If I were granted one wish for a Batman film . . .

[Matt Crunk]

I'd wish for a moody, noir-ish detective tale set in the Golden Age with the character much as he first appeared in print. His look would be much more realistic and decidedly low-tech (compared to modern incarnations) - along the lines of the Alex Ross Batman, with a simple black and grey outfit of cloth and possibly leather cape, mask, gloves etc. Actually, the Batman as featured in a little known fan-short called "Batman: Dead End" (see below, and you tube it) is just about ideal visually, and in my mind is the most perfect Batman look ever committed to film.

I could see it as a virtual backlot production similar to Sky Captain, Sin City or The Spirit, but a little less comic booky. It would downplay the Bat gadgets and superhero aspect, and present him as a tortured soul/reluctant hero who defeats the bad guys as much with his expert detective skills and gritty two-fisted whup-ass, as with anything from his utility belt.

Heck, I might even attempt to produce something like this myself if I didn't know how restrictive DC Comics were about licensing the character.

 

[Fletch]

You read my mind.

Did you ever see the 1989 Dick Tracy movie? I see the Golden Age Batman in a similar style, except not so hokey and tongue-in-cheek.

Most of all, nothing high-tech. No all-black rubber suits, no shiny batbikes, no hyper-violence. Nothing that would appeal to a 10yo boy or a mass merchandiser.

It should look as if the modern movie canon Batman never happened - as if no one had ever even heard of Batman.

 

[Benzadmiral]

What I really want to see is Batman *outmaneuvering* some criminals, and actually doing some detective work. The DC comics of the early '60s, I recall, painted Batman as a Sherlock Holmes in a cape and mask, with enormous files (pre-computer) on crime and anything pertaining to it. I recall one comic story in which he and Robin investigate how one mastermind is able to offer "fingerprint changes" to paying criminal customers. It turns out to be a scam on the customers. But the neat thing was that Batman disguises himself as a robber who's recently had surgery to give himself a new face, and wants to get new prints.

In all the films to date, too, Batman seems only reactive. The Joker makes a move; Batman tries to counter it; repeat. How neat it would be if Batman were to set up a con game trap, a la "Mission: Impossible," and lead the Joker or Penguin into it -- a proactive technique!

 

[Fletch]

I can't see that at all. Bats has been a vigilante, he's been a goody-goody, he's been an acrobat and a sleuth, but never has he been an instigator.

It just seems to violate some basic Batcode. Like having him wear a bunny nose or use a French accent.

 

[Edward]

Isn't Batman's point that he wants to see the criminal prosecuted by the police? In which case, entrapment would be a flawed strategy.

 

[Fletch]

There's that.

 

[Doctor Strange]

The box office failure of the burst of period-set comics-derived tales that followed in the wake of the success of Tim Burton's first Batman - Dick Tracy, The Shadow, The Rocketeer, The Phantom - and the more recent flameout of Sky Captain, would seem to have pretty much doomed the concept of comics stories set in the 30s-40s...

But... there's a Captain America flick set during WWII, and an X-Men film set during the Cuban Missile Crisis coming soon, so maybe.

(And I've come to the sad conclusion that all of these properties are going to be remade, rebooted, and retread endlessly, so it actually will probably happen eventually...)

 

[Edward]

Ah, but wasn't that always the way? The comics themselves were retconning for years before they ever hit the big screen...

 

[Doctor Strange]

Yeah - as much as you may want one particular version to be definitive, the business interests will see to it that they keep publishing/filming/reviving/whatever. I understand that keeping up monthly comics plots over multiple decades requires occasional retcons and revisions, but now, it seems that the moment that a film/TV project is cold, it's rebooted.

Didn't like Bryan Singer's Superman Returns? Make way for the Chris Nolan/Zack Snyder version! The Spider-Man trilogy is finished, now we can reboot it with a younger, hipper cast! Didn't like Hulk? How about the new improved Incredible Hulk? Didn't like either Eric Bana or Edward Norton? How about Mark Ruffalo? And forget those Batman: The Animated Series shorts - they're so nineties! Now it's The Batman. Oh wait, now it's Batman: The Brave and The Bold.

