Who is Batman? A strange question, because together with Superman he is one of the most famous fictional characters in the world, on the example of which more than one generation of readers was brought up. In addition, many films are devoted to Batman. How did the image of this character evolve throughout his “film career”?
Who is Batman: Character Description
This superhero first appeared on the pages of comics in 1939.
Soon he received a separate series and a team of assistants in the person of Robin, Beegerl, Commissioner Gordon and others. Over the course of his long “literary career,” this character has managed to gain popularity around the world. As soon as they did not name a hero named Batman: The Dark Knight, Guardian of Gotham, The best detective in the world, etc.
Appearing shortly after the Great Depression, it is the embodiment of the hopes of ordinary citizens for an omnipotent and incorruptible defender of the weak from ruthless criminals and corrupt authorities. A special feature of Batman, which distinguished him from other superheroes, was that he did not possess any superhuman powers and fought evil using his mind, physical dexterity and technical devices. In other words, every reader realized that theoretically he too could become Batman.
No less attractive to the Americans of the late 30s was the alter ego of the hero. While for most characters it was a mystery: who is Batman (photo below), readers knew that under the guise of a valiant crime fighter hides a billionaire and a playboy - Bruce Wayne. The Americans, impoverished after the Great Depression, really wanted to believe in the existence of a noble rich man who was ready to help the poor people, like Wayne.
Times passed, and more and more stories about Batman appeared. In addition, DC periodically restarted the franchise. Despite this, the Dark Knight continued to be loved by more and more new generations of readers.
The appearance of the character on television in 1943 and 1949.
The hero's popularity was so great that 4 years after his debut on the pages of comics, Batman dedicated a whole television series of 15 episodes. The role of the Dark Knight was first played by Lewis Wilson.
In fact, it was a spy series about the confrontation between the USA and Japan, in which, to attract viewers, the main character was made a popular comic book hero - Batman. Despite the fact that he was very far from the canon, thanks to the television series the character has a beta cave. And the devoted keeper of the mystery of who Batman really is, butler Alfred Pennyworth, from a well-fed Bavarian turned into a stiff British.
Mindful of the success of the first television series, after the war ended, it was decided to remove its continuation - “Batman and Robin”. This time, the role of Batman was given to Robert Laurie. Considering that viewers would watch this television series out of habit, its producers did not particularly bother with the script and budget. The result was a very mediocre spectacle.
Adam West as Batman
After the failure of the 1949 series for almost 17 years, films and series were not made about this hero. However, after updating the comic strip, as well as inventing the Dark Knight logo in the mid-60s, it was decided to shoot a new television series.
The main role was invited to Adam West, who has a strong-willed chin and a heroic voice. The 1966 project was incredibly successful. He managed to hold out on air for 3 seasons, in addition, a full-length tape was shot based on his motives with the same cast - “Batman”. The film received audience recognition, and for the next 20 years was the best in its series.
Unlike the rather gloomy atmosphere of comics, the television series and the film with Adam West was more like a light comedy, where good always defeats evil and makes it spectacular and fun. Despite such a clear contradiction to the canon, West is still considered one of the best incarnations of Batman on the screen.
By the way, after the closure of the project, this artist for many years voiced most of the cartoons dedicated to the Defender of Gotham.
Films with Michael Keaton
For more than 20 years, filmmakers have not ventured to release a new project about the Dark Knight. Since each viewer is asked: “Who is Batman?” - invariably answered - “Adam West”, no one believed that it was possible to somehow overshadow the 1966 movie
However, Tim Burton was not afraid of difficulties and in 1989 released the movie “Batman”, in which Michael Keaton played the Knight of Gotham.
This project was truly a turning point in Batman's film biography, because for the first time on the screen he was shown not in a comic vein, as it was before, but as a tragic character tormented by deep emotions.
The dark knight of Keaton lost West’s gloss and pathos, he became more humane and close to the audience, it is not surprising that the picture of Burton collected more than 400 million dollars at the box office and kept the brand of the best of its kind for almost 20 years.
Thanks to the success of the first film, after 3 years the second with the same Michael Keaton was shot - "Batman: Return". Despite the star cast (Danny de Vito and Michelle Pfeiffer), she collected less at the box office than the first picture. Many believed that the excessively gloomy atmosphere in the film was to blame, but true fans of comics, on the contrary, were delighted with this film adaptation.
"Batman forever"
Despite the decline in spectator interest in the Dark Knight, in 1995 it was decided to devote another film to him. At this time, Joel Schumacher replaced Burton in the director's chair, and instead of Keaton, they invited Val Kilmer to the main role.
The new director made the project bright and colorful - to match the Hollywood standards of the 90s. At the same time, Burton’s atmosphere was lost, and the picture, despite the excellent box office, was the weakest in this trilogy.
The audience was attracted by the presence of a huge number of stars: Jim Carrey, Tommy Lee Jones, Chris O'Donnell and Drew Barrymore. It is worth noting that Val Kilmer looked faded against their background and was recognized at that time as one of the worst performers of this role.
