Aspects the films did better than the comics?

[Two-Face=Badass]

I'm a huge fan of Batman comics and DC comics in general, but that in mind, what kind of things do you think the films succeeded where the comics largely failed? Alternatively what aspects did you think the comics did well but the films managed to do better?

Additionally, are there any things the films did that the comics didn't, that you feel the comics would benefit having?

My short list:
1. Harvey Dent being blonde (TDK) - It sounds small, but I think it really adds to the almost angelic aspect of the character prior to his fall. Besides, not enough blonde characters in comics anyway.

2. Gliding cape Batman (BB, TDK) - I can't say for sure that this has never been done in the comics, but it sure hasn't been prominent. I love the whole gliding angle, it plays up the Bat aspect, gives great visuals and makes the cape somewhat practical.

3. Ras anti-crime motive (BB) - This is my strongest one. The eco-Ra's worked for me and I love the Denny O'Neill stories, but this just works so much better for the character I believe and makes greater parallels between him and Bruce, with Ra's being the extremist.

4. Catwoman more psychotic (BR) - I don't like how she became Catwoman so much, though I love the film, but I think Catwoman being far more damaged than her counterpart but still not fully villainous was very interesting. I like the idea of her starting out like this and becoming more heroic in the never-to-be made Burton third film.

5. Bat Anti-Shark Repellent Spray (66) - Seriously, considering how many times Batman come up against sharks you'd think he'd devised one by now.

I had one for B89 but I've forgotten it for now.

 

[Catman]

The Penguin. He's a boring character in the comics. Yet he was awesome in Batman Returns. Burgess Meredith was also awesome in the `60s TV show, but that's only cause he's a great actor not because what's written in the page.

 

[The Sarge]

Don't forget that the Cape-Glider was also in Batman Returns, right after the ice princess fell to her death.

I like the solid black with yellow batsymbol creating a heavy contrast.
And Burtons version of Gotham is my favourite take on the city. Both movies. But 89 a bit more.

 

[Brother Jack]

The Penguin. He's a boring character in the comics. Yet he was awesome in Batman Returns. Burgess Meredith was also awesome in the `60s TV show, but that's only cause he's a great actor not because what's written in the page.

I prefer him with the deformities, it gives him depth. But I could live without him living in the sewer and being raised by penguins.

 

[The Joker]

Penguin wasn't raised by penguins. He was saved by them, but he grew up with the Red Triangle gang. He was part of their circus. Remember when Bruce is investigating their background, and is reading about the attractions of the circus which included "An aquatic bird boy".

Cobblepot was a child when he was in the Red Triangle Circus.

 

[Blitzkrieg Bop]

 

[El Payaso]

Penguin for sure was better in B Returns than in comics.

And yes, the cape-glider was first shown in BR. As the bat-gauntlets, which is also a great creation to protect Batman.

And I'll go and say the whole armoured all black bat-suit concept has been a huge improvement too.

 

[Brother Jack]

Penguin wasn't raised by penguins. He was saved by them, but he grew up with the Red Triangle gang. He was part of their circus. Remember when Bruce is investigating their background, and is reading about the attractions of the circus which included "An aquatic bird boy".

Cobblepot was a child when he was in the Red Triangle Circus.

True, but it did appear as though the penguins (at least in Oswald's mind) were his real family, like when they act as pallbearers when he dies. It works for the singular Burton version, but for the mainstay comics it takes the gimmick a little too far in my opinion.

 

[david icke]

The bat-ropes with batarang attached being chnaged to jet propelled rope guns, big improvement. Batman is not Spider-man, he needs a bif of tech helping him out in that department, they used to use the bat-ropes/batarangs as freely as web-shooters in the books.

The body armour aspect, although I don't like the muscle suit idea.

the cape glider, but the way it was conceived in BB with the memory cloth, the solid cape thing in BR was alright, but it had to be explained in such a way as not to be some fantasy thing that you just had to accept, that looked entirely implausible, like it did in BR.

I like the aesthetic of bat-mobiles, but a car that can jet-boost between buildings, and can crush cars, is of far more use for a Batman type than a slick, fast car. So, the Tumbler was an improvement.

The way the Batman/Robin relationsip began was far better and more realistic than the way it had been done in teh books, Batman just immediately accepting a young child into the work. Making him a bit older, and BM being reluctant, even though he already proved himself in a fight against many opponents.

I also think the Joker was quite possibly better in TDK than in the books, he was scarier, and somewhat smarter.

 

[returntovoid]

The Penguin. He's a boring character in the comics. Yet he was awesome in Batman Returns.

The Penguin of the comics was a one-dimensional/cliche mobster and Burton turned him into a three-dimensional monster that was social reject.

I got to agree, it was a improvement.