It's become nearly impossible to keep up with it...

 

[Bruce Wayne]

...It just seems to violate some basic Batcode. Like having him wear a bunny nose or use a French accent.

However, now there is a french Batman operating in Paris in the Batman Incorporated storyline.

 

[Pompidou]

I like the idea of a more intellectual Batman who spends a great deal of time doing detective work. Returning to that would get two thumbs up from me. I wouldn't object to a gadget-free Batman as well. Look at how well Casino Royale took the gadgets away from Bond and made it work, for proof of concept. I could like that. The only part of this proposition I don't like is the change of outfit. I really don't like the superhero look of the golden age, with the pro wrestling and underwear over the tights look. It works for Superman, but I don't like it on Batman. So, if we can keep the black-ops special forces bat-suit from the Christopher Nolan reboot while taking in all the other ideas presented here, I would be a very happy camper.

 

[HectorTorta]

I want to see an animated adaptation of Frank Miller's "The Dark Night Returns".

 

[Doctor Strange]

I assume you've already seen the three minutes worth in The New Batman Adventures episode "Legends of the Dark Knight"?

http://anbat.toonzone.net/galleries/lotdk/index.htm

 

[swordsman]

Great thread, I would like to see batman in a real car chase in a realistic supercharged hotrod batmobile, tyres smoking and lots of opposite lock and a few dukes of hazzard style jumps!

 

[scottyrocks]

This independent fan film is good old fashioned Batman - simple costume, no high tech, and basic kick-butt fighting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hjp0I_okX0w

 

[Flat Foot Floey]

I love the diffrent styles of batman, even the silly ones (except for the schumacher crap) and of course I would love to see a golden era setting. the tim burtons movies where close. It just has to be a bit more nasty and noir and less circus.low tech is a good idea too

 

[Lady Day]

Didn't like Bryan Singer's Superman Returns? Make way for the Chris Nolan/Zack Snyder version! The Spider-Man trilogy is finished, now we can reboot it with a younger, hipper cast! Didn't like Hulk? How about the new improved Incredible Hulk? Didn't like either Eric Bana or Edward Norton? How about Mark Ruffalo? And forget those Batman: The Animated Series shorts - they're so nineties! Now it's The Batman. Oh wait, now it's Batman: The Brave and The Bold.

It's become nearly impossible to keep up with it...

Isnt this what also nearly killed comics in the late 80s early 90s? The endless series' of different comics of the same characters overdone in unison to the point of canceling many different titles out until many of them were consolidated into a few core titles as they are now?

I remember like 5 Justice League titles before JLA became pretty much the go to storyline and tons of Superman and Batman titles all going at the same time. Not to mention the guest artist issues which often were done in a series but had nothing to do with core titles going on at the same time. I mean, sheesh!

This whole movie 'reboot' thing reminds me of that.

As far as Batman, Id love to see another TAS extension. That was one of the best animates series ever done, and I miss it.

LD

p.s.
Truthfully, I really wouldn't mind seeing a live action Batman Beyond movie. I thought that was a rather clever way of doing another franchise of Batman.

 

[Mr Vim]

You know, there was always one thing that bothered me with Batman, he dresses like a bat to scare criminals, but then he shows the lower part of his face, which is obviously human looking. It never made sense to me, he should cover his whole face with a mask, as he has done sometimes, but not always. Do I mind that much? Nah, but I would like to see some concepts done in that manner.

 

[scottyrocks]

I go with the line of thought that his face is half exposed to show the dual nature of the Batman's life. He's a crime fighter and a wealthy playboy/businessman whose parents were killed when he was a child. The exposed half represents his vulnerability.

I also think that audiences, even as far back as the 40s, wouldnt have been as accepting of a hero if they couldnt see at least part of his face. The heroic square jawline of the original comic is iconic.