Batman through the movies.

Well those of you that know me know I like comic books (and comic book based movies). Now we are going to take a look at the Batman Dynasty of movies. There have been a total of six live action movies.

1989 gave us Batman directed by Tim Burton. It was a dark movie that introduced us to both Batman (Michal Keaton) and the Joker(Jack Nicholson). It was a phenomenal first movie and Michael Keaton portrayed Bruce Wayne perfectly. I think his Batman was credible but lacked a certain physical dynamic. Its a tough call on the Joker. Jack Nicholson was astounding and I would have said he played the Joker to a tee, but Heath Ledger's joker was so intense it is hard to compare. Going to the comic books I would weigh in favor of Jack Nicholson's only because of the manic glee he brought to the character (the joker has fun killing people and in the latest adaptation while he enjoys it he takes it to seriously for the comic based character).
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096895/

1992 Batman Returns directed by Tim Burton. Once again the casting was great as Keaton reprised his earlier role (this time with enough of a physical aspect to convince even me that he was right for Batman). Danny Devito played the perfect penguin and Michelle Pfeiffer played Batman's on again off again Fem Fatale, Catwoman. Unfortunately this was the last time in this run that Batman would be portrayed with this dark accuracy. A little trivia I didn't realize until I did research to write this article was that McDonalds was forced to cancel a Happy Meals promotion due to parents protesting because of the violence and sexual nature (God I love catwoman) of the movie.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103776/

1995 Batman Forever directed by Joel Schumacher. Val Kilmer played a good Batman. I think though that as Warner Bros attempted to make the best "commercially" viable movie batman lost the intensity that we had seen before with Keaton in the role. It was a good story and Tommy Lee Jones played an awesome Two-face as Jim Carry played a great Riddler. Introducing Robin was nicely done and was well played by Chris O'Donnel. At this point we start seeing a more child friendly Batman movie and the start of using more primary colors to define characters.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112462/

1997 was the last of this run of Batman movies with Batman and Robin directed by Joel Schumacher. This time George Clooney played the dark knight. Chris O'Donnel reprised his role as Robin and we were introduced to Batgirl played by Alicia Silverstone. Not overly fond of the divergence from the comic books as Batgirl was now Alfred's niece and not Commisioner Gordon's daughter. This movie was very child friendly. But for many of the older comic book fans was horribly lacking. Arnold Schwarzenegger was too emotional for Mr.Freeze and his strength came from his armor not he himself. While Uma Thurman played a decent Poison Ivy I was horribly dissapointed with Bane as her henchman. Bane in the comic books masterminded a mass break out of the inmates of Arkham Asylum. He tracked and watched Batman recapture some of his toughest opponents and when Batman was weakened and tired engaged him in battle and finally broke Batman's back. In the movie Bane deflated when he was beaten and I don't think he spoke two words. All I could say at the end of that movie was thank God it's over.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118688/

Batman Begins reset the time line and that continuity. It was directed by Christopher Nolan who had directed horror movies before this. Christian Bale played Batman. We don't see him much as the Bruce Wayne who could not possible be Batman. Yes he is armorous to the ladies and portrays a playboy, but Bruce Wayne was also very involved in Wayne Industries and his other interests he had no time so he couldn't possibly be Batman. I loved the Scarecrow (Cillian Murphy) and Ra's Al Ghul (Liam Neeson). I loved the way Batman took out the thugs at the dock. Christopher Nolan used his horror experience to perfectly portray Batman's battle on the bad guys. The bad guy were terrified of the Batman. That is the way he balanced the problem of being all alone against them.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0372784/

2008 The Dark Knight directed by Christopher Nolan. Christian Bale as Batman Heath Ledger as the Joker. All I could say was wow. definitely not kid friendly but for us adults that like Batman... hell yeah. Give me a year or two or let me watch it a few more times on DVD and that may change.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468569/

So that has been my views on Batman in the movies. Hopefully, they won't try to make it kid friendly and it will keep going this time. Thanks to Wikipedia and IMDB. Have Fun and be Great.

Next: Why I should not be president.