Stubs - Batman (1943)

Batman (1943) starring Lewis Wilson, Douglas Croft, J. Carrol Naish, Shirley Patterson Directed by Lambert Hillyer. Screenplay by Victor McLeod, Leslie Swabacker, Harry L. Fraser. Based on Batman by Bill Finger (uncredited) and Bob Kane. Produced by Rudolph C. Flothow Run time: 260 minutes. Black and White USA Superhero

There’s a long list of actors who have played the Batman character on television and in movies: Adam West, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, Christian Bale, Ben Afleck and Robert Pattison come to mind. But the first actor to don the mask and cape was Lewis Wilson, who starred in the first serial based on the DC character, Batman.

Batman: Hush

Back in 2002, DC published Batman: Hush, a famous twelve-issue story arc by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee that depicts a mysterious stalker named Hush sabotaging Batman from afar. In 2019, this storyline received an animated adaptation of the same name as part of the DC Animated Movie Universe, a series of connected films split into two arcs, the first one based on the “New 52” version of the DC universe. Batman: Hush released near the end of this first arc, though I didn’t know that going in when I watched an old recording on a DVR. I also hadn’t read the original comic, which helped me enjoy the film a lot more, although my vague knowledge of Hush as a character did give me a mixed feeling on the end result.

Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham

Among the most well-known Marvel and DC superheroes, Batman is unique in that he not only possesses no superhuman abilities, relying more on his wits, he’s a very versatile character. You can place him in just about any situation or tone and it somehow makes sense. From the more grounded Batman: The Animated Series to the sillier Batman: The Brave and the Bold or even the more fantastical Batman Ninja and Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, just about any situation works for the world’s greatest detective as long as there’s some sort of mystery to solve. In one of the more unique takes from back in late 2000, DC published a three-issue “Elseworlds” story written by Mike Mignola and Richard Pace called Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham, which places Batman in a cosmic horror story heavily inspired by the works of H. P. Lovecraft. This story later got loosely adapted into a film of the same name in 2023.

Although I had not read the original comic story, the premise of The Doom That Came to Gotham piqued my interest since I had read some of Lovecraft’s work when I was younger and had been fascinated with different takes on it ever since. Unfortunately, while it hits many of the elements found in Lovecraft’s style of cosmic horror, and has a lot of potential within the context of Batman, the film doesn’t quite hit it out of the park.

Stubs - Batman: Gotham by Gaslight

 

Batman: Gotham by Gaslight (2018) voices Bruce Greenwood, Jennifer Carpenter, Anthony Head, Scott Patterson. Directed by Sam Liu. Screenplay by Jim Krieg. Based on Gotham by Gaslight by Brian Augustyn, Mike Mignola. Produced by Sam Liu. Run time: 78 minutes. Color. USA. Animated. Superhero

The world of Batman has been transported to different times and places, take Feudal Japan in Batman Ninja (2018), which was released earlier the same year. In Gotham by Gaslight, Batman is transported back to the time of Jack the Ripper, but rather than the foggy alleys of London, the murders happen in Gotham perhaps a little later than they had actually happened.

Stubs - Batman: The Movie

Batman aka Batman: The Movie (1966) Starring Adam West, Burt Ward, Lee Meriwether, Cesar Romero, Burgess Meredith, Frank Gorshin Directed by Leslie H. Martinson. Screenplay by Lorenzo Semple Jr. Based on characters created by Bob Kane (and Bill Finger). Produced by William Dozier. Run time: 104 minutes Color USA Superhero, Comedy

Feature films based on TV series were something new back in 1966 when Batman  was released in theaters. The TV series, from 20th Century Fox, debuted on ABC on January 12, 1966. The series followed a single storyline spread out over two nights each week. The show would end on a cliffhanger on Wednesday nights with its conclusion on Thursday nights. Building off the 1943 serial produced by Columbia Pictures, for which critic Susan Sontag extolled “the vulgar and laughable (shining) in exact proportion to its unconvincingness,” the TV series presented a very different version of Batman than we’ve come to expect from more recent film portrayals, camp.

