Slides

Slide No.	Slide Heading	Slide Info
1	Intro	Title/ intro
2	History	My films and some history about Batman
3	Box Office	Box Office information
4	Culture	Cultures when the films were made.
5	Personality	Batman’s different personalities in each film.
6	Actors And There Characters	Looking at the actors who played the different Batman’s
7	Over The Top to Realism	Showing the ridiculous against the serious in the different films
8	Mise en Scene	The objects in the films that have significance
9	Setting	Showing the difference in the setting they were made
10	Themes and Issues	Looking at the different or same issues and themes each Batman film had.
11	Conclusion	Summing up what I have said.
12

Gotham City 1

Batman (1966)In this film Gotham does not really have anything special to it. It looks more like Los Angles than New York unlike the other films which have a much more urban feel. It has no identity unlike the other films too, its more like a background rather than it being thought about. But this does mean that its more realistic as it does not look crazy like Burtons one or to gritty like Nolans one.

Batman (1989)In this film Gotham has an identity compared to it's predecessor. This is because its dirty, crime ridden city full of atmosphere. The architecture and design was grim but beautiful to look at giving each building it's own character. It has a look that says everything is rotten and corrupt, almost like these things have morphed into these gothic like buildings. The production designer Anton Furst wanted to create what might happen if New York had no planning commission and it been run by crime. So there were no height restrictions and were lots of bridges over streets. In return, the city appeared to be extremely dark and claustrophobic.

Batman Begins (2005)
In this film Gotham had changed again and merged the two ideas talked about into one. It takes the idea of having a realistic feel to it by not using any ridiculously tall gothic style buildings and but also used the idea of having Gotham its own character so to speak. It picks up from what Burton was doing with having the setting resemble the mood of the film, with Batman Begins it makes us feel sombre and neglected as Gotham streets look dirty and crime ridden again. Nolan used New York, Tokyo and mostly Chicago for his inspiration as these locations all have characters of their own, but also because he wanted a place which felt over populated to make the film feel claustrophobic like Burton.

Gadgets 1

Batarang
It first appeared in the original Batman with its only use of being able to climb up walls as it had a rope attached to it. But in Tim Burton's film, the batarang was used as a fighting tool by using it grab and pull people back on the floor in hand as it had a line attached to it. In Nolan's film the batarang changed to be a simple bat shaped shuriken which was used for distractions rather than fighting.

Grapple Gun
It was not used in the original Batman. It first appeared in Tim Burton's film, this was used so Batman could swing about from A to B quickly making it easier than having to run everywhere like in the 1966 film. Nolan's reboot uses it again with pretty much the same shape and style of Keaton's Batman except it looks a lot more like a normal pistol adding to the realism Nolan's film had.

Binoculars
In Batman (1966) Batman uses tiny binoculars which would be impossible to see through showing the films silliest . Burton decided not to use any eye enhancing equipment. While in Batman Begins he uses an infra-red periscope which is more realistic as the military probably uses them to help him see things.

Batcape
In Batman (1966) the cape did not do anything but keep him looking like a superhero and not some random person in spandex running around. In Batman (1989) Burton chose to use the cape like a parachute which is how he was able to float down from tall buildings without falling fast. But in Batman Begins (2005) Nolan chose a more technological way to fly via memory cloth so when he puts an electric current through it can be shaped meaning  he shaped it like batwings and could fly.

Batmobile 1

The 1966 Batmoblie looked very cool as it took the 1955 Lincoln Futura which look outstanding anyway and changed the colour to black with red stripes making it look incredible. It set some standards that are still lived up to today. Most notably, it was the first obvious Batmobile as it was quite flashy for the 60's. It also started the trend of jet propulsion, something included on nearly every live-action Batmobile to date. In that sense, it also set the stage for Batmobiles with all kinds of crazy gadgets and features. The 1960's Batmobile’s ability to make 180 degree turns in particular, was something emulated by later models, though in other forms.


The 1989 Batmobile reboot had a more grittier look to it as it was all black unlike the predecessor which had red stripes making the car look less clown like. The 1989 Batmobile brings a few new things to the table. For starters, it was the first live-action Batmobile to aviod using sillier weapons like the “Bat Beam” or the “Bat-tering Ram” and instead feature straight-up machine guns. Like its predecessor, the 1966 Batmobile, the 1989 Batmobile also had a mechanism by which to make sharp turns, but unlike the predecessor, which used parachutes, the 1989 Batmobile chose for a no-nonsense grappling hook cannon. 


The 2005 Batmobile or Tumbler rebooted the vehicle again this time making it a tank instead. Unlike its predecessors of being any kind of modified car, its instead a military prototype. That aside, it does a pretty good job of staying faithful to and building on the legacy of its predecessors. 

It has the requisite jet engines from the original film and machine guns from the Tim Burton film, but the Tumbler does not just take from the established stack of Batmobile features. It adds a few of its own as well. One unique feature the Tumbler has is a somewhat unintuitive electric engine. Understandably, a good old flaming jet is used for the bulk of the Tumbler’s propulsion needs whereas the electric motor is reserved for stealth. 

Box Office 1

Batman (1966)
Approx. $3,000,000
It did not do as well as the other Batman films as it was the first of the franchise so people did not know what to expect from it, as well as it was made for TV first so maybe people thought that it would just be an extended episode so they were not that bothered to see it.

