springfield
MARGE
I can’t escape the feeling this is the crisis Grampa warned us about. You have to dispose of that waste properly.
He cuts the ropes on his car, dumping the silo into the lake. As it sinks, green bubbles start to appear and soon the whole lake is green and bubbling.
HOMER
Uh-oh.
In front of Homer, a skull-and-crossbones image forms in the water.
EERIE VOICE
Evil!
Then In the Dark Knight Rises, Bruce invested heavily in a clean energy machine which he then decides he can’t turn on due to how it can, and then ultimately is, converted into a nuclear bomb.
FOX
If you’re not willing to turn your
machine on –
WAYNE
I can’t, Lucius.[/quote]
[quote][quote]
WAYNE
Someone else will work out what Dr.
Pavel did. Someone else will figure
out how to turn this power source
into a nuclear weapon. I need you
to take control of Wayne
Enterprises and this reactor.
INT. REACTOR PLANT – CONTINUOUS
Dr. Pavel finishes his work. Turns to Bane. Grave.
DR. PAVEL
It’s done. This is now a
four-megaton nuclear bomb.
(5.) Both city’s are cut off from society and our protagonists are forced to watch it on a roving news report
This happens in The Simpsons when EPA lay a dome over Springfield after it becomes too polluted causing a news report called Trappucino.
[quote]]Kent Brockman: This is Kent Brockman, reporting to you on a crisis so serious it has its own name and theme music. The dome has put an end to life as we know it. The town is running low on supplies of everything from gasoline to Botox. Moment, please. Now, as always, we end our news on The Lighter Side. lt’s the time of year when the swallows return to Springfield.
Then in The Dark Knight Rises, the bridges all out of Gotham are destroyed after Bane thinks Gotham has become too corrupt to continue. This is then followed by a Gotham Under Seige news report.
WAYNE
I’m not meant to die in here.
The Prisoner indicates the TV:118.
SIEGE OF GOTHAM: DAY 84.
Wayne stares at the TV: the Special Forces bodies hang in
the cables of Gotham Bridge. Wayne throws a stone into the
screen.
(6.) Both protagonists are taken under the wing of strangers and are made to regain their mental and physical strength through very tough means.
This happens in The Simpson movie when Boob Lady takes Homer and enables him to have an epiphany that helps him find the inner strength to rescue Springfield.
Medicine Woman: Unless you have an epiphany you will spend the remainder of your days alone.
Homer: Epiphany, epiphany, epiphany. Bananas are an excellent source of potassium. Americans will never embrace soccer? More than two shakes and it’s playing with yourself? Hey, what are you doing? Oh, do whatever you want to me. l don’t care about myself anymore.
Medicine Woman: Because…?
Homer: Because other people are just as important as me. Without them, l’m nothing. ln order to save myself l have to save Springfield! That’s it! Isn’t it?
[Homer is acclaimed by applause and cheering before Homer wakes from the vision.
Then, likewise in Dark Knight Rises with the help of Tom Conti and the blind doctor Wayne’s back is healed old school and the blind doctor makes him realise that he has to fear death in order to find the courage to save Gotham.
[quote]The Prisoner pulls – Wayne screams in pain as he is pulled
upright. The Prisoner ties him off. Checks his spine.
You have a protruding
vertebra…I’m going to force it
back…
WAYNE
How -?
The Prisoner punches Wayne in the back, hard. Wayne screams.
(7.) Both antagonists are surprisingly taken out by off screen characters right before they’re about to kill the protagonists.
In The Simpsons movie, Homer is about to be taken out by the antagonist Russ Cargill who is at the last moment taken out himself when a rock is pushed / dropped on his head courtesy of an offscreen Maggie
Russ Cargill: Well, always leave them laughing. Goodbye, sir.
[Maggie hits a rock in Russ’ head as he passes out.]
Homer: Maggie! What a great little accident you turned out to be.
Then In the Dark Knight Rises, right before Bane, the antagonist is about to take out Batman with a rifle, he is taken out, via a cannon shot by an off screen Catwoman
BANE
You’ll have to imagine the fire –
He shuts the gun – jams it into Batman’s face.
We both know I need to kill you
now.
He squeezes the trigger. BLAMMM! Bane is blasted across the
lobby by cannon fire.
Catwoman is there, on the Bat-Pod.
CATWOMAN
The whole no-guns thing? I don’t feel as strongly about it as you
do.
(8.) Both protagonists have to get rid of a bomb to save the city
In The Simpsons movie, Homer rides a motorbike to the top of a dome bringing a bomb with him which is rapidly counting down to detonation so he can throw it out of the hole at the top of the dome so that it can explode safely away from Springfield.
Grampa Simpson: Homer? What the hell are you doing now?
Homer: Risking my life to save people l hate for reasons l don’t quite understand. Gotta go! But first, one stop.[The bomb is at 1:34 and Homer comes to the church where Flanders and Bart pray. [Bart throws the bomb and with few seconds left the bomb is thrown back through the hole, but it stops at the outside of the dome. The dome begins to be destroyed and Bart and Homer drive down of the dome and scream at the edge of Springfield.]
Then In The Dark Knight Rises, Batman attaches the bomb, which is rapidly counting down to detonation, to his Bat and flies it out over the bay so that it can explode at a safe distance away from Gotham.
Blake turns to see the Bat thundering out of the heart of the city
Gotham, trailing smoke, the core hanging from it. It curves
dangerously close to the bridge before heading for the mouth
of the river…the bay…the ocean…
Until a point of light fires into an enormous nuclear BLAST
– wind and light and dust blowing VIOLENTLY but harmlessly
over the bridge, the tunnel mouth, all of Gotham…
(9.) Gordon really looks like Flanders
markmccallum5 