Re: The Dark Knight Rises
Unfortunately, this take on Batman doesn't seem so much interested in spending his life helping fighting crime. His mission was to show Gotham they could stand up to the corrupt and take control of their city. That's what he said to Alfred on the plane ride from Asia to Gotham in BB.
He accomplished that goal through Harvey Dent's staged martyrdom. The city has cleaned up it's act with the noble efforts of Mayor Garcia and Commissioner Gordon. Batman has helped both of these men directly and indirectly do what is needed. This is evident in the Harvey Dent Act, the mention of "peacetime" in the second trailer, and Bane holding up a picture of Harvey Dent (likely exposing the truth).
But I agree. I found this time jump very hard to accept. It's sad that in such a cool fictional world Batman would only go toe-to-toe with the Joker once before he was locked away forever. He would only get to encounter Scarecrow, Two-Face, Bane, Catwoman, and Ra's. He would never have to confront any of our other favorite rogues....
UNLESS he remains Batman by the end of the movie. Which I'm starting to hope for once more. They can end the series without killing him or having a successor take the mantle. Can't it just end with him finally accepting his role as Batman forever?
You're right Bruce isn't so much
interested in fighting crime for his whole life. I think it is more of a compulsion than something he wants to do. He can't escape being Batman. His stated goal to Alfred in BB was to be a [temporary] symbol to shake people out of apathy, yes. But as Rachel told him in the end, Batman has become his true face, and Bruce Wayne the mask. She has the foresight to see that Bruce's temporary mission is going to take him longer than even he thought...
In TDK it becomes even clearer that Batman is going to be part of Bruce's life for the long haul, whether he likes it or not. He expresses hope to Rachel that they day is coming when Gotham no longer needs Batman. In Bruce's own words Harvey Dent is the symbol of hope for Gotham who doesn't wear a mask. He's optimstic that he will finally get to live a "normal life". Rachel, again, sees the harsh reality that even Bruce doesn't. In the undelivered note, she says she doesn't believe the day will come when
Bruce doesn't need Batman. With Harvey's fall (figurative and literal) it becomes important to maintain the illusion of him as a figure for hope, even if Batman has to take the blame for his crimes. "I'm whatever Gotham needs me to be."
From the third trailer, it looks like, whether in costume or not, Bruce has devoted his life to Gotham, and he's definitely willing to give the ultimate sacrifice. "You don't owe these people anymore. You've given them everything"...."Not everything...not yet" (best line in the trailer imo)
I don't think he hung up his cape for ALL of the eight year gap. Maybe at some point (even before Bane) he was injured and had to stop. Maybe the peacetime is enough that he can "retire" until the presence of Bane forces him out of retirement.
No matter how this film ends, this eight year gap provides a great opportunity for the WB/DC Comics to do "expanded universe" type stuff showing what has been happening during that gap. I'm thinking an animated mini-series or even an ongoing comic. Maybe we'll get to see this Batman (not Bale of course, but this version of the character) face our favorite rogues after all.
Thanks to Void, the crying started before the movie was even released. 
Man, why is that little girl crying? 
