tim’s thought property

Now as I am sure many of you know, the Batman franchise has gone through quite a roller coaster of artistic licence. We were given first, the television show, which was campy and cartoon-like, which delighted many children with the same “Bat-time” cliffhangers. And admittedly, I enjoyed it for a while, then it lost its appeal.

In the eighties, the series underwent a re-invention, with the Dark Knight becoming more brooding, psychological and utterly, more cool. The comic was penciled by the likes of Frank Miller (of Sin City fame). At this time, Tim Burton was chosen to direct the new film, “Batman”. Now, when Burton chose to cast Michael Keaton, the studio was beginning to think it was going to be a film not unlike the tv series. You see, Keaton up to this point was in films like “Beetle Juice”, “Johnny Dangerously” and “Mr.Mom”; understandably, the studio had the right to be concerned. Yet Burton, who was an up-and-coming director, had an understanding of the character that Bob Kane had created and many subsequent writers and artists had come to develop.
Needless to say, the film “Batman” was a huge success. It went on to give fame to Burton, notoriety to Keaton and further added to the repertoire of Jack Nicholson. Burton and Keaton again teamed up to make Batman Returns, with Danny DeVito as a well played, more sinister Penguin, and Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman. This film delved deeper into the complexities of the torn life of Bruce Wayne and Batman. The film’s style, visually, was more developed through Burton’s imagination. Again, the series was a blockbuster sensation, yet remaining grounded in the mindset that this character Batman is something of a semi-tragic anti-hero.

Now, the series took a sudden turn for the worst, with the new director Joel Schumacher. Out with Keaton, in with Val Kilmer. Not that Kilmer is a bad actor, I just don’t think he’s that suited to be Batman. It’s like the franchise of James Bond. Roger Moore was less of a Bond, compared to Sean Connery. If that wasn’t enough of a shift, Shumacher decided that the movies could use the Robin character. That was the solid anchor that signified that the momentum gained in the credibility of the “thinking man’s Batman” had come to a definite halt. The characters of the Riddler and Two-Face had been played near slapstick, and the sets and design were over-stylized and had almost a “neo-camp” feel. Neon colours, over-gageted Bat equipment, and nipples on the Bat-Suit. NIPPLES.
Are you serious? Sadly I am. Now, some will say that this film wasn’t bad. I agree it wasn’t all bad; Carrey’s performance was salvageable. For him, it was a great performance. But it was too little to salvage the film on. Which brings us to Batman and Robin, or as I like to call it The Batman Movie that should have stayed as a proposal idea, and never made into Film. Shumacher was director again, with all the extra neon that didn’t make the cut into Batman Forever, and much more sappy and campy dialogue. Casting George Clooney was only a half effort. You see, he looked decent in the cowl, yet I did not believe him as Bruce Wayne. Something didn’t fit. Clooney is another great actor, yet not up to snuff of the character of Bruce Wayne. Robin is back and then the introduction of Alicia Silverston as Batgirl. That was just vomit put to writing. No one ever liked Batgirl, and this movie is no exception. I’m not even going to continue on this tangent, since it is clearly illustrated how I feel. I will however, finish my paragraph with these two pieces. Arnold Schwarzenegger was Mr. Freeze, and at roles like this, and, lets say Kindergarten Cop, you should think to yourself: “This man is Governor of California; this man is now Governor.” Also I was warned that this movie was an absolute waste of time, but against all cautions, my friend Brian and I decided to watch it all. Two and a half hours of complaints, frustration and disappointment.

Now we have Batman Begins. This film was in pre-production and development for a few years. It went through a few different scripts and directors until landing on Christopher Nolan’s lap. He directed Memento, the backwards running mind-thriller with Guy Pierce. Christian Bale was cast as Bruce Wayne, a younger one. Now, in the few Bale movies I’ve seen, I’ve really appreciated his diversity as an actor. Notable films are “American Psycho”, where his character is built, strong and psychologically twisted; “Reign of Fire”, sadly close to a B-Grade film for promotion, but still, Bale plays a British survivor of this unpredicted Dragon apocalypse; and “The Machinist”, in which Bale plays a lathe operator who has insomnia for more than a year and who’s weight has dropped to 112 pounds. The mindset and physical commitment were stunning. So, the credibility of Christian Bale is established. Add to the cast Michael Caine as Alfred, Gary Oldman as Sargent Gordon, Liam Neeson as Wayne’s mentor and Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox, the Wayne Enterprises head designer and manufacturer. The cast is well assembled, the director is more than able to deliver, and the story is really driven by the life of Bruce Wayne and his desire for revenge and justice. It is a great testament to the nature of the character of Batman. Talk is already in the works for another franchise, with Bale as the Dark Knight, and presumably most of the same supporting cast. Nolan even said that there will be no Robin character, he does not want one, nor does the studio. Once that happens, he will not direct any more.

I ended up seeing this movie twice, in the span of ten days. The first time was on opening day, when some friends of mine had mis-read the times to Cinderella Man. We decided that Batman was more than sufficient to replace that film, but I had a little guilt at not going with my pal Tim, writer, musician and person extraordinaire. And he reminded me of how he loves Batman, and how he cast me as the Joker in his play, Batman’s Day Off, when I was in High School, and how I owed him this, and how he would take my firstborn as ransom for this….So naturally, I caved in, and went again to see it. And I was not displeased.