Producer William Dozier quickly came to realize its commercial possibilities, and infused the series with the “pop art technique of the exaggerated cliché,” hoping to broaden its appeal to both adults and children. The show proved to be very popular and $50 million (equivalent to $466,661,950 in 2023) in Batman merchandising had saturated the market. Deciding to capitalize while public interest was at its peak, it was announced that a feature film would start filming on April 18, 1966 with Burgess Meredith as “The Penguin,” Cesar Romero as “The Joker,” Frank Gorshin as “The Riddler,” and Julie Newmar as “Catwoman,” each reprising their roles from the series. However, a back injury forced Newmar to withdraw and she was replaced by Lee Meriwether, Miss America 1955.

Filming was postponed until April 28, 1966 and was completed in twenty-six days, with an additional six days for second-unit photography. Filming locations included Stearn's Wharf, Santa Barbara, California; Cliffs, Marineland of the Pacific - 6610 Palos Verdes Drive South, Rancho Palos Verdes; Kirkeby Center - 10889 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood, Los Angeles; Van Nuys Airport - 16461 Sherman Way, Van Nuys, Los Angeles; and Bronson Caves, Bronson Canyon, Griffith Park - 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles. The film opened on July 30, 1966, roughly a little more than two months after the last episode of season one aired on May 5, 1966.

Stubs - Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero

Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero (1998) Voices of Kevin Conroy, Michael Ansara, Loren Lester, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., George Dzundza, Robert Costanzo, Bob Hastings, Mary Kay Bergman, Marilu Henner, Dean Jones. Directed by Boyd Kirkland. Screenplay by Boyd Kirkland, Randy Rogel. Based on Batman by Bill Finger and Bob Kane Run time: 66 minutes. Color. USA Direct-to-video, Animated, Superhero

Following the relative success of Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993), a second film was ordered by Warner Bros. That film was Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero, which was made to tie-in with Joel Schumacher's Batman & Robin (1997), but delayed a year when that film received a poor reception. The last Batman direct-to-video film to use cel animation, SubZero was released on March 17, 1998.

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm

Note: This review contains spoilers for Batman: Mask of the Phantasm.

While Batman: The Animated Series (Batman TAS) is one of the more highly-acclaimed Batman series, it was not my first introduction to the Dark Knight (that honor goes to The Batman (2004)), since I was literally too young to watch it when it was on. I have, however, since gone back and watched a select handful of episodes and found it to have earned its reputation. While I was also too young to see it in the theater when it came out, I had also seen Mask of the Phantasm, the first film based on the series, after hearing how good it was, though the untimely passing of Batman voice actor Kevin Conroy led me to give it another look in his honor. After a second viewing, I can see how one could argue that it’s one of the best Batman films, especially of the animated variety.

The Batman vs. Dracula

Note: This review contains spoilers for The Batman vs. Dracula.

Of all the Batman TV series out there, one that seems to fly under a lot of radars is The Batman (no relation to the 2022 film of the same name), which debuted on the Kids’ WB Saturday morning block in 2004 and ran for a total of five Seasons. I actually have some personal connection with this show, since it was the first Batman cartoon I ever watched as a kid, though admittedly I only ever watched the first three Seasons at the time. Perhaps lesser known is the one DTV movie based on the series, The Batman vs. Dracula, which came out in 2005 and escaped my notice even when it aired on TV. After finding out the movie existed while browsing HBO Max, I made the time to watch it and found something much more than I initially anticipated.

Stubs - Batman vs. Two-Face

Batman vs. Two-Face (2017) Voices of Adam West, Burt Ward, William Shatner, Julie Newmar. Directed by Rick Morales. Screenplay by Michael Jelenic, James Tucker. Based on Batman by William Dozier, Bob Kane, Bill Finger. Produced by Michael Jelenic. Run time: 72 minutes. United States. Color. Animated. Action. Superheroes. Direct to Video.

