tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59869560183625461752024-02-19T08:15:30.691-08:00Chas Blankenship's Bat-ManiaChas Blankenshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09152498045221353190noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5986956018362546175.post-21625093878041339112014-03-01T13:20:00.003-08:002014-03-02T10:02:21.800-08:00"Batman: Arkham Asylum" (Sefton Hill, Paul Boulden and Jamie Walker, 2009)<br />
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Directed by Sefton Hill, Paul Boulden and Jamie Walker<br />
Written by Paul Dini<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Narrative Designed by Paul Crocker<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Based on the DC Comics Characters Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Developed by Rocksteady Studios Ltd<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Published by Eidos Interactive and Warner Brothers Interactive
Entertainment<br />
Produced by Nathan Burlow and Matt O’Driscoll<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Associate Produced by Joe Best, Scott Burfitt, Gerald Smith and Nathan
Whitman<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Art Direction by David Hego<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Stunt Performance by David Newton<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Batman Combat Performance by Marcus Shakesheff<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Lead Animation by Zafer Coban<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Character Design by Andrew Coombes<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Original Video Game Score Composed by Nick Arundel and Ron Fish</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kevin Conroy ... Bruce Wayne/Batman
(Voice)</span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mark Hamill … The Joker (Voice)</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Arleen Sorkin … Harleen Quinzel/Harley
Quinn (Voice)</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kimberly D. Brooks … Barbara Gordon/Oracle
(Voice)</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Cree Summer … Dr. Penelope Young (Voice)</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tom Kane … Commissioner James Gordon
(Voice)</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wally Wingert … Edward Nygma/The Riddler
(Voice)</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dino Andrade … Dr. Jonathan Crane/The
Scarecrow (Voice)</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Steven Blum … Waylon Jones/Killer Croc
(Voice)</span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tasia Valenza … Pamela Lillian
Isley/Poison Ivy (Voice)</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fred Tatasciore … Bane (Voice)</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Danny Jacobs … Victor Zsasz (Voice)</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tom Kane … Warden Quincy Sharp (Voice)</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Duane R. Shepard Sr. … Arkham Security
Head Aaron Cash (Voice)</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Danny Jacobs … Arkham Security Guard Frank
Boles (Voice)</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Adrienne Barbeau … Dr. Gretchen Whistler
(Voice)</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kimberly D. Brooks … Dr. Sara Cassidy
(Voice)</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wally Wingert … Dr. Adrian Chen (Voice)</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Keith Ferguson … Dr. Stephen Kellerman
(Voice)</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tom Kane … Arkham Security Guard Louie
Green (Voice)</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Chris Gardner … Arkham Security Guard
Henry Smith (Voice)</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Steven Blum … Arkham Security Guard Ian
Kennedy (Voice)</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Roger Rose … Arkham Security Guard William
North (Voice)</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Chris Cox … Arkham Security Guard Eddie
Burlow (Voice)</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Chris Gardner … Arkham Security Guard Zach