Batman (1989)
$411,348,924
It did much better than the previous film because the Batman magazines/ graphic novels were blowing up in the eighties so there was more buzz for a Batman reboot as there were more fans of the franchise. Also people like the idea of a new perspective on Batman as a darker one meaning that it could tell a different story to ones before.

Batman Begins (2005)
$374,218,673
It did better than the first Batman because it was a high concept movie so people were bound to go and watch it. But it did not do as good as the first reboot as at the beginning people thought that it look to gritty for a Batman film and because Christopher Nolan was relatively unknown in the high concept world, many people thought he would not make it good enough for the fans. Furthermore, it could be because the Batman films before like Batman and Robin could have made an impact on the ticket sales as it was badly reviewed critically and publically.

Costumes 1

Batman (1966)

Adam West's batsuit was made like this to keep to its comic book origins as the comic book character looked like this. Also the use of the blue eyebrows on the cowl was used to make the bat look more friendly as he was suppose to be nice superhero. Also the first batsuit's utility belt was there for gags more than anything as many of its uses were either stupid or useless. It keeps with the campy theme of the film as it looks ridiculous on him. Also the bat emblem is much like its comic book predecessor showing that this costume is sticking to its comic book origins completely.









Batman (1989)

This batsuit is very different to Adam West's one as it hasn't got any grey meaning that he looks much more sinister and unfriendly. Also the look of batman is different too as Michael Keaton looks a lot tougher and stronger than Adam West because of the muscles put on the batsuit unlike Adam West's one which has none. The Utility belt has less of a part in this one apart from the new grapple gun, this was the first time it was used and has been in every comic and film since. Also, this batsuit was the first time they used black eyed make-up to enhance Batman's unfriendly look which has been used in every Batman film since.








Batman Begins (2005)

Christian Bale's batsuit is quite different to them both as now the suit is now very dark making Batman look very intimating than before. Also this batsuit is more realistic than the last two as it looks like actual armour rather than rubber or spandex which is what the other two had, and because we know what it was before (an abandoned military project) makes it much more realistic. Furthermore, the utility belt is used much more appropriately as it is used more unlike Michael Keaton's and is not used for laughs unlike Adam West, but is used to help Batman out holding numerous things.

Reflecting Culture 1

Batman 1966
The first Batman was made like it was because of the culture which was around it. The 60's were a time of fun and enjoyment for many Americans as all the social taboo's had a radical change like drugs, sex and clothing which all were very lax in this era. This is why the first Batman was so silly as the 60's gave lee way to the ridiculous and allowed films like this to be made because of the experimentation in cinema.

Batman 1989
Tim Burton's reboot had a completely different culture in the 80's as many comic book writers like Frank Miller and Alan Moore had changed the look of batman from the camp to a more gritty and dark look. This means that Tim Burton was expected to make a darker film as the comics had changed. Also like the 60's this decade was a time for experimentation meaning that Burton had more creative space to try out things. Also the 80's was a time of prosperity so that meant that it could have a bigger budget for the movie as Warner Bro's had more money to spend.

Batman Begins 2005
Christopher Nolan's film had a different culture to the other two as well as in the 00's people were scared of terrorist attacks because of 9/11. This meant that Nolan could use this to his advantage as the film could relate to real life because the film has a terrorist group. Also because of superhero films in the 90's which still kept the dark, gritty look Nolan had to keep to this as it would be ridiculous if it went silly again, and because the last film of the batman franchise was so poorly reviewed, Nolan wanted to get away from those films as much as he could. Furthermore, the increasingly good CGI meant that people were expecting more of a spectacle than the last film reboots.

Fighting 1

Batman (1966) fighting scenes are very comical as words pop up like Kapow while a scene is in progress. This could be because the director Leslie H. Martinson wanted to keep to its comic book origins as the fights scenes would have them in the comic strips. Also this could be their because of the choreography of the fight scenes were awful as many of the punches were no where near the body, the words sometimes covers the hit being made and some could be there to move our eyes away from the hit.

Batman (1989) fighting scenes are done much better with no words popping up and more brawls however Tim Burton still uses the franchises comical routes as there are still silly one hit KO's here and there and having the goon go into a bin (which is not needed I think) to make the scene funnier, shows that Tim Burton is still using some tongue and cheek in his fight scenes to relate the past.


Batman Begins (2005) fight scenes have completely cut the comical element out and have just gone for pure intensity as the conflict is more realistic because rather than having one hit KO's, the film now has longer brawls with better choreography than the first Batman making this a complete revision of the franchise as there is hardly any influence from the other Batman films scene here.

Films

Batman (1966)



Box Office
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060153/business

Reviews
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/batman_the_movie/

Batman (1989)



Box Office
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=batman.htm

Reviews
http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/batman-1989

Batman Begins (2005)




Box Office
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=batmanbegins.htm

Reviews
http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/batman-begins-2005

Rebooting Batman

Rebooting Batman
Looking at batman from the 60's to the reboot of Tim Burton in the 80's to the reboot of Christopher Nolan in the 00's and comparing them, And how it has been changed on each reboot.
Batman (1966)
Batman (1989)
Batman Begins (2005)

The batsuit evolution:
Camp era- 1 + 2 + 3
Dark era- 4
Hunk era- 5 + 6
Realistic/ Dark era- 7 + 8

Look at how dark it has gone since 1966 to 2005 in Batman.

Superhero genre

I am going to study how the superhero genre has evolved and changed from the early 50's to present day with multiple films spanning from this time. How has it turned darker and why? How has the need for CGI developed over the years with these films? Why have people wanted more superhero movies in recent years?

YAY