For DC and Warner Bros, Batman is a franchise that keeps on giving and one that they keep asking to give. Following the success of Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders (2016), Warner Brothers Animation decided to go back again to the world of the 1960s Batman TV series created by William Dozier based on the comic book created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger. This would prove to be the last time they could with Adam West, as this production wouldn’t be released until some four months after his death.

2021 - The Highlights (Tetris_King)

With film and game studios figuring out how to navigate these stressful times in terms of release schedules, this year was a lot more substantial for us for newer entertainment, even if we still don't feel comfortable enough to go back into a theater. Despite this limitation, and thanks to newer films being released across various streaming platforms, a more substantial year results in a more substantial list than last time.

Each list is presented in no particular order, with links to reviews where applicable.

Top Movies of 2021

Luca (2021)

Pixar continues their return to form after Soul with Luca, featuring a comparatively low-stakes story about a pair of sea monsters set in and around the Italian Riviera. The animation is phenomenal and works well with its unique art style, backed by some amazing character writing. Not only would I highly suggest checking this out, I would also recommend watching its related short Ciao Alberto on Disney+ right afterwards, as it serves as a great companion piece to the film’s ending.

The Suicide Squad

While the original Suicide Squad film from 2016 was a mess, James Gunn cleans it up with The Suicide Squad. His experience on Guardians of the Galaxy works to great effect here, coming off less like a ripoff as he manages to successfully make you care about lesser-known DC villains on a more emotional level, particularly the obscure Batman villain Polka Dot Man. As per its R rating, the raunchier humor is more hit-and-miss depending on the viewer, and in my case it more often missed. That aside, for those who weren’t fans of the original film, it’s a great way to wash the bad taste out of your mouth.

Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train

Following from the end of the anime’s first Season and even continuing the storyline, Mugen Train is a must-see for any Demon Slayer fan. The animation is phenomenal and the plot is well-executed to where even a non-fan can get into it even if this is their first exposure to the series. While the Mugen Train arc of the manga is getting adapted again for the anime’s second Season, it’s well worth watching the film adaptation anyway just to see why it’s (currently) Japan’s highest-grossing film of all time.

PAW Patrol: The Movie

Going in with passing knowledge of the source material and not knowing what exactly to expect, PAW Patrol: The Movie pleasantly surprised me with its well-written and emotional storyline, as well as some amazing animation that far surpasses what can be accomplished on a TV budget. It’s not likely everyone’s first choice and it’s still trying to sell toys, though I’d say it’s worth giving it a watch anyway for the storytelling alone.

Batman: The Long Halloween, Part 1 and 2

Though I have not read the original comic storyline beforehand, Batman: The Long Halloween is a very intriguing Batman story in its own right. The overarching mystery keeps you guessing until the very end, plus it features a very interesting interpretation of Two-Face. Fans of the original comic may find themselves disappointed depending on their expectations, otherwise it makes for a very solid entry in the line of animated Batman films.

Top Video Games of 2021

Little Nightmares II

Little Nightmares II takes what the original did with its themes of gluttony and applies it to a different message, that being the overconsumption of TV, without losing the intense unnerving imagery that made the first game memorable. Enough changes are made to the gameplay to keep things fresh, making this a worthy addition to any horror game collection.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

The Ratchet & Clank series has had its ups and downs, including a divisive reimagining of the original game, however its latest installment proves exactly why the series is so well-regarded. An amazing storyline and the well-written introduction of newcomer Rivet are two of the game’s highlights, though the classic gameplay is built upon further with new elements that take full advantage of the PS5’s hardware. Even for franchise newcomers, this is a must-play for any PS5 owner.

Top Disappointments of 2021

The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run

While the first two SpongeBob Squarepants movies aren’t as good as the first three Seasons of the show, the more direct involvement of series creator Stephen Hillenburg keeps them somewhat in line with those Seasons. Released as a Paramount+ launch title, the third film, Sponge on the Run, unfortunately misses the mark. While one could argue that the celebrity cameos in the first two films still managed to contribute in some way to the story, here they are totally superfluous, though the biggest sticking point of the movie is how the story feels the need to retcon early SpongeBob lore just to promote the Kamp Koral spin-off series. While the voice acting and animation are certainly on-point, they are not enough to save this film.