Franklin (Voice)</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Steven Blum … Arkham Security Guard Jordan
Fraser (Voice)</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wally Wingert … Arkham Orderly Bob Johnson
(Voice)</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Danny Jacobs … Arkham Orderly Robert
Stirling (Voice)</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tom Kane … Amadeus Arkham (Voice)</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kevin Conroy … Dr. Thomas Wayne (Voice)</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tasia Valenza … Martha Wayne (Voice)</span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kimberly D. Brooks … Young Bruce Wayne
(Voice)</span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">James Horan … Jack Ryder (Voice)</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Keith Ferguson … TV Voice (Voice)</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Adrienne Barbeau … Arkham Asylum PA
(Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Upon apprehending the Joker once more, Batman returns the Clown Prince of
Crime to the notorious Elizabeth Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane. But what
begins as a procedural drop off turns into a night of madness when the Joker
escapes custody and takes control of the Asylum as a means of unleashing his
latest plan to destroy all of Gotham.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Video games of pre-existing properties are among the most notorious for
their simultaneous shortcomings of quality in the gameplay and lack of faith to
the source material. From film franchises (“Star Wars,” “Indiana Jones,” “Terminator,”
“The Matrix”) to cartoons (“Looney Tunes,” “Disney,” “Hanna Barbara”) to comic
books (“Superman,” “Spider-Man,” “X-Men” and, yes, even our dear Dark Knight),
the attempts to translate to the realm of video games have been incredibly
numerous and yet, admittedly, it’s astounding how many of them are created and
released to much disdain. You certainly never see them topping the game sales or
critics’ charts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQOlvuHhXAUPT_dgN-x-cYXzbuItM85MonxIW3A7Xf2-76b_FwEuNVr0NMBGvYrHjiJ2IY9JW2C0rUTH9OqTRaYVQjK78PzfaszuEY30nMo3hjIrbgxoVU4ZsbXOMfCTQP5HrpLKwKnRwF/s1600/02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQOlvuHhXAUPT_dgN-x-cYXzbuItM85MonxIW3A7Xf2-76b_FwEuNVr0NMBGvYrHjiJ2IY9JW2C0rUTH9OqTRaYVQjK78PzfaszuEY30nMo3hjIrbgxoVU4ZsbXOMfCTQP5HrpLKwKnRwF/s1600/02.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">But all of that changed in 2009. And like catching lightning in a bottle, “Batman:
Arkham Asylum” set off a firestorm of acclaim completely unprecedented for any
other video game of its kind.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>“Tell me something. You’ve never let me catch you this easily. What’re you
really after?”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvPR6pSkuminBdOnp4-_em7PPSWgKHdRYmhY32aU90rPbXjSMNHtZyUhbnEyuqgZCuFkr1w_XOHmeDp8A6umbwuHWuVc-5CCYnBvCTy4ADIjcUeR64nPm6w1QJM4c7KRhilrqeJlcjB3ee/s1600/03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvPR6pSkuminBdOnp4-_em7PPSWgKHdRYmhY32aU90rPbXjSMNHtZyUhbnEyuqgZCuFkr1w_XOHmeDp8A6umbwuHWuVc-5CCYnBvCTy4ADIjcUeR64nPm6w1QJM4c7KRhilrqeJlcjB3ee/s1600/03.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Following his defeat at Gotham City Hall, the nefarious Joker (Mark Hamill)
is captured by Batman (Kevin Conroy) and brought back to Arkham, much to both
the relief of Commissioner Gordon (Tom Kane) and frustrations of newly
appointed warden Quincy Sharp (Tom Kane yet again; as with most video game
projects, a number of the voice actors pull double, triple and sometimes even
quadruple duty!).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></o:p></span><br /></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">During a passage of handling while in transit, Batman watches helplessly as
the Joker breaks free and murders his escorts, retreating into the bowels of
the Asylum with the caped crusader in hot pursuit. But the night is just
beginning as a number of Arkham’s most notorious inmates – including the Scarecrow,
Killer Croc, Victor Zsasz, Poison Ivy and the Riddler – all use the Joker’s siege
for their own respective opportunities to defeat Batman as he fights his way
