Is there any property that has been so diversely depicted as Batman? We still argue the value of Batman Forever vs Batman and Robin. West' Batman from the 60's is still relevant in today's pop culture. We've seen a few videogames, and what, four animated tv-shows at this point?
After reading in the Forever vs Batman and Robin thread about what was the most sucktastic Batman and who is the definitive version on film...
What is your favorite depiction of Batman? Of Bruce Wayne? Who is your favorite among his Rogue Gallery?
I've recently revisited Batman: The Animated Series with Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill. The Dark Deco style is really beautiful and I find it a really good balance between the fantasy Gotham of Burton and the realistic Nolan 'verse.
Though I appreciate The Dark Knight, I would rate Batman Returns as my favorite of the films - Burton, for all his schtick, really plays fast and loose with the psychology of Batman, and the themes of duality I think work better in his film than in The Dark Knight. There's a coldness to Bale and Nolan's work...It's been said around here a few times, and especially highlighted in Devin's recent article, that the current version of Batman is more a monk than anything else, right down to his origins. It's one of the reasons why we may not see Catwoman in the next installment, because Nolan doesn't work in themes of desire and fetish often. If it doesn't happen, that's a shame because I would have liked to have seen him tackle that side; Bruce is a man afterall, no?
The issues I have with BB, and especially TDK, is that Gotham as its own separate character has been diminished to the point of nonexistent. I remember some of the post-release comments included criticism that Gotham was just Chicago with a name change, rather than its own unique identity.I find Eckhart as Harvey Dent/Twoface more compelling than either Ledger's Joker or Bale's Batman. It may not be the most showy of performances, but I feel his arc, however much shortened, is stronger than either of the other leads.
That being said, has Nolan ever dealt with/written any female leads? It's largely irrelevant to the conversation, but perhaps that might act as another deterrent for a female co-lead. Though this is probably the wrong property to talk about that.
So what makes Batman so enduring? While Superman is just as iconic, I believe Batman takes the edge in how he's permeated American culture through so many mediums.
After reading in the Forever vs Batman and Robin thread about what was the most sucktastic Batman and who is the definitive version on film...
What is your favorite depiction of Batman? Of Bruce Wayne? Who is your favorite among his Rogue Gallery?
I've recently revisited Batman: The Animated Series with Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill. The Dark Deco style is really beautiful and I find it a really good balance between the fantasy Gotham of Burton and the realistic Nolan 'verse.
Though I appreciate The Dark Knight, I would rate Batman Returns as my favorite of the films - Burton, for all his schtick, really plays fast and loose with the psychology of Batman, and the themes of duality I think work better in his film than in The Dark Knight. There's a coldness to Bale and Nolan's work...It's been said around here a few times, and especially highlighted in Devin's recent article, that the current version of Batman is more a monk than anything else, right down to his origins. It's one of the reasons why we may not see Catwoman in the next installment, because Nolan doesn't work in themes of desire and fetish often. If it doesn't happen, that's a shame because I would have liked to have seen him tackle that side; Bruce is a man afterall, no?
The issues I have with BB, and especially TDK, is that Gotham as its own separate character has been diminished to the point of nonexistent. I remember some of the post-release comments included criticism that Gotham was just Chicago with a name change, rather than its own unique identity.I find Eckhart as Harvey Dent/Twoface more compelling than either Ledger's Joker or Bale's Batman. It may not be the most showy of performances, but I feel his arc, however much shortened, is stronger than either of the other leads.
That being said, has Nolan ever dealt with/written any female leads? It's largely irrelevant to the conversation, but perhaps that might act as another deterrent for a female co-lead. Though this is probably the wrong property to talk about that.
So what makes Batman so enduring? While Superman is just as iconic, I believe Batman takes the edge in how he's permeated American culture through so many mediums.