Space Jam: A New Legacy

While not necessarily a perfect film by any means, the original Space Jam is a film that gets more enjoyable every time I watch it, helped by Michael Jordan’s charisma and down-to-earth depiction, as well as amazing Roger Rabbit-like visual effects that still hold up nicely to this day. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about Space Jam: A New Legacy, which completely misses the point of Space Jam with weaker writing, inconsistent internal logic with the original movie and a basketball game with nonsensical “video game logic” and a ham-fisted Ready Player One scenario complete with forced crossovers between the Looney Tunes and whatever Warner Bros. happens to own. While I can recommend the original film as a solid piece of ‘90s nostalgia, this one is a hard pass.

Clifford the Big Red Dog (Film)

This is a case where I had little faith going into it thanks to an odd ad campaign, and yet I still felt disappointed by the end result. While the acting is fine for the most part, the plot and character archetypes are very generic for a Clifford movie, and while the CG is great for the most part, it can get dodgy at times. While the explanation given for Clifford’s size is accurate to the source material, the way it’s presented somehow comes off a little hokey in a live-action setting. Whether you’re an existing fan or a franchise newcomer, it’s difficult to recommend this one.

Stubs - Batman Returns

 

Batman Returns (1992) Starring: Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken. Directed by Tim Burton. Screenplay by Daniel Waters Based upon characters appearing in magazines published by DC Comics Inc., and on comic book characters by Bob Kane and Bill Finger. Produced by Denise Di Novi and Tim Burton USA Run time: 126 minutes. Color. Adventure, Fantasy, Action, Crime, Superhero, Christmas

You might think of Batman and Christmas but that’s what you have with Batman Returns, at least that’s how we’re counting this entry into the Batman cinematic universe. The setting at Christmastime in Gotham City more than qualifies this for our purposes. But can you have a Happy Holiday while watching the Dark Knight?

Batman: The Long Halloween Part 1 and 2

Considering Batman’s 80+-year history, it seems there’s no shortage of famous stories to adapt into animation, a medium where his stories have had more consistent success than the live-action counterparts. One such story is The Long Halloween, a 13-issue miniseries by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale, originally published monthly between 1996 and 1997. As with The Dark Knight Returns, this storyline received a two-part animated adaptation, though both parts would release much closer together, with Part One on June 22, 2021 and Part Two on July 27, 2021. Although I hadn’t read the original comic, its status in the industry made me curious enough to watch both parts of its adaptation through HBO Max, appropriately during the Halloween season. Even without knowing what happened in the source material, or any differences in porting it to a new medium, it still stands as one of the definitive Batman stories and a must-watch.

Stubs - Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part 1 and 2

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part 1 (2012) Voices of Peter Weller, Ariel Winter, David Selby, Wade Williams, Michael Emerson Directed by Jay Oliva Screenplay by Bob Goodman. Based on The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller and Klaus Janson. No Producer Credited. Color Run time: 76 minutes. USA Animated. Superhero

Batman seems to be DC’s most bankable superhero, as they don’t shy away from exploiting him whenever they can. While the live-action versions of the story seem to be in perpetual reboots, the  animated features seem to exist in a different world. Oftentimes relying on comic book source material, they seem to be truer to the original vision and the stories they tell have the potential to go places the live-action films have not or at least have not dared to go.

One of the writers that the animated films seem to rely on most is Frank Miller, who has written several volumes that have found their way into direct-to-video production. His Year One was the basis for animated treatment and is in the same continuity as Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, which was originally a four-issue comic book miniseries published in 1986 under the titles: The Dark Knight Returns, The Dark Knight Triumphant, Hunt the Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Falls.

In a somewhat unorthodox adaptation, those four issues were turned into two movies, Part One released on September 25, 2012, and Part Two on January 29, 2013.