through Arkham Island to stop Joker’s schemes and take back the Asylum.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifVi3nDWxoempZCpBnGStBoccJjQWl8qBP0jbuOnKwsOTyqcRKEHojG6Qeo45qT_k28F6P76WKCwXOHzQJ9CbQiinO0ch8I5wE4cYKXtWaT8FwETgAwtRU4tmfrOAfwV2jdQkgWG15Q9Aj/s1600/06.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifVi3nDWxoempZCpBnGStBoccJjQWl8qBP0jbuOnKwsOTyqcRKEHojG6Qeo45qT_k28F6P76WKCwXOHzQJ9CbQiinO0ch8I5wE4cYKXtWaT8FwETgAwtRU4tmfrOAfwV2jdQkgWG15Q9Aj/s1600/06.png" height="215" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>“Welcome to the madhouse, Batman!”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">With a wide array of inventive gameplay tactics, a fully immersive and
richly detailed playable map and a gripping story, “Arkham Asylum” sets out to
create an engaging and interactive rendering, giving fans an authentic
experience of what it’s like to not just be Batman but behave and think like
Batman and it succeeds handsomely.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">To date, “Arkham Asylum” still holds the Guinness World Record as the most
critically praised super hero game of all time and for good reason.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">It strikes a terrific balance of two worlds, creating a piece with feet
firmly placed in both comic book lore and video game lineage. That’s the
biggest problem with most other games like this. Either the developers create
something that focuses so much on the property that playing it is a chore or
they attempt to give gamers a well-crafted set of game mechanics without
bothering to stay true to the source material. Truth be told, most game
adaptations are just a combination of both. However Rocksteady broke the mold
by doing something inventively obvious. Something that, frankly, the film
adaptations of these super hero characters should consider.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">They brought in a writer who knew what he was doing.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho8mCeA5metyq8FP2Oq1bmfXPKzV2-HVtFDpLNHSDRW-V6JBs_272SVVeyntdwYczED4QuVxGSmN2h_NBNf2DRRyFTKcSx_42z23_QrlZbLxUZ7cMUqWbQJROiMHN4DgLptEJv6PypOn1Q/s1600/04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho8mCeA5metyq8FP2Oq1bmfXPKzV2-HVtFDpLNHSDRW-V6JBs_272SVVeyntdwYczED4QuVxGSmN2h_NBNf2DRRyFTKcSx_42z23_QrlZbLxUZ7cMUqWbQJROiMHN4DgLptEJv6PypOn1Q/s1600/04.jpg" height="224" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>“He’s out of control. He’s trying to prove something. I’m not sure if I can
stop him this time.”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Paul Dini stands as one of the premiere Batman writers of the last 20
years. His credits include everything from a list of beloved episodes of “Batman:
The Animated Series” and its subsidiary extensions like the “Superman,” “Batman
Beyond” and “Justice League” continuations to the reinvention of Mr. Freeze and
the creation of Harley Quinn to a number of Batman comic book works including “Batman:
War on Crime” with Alex Ross as well as “Batman: Heart of Hush,” “Batman:
Detective,” “Batman: Streets of Gotham” and contributions to several issues of “Batman,”
“Detective Comics” and so forth.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dini has passion and pedigree when it comes to this cast of characters and
Rocksteady had the foresight to not only recognize that but embrace it by
tapping and working with Paul to pen the overall narrative and script the game.
From there, like dominos, things fell into place with the return of fan
favorites Kevin Conroy as Batman, Mark Hamill as the Joker and Arleen Sorkin as
Harley Quinn.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Like stars aligning, “Arkham Asylum” just felt like something bigger and
grander and it paid off in spades.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>“There’s no escape, Joker.”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>
</strong></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>“Silly Bat, I don’t want to escape. I’m having way too much fun!”</strong></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br />
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></o:p></span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></div>
