Caped Crusader Movie Comparison

From an early age, kids are introduced to people who can fight crime, stop a speeding bullet, travel back in time, and much more. Whether these individuals are born with their powers, gain their powers from an accident, or just spend vast amounts of money. These individuals are known as superheroes. Superheroes achieve the impossible to save the day. One of the most renowned is called the Caped Crusader, The World’s Greatest Detective, or the bat. Batman has frequently been critiqued as not being a real super hero for lacking super powers, but nevertheless Bruce Wayne embraces his technology to save the day, just like Superman, the Flash, or the Avengers. I will be evaluating the Caped Crusader throughout the years on the big screen. Although
there are fan favorites like Adam West, Christian Bale’s bravery, darkness, and lack of emotional traits have represented the strongest and most accurate version Batman thus far. By evaluating Christian Bale as the best Batman, each film must be reviewed to construct the comparing and contrasting.
In the summer of 1966, the first Batman movie debuted. Starring Adam West as Batman/Bruce Wayne and Burt Ward as Robin/Dick Grayson, this movie defines comic book satire. To summarize the movie, “The plot revolves around the usual improbable scientific device that, in the wrong hands, could take over the world. Here it’s a ‘total dehydrator’ that sucks all the water out of a person’s body, leaving only a pile of fine ‘molecular dust.’ The four supervillains, Penguin, Joker, Catwoman and The Riddler, and their various stooges, steal the gun at the beginning but then, initially, don’t do much with it. They dehydrate some of Penguin’s henchmen, to rehydrate in the Batcave, where they can do battle with Batman and Robin; but Penguin blows it by rehydrating them with heavy water, leaving them unstable, and they pop like soap bubbles” (Lundegaard). The movies satire is richly abundant with “pop-cultural sound effects (Pow! Bamp! Zwapp! Urkk!)” (Lundegaard) and dialogue. This movie is perfect for young viewers because of the bright colors and vacuous plot line. When compared to Christian Bale, although both actors played the same character, they’re dissimilar. The Dark Knight compared to Adam West feels like being in a medieval dungeon to
Disneyland. A valid argument for Adam West was that he starred in the very first Batman movie in the sixties, plus directors and writers have changed the viewpoint of Batman from zany for the little kids to the dark and secluded Batman that the comic book fans know. Batman’s origin story holds great importance to explain why he does the actions that he chooses. From 1966 to 2005 Batman’s origin has been shown in the films but never fully justified. “Whereas previous Batman films had focused on outlandish, overplayed enemies, futuristic gadgets and theatrical fight sequences, Batman Begins was to concentrate upon the humanity of Bruce Wayne and how he would come to be the iconic figure in black.” (Whittaker). Watching his traumatic murder of his parent’s, Bruce Wayne forever changed. Bruce’s grief led him to extreme isolation, an attachment disorder, a strong phobia to bats, and seeking vengeance for his parents. After almost murdering his parents’ killers for vengeance, Bruce learns that he must seek justice instead of vengeance to save his city of Gotham. To become the vigilante that he know is, Bruce had to overcome his hardest emotion, fear. Any emotion that batman had would affect his justice for Gotham. Now Bruce Wayne would be known as a billionaire industrialist and notorious playboy by day, and the savior Gotham deserves by night. The next director to take a stab at a Batman film was Tim Burton. Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992). By casting Michael Keaton as Batman, Burton created the dark atmosphere that Batman was lacking. The movies acknowledged Batman’s origin and even rivaled him against his arch nemeses The Joker (played by Jack Nicholson). With Tim Burton’s gloomy way of making films, the next directors should have used him as an example. Following Burton was Joel Schumacher whom quite possibly directed the worst Batman film that will ever see this earth. In (1995) Batman Forever was released. It starred Val Kilmer as the Bat who battled two villains, Two-Face and the Riddler. This movie is oxymoronic, the setting is gloomy but the actors were to animated. The movie was like an upgrade to Adam West. Val Kilmer played Batman just like Michael Keaton, but he didn’t seem to fit in with the movies atmosphere. Then in 1997 Schumacher released Batman & Robin. With George Clooney as Batman and Chris O’ Donnell this dynamic duo is most definitely dynamic. With a decent plot, the dialogue almost sounds like the writers were playing a prank. The acting was also not a help to creating the Batman environment. Almost any movie critique can agree that Batman & Robin is one the worst films made. Finally in 2005 Christian Bale would become the Batman that everyone has been waiting for.
Christopher Nolan emphasizes the emotional development behind Bruce Wayne which beings to turn into a theme with Batman’s foes such as Bane and the very well executed Joker (Heath Ledger). The atmosphere is set perfectly for Batman. Christian Bale takes advantage of the darkness and bravery that Batman must endure. The future of Batman once again looks promising. In 2016 Ben Affleck will star in the film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. By using the past good and terrible examples, there will only be actors trying to succeed in becomes the World’s Greatest
Detective.