Batman atomic ending

How does Batman survive the atomic blast? Some movie fans are suggesting he set the auto pilot. Others are saying that Batman's suit is strong enough to protect him. Really? The Dark Knight Rises is the last Nolan Batman film in the trilogy that began with Batman Begins. It seems fitting to write a clever ending that has a twist, a cliffhanger, and reveals other important points. We believe the Batman atomic ending is one-sided.

***Movie Spoiler***

Batman dies. It is as simple as that. He obviously knows that employing auto pilot is too risky to guide an atomic bomb, especially with knowing his Bat plane may not reach outside of Gotham in time to dispose of the atomic bomb. We see Batman inside the cockpit with about 5 seconds left.

Batman's facial expression conveys enough emotion (big decision) to show that he no longer fears death. He chooses to make the sacrifice to save Gotham City. Even so, we learn that Batman as Bruce Wayne thinks highly of Gordon. Batman tells Gordon that a man putting a coat on a young boy's shoulders and the world is not going to end basically implies this moment helped shape him after the death of his parents. 

Batman dies in the atomic blast. We hear of the auto pilot repair and all the theories to fill predictable plot voids, but the obvious meaning of Alfred's cafe scene is dream imaginary rather than based on real life. We like to think Batman/Bruce Wayne survives. An atomic blast is too powerful to escape in water. 

Even if Batman somehow ejected with 3 seconds, it is impossible he escapes the initial atomic blast. A 6 megaton bomb is enough to cover a radius 2-4 square miles in a city. An atomic blast out in sea is still powerful, as the initial blast lit up the horizon. 

Batman did not survive. Bruce Wayne is dead. Alfred's dream sequence confirms that maybe Bruce is happy in the afterlife. People can be happy like in The Woman in Black, The Sixth Sense, Titanic, Gladiator, and other movies. Happiness lies in accomplishing meaningful dreams. Batman would never leave Gotham in the midst of a revolution and with a bomb about to wipe the city off the map. He guides the atomic bomb out to sea to make the ultimate sacrifice. 

It is a fitting ending to a legend. The Dark Knight movie tagline reads, "The Legend Ends". Bruce Wayne as Batman is history. Most TDKR interpretations will go the distance to suggest Batman's suit shields the atomic blast, his Bat plane is on auto pilot and that he swims back to Gotham. No reason to show this cafe scene unless it is a trick to create multiple two meanings - Batman survives or dies. 

Based on the fear of death, revealing to Gordon his true identity, changing his will to donate the Wayne Manor, Alfred receiving a fair share of the Wayne fortune, and Fox taking over as CEO of Wayne Enterprises, Bruce Wayne make previous plans to set a plan in motion. Bruce Wayne probably trusted John Blake after he visited the Wayne Manor to inform him of the orphan program, his background and Batman. Fox already earned the CEO role long ago. Alfred has served Master Wayne a very long time. 

Batman did just retire. Batman as Bruce Wayne sacrificed himself to save Gotham and its citizens. In essence, Batman is a hero. John Blake wants everyone to know that he is a hero. The Batman statue honors the legend. Good ending to the Batman trilogy. 

The end.