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdhiX-n9CsuTgM-DBBXwDyMkSzlDOeVTwV5qKy2W0glc9f5oYpI1zM8zurYwiAWoePoGPmysq_TR-fqDyBtYfL8gy7rAUsrrWmmOEpmbVztcrJtOffiKHxc_3YxvJ6VpbqUZram3Cdmdq/s1600/08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdhiX-n9CsuTgM-DBBXwDyMkSzlDOeVTwV5qKy2W0glc9f5oYpI1zM8zurYwiAWoePoGPmysq_TR-fqDyBtYfL8gy7rAUsrrWmmOEpmbVztcrJtOffiKHxc_3YxvJ6VpbqUZram3Cdmdq/s1600/08.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
</span></span><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">As documented in my friend Captain Logan’s review of the game, Alfred
Hitchcock claimed that drama was life with the boring portions removed…and it
could be argued that with video games, those portions are reinstalled.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Throughout the game, as you work your way across Arkham Island continuing
the story by beating up Joker’s henchmen, solving puzzles, finding your way
through certain environments, obtaining Riddler trophies and overcoming
obstacles and villains standing in your way, the narrative becomes incredibly
involved. You don’t just achieve a goal and get transplanted to the next site
of conflict. No, you’re Batman and you’re treated as such. As the night wears
on with the threat of fatigue, exhaustion and madness, you’re free to roam the
island while having to take responsibility for transporting yourself to your
next objective, be it by grappling hook, gliding with your cape or, most often,
making a run for it like the Olympian athlete that Bruce Wayne is.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">As a Batman fan, I really appreciate the injection of that effort and
commitment that comes with the territory. By the time you’ve successfully
conquered the next objective, you genuinely feel like you’ve earned it because,
like Batman himself, you made the commitment and had the drive to stop a bomb
from detonating or save Jim Gordon’s life or retrieve information from the
Batcave that you needed to continue.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEALBOkgjJycTcJCle0NS2mRJFnth6ENiNBxkW5KxBrsc71F7-wlcFB1a2Mu7HB3JfgnZKEkAaB_BWCWJScUWg54qfA_N0EOzflta8oIAnwnWlWYME0AaopZFQZdM0keoTPi5MuYnmd6nl/s1600/07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEALBOkgjJycTcJCle0NS2mRJFnth6ENiNBxkW5KxBrsc71F7-wlcFB1a2Mu7HB3JfgnZKEkAaB_BWCWJScUWg54qfA_N0EOzflta8oIAnwnWlWYME0AaopZFQZdM0keoTPi5MuYnmd6nl/s1600/07.jpg" height="200" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">This approach of making an invested effort also gives “Arkham Asylum” an
added layer with the subsequent need to texturize and develop every reachable
nook and cranny of the Island and its structures. Arkham is composed of five main
environments: the Intensive Treatment building, the Medical Facility, the old Arkham
Mansion, the massive Penitentiary and the lush Botanical Gardens. The island is
further realized with a maze of subterranean caverns, chambers, sewers and
catacombs beneath the Asylum…as well as an aforementioned Batcave hidden as a precautionary
measure.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>“It’s best to plan ahead for situations like this.”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Above all, “Arkham Asylum” is an experience filled to the brim with
atmosphere. By confining Batman and the story to the Island, it creates a sense
of isolation and claustrophobia, even in the segments that take place outside.
In that regard, it reminds me somewhat of one of my favorite films, “Escape
from New York.” That idea of creating a self-contained dilemma that Batman has
to solely infiltrate and take control of. It’s a wonderful angle that truly
portrays Batman as the one man weapon he’s trained and refined himself to
become. The game’s inevitable sequel would take this same approach, heightened
even more so and it’s an awesome reminder that at the end of the day, Batman
can get the job done and, in his own words, “work better alone.”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">As a setting, Arkham itself is an ideal choice for a video game. It limits
the game area and allows the designers and animators the ability to focus on
creating the best environment they can instead of spreading themselves thin in an
