Has Batman gotten too dark?

[samurainoir]

That certainly seems like the logical way to go, but we're dealing with DC here...every incarnation of Superman must now be briefless or we'll get confused.

Keep in mind that it splits the license once again... Do you want the briefless movie incarnation, the briefless Jim Lee new 52 comic version, or the classic comic version... Which they are still generating new product for despite the media attention and fan focus on briefs or no briefs. If you want an explanation of why no briefs, look no further than the need to differentiate a new movie suit design to license out.

But they definitely have not stopped churning out the classic version as product as you suggest. It looks like the trunks versions are being marketed under the brand "DC originals" now.

DC Originals Superman Series 2 Bobble Head - Neca - Superman - Bobble Heads at Entertainment Earth


DC Originals This Is A Job For Superman T-Shirt - Trevco - Superman - T-Shirts at Entertainment Earth




Superman Jim Lee Patina Mini-Statue - Dc Direct - Superman - Statues at Entertainment Earth


Wonder Woman vs. Superman Mini-Statue - Diamond Select - Superman - Statues at Entertainment Earth


DC Universe Mini Mez-Itz Superman Key Chain - Mezco Toyz - Superman - Key Chains at Entertainment Earth

[Earth 2 Chris]

I dunno if that's because of the movie content, or the triumph of marketing. For years now we see sales records fall left and right to movies that nobody remembers a month after they come out.

True...but I don't think that's the case here. Begins picked up business through good word of mouth after a respectable but a somewhat lesser opening due to the stink of Batman and Robin still lingering. DK had lots of buzz going for it in production long before Ledger's death. Yes, his death and the press' obsession with the rumors of the Joker role "overtaking him" probably fueled some speculation, but that will only get you so many tickets, and probably just in the first few weeks.

I've had several people at work stop and talk to me about each trailer. There is buzz for this movie in the general public, not just us geeks. Same for Avengers, of course.

Chris

[The Bat]

Yeah, a $1 billion dollar turd in a punch bowl.

It may not be your cup of tea Cat, but Nolan's movies have outgrossed all of the other Bat-films. His take resonates with modern audiences.

I'm not saying I wouldn't like to see a different take now that Nolan is done, but his version is valid and VERY well done.

Chris

[ctc]

>I wouldn't have chosen Bane as the next (and perhaps last Nolan) bad guy.

I kinda suspect he's the latest addition to the primary rogues' gallery; one of the 5 or so baddies that we see over and over. I'd rather see the penny guy, or old school Calendar Man.... but that's me.

>Nolan's movies have outgrossed all of the other Bat-films. His take resonates with modern audiences

I dunno if that's because of the movie content, or the triumph of marketing. For years now we see sales records fall left and right to movies that nobody remembers a month after they come out.

Don C.

[Earth 2 Chris]

Batman has been sort of a turd in the punch bowl lately with a lot of people. I think a good director with a little history and some kind of a classic Neil Adams costume on the actor and a total reboot to that franchise could help.
I'm not a fan of Christian Bale or any of those Nolan directed movies.
Nothing tops the cup of crap Joel Schumacher produced. It's been all downhill for some people who like Batman since then. Maybe someday there will be somebody out there with the key to the city to make a Batman movie to our liking.
The '89 Batman movie with Keaton was not bad but that movie came out when life was more innocent and easy for me. LOL

Yeah, a $1 billion dollar turd in a punch bowl.

It may not be your cup of tea Cat, but Nolan's movies have outgrossed all of the other Bat-films. His take resonates with modern audiences.

I'm not saying I wouldn't like to see a different take now that Nolan is done, but his version is valid and VERY well done.

Chris

[Thor]

I love Batman dark...that makes him stand out.

I for one...was never a big fan of the 60s show (***ducks***).

The ORIGINAL Batman comics were dark.

That's how Batman should stay...leave the rainbow coloring to The Avengers movies, lol.

