In this, the first in a series of features where I will be exploring how some of cinema’s most popular characters and brands have developed over the years, I look at the wealthy playboy bachelor Bruce Wayne, also known as Batman, and how he has evolved since first appearing on screen in 1966.
Batman: The Movie (1965)
No true Batman fan can say that this film version of the classic tv series doesn’t entertain them (in a whole different way, mind you) just as much as any of the 90s films. Adam West, who’s only recent job has been on Nickelodeon’s ‘Fairly Odd Parents’ stars as Wayne, with Ceaser Romero as the Joker. He’s not the only villain lurking around the streets of Gotham, mind you, as Riddler, Catwoman and Penguin all make appearances. Burt Ward is Robin and Neil Hamilton is Commissioner Gordon. Grade: A
Batman (1989)
Jack Nicholson’s turn as The Joker in Tim Burton’s first Batty film was considered unbeatable until Heath Ledger blew every other Joker out of the deck of cards in 2008’s ‘The Dark Knight’. Michael Keaton may not have a big jaw, but he manages to hold the character together. In my opinion, this is the darkest Batman film, including TDK. We see The Joker’s skin being burnt off in a horrific chemical accident! Beat that Nolan! Grade: A
Batman Returns (1992)
Burton’s second shot is more memorable than his first, purely based on Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman, in my opinion. Apparently, she had to be vacuum sealed into that suit; I don’t think Anne Hathaway has gone to such desperate measures to become the cat. Danny DeVito shines as The Penguin, and Michael Keaton is back as Bruce Wayne himself. Grade: A
Batman Forever (1995)
Joel Schumacher’s first go at directing a Batman film was far more successful than his second, but we’ll come to that. Jim Carrey and Tommy Lee Jones, two of my favourite actors, star as The Riddler and Two-Face. Carrey’s mad Dr Nygma almost out-crazies The Joker, but Nicole Kidman lets the film down as quite a boring love interest; a double-personality psychologist. How clever! Grade: B+
Batman and Robin (1997)
In opinion, this stands beside ‘X-Men: The Last Stand’ as one of the worst comic-book movies of all time. What were they thinking, making Uma Thurman completely overact, to a laughable degree, as Poison Ivy, and making Arnold Schwarzenegger act (only joking, Arnie, ‘The Terminator’ is great) at all! I wish they would decide to stop including this in the boxsets, as it makes the previous 3 films look worse. Poor George Clooney, if only his first major film role had been something better. Grade: D-
Batman Begins (2005)
After the disaster that was B&R, the series took an 8-year break, until Christopher Nolan, a promising young director with a short but amazing filmography, picked up the franchise reboot. I am one of a small group (also including Joss Whedon) who believe this is better than The Dark Knight. I’m sorry, but I think Cillian Murphy (whom i’ve met- no bias here) as Scarecrow is a much more intriguing villain than The Joker. “What? What are you saying? The Joker is the most psychologically interesting villain in any movie ever!” Well, I have the right to an opinion, even if it is based on how nice Murphy was. Grade: A+
The Dark Knight (2008)
Heath Ledger was only the second actor ever to receive an Oscar posthumously for his standout role as The Joker, but i’m sure he would have won it regardless of his untimely death. He lights up the screen, and it’s pretty hard to light up a film as dark as this! Even though I expressed my controversial opinion on Scarecrow in the last paragraph, I agree that Ledger brought something to this character that no actor will ever bring to a Batman, Spiderman, Superman or Avengers villain ever again. A masterfully made film. Grade: A+
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
…And so we come to the film the world has been waiting for. The final of all finales..the Return of the Bat-King. With an Oscar-winning and nominated cast and crew, this will surely be one of the, if the THE, most critically and financially successful films ever made. Grade: Excited
Thanks for taking the time to read my thoughts on the various incarnations of one of the greatest superheroes ever. Look out for similar features on Spider-Man, The Hobbit and more in the coming months.
The Dark Knight Rises is released July 20.
We want to hear your thoughts on this topic!
Write a comment below or submit an article to Hypable.