attempt to create a full blown Gotham (at least for the moment).<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Narratively it’s also a tremendous fit as Dini crafts a story that deals
with a number of iconic concepts in the Batman universe. Specifically the idea
of whether or not Wayne is as insane as the evildoers he puts away and if the
collective madness of both Joker and Batman in their struggle is the true
source of Gotham’s own descent into lunacy, with Batman’s presence being arguably
responsible for the villains and their heinous actions against the city. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7kS1tVEQGcbl4bH_RUJwsQ3yFnL9DTFyK-X0d7iQAgqnPaynfEGiYn8rSBYmXh5VJ8YCYO9iB5JD5ULxq5PHYE_KHHcJxDHRn35v4o5w83R2GknZXs-yDt-QwOiKNEiW7nUhWQ5tuAxHl/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7kS1tVEQGcbl4bH_RUJwsQ3yFnL9DTFyK-X0d7iQAgqnPaynfEGiYn8rSBYmXh5VJ8YCYO9iB5JD5ULxq5PHYE_KHHcJxDHRn35v4o5w83R2GknZXs-yDt-QwOiKNEiW7nUhWQ5tuAxHl/s1600/11.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">These questions are posed and Batman is challenged throughout the game but
it’s easily most directly depicted through the three interactions with the Scarecrow as
you find yourself influenced by Crane’s infamous Fear Toxin. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">At first you’re confronted with the reanimated corpses of Dr. Thomas and
Martha Wayne. Later, you relive that tragic night in a beautiful rendition as a
hallway in the Arkham Mansion gradually transforms into the alleyway where
Bruce’s parents were gunned down and you walk for a few moments in the shoes
of a just-orphaned child Bruce Wayne.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">The final Fear gas hallucination is the most startling and poetic.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzcShFAFONFn1OxOo893ASFMoijZLj8Y31u9uoOTSs-vTc07TI9zhTuEGN2VtAsY0R2uEkdbl0yTkCuZtvbc8dNrvBg44yknkFGCcrHU7gxHMiih7eDmaOUWpPU6qiwIRgBD6XXuAsOUdk/s1600/hqdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzcShFAFONFn1OxOo893ASFMoijZLj8Y31u9uoOTSs-vTc07TI9zhTuEGN2VtAsY0R2uEkdbl0yTkCuZtvbc8dNrvBg44yknkFGCcrHU7gxHMiih7eDmaOUWpPU6qiwIRgBD6XXuAsOUdk/s1600/hqdefault.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">To start, the game performs a self-aware glitch effect and appears as
though it’s been forced to restart all the way back at the opening cinematic.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">You as Batman, while affected by the Fear Toxin, endure a gamer’s worst
nightmare.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></o:p></span><br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Brilliant.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmHqHh0c79-0GduY40ZcbTyx1OWuuUZekhJ1t71Dy3IgHEEofYsUcN7icaYl4fuoQ7hRCD1BNIqWITVmR9QJiP95DD5aR6zmEgMmWXpnoOXmdDBXwf3kXmZiUPvFYVCVDgIi69-d0xxdqk/s1600/batman-u-control-joker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmHqHh0c79-0GduY40ZcbTyx1OWuuUZekhJ1t71Dy3IgHEEofYsUcN7icaYl4fuoQ7hRCD1BNIqWITVmR9QJiP95DD5aR6zmEgMmWXpnoOXmdDBXwf3kXmZiUPvFYVCVDgIi69-d0xxdqk/s1600/batman-u-control-joker.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">The cinematic, however, has been altered and the roles have reversed as the
Joker is now the one bringing Batman back to Arkham. You walk the entrance
corridor of Intensive Treatment once again, only this time it’s as the Joker
and you’re escorting a raving lunatic Batman, who’s now strapped down and
helpless in his pleas that he’s not crazy.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">This all culminates in the final Fear Toxin level as Batman rises from the
dead and wanders through a hallucinogenic Arkham populated with various, insane
Batmen either cowering in corners, swinging fists at imaginary foes or feasting
on rats.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">The story of “Arkham Asylum” is built
on the age old foundation of the Joker attempting to prove to Batman how mad
the world really is, creating a scenario in which the only way for Batman to