It was such a improvement that the BTAS version was portrayed like that.

the cape glider, but the way it was conceived in BB with the memory cloth, the solid cape thing in BR was alright, but it had to be explained in such a way as not to be some fantasy thing that you just had to accept, that looked entirely implausible, like it did in BR.

I agree but I liked it equally in both films.

I also think the Joker was quite possibly better in TDK than in the books, he was scarier, and somewhat smarter.

I respect your opinion but that's very debatable as to whether it's a improvement, I for one don't agree but it's all a matter of preference/opinion and there's no point arguing about it.

I think TDK Joker is scary in the sense that a terrorist like that could exist.

 

[Brother Jack]

I also think the Joker was quite possibly better in TDK than in the books, he was scarier, and somewhat smarter.

That's really hard to say since there are so many different versions of the character in the comics. But I would agree that its one of the best incarnations of him any medium. It's amazing how well he was handled in TDK.

 

[The Joker]

It's definitely one of the scariest and intense interpretations of him. One of many reasons why it's so great.

 

[david icke]

I also think the Joker was quite possibly better in TDK than in the books, he was scarier, and somewhat smarter.

That's really hard to say since there are so many different versions of the character in the comics. But I would agree that its one of the best incarnations of him any medium. It's amazing how well he was handled in TDK.

It's definitely one of the scariest and intense interpretations of him. One of many reasons why it's so great.

Yeah, you are right, and it's kind of unfair to compare live action to comics, live action will automatically have the adavntage in bringing you a more intense experinece if the interpretations are equal from a writing standpoint.

and as for scariest, and most intense, yeah, I think it is about equal with The Killing Joke in those terms. Although the act in KJ is far more brutal than any in TDK, we all know TDK Joker is more than capable of anything that Joker was.
so, I suppose, really TKJ *is* more intense and scarier, subject matter wise, but TDK being live action, can feel just as intense and scary, at the very least.

 

[The Joker]

It certainly helps that several story elements were based off the Killing Joke.

 

[david icke]

It certainly helps that several story elements were based off the Killing Joke.

Yeah, you're right, so in that sense, the movie did not improve on the comics, but took 'the best of them' and made them paltable onscreen.

 

[El Payaso]

the cape glider, but the way it was conceived in BB with the memory cloth, the solid cape thing in BR was alright, but it had to be explained in such a way as not to be some fantasy thing that you just had to accept, that looked entirely implausible, like it did in BR.

Returns cape-glider might not bhave been fully explained but it was from "fantasy."

Both Returns and Begins cape-glider had a lot of suspension of disbelief going on. Sure, Begins cape had the memory fabric explanation... but how does that explain why Batman was able to have his body attached to it so it wouldn't just hang, maybe choking Bruce in the process? That's equally implausible.

The way the Batman/Robin relationsip began was far better and more realistic than the way it had been done in teh books, Batman just immediately accepting a young child into the work. Making him a bit older, and BM being reluctant, even though he already proved himself in a fight against many opponents.

I agree. The most convinced I've ever been about the Batman and Robin team was in Forever. Or mostly Dick Grayson, because once Robin is there in full costume I remembered why is he such a unnecessary character; he started with the 'holys' jokes and then he was kidnapped instantly.

 

[The Joker]

Yeah, you're right, so in that sense, the movie did not improve on the comics, but took 'the best of them' and made them paltable onscreen.

Exactly. And it's one of Joker's deepest and craziest motivations that he's ever pulled in the comics, trying to prove that everyone is just "a little push" away from what he is.

 

[david icke]

Returns cape-glider might not bhave been fully explained but it was from "fantasy."

Both Returns and Begins cape-glider had a lot of suspension of disbelief going on. Sure, Begins cape had the memory fabric explanation... but how does that explain why Batman was able to have his body attached to it so it wouldn't just hang, maybe choking Bruce in the process? That's equally implausible.

Ach, yeah, I know, it's just that the glider cape in BR seems to come from nowhere, and looks like a big piece of wood at points, esp when he is just coming in to land. So, I believe in it less, and wouldn't call that an improvement over the comics, as it was less successful in it's execution, and did not suspend my belief as well.

I agree. The most convinced I've ever been about the Batman and Robin team was in Forever. Or mostly Dick Grayson, because once Robin is there in full costume I remembered why is he such a unnecessary character; he started with the 'holys' jokes and then he was kidnapped instantly.

He did alright against those thugs who were terrorising that girl, and he saved Batman from being buried alive earlier in the movie though. He just slipped up and was a bit naive with Two-Face, lowered his guard after he saved him.
He also saved Batman at the start of B&R, I actually quite like that scene for that reason, climbing up the rocket etc.

But yeah, I would have given him some more useful heroics for the finale of BF.