The nightmare before 'rubberman' (Batman - Special Edition (DVD))

Member Name: rabbitina hole

Product:	Batman - Special Edition (DVD)
Date:	28/01/01 (98 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Its Batman. Rubber fetishists will enjoy

Disadvantages: Is it Batman?

Before I start, let me say I am torn apart with this film. Ok, not literally, but still.
I really like Batman, and all the nuances of the character. I really love films, and the art of making them. But no, I can't take it. This film just isn't what everyone makes it out to be.

It is an accomplished piece of film-making yes. But it is pretty off point on a lot of (very) important things relating to the character it is 'all about'.

If any of you have ever read 'The Dark Knight Returns' or any classic Batman, you may know how the character should be portrayed. And it isn't what he is shown as here. Batman is human perfection, he is everything he strives to be. In the film he is a man in a rubber suit. He can barely move his head, let alone perform anything dazzling. Also he is 'the worlds greatest detective' (something that is touched upon here) and a master of disguise.

Now I know that you can't take the comics and just jam them in to a film. I'm not that stupid. But I know you can at least keep the spirit in the transition. Look at X-Men, no, not an 'amazing' film. But one that warrants mention for its smooth transaction to film, and keeping characters intact.

A lot of people may look at this film as a contemporary piece of film-making taking many risks with a well known character. That, however, is crap. Just because the public knows the character best for Adam West delivering outrageously camp dialogue with the sincerest manner wearing stupid shiny blue pants and walking 'up' a wall tugging a piece of string doesn't mean thats what he actually is. The only risk in this film is that of batmans ominous rubber suits, perhaps pointing to some homo-eroticsm of the sadomasicistic variety and a fetish for rubber. But I digress.

This film may perhaps be better titled 'The Joker, featuring rubberman' for all the limelight stealing Jack Nicholson does in h
is role. He plays his role adequetly, but not so deserving of all the praise heaped upon him. A fatal flaw with roles of this type (see the other batman films for prime examples) is that the actors think they can basically have a field day. They think they can ham it up, and its ok because its like a 'cartoon'. Michael Keaton is there. He isn't Bruce Wayne to me. Bruce wayne is a lie created by the Batman. He inhabits his place and is thought of as a fool. Batman is a truth that lives in the night, and is thought of as a myth. Why they gave Batman a love interest I don't know, guess that is one of the criteria of a mainstream film. I would understand if it fitted with the charcterisation, but it doesn't. It is simply to make the story move along better.

However there are some serious themes that can be explored through the medium of heroes. They aren't touched upon here though. A fatal mistake of the 'comic-film' conversion. You can write words and it is considred literature. You have pictures and they are considered art. You combine them both and it becomes the 'medium of a child' and it continues in the heads of many in the conversion to film. Of course they can simply make a great film, but alas that also is evidently missing. There are moments. But I lose them.

Batman ISN'T just a man. He should be much more than that. Here he is not - he is a man in a rubber suit. I can never see how they fail to kill him. All the dark and atmospheric shots that Burton directs cannot hide the fact that this is simply 'Adam West batman' updated for a new generation. Mature if you are ten. An updated take on 'the Hunchback of Notre Damme' does not a classic make. Though in the eyes of many it is. I am sure many may not agree with my thoughts, but it is still an admiral take on the character. And the lavish, nostalgic sets are worthy of mention, this 'could' be the Gotham City we know. A dark, d
ank place inhabited by the Batman. But in the end, it isn't. A film not in my eyes worthy of the praise that is so often lavished upon it. But it is light years ahead of the sacrilege to the character that was 'Batman and Robin'. That was truly atrocious. Thank god they aren't letting Joel Schumacker (shoe-maker? Yes he is probably better at it)
make another. Or are they???..

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