conquer him is by abandoning his sanity and diving head first into madness.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6BLXAoSLK74m7Qm7-d12G4xXbVniKf23RrIgjB-d61f-xeSnh9a6JTcbVfzhcnVk656b_YDmRWSurozhtrm9FIqGuJFmmEjHFh6s5SI2T7TZPkH1dteDnrrYTOjeDrpzF5KPOvgujzXlJ/s1600/Batman+and+Joker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6BLXAoSLK74m7Qm7-d12G4xXbVniKf23RrIgjB-d61f-xeSnh9a6JTcbVfzhcnVk656b_YDmRWSurozhtrm9FIqGuJFmmEjHFh6s5SI2T7TZPkH1dteDnrrYTOjeDrpzF5KPOvgujzXlJ/s1600/Batman+and+Joker.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>“Change. Get crazy. It’s the only way to beat me!”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">In classic fashion, the status quo of the proceedings are altered and
Batman is presented with an opportunity for change. But the point of being
Batman is to endure through the insanity he faces nightly. Thusly the choice
that Bruce must (and does) make is the one in which he refuses to change. By
refusing to give in and cross that line, it makes his triumph all the more
impressive. Where a lesser man might easily crack just for the sake of a hollow
victory over the Joker that would cost more than its worth, Batman is a
character of superhuman will and discipline. He doesn’t accept the Joker’s
offer to change, knowing that doing so would spell certain doom for Gotham and
the citizens he’s sworn to protect.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">This character portrait is wonderfully conceived and handled throughout the
game, courtesy of Joker’s constant presence over the Asylum’s PA system and the
subtle toll your time within the walls of this madhouse can take on you as you
utilize your combat and detective skills to overcome challenges both external
and internal.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-C_VXhGhZBOyTURbuZNGaOwUga-pI8wHTK5iRltOT5bKJMszCJZI_4IIK1fmApZiZiDS4f7H8jTcnseMm49-pVaS8twoSzaS7bssVqJtcP4FVBFsGm-Tto4x4JjOJQ9tp98C0wJ7s6NiE/s1600/09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-C_VXhGhZBOyTURbuZNGaOwUga-pI8wHTK5iRltOT5bKJMszCJZI_4IIK1fmApZiZiDS4f7H8jTcnseMm49-pVaS8twoSzaS7bssVqJtcP4FVBFsGm-Tto4x4JjOJQ9tp98C0wJ7s6NiE/s1600/09.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">The mechanics of the game make for an interactive and well-rounded
experience. “Arkham Asylum” is thankfully anything but a simple beat-em-up,
button masher as the story gives you multiple opportunities to examine
different angles of the Batman character. This is probably more clearly
represented by the invention of “Detective Mode” and the plot points that require
the following of a given DNA trail.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigc0nNcv4XprF6zEKkXhXnFfkuztAOUohu3cyzu36dqG0cLK85nx9H5C6k6n14lT5bviRTZ44_rAd11UHAVoaQ9VcM_EzRck50ELDHQScoFULSqkmXVUACVX88bzWZlIk8_ILjWbCgJ7a4/s1600/18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigc0nNcv4XprF6zEKkXhXnFfkuztAOUohu3cyzu36dqG0cLK85nx9H5C6k6n14lT5bviRTZ44_rAd11UHAVoaQ9VcM_EzRck50ELDHQScoFULSqkmXVUACVX88bzWZlIk8_ILjWbCgJ7a4/s1600/18.jpg" height="228" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Whether it’s the pheromones of Poison Ivy that you keep on record or traces
of alcohol-laced breath or a given character’s fingerprints, the ability to do
some genuine sleuthing is just awesome. That was a revolutionary breakthrough
in approaching Batman as a video game character and it works so incredibly
well.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9vmCUC0ne0vS6u3yQprDp6B_zF7xF12x5uD8gAOvJkBNtEBGeHY_kzR6P2cVW0JfTQVqJLTiY6OYVU5N43njMRDPT1Db-6J7fLinF-GI1WCEM8jBYu0r5xypZfW1DWHkmg5n5W0HWCXpC/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9vmCUC0ne0vS6u3yQprDp6B_zF7xF12x5uD8gAOvJkBNtEBGeHY_kzR6P2cVW0JfTQVqJLTiY6OYVU5N43njMRDPT1Db-6J7fLinF-GI1WCEM8jBYu0r5xypZfW1DWHkmg5n5W0HWCXpC/s1600/12.jpg" height="250" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Detective Mode” is an invaluable asset to Batman’s mission. Played as a
portrayal of what Batman sees through the state-of-the-art lenses embedded in
his cowl, “Detective Mode” re-creates the environment in a simulated blue
landscape (following certain trails calibrate the vision in assorted alternate colors like green and purple), highlighting non-lethal targets in blue and armed targets in red
that, given the proximity, can be seen through walls and air vents. This allows
you to track movements and plan out tactics for combat and stealth approaches
alike. Whether it’s a matter of incapacitating armed henchmen first or making
sure you’re undetected in an area, it’s a necessary tool that once again gives
you the ability to think and strategize as Batman himself would in the field.