Second Look - Batman: Arkham Asylum

When I originally reviewed Rocksteady Studios’ Batman: Arkham Asylum ten years ago, I admittedly didn’t put much substance into it, partly due to my lack of experience with reviewing video games. After I did some research on Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time for a review, however, I felt motivated to replay Arkham Asylum with the context that it originated this game’s famous Freeflow combat system. However, it also felt appropriate to replay the game in honor of Batman Month and give it the coverage it really deserved. It helps, of course, that Arkham Asylum has aged surprisingly well and even felt refreshing.

Batman: Gotham Knight

Before the DCEU, there was a point where Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Trilogy colored the filmgoing audience's perception of Batman, for better or worse. The success of these films also led to an animated film project, Batman: Gotham Knight, which saw DC collaborate with multiple Japanese animation studios. I had no knowledge of its contents going in, but the idea intrigued me, which led me to stream it through HBO Max (if only because my DVR didn't catch the Toonami broadcast through their DC FanDome tie-in). Though I have mixed feelings on the Christopher Nolan films as a whole, I walked away pleasantly surprised by Gotham Knight.

Batman Forever

Note: This review contains spoilers for Batman Forever.

Following Tim Burton’s acclaimed Batman (1989) and Batman Returns, Joel Schumacher was given the directorial reins for two follow-up films, Batman Forever and Batman & Robin, the latter of which is particularly infamous among Batman fans and general moviegoers alike. After having seen the other three films in the Burton/Schumacher tetralogy under different circumstances, I thought it only appropriate to complete the experience by watching Batman Forever, via HBO Max, starring Val Kilmer under the cowl and featuring Jim Carrey and Tommy Lee Jones as the Riddler and Two-Face respectively. Considering the two Tim Burton films are highly regarded and the latter Schumacher film popular to pick apart, Batman Forever was surprisingly more lukewarm than I expected.

Batman: Year One

Of the many writers who have penned Batman stories over the decades, Frank Miller is one of the more interesting ones, if only for singlehandedly writing some of the most famous (The Dark Knight Returns) and most infamous (All Star Batman & Robin, the Boy Wonder) takes on the character. One of the highlights of his career, however, is Batman: Year One, published in 1987 with artwork by David Mazzucchelli, a story that was considered the official origin story of Batman until 2013’s Zero Year. I actually read this story myself for a comics class in college, though it was a version where they inexplicably recolored the original artwork. Though this story would get an animated film adaptation in 2011, I didn’t view it until a 2020 Toonami broadcast, after which I wondered why I didn’t watch it sooner.

Batman vs Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Batman is no stranger to odd stories, but none quite like IDW’s Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic from 2015, a crossover between the two titular franchises. I had read it at the time and enjoyed it, so I was very curious to see the recent animated adaptation, Batman vs Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This film represents an unlikely crossover between not only the two titular franchises, but also an unlikely deal between Warner Bros. and Nickelodeon, considering their status as rival companies. Fortunately, the end result is well worth the price of admission.

Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker

Before watching this movie, I will admit I have not actually seen the Batman Beyond cartoon, nor have I seen Batman: The Animated Series. However, I am aware of both shows and their relation to the DCAU, as well as how highly praised they are (especially the latter). What spurred me to watch Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, however, was learning about how well thought-of it and Batman: Mask of the Phantasm are, though let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Despite not having any prior knowledge of Terry McGinnis’ tenure as the dark knight, I found his battle against the Joker to be a very solid movie.

Batman & Robin

When watching movies, you’ll sometimes see one that already has a certain reputation, either good or bad. At this point, it’s best to watch it yourself just to see whether or not it deserves said reputation. You may find that the movie is either overhyped or underappreciated depending on your point of view or how other people have told you about it. In this case, the movie we happened to watch was Batman & Robin (1997), which, even from its initial release, gained and maintained a reputation as one of the worst movies of all time. Even though I haven’t seen Batman Returns (1992) or Batman Forever (1995) from the Burton/Schumacher tetralogy, I still found myself understanding this film’s reputation, though I feel it’s somewhat exaggerated.