Hello Heroes!

This blog will be the start of a series of blogs where I will write about my favorite and LEAST favorite comic book movies. Through analyzing, perhaps together we can find the key to making a successful comic book movie! Let’s start with the good:

Batman Begins (2005)

After a rocky previous installment, Batman returned to the screen after a nearly ten year absence from fighting crime in Gotham City. Everything was reimainged in this film from the Dark Knight’s origin, suit and right down to the military-style Bat-mobile that reminded longtime comic fans of the Bat-tank presented in The Dark Knight Returns. After viewing this film, my cousin told me that the most notable aspect of it was the fact that it was a BELIEVABLE superhero film; he actually bought that under those circumstances a man could become Batman. The film is widely regarded as the greatest Batman film and allowed for an upcoming sequel this summer! (The Dark Knight)

So just what worked?

1. Lesser known actor donning the cape and cowl. (Christian Bale’s performance was spectacular)
2. The dark tone necessary for a serious Batman movie, minus the camp of previous works. (No shouts of “holy rusted metal Batman”, this time.)
3.  Villains that were not only terrifying, but iconic, in the Scarecrow and Ra’s Alghul.
4. A complex, interwoven plot that actually involved some thought. Believe it or not, some complaints I heard about the movie was that it was actually too complex.
5. Kick-butt technology and gadgets for the Bat. I especially loved the Bat-shuriken.
6. Fantastic supporting cast. (Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman etc.)
7. PLOT, PLOT, and more PLOT!

 Batman and Robin (1997)

Sigh…need I say more? I’m ashamed to admit that I DID view this movie…in theaters…full ticket price…oh the horror. Batman and Robin represent everything WRONG with the franchise and with human being’ ability to think and create. The uninteresting storyline, over the top effects, severe campiness of the project and misuse of characters make for not only a bad superhero movie, but a waste of 125 minutes you will never get back in your life.

What didn’t work?

1. Misuse of characters- Bane, one of Batman’s greatest enemies who nearly ended his career in the comics- was depicted as a bumbling henchmen whose presence in the film served no real purpose.
2. Casting- Talk about quality over quantity. I groaned when I heard George Clooney was set to play Batman. He didn’t have the inner conflict or darkness necessary to play the role. Arnold was also a poor choice as Freeze, as the director wanted an actor who looked as if he was “carved out of a glacier”. The alternate choice was, however…Hulk Hogan.
3. Visuals- A batmobile that drives up the walls; a Gotham that looks like a painting made by someone on crack (with a skyscraper sized statue of a man I don’t quite understand); fuzzy gorillas dancing with Poison Ivy; ice skates inexplicably protruding from Batman and Robin’s feet; and a bat suit with nipples. I think that sums it up.
4. Plot. Ivy and Freeze come together with the most dastardly scheme ever! Freeze is so pissed off that his wife is sick, that he decides to freeze the whole city through the use of satellites. (This guy became a doctor?) Once the world is frozen, it shall be repopulated with Ivy’s mutant plant thingies. Brilliant! Except for the fact that the plants can’t be grown if the Earth is a frozen wasteland. Oops….
5. Dialogue/Lines. Campy lines that may seem funny to a four-year old are found all throughout this movie. “Holy rusted metal Batman!”, “This is why Superman works alone…”, Batman’s credit card in his utility belt with an expiration date of “forever”….that’s how long I felt like I was in this movie.
6. Overcast, and I don’t mean the weather. Val Kilmer initially backed out of the project because he felt Batman was playing second fiddle to the villains. Kilmer never made a better decision in his life. The addition of Ivy, Freeze and Bane-in-name-only was crowded enough; however, adding in Alicia Silverstone as Batgirl was enough to make me throw my hands up and say, “Whatever!” Batman may have a wealth of characters, but you don’t have to use them all in one film.

I think that might scratch the surface of just what went well and what went SO wrong with these two films. Feel free to add your own thoughts as well and give me some suggestions for movies to right about next time.

Till then, stay SUPER!

Jay