I agree. Batman's entire them is dark,

[Cosmicman]

Batman has been sort of a turd in the punch bowl lately with a lot of people. I think a good director with a little history and some kind of a classic Neil Adams costume on the actor and a total reboot to that franchise could help.
I'm not a fan of Christian Bale or any of those Nolan directed movies.
Nothing tops the cup of crap Joel Schumacher produced. It's been all downhill for some people who like Batman since then. Maybe someday there will be somebody out there with the key to the city to make a Batman movie to our liking.
The '89 Batman movie with Keaton was not bad but that movie came out when life was more innocent and easy for me. LOL

[enyawd72]

I'd argue cross horizontal integration... A different Batman for multiple demographics at the end of the day nets Warners more profit than the singular batman you describe... If you start your lifelong consumer off with fisher price little people Batman, superfriends, work them through action league, brave and bold, Adam west show, the upcoming CG show, the animated feature library/JLU/young justice, Arkham city/DCU online, the keaton films, Dark knight rises. there is a batman variant for every day of the month!

Plus you split the licensing... More $$$ if you can license out the brave and bold batman for pajamas and lunch boxes, separate from the Dark knight movie batman for Hot toys and statues, or Arkham city for action figures. That is why we'll likely never see a movie batman that looks like the comic book version. Why should a someone pay premium for a movie license Of the character if it's Not distinguishable from the comic book version?

That certainly seems like the logical way to go, but we're dealing with DC here...every incarnation of Superman must now be briefless or we'll get confused.

[samurainoir]

I agree with you.

But now that all the comic companies are part of these giant media conglomerates, the trend is towards more "vertical integration". They seem to think the Batman you see on the movie screen should look and act like the Batman in your comic book, your toy chest, your animated TV show, etc. etc. I guess they think we will get confused.

I'd argue cross horizontal integration... A different Batman for multiple demographics at the end of the day nets Warners more profit than the singular batman you describe... If you start your lifelong consumer off with fisher price little people Batman, superfriends, work them through action league, brave and bold, Adam west show, the upcoming CG show, the animated feature library/JLU/young justice, Arkham city/DCU online, the keaton films, Dark knight rises. there is a batman variant for every day of the month!

Plus you split the licensing... More $$$ if you can license out the brave and bold batman for pajamas and lunch boxes, separate from the Dark knight movie batman for Hot toys and statues, or Arkham city for action figures. That is why we'll likely never see a movie batman that looks like the comic book version. Why should a someone pay premium for a movie license Of the character if it's Not distinguishable from the comic book version?

[Hector]

I wanna see Dark Knight Rises more than The Avengers...but that's just me.

[Gorn Captain]

Even though I like the new films, I wouldn't have chosen Bane as the next (and perhaps last Nolan) bad guy. I think Batman needs a little dose of fantasy, and Bane is too "real world", him being a drug addict.
I already thought they made the Joker "real world" enough, and to be honest, I wasn't over the moon about Ledger's take on it.

They push back the fantasy element more and more, and that just takes you out of that special environment. It's as if Darth Vader is fighting Luke, and he pauses a moment to get his asthma inhaler. True, it might be realistic, but it doesn't fit into that particular world.

The new movie doesn't really have that much appeal to me...

[sprytel]

I think the recent Batman movies and Brave and the Bold TV show have shown that you can have different interpretations of the same character existing at the same time and no one will care. I like them both, for different reasons.

I agree with you.

But now that all the comic companies are part of these giant media conglomerates, the trend is towards more "vertical integration". They seem to think the Batman you see on the movie screen should look and act like the Batman in your comic book, your toy chest, your animated TV show, etc. etc. I guess they think we will get confused.

[Earth 2 Chris]

^Well put.

Chris

[Godzilla]

I think the recent Batman movies and Brave and the Bold TV show have shown that you can have different interpretations of the same character existing at the same time and no one will care. I like them both, for different reasons.

[ctc]

Hmmmm....

Y'know, I didn't find the last couple films all that dark. They kinda LOOK darker.... Harvey's head was pretty realistic and gruesome.... but conceptually they weren't really any darker than any other take. There were episodes of the 90's cartoon that had ideas and stories just as bad.... maybe worse, if you correct for bright colours.

Don C.