After Nolan's BATMAN trilogy...

[CConn]

Originally Posted by AvengeME

The only popular characters left that audiences are aware of are Freeze, Riddler, and Robin. The Schumacher films aside, that is potentially border line camp.

You're also forgetting Penguin, Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn. They're all very well known to the GA.

They're not all boarderline camp. Riddler is actually much easier to adapt as a straight forward obsessive criminal than as a campy cluemaster. The same for Penguin - he's really just a deformed mob boss and not much else. Even Freeze could be done pretty easily in terms of characterization. The only thing that's at all unrealistic about him is the particulars of his affliction.

And, I'd argue that you really don't need to even use a particularly well known character. No one in the GA knew who Ra's was, and Bane's not nearly on the same level as all of Batman's other top-tier villains popularity wise, and they were still able to introduce him successfully (at least apparently so).

[Rockstar]

Originally Posted by AvengeME

The only popular characters left that audiences are aware of are Freeze, Riddler, and Robin..

Penguin.


I'm actually hoping for a Riddler, Penguin, Black Mask combo for the next Batman. All can be done with realism.

Originally Posted by CConn

Michael Uslan was a huge fan of Jack Nicholson's Joker too.

The performance? Or the concept? The concept of him mutated by the acid was such a small part of the character.

And even that can be done with realism, especially the botched plastic surgery.

[Rodrigo90]

As much as I hate to say it, I thought of a way to re-invent the Joker's concept, by using Heath, Jack and Michael Jackson as the influences!

Joker...has plastic surgery to alter his face into a grin. Constantly bleaches his skin, dyes his hair, paints his nails even, and instead of using paint, his smile is created by tattoos.

A guy who REALLY doesn't want to look like his former self. What do you think?

[CConn]

Originally Posted by Rockstar

The performance? Or the concept? The concept of him mutated by the acid was such a small part of the character.

And even that can be done with realism, especially the botched plastic surgery.

Jack's portrayal of the character overall. Which was definitely campier (and not necessarily in a bad way) than anything in Nolan's films.

My point is merely that Uslan seems to - like a lot of comic Batman fans - have a broad appreciation for the character and various interpretations of him.

[Rockstar]

Originally Posted by CConn

Jack's portrayal of the character overall. Which was definitely campier (and not necessarily in a bad way) than anything in Nolan's films.

Honestly, I didn't think Jack's performance was noticeably campier than Heath.

They both had light hearted moments (Joker crossdressing as a nurse), both acted overly theatrical at times, ... and they both had dark/threatening moments.

Heath's Joker just had better writing behind it; deeper themes etc. The perfomance of the actors, though, was quite close IMO.

I loved Jack's performance as well and Keaton's, even if I prefer the Nolan approach to Batman onscreen.

[Rockstar]

Originally Posted by CConn

My point is merely that Uslan seems to - like a lot of comic Batman fans - have a broad appreciation for the character and various interpretations of him.

Fair enough. I was going off Uslan's interview on the Space Network where he mentioned how Nolan took everything they did before with Batman to a whole new level and he said the Nolan approach is the best way to make Batman work.

But I also recall him mentioning the different interpretations of the character onscreen in prior interviews:

Burtons Batman was the 30s/40s comics

Schumaccer's Batman was the 50s/60s comics

Batman Begins was the 70s comics

The Dark Knight was the 80s comics

The Dark Knight Rises is the 90s comics


Makes me wonder what the next one will be.

[CConn]

Well, if we're going by pure decade progression, next would be Morrison's tripping on acid Batman.

[Cain]

Originally Posted by CConn

Well, if we're going by pure decade progression, next would be Morrison's tripping on acid Batman.

No, they have to make a pit stop at that New Gotham, Hush, War Games era first

[Rodrigo90]

So Batman will already be a dad by the next reboot?

[HighFivingMF]

Originally Posted by CConn

Well, if we're going by pure decade progression, next would be Morrison's tripping on acid Batman.

[raybia]

Originally Posted by Rockstar

Honestly, I didn't think Jack's performance was noticeably campier than Heath.

They both had light hearted moments (Joker crossdressing as a nurse), both acted overly theatrical at times, ... and they both had dark/threatening moments.

Heath's Joker just had better writing behind it; deeper themes etc. The perfomance of the actors, though, was quite close IMO.

I loved Jack's performance as well and Keaton's, even if I prefer the Nolan approach to Batman onscreen.

I wonder what Jack's portrayal would have been like if he played the character when he was in his prime (circa "One Flew Over the Cookoo Nest?"

Could have rivaled Ledgers. As Nolan's Joker Jack would have exceeded it IMO.

[raybia]

Originally Posted by Rodrigo90

As much as I hate to say it, I thought of a way to re-invent the Joker's concept, by using Heath, Jack and Michael Jackson as the influences!

Joker...has plastic surgery to alter his face into a grin. Constantly bleaches his skin, dyes his hair, paints his nails even, and instead of using paint, his smile is created by tattoos.

A guy who REALLY doesn't want to look like his former self. What do you think?

