DC Studios Movies and Streaming Series Discussion

PanchaMaestro said:
Batman is Dracula.
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Thissssss.

Now, there is a long, nuanced discussion to be had about in what ways he is Dracula. We could talk about Byronic gothic antiheroic archetypes merging with pulp-noir sensibilities and the then-emergent comic book media, but in terms of the “feeling” that Batman should evoke, the answer is definitely “Dracula”.

Basically Batman is Beowulf but through a Dracula lens upon a fascist-incursive early-mid 20th century pulp adventure style told through graphic art.

But yeah: black cape. Black cape.
 
So many Batman to Dracula parallels. Black cape, creature of the night, old money, gothic gargoyle perched on a building side, hidden away in his old mansion. Bats! I mean bats, how more on the nose could it be? He's Dracula in The Shadow drag; or Zorro in Dracula cosplay. You get the idea.
 
Oh yeah, I'd love for them to utilize the shadows more. I'd be totally fine if he's just a pair of glowing eyes in the shadows talking to Gordon for quarter of the movie. I'd love it if we didn't know where Batman ended and the shadows began. Something akin to the docks sequence of Batman Begins. Obviously it's cool to see Batman do his thang, but just like with horror movies- sometimes it's scarier or cooler to not see what he's doing. Not that he couldn't strike fear into the hearts of criminals by beating them to a pulp in broad daylight, but getting pulled into the shadows and thrown out as a twisted, bloody mess seems like way more of a way to get criminals soiling themselves.
 
In his introduction to the Batman Year Two trade paperback, writer Mike W. Barr said something to the effect of "There is no 'definitive' version of a character that's been around for decades." Mike was always kind of cranky, but he had a point there. Batman is one of those "forever" characters that's had a lot of different interpretations over the years. Is there one true definitive version of Batman? It all depends on the particular point of view of whoever you're asking. For some people, their definitive version of the Batman will be from the comics. Maybe that will be the Batman in the gruesome Golden Age stories by Bob Kane, Bill Finger, Dick Sprang and Jerry Robinson. For others, it's weird sci-fi stories of the 1950's. And then there are the silly TV show inspired stories in the Silver Age. And then there's the Bronze Age Batman done by Denny O'Neil, Neil Adams, Steve Englehart and Marshall Rogers. In the 1980's, Frank Miller's Dark Knight Returns is considered a masterpiece. In other media, you've got the Batman newspapers strips, the movie serials, the 1960's TV show, the prose novels, the Animated Series, the video games and the movies by Tim Burton, Joel Schumacher, Christoper Nolan, Zack Snyder and Matt Reeves.

For me, my own personal definitive Batman is from the Bronze Age:

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I was just the right age. If I were born 20 years later it would probably be the Bruce Timm cartoons.

I think the Dracula analogy is a good one. That's perfectly legit. The Shadow is another good comparison.

I'm still waiting for what I would consider a "definitive" movie version. I loved the Christopher Nolan films, don't get me wrong. I've watched them so many times my girlfriend is starting to wonder if I'm going to wear out the blu rays. The Dark Knight may be one of the greatest superhero movies ever made. There is one problem I have with the trilogy, however. Nolan's take on the character is so grounded in reality that he just wouldn't fit in with a world of power rings, magic lassos, super powered aliens and people who live in the ocean. My Batman lives in a very specific universe where all that and more is possible. That's why I'm still waiting for a definitive movie Batman.

Anyway, sorry to ramble. Carry on.
 
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I think it'd be a fun experiment to make a movie starring, like, Vesper Fairchild, which only has Bruce Wayne as a supporting character and Batman is presented as this mysterious figure in 3rd person. Really show what he and his activities look like to outsiders.
 
Fletch said:
Batman is presented as this mysterious figure in 3rd person.
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This would be fantastic to see in the villain-centered films for Clayface, Bane and the like that are in development. One of the most effective episodes of Justice League Unlimited, Task Force X (the “Suicide Squad” episode) featured members of the League from the Squad’s perspective, in supporting roles and as “villains” (or, at least, adversaries). Particularly good use was made of Martian Manhunter as a terrifying and mysterious opponent, and that would be groovy to see from Batman.
 
Back in the early 90's, DC put out a couple of mini series' called Batman: Gotham Knights. It was basically about the people of Gotham, just average citizens trying to navigate a world where they might die at anytime of laughing gas or a freeze ray. Or ... they might go for a walk through Gotham Park and get devoured by a man eating plant created by a crazed woman botanist all dressed in green. Batman was just a peripheral character in the stories.

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I always love it when they show Batman from different perspectives- the "Legends of the Dark Knight" episode of BTAS was always great, and Batman: Gotham Knight, though that's more of a uniform appearance throughout. Or even the end of Arkham Knight. It would never sustain an entire movie, but an episode of some Batman TV show that follows a group of thugs as they try to outrun Batman but get picked off one by one would be so cool.
 
AceofKnaves said:
This would be fantastic to see in the villain-centered films for Clayface, Bane and the like that are in development.
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I thought that was the direction Sony should have gone in with its Spiderman villain films. Have Spidey appear here and there with some quips and derailing plans, or maybe defeated even (or so it seems), but not have the bad guys know exactly what he could do, who he was, etc. Just some annoying super strong, fast kid in a costume ruining their day, and we never see him out of costume or see him outside of fights with the bad guys.
 
fac said:
we never see him out of costume or see him outside of fights with the bad guys.
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No, there's definitely a guy at the bank teller window who's just kind of never seen again after Electro starts taking hostages.
 
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