Rank the Series: Batman

It may seem like a cliche answer, but I won't deny that I find this to be THE Batman movie. Well acted and made all around. Heath Ledger gave a very much Oscar-worthy performance as the Joker, as well as a very underrated performance by Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent/Two-Face. It deals in some great heavy themes concerning escalation, but even cooler the nature of humanity. Deep down whether or not humanity is truly filled with derranged animals who just need a push. It works as perfect blend of THE LONG HALLOWEEN and THE KILLING JOKE, with some other smaller influences throughout.

I was a child in the 90's, and BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES was a staple of mine in those years. I loved the series, it is far and away my favorite adapation of the Batman mythos, but but interestingly enough I didn't really care much for this one at that age. Just far too sophisticated. Even moreso than it's live-action contemporaries. It's got a deep and dark plot that explores Bruce's origins as well as the toll becoming him has taken on his life. And even through the Phantasm whether or not his line should be drawn. Like the series the voice acting is fantastic. For me Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill will always be Batman and the Joker.

The concept of BATMAN BEYOND just as a series shouldn't have worked at all, but turned out to be (in my opinion) almost as good as the first Bruce Timm helmed series. What makes this work is a lot of what makes PHANTASM work. It's got a deeply layered plot, an intriguing mystery, a suitably dark tone, as well as top notch voice casting. Neither Terry McGinnis or Bruce Wayne are forgotten in the shuffle, both getting good character arcs. And along with MASK OF THE PHANTASM Hamill gets to do one of his best and most sinister takes as the Joker.

They say whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger. And that's definitely the case for the BATMAN franchise. After BATMAN & ROBIN sent the franchise to rock bottom, this is just what the franchise needed to be taken seriously again. A darker, more grounded, and most importantly a more psychological approach. Nolan adds a depth to Bruce Wayne that wasn't quite explored before. Being one of the best superhero origin films ever done. I really liked Micheal Keaton as Batman and Val Kilmer as Bruce Wayne, but for my money Christian Bale was the first actor to nail both of the character's personas.

Denny O'neil once said it would be a nasty trick to resurrect Jason Todd. If he's seen this, I wonder if he'd still say that. They were able to execute a comic book gimmick here (and to an extent in the comics this was based on but not quite as well) quite beautifully. The questions it raises about Batman's means and whether or not he's doing truly any good are great. And the new voice cast was also wonderful. John Dimaggio surprisingly turned in a very strong Joker. If Hamill truly is retiring from the character like he's said, than John would make a great successor.

Perhaps not the deepest film ever made, or the truest to the source material. But as pure escapist entertainment it is a lot of fun. It has the perfect tone, style, and music for Batman. Not really surprising as all were incorporated into BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES to varrying degrees. While he techinically doesn't do much outside of his usual range and essentially plays himself, Jack Nicholson is tailor made for the part of the Joker. And while I don't like him as much as Hamill or Ledger I think he holds his own. Keaton on the otherhand was an off the wall cating choice that worked much better than anyone would have expected. While I didn't find him to be an outstanding Batman, he does a great job as the in-costume Batman. He bring a lot of presence to it.

I really enjoy this film. And I came out of the theatre thinking I had seen a film as good as the first two Nolan films. But the more I start thinking about it the more I get a "Return of the Jedi" vibe from it. Where I think it's good, but isn't quite as good as I used to think it was or as most people seem to find it. It feels like it possibly (as some things are unclear) undercuts some of the themes of its immediate predecessor a bit much at times. Gordon gave the big speech at the end about how Batman was Gotham's watchful protector who could take having the dogs set on him and be hunted. The film goes on to tell he had retired from being Batman for a while. If he had done so right after THE DARK KNIGHT then that negates everything Gordon said. The ending of DARK KNIGHT also talked about how sometimes the truth wasn't good enough and sometimes lies were necessary for the greater good, only for this to debunk that with everyone talking about how terrible it was to cover up for Harvey Dent. Etc. But still all the performers, including the new additions of Anne Hathaway as Catwoman and Tom Hardy as Bane, are all great. The general themes of the story are good, and it gives an emotionally satifsying closing to this iteration of the Batman legend.

It seems like I'm one of the only people of the younger generation that can appreciate the campy Adam West Batman. Taken for what it is, and keeping in mind that at the time Batman comics were like this, it's a lot of fun. The entire cast does a great job and it's really funny. The only disappointment is that Julie Newmar who played Catwoman throughout most of the TV show didn't get to reprise that role here. Though Lee Meriwether does admittedly do a serviceable job in her stead.

I didn't know whether or not I should include this because technically Batman isn't even in it, but since I was already incorporating so many different variations in both live action and animation to begin with I thought it would be fine. Never would miss an opportunity to rat on this film. While it makes BATMAN RETURNS look like the closest thing to the Batman mythos I've ever seen, it just is insulting to the audience. It's dumb, sexist, etc. At the very least as bad as it is I find BATMAN & ROBIN to be so bad that it's funny. This to me cannot even achieve that.