I really prefers Nolan approach which actually was the original approach in the comics: Joker just shows up and there is no origin story. Having a mysterious origin is what makes the character so compelling.

Its one of the reasons why Darth Vader was so awesome (at least until Lucas f'ed it up with the prequels.)

[raybia]

Originally Posted by CConn

You're also forgetting Penguin, Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn. They're all very well known to the GA.

They're not all boarderline camp. Riddler is actually much easier to adapt as a straight forward obsessive criminal than as a campy cluemaster. The same for Penguin - he's really just a deformed mob boss and not much else. Even Freeze could be done pretty easily in terms of characterization. The only thing that's at all unrealistic about him is the particulars of his affliction.

And, I'd argue that you really don't need to even use a particularly well known character. No one in the GA knew who Ra's was, and Bane's not nearly on the same level as all of Batman's other top-tier villains popularity wise, and they were still able to introduce him successfully (at least apparently so).

Excellent insight and analysis!

[LuisTX85]

They could easily have the comics fantasy element in Nolan's"real world"Begins Gotham without going Shumacher style,Casuals can easily get into the AA&AC games black&grey suit without having it be tights,Villains like Riddler could have his comic&BF(without red hair) look while still be serious&a big threat without being like 60's&Jim Carrey!!!

Much of the comics elements in the Bat mythology could easily work by being mixed up in Nolan's type of world..Without having to be a sequel to TDKR!

[Rodrigo90]

Originally Posted by raybia

I really prefers Nolan approach which actually was the original approach in the comics: Joker just shows up and there is no origin story. Having a mysterious origin is what makes the character so compelling.

Its one of the reasons why Darth Vader was so awesome (at least until Lucas f'ed it up with the prequels.)

I agree. But here's how would approach the Joker next time.

Fantasy/Comic - Joker falls into chemicals. Is bleached white.

Realism - Instead of the chemicals turning him exactly like his Joker look. They instead take all the colour right out of him. His skin goes white, his hair. He is literally white all over.
With no sense of identity, Joker creates a new look and persona for himself. He dyes his hair green. He has surgery performed on himself, to pull his face back into a grin. Then, he has his lips tattooed red. Maybe having his eyes done up with make-up, sometimes both black and red.

So it kind of follows Morrison's idea that he reinvents himself. More of the assexual Joker, the campy/dark concept. Like David Bowie? Where you can get those creepy scenes from Morrison's Arkham, where Joker flirts and sexually assaults Batman, just to mock him and break him down

As for his weapons, I'm sure he can concoct up something that mixes in laughing gas and the poison from the water dropwort, that pulls your face back into a grin as it kills you?

[Rockstar]

Since you mentioned Malick.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8y3Y-pNhsg


This man should have directed Superman. It would have been incredible.

[CConn]

Originally Posted by Cain

No, they have to make a pit stop at that New Gotham, Hush, War Games era first

That was a really bland era.

[raybia]

Originally Posted by Rockstar

Since you mentioned Malick.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8y3Y-pNhsg


This man should have directed Superman. It would have been incredible.

I would love to see Malick direct Batman and have Brad Bird direct Superman.

[cabel]

Originally Posted by Rockstar

Since you mentioned Malick.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8y3Y-pNhsg


This man should have directed Superman. It would have been incredible.

No. Malick is a genius at capturing breathtaking visuals, but his films (at least in my experience) tend to be very long, and very slow moving. He seems less interested in storytelling and more interested in creating a dreamlike experience for his audience. Not that there's anything in itself wrong with that.

There are elements of Malick's style that could work for Superman in small doses, but not for an entire movie.

[Rockstar]

Oh I agree. Malick needs a strong writer to work with him. Scripting isn't his strong suit. His direction really captures the heart and soul of filmmaking though.

[raybia]

Originally Posted by cabel

No. Malick is a genius at capturing breathtaking visuals, but his films (at least in my experience) tend to be very long, and very slow moving. He seems less interested in storytelling and more interested in creating a dreamlike experience for his audience. Not that there's anything in itself wrong with that.

There are elements of Malick's style that could work for Superman in small doses, but not for an entire movie.

I think Malick has the ability to adapt himself to tell the story that would be written for a Superman film while still being true to his style. With that said I would much rather see him direct a Batman film and Brad Bird direct Superman.

[The Batman]

Originally Posted by CConn

That was a really bland era.

Yup. I remember reading hush, then dropping the books like a rock once Hush was over.

Forget the pit stop...everyone else does. Imagine a morrison influenced batman with pyg or hurt as the main baddie.....

[HighFivingMF]

Well, Aronofsky is the name they're apparently kicking around... That + Morrison makes my girl parts tingle and I'm not even a girl.

[The Batman]

^ Aronofsky would be perfect for morrison esque Bats.

And personally, I'd like to see the Batman Inc outfit in live action...without the codpiece.

[Rockstar]

An Aronofsky/Nolan combo would be amazing.

An interesting fact is apparently Wes Bentley was Aronofsky's choice for Batman in his Batman Year One pitch years ago.

Interesting Bentley is rumored to be starring with Bale in two upcoming movies.

Both of those movies are directed by Terrence Malick...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2101383/

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2062700/