Admittedly, “Detective Mode” can be interpreted as a potential crutch that
gamers could easily rely on too heavily but as long as you incorporate it into
the gameplay as needed, it’s a good bit of fun.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizdMo4_t-Z5PFp0lH407ND2g8iRNNvz_PwzAdHd0jt8_FGRePMsCFaUJyfGJ8K5jM4IVCNX0-Q1ZFb2Eke55b6dNr0o4m2zq01jv_R0ObnXIxDTUEtysqDYU4FiKdofMmXnXkfekL99QR/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizdMo4_t-Z5PFp0lH407ND2g8iRNNvz_PwzAdHd0jt8_FGRePMsCFaUJyfGJ8K5jM4IVCNX0-Q1ZFb2Eke55b6dNr0o4m2zq01jv_R0ObnXIxDTUEtysqDYU4FiKdofMmXnXkfekL99QR/s1600/14.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Given his ties to the comic book world, Dini also uses a number of great
storytelling devices and nods. The most present is the idea of Batman’s access
to data and assistance from his comm-link connection to Oracle, who
periodically guides you on given objectives by pulling up Asylum schematics or
offering information she’s dug up on Joker that fills Batman in on the plot as
it unfolds.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">The story of “Arkham Asylum” is a well told drama, moving from events to
events with gradual escalation. The overall plot itself is somewhat small in
comparison to other Batman stories but when you look at it as a comment on
Batman video games, it was clearly the best game based on the character by a
mile.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5cJEQWKoB8FQvF5xCIbD5qEKfkKcC7hP1AENVvq60irbfeuRZIrGn_wowNdRFb9H8PRw5Ldu-XZV9iuJWRwUoXI8JPD-rGjZG0ldeqJuuesqJilKiExRqdQ_taeMnOXy3LtaNiwsGLsn/s1600/untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5cJEQWKoB8FQvF5xCIbD5qEKfkKcC7hP1AENVvq60irbfeuRZIrGn_wowNdRFb9H8PRw5Ldu-XZV9iuJWRwUoXI8JPD-rGjZG0ldeqJuuesqJilKiExRqdQ_taeMnOXy3LtaNiwsGLsn/s1600/untitled.png" height="225" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ultimately it concerns Batman fighting to stop the Joker from developing
and using a mutagenic compound called Titan, an advanced form of Bane’s Venom
formula that he’s manipulated an Arkham doctor named Penelope Young to concoct
for him. With Titan, he plans to create an army of steroidal-enhanced monsters
that he’ll unleash upon Gotham City. Thank God the game isn’t really about that
story so much as it’s about you working to prevent that plan from occurring.
As a result, what could’ve been a rather hokey idea is turned into a simple
backdrop for an involving character study that takes place before that scheme
could be hatched. It’s not the genuine plot of the game itself but rather just
another one of the Joker’s deadly antics that you have to hinder.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>“It’s just a twisted diversion. The real action’s on Arkham.”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYStlB33KLeeEq90bU_JrHrwarlhXxwUSRT15npn8aTmtkghgbFbGQlPksj0Xc5O1UzwpHgT_0w23hGvodrZfmd1k1diF0B1eGP_f6nPq0vrZ73EN7e4bQsMHvP1KNJGRh0oqYzFjHy4n/s1600/05.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYStlB33KLeeEq90bU_JrHrwarlhXxwUSRT15npn8aTmtkghgbFbGQlPksj0Xc5O1UzwpHgT_0w23hGvodrZfmd1k1diF0B1eGP_f6nPq0vrZ73EN7e4bQsMHvP1KNJGRh0oqYzFjHy4n/s1600/05.png" height="237" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">The narrative does introduce a number of secondary characters though, some
of which are quite worthwhile in varying degrees. There’s Arkham Security head
Aaron Cash and Quincy Sharp, who’ve probably become as synonymous with Batman’s
supporting cast as characters like Chief O’Hara or Leslie Thompkins in previous