"Batman and Robin"
Although the films about the Knight of Gotham became worse with each new one, the audience was still interested in his fate. Therefore, in 1997, Schumacher shot another movie in the series. Since Val Kilmer’s game turned out to be weak, it was decided to take another artist. He was just gaining popularity George Clooney.
Despite his charm, the new artist played even worse than the previous one, creating a puppet Ken with a rubber smile instead of the noble Batman on the screen. In addition, the project itself began to resemble a hackneyed television series, rather than a movie.
Neither the charming Uma Thurman, nor Arnold Schwarzenegger, nor the young Alicia Silverstone saved the project . The picture received negative reviews, because of which over the next 8 years no one believed that the franchise could still be successful.
Christopher Nolan Trilogy
However, in 2005, aspiring Hollywood director Christopher Nolan, who became famous thanks to the movie "Remember", decides to try to reanimate the cycle. According to his own script, based on the comic books “Year One” and “Long Halloween”, he shoots the movie “Batman: The Beginning”. Christian Bale was invited to the lead role.
The picture was incredibly successful, reaching the level of "Batman" in 1989. In addition, it served as the beginning of a new wave of Batman mania.
The reason for this success was that for the first time in the history of film adaptations of comics about the Dark Knight, the film was able to convey the gloomy spirit of graphic novels in the cycle. In addition, the characters and motivation of the characters, such as Commissioner Gordon (Gary Oldman), Rachel Dawes (Katie Holmes), Carmine Falconet (Tom Wilkinson), Ra's al Gul (Liam Neeson) and others, were carefully worked out in the tape. In addition, the screen was the first to talk about the years spent by Bruce Wayne away from his native Gotham.
After the tremendous success of the picture, the Batman Knight reappeared on the screen after 3 years in the Nolan film The Dark Knight. This picture was the most successful in the entire movie history of the Dark Knight and collected over a billion box office. In it, Christian Bale again played the role of the Knight of Gotham, confronting the cunning Joker. It is worth noting that in this movie for the first time in a Batman costume, the neck became movable.
The last movie in the trilogy was the 2012 film - “The Dark Knight: Revival of the Legend.” In it, for the last time, viewers meet with their favorite artist - Christian Bale.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
The fantastic box-office success of the Nolan trilogy proved that in the new millennium, viewers still remain indifferent to the Knight of Gotham. Therefore, the shooting of The Dark Knight Rises did not have time to finish, as negotiations began on the film adaptation of the Batman v Superman project, abandoned in 2001. The project script was based on the comic book of the same name, but its plot was simplified.
Initially, the role of the Dark Knight was proposed to be re-performed by Bail, but he refused and the choice of producers fell on Ben Affleck, who previously played the superhero Daredevil.
Despite the luxurious ad campaign for Batman vs. Superman: At the Dawn of Justice, viewers were very skeptical. However, this did not prevent the tape to collect more than 850 million at the box office. Such a tremendous financial success, however, did not soften the critics' attitude to the film - it is recognized as very mediocre. In particular, due to metamorphoses that occurred with Batman. The bold and independent hero, whom Bruce Wayne had known for many years, viewers and readers, in a new film adaptation turns into an envious paranoid. In addition, Ben Affleck, a pretty well-dressed man, despite his muscles, looks like a fat hog amid a fit Henry Cavill.
The irony is that, despite the indignation of some viewers who believe that Affleck, for all his merits, is not suitable for this role, the actor was not only not removed from the project, but also made the upcoming solo film about the Dark Knight directed.
Justice League: Part 1
Competing with Marvel, DC also actively set about creating their own movie universe.
Therefore, they simultaneously shoot several projects at once, in which the Dark Knight appears. So, the movie “Batman vs. Superman: At the Dawn of Justice” became a prequel to the project “Justice League: Part 1”, which is due to be released in autumn 2017.
It is known that Batman, performed by Ben Affleck, will play a dominant role in it. It is also possible that the scriptwriters in this picture will work out the character's character better than this was done in the previous project.
Among other DC projects of recent years, in which the Dark Knight appeared, the film “Suicide Squad”. It is also possible that a superhero appears in the episodes of Wonder Woman, Flash, and Aquamen.
Ben Affleck's Batman motion picture 2018
The shooting of the new movie about the Gotham Knight will start next year. Ben Affleck will not only play Batman again in it, but will also become the director and co-screenwriter of the picture.
It’s hard to imagine how the new Batman will appear before the audience, but the fans believe in the best.
The television series "Gotham"
In addition to numerous movies, there is the television series "Gotham" dedicated to who Batman is and how he became the Dark Knight.
Since, according to the plot, Bruce is still a teenager, the main character is Detective Gordon - Batman's future ally. At the same time, the hero himself rarely participates in events due to his young age. The role of the Dark Knight in the television series "Gotham" is played by David Mazous.
For over a seventy-year film career, Batman has evolved from a comic character to an Earth defender from an alien threat. What surprises await fans of this superhero in the future - it will become known with the exhalation of the Justice League and the new Batman.