Actor and director duo Michael Keaton & Tim Burton were riding high after the success of Beetlejuice, and Batfans the world over were hyped beyond the call of duty for this, the first of many, Batman films.
Batman lived up to the hype. Keaton was superb, Jack Nicholson almost stole the show with his take on The Joker, and Burton had done something that hadn't quite been done as well to date: He'd taken a comic book franchise and adapted it straight off the bat (no pun intended). In that he wasn't following a particular Batman storyline and nor did he make it camp or OTT. In fact, Batman went back to creator Kane's vision and proved that a superhero movie could be done as a neo-noir (which is what Batman is IMO).
I like how every director decides how the adapt certain points from the comics, mixing and matching them to suit the type of movie they’re making. In Batman we see that The Joker’s origin is inspired in part by Alan Moore's Killing Joke and The Red Hood back story in Aparo and Wein's The Untold Legends of Batman.
Batman set the benchmark for the superhero movie revival and despite some stumbles along the way, is still a template on how to do justice to the iconic comic-book character on screen.
Posted by Dutch Gannon (Member # 10167) on :
Cool Post, I agree as well. Nicholson's interpretation of the Joker was spot on to the character with Mark Hamil's being the only rival. (Heath Ledger’s didn’t have enough humor, just seemed more like a Victor Szasz type) Nicholson plays up the whole full of himself gangster who is only hanging on by a string to begin with, but is not all out crazy from the word go. His craziness only comes out a little when he’s riled, by Lt. Edcart, and a lot after his transformation. Also all of his dastardly deeds are funny to him, and that’s why he does it. (As opposed to some sort of power struggle about good and evil) he’s more refined and brilliant in an evil kind of way.
Michael Keaton plays Batman and Bruce Wayne the way I think they should be played Bruce Wayne is not an over the top, dark brooding kind of guy. In parties he’s more charming and out going. Batman is not a over the top deep voice but more of a Man With No Name type of sound, giving me the impression that Batman doesn’t need to yell, actions speak louder than words.
I read not long back that Burton based his Gotham off the black and white film Metropolis having recently seen some visuals from it I can see the similarities. I like all the factories spurting steam and gargoyle architecture of the city. The Matt Paintings look great, better than digital.
Posted by The Good Package (Member # 9492) on :
this is one of my all time favorite movies, i became a fan of batman after seeing this.
Posted by The Good Package (Member # 9492) on :
we are gonna ship them out a whole new door!
(laughs manaically, swings fist through air)
Posted by Kash (Member # 297) on :
The Joker: And now, folks, it's time for "Who do you trust!" Hubba, hubba, hubba! Money, money, money! Who do you trust? Me? I'm giving away free money. And where is the Batman? HE'S AT HOME WASHING HIS TIGHTS!
So who do you think played these characters best and who should play them next time around?
BATMAN
1. Adam West 2. Michael Keaton 3. Val Kilmer 4. Christian Bale 5. Robert Lowery 6. George Clooney
THE NEXT BATMAN SHOULD BE: Mark Strong
ROBIN
Burt Ward IS Robin, then and forevermore
THE NEXT ROBIN SHOULD BE: Emilia Clarke or Kit Harington
THE NEXT CATWOMAN SHOULD BE: Victoria Smurfit or Angelina Jolie
THE JOKER
1. TIE: Heath Ledger & Jack Nicholson 2. Cesar Romero 3. Mark Hamil (animated voice)
THE NEXT JOKER SHOULD BE: Adrien Brody
[ 11. June 2012, 19:06: Message edited by: Kash ]
Posted by Chris the CandyFanMan (Member # 3197) on :
If they bring out the Penguin and/or Riddler, who should it be?
Posted by Kash (Member # 297) on :
Chris, those have always been tough characters to get right. Penguin would have to be this actor from 'Game of Thrones' called Conleth Hill, reminds me of Charles Laughton in 'The Island of lost Souls', good actor.
The Riddler could be played by Matthew Lillard or Jonathan Rhys Myers, perhaps even Ellijah Wood.