iterations.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>“You need to stop this now. Before it goes too far.”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>“Stop? But everyone’s dying to see what I do next.”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;">What is there to say about the cast? It's Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill, the Batman and Joker I grew up with. Perfection. I love that the "Arkham" game series has given a new generation of fans entre into these two and their performances as these classic characters, as new fans are now taking the initiative to go back and discover their previous performances in the animated series and film projects.</span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMbe1t_YzT6_tW7hxHrf_eDUCan6umcsLzppTP-q1b8noH08TGezkmvmNGqPgK9QHVUz6nQTIepZ0fqzEVEGtiY8YcrLP7foY2hGZD44NbvZ2BArJL1bPq03Kb2FKpX6xra5L3hZe4ArJF/s1600/Ark_mans_Intensive_Treatment219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMbe1t_YzT6_tW7hxHrf_eDUCan6umcsLzppTP-q1b8noH08TGezkmvmNGqPgK9QHVUz6nQTIepZ0fqzEVEGtiY8YcrLP7foY2hGZD44NbvZ2BArJL1bPq03Kb2FKpX6xra5L3hZe4ArJF/s1600/Ark_mans_Intensive_Treatment219.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Arkham’s set pieces, with its labyrinths of holding cells, elevator shafts,
catwalks and corridors is rendered in a wonderfully moody array of texture and
lighting. I was genuinely creeped out by the Penitentiary segment of the game
once the Joker unleashes the more stark-raving mad lunatics in head gear and strait
jackets.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">The sense of atmosphere and darkened locales as you stalk through the air
vents of Arkham Mansion or the greenery of the Botanical Gardens is absolutely
palpable. It’s very reminiscent of Grant Morrison and Dave McKean’s seminal
graphic novel “Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth,” albeit through
a more Dini/”Animated Series” filter.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">I’m especially a fan of certain sets and sequences. The spaces inside
Intensive Treatment, particularly the giant Intensive Treatment Lobby, and the
open space of the Medical Facility are wonderfully composed and very vertical
with a number of platforms and catwalks at varying heights. Its great fun to
strategize on getting the drop on Joker’s Blackgate thugs and it gives Arkham a
great sense of scale.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEb0wLnc-ANfJWwlfNZC-Uj_9kfW_aGTsQEIeUfrz2Nd9timMjLfsSgbwY9I7XobAFQN-mAynUY66tX18VIeNi95WEBw26Elv-Al8uhB_hQ2k2ZbeNVvOlWhBnv1jsIiKp4LnBH5Pzpqiz/s1600/croc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEb0wLnc-ANfJWwlfNZC-Uj_9kfW_aGTsQEIeUfrz2Nd9timMjLfsSgbwY9I7XobAFQN-mAynUY66tX18VIeNi95WEBw26Elv-Al8uhB_hQ2k2ZbeNVvOlWhBnv1jsIiKp4LnBH5Pzpqiz/s1600/croc.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">There’s also the intimidating story point of having to enter the ominous
sewer dwellings of Killer Croc and I gotta tell ya, the first time I played
that level was in the dead of night and the echo of Croc’s hisses were
downright scary! The confrontation with Croc is also a great example of using
the idea that Batman can’t (and shouldn’t) engage in a battle with all of his
foes the exact same way. Croc’s lair is constructed with a series of floating
planks that you have to crouch and walk on with subtlety and finesse so that
you Croc can’t determine your location. You can’t just confront him as a
combatant, he’s too deadly. So the game once again creates a scenario that
makes you work harder, think things out more so that you have no choice but to
behave as Batman would.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMIk13frFUFLmN2YSrRiX126s_sK2Xc4XkfEIx4W7NvXZiokk-XAOi3H_Y3Tz5_B0Xyn1p4GhBV8Y6b_jxrhsPVZVzL081cNcQVxOdDE83sxbvJhZbpWs7GMkYg1RyDeJLh8-CV0lqgmuI/s1600/Batman_wallpapers_150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMIk13frFUFLmN2YSrRiX126s_sK2Xc4XkfEIx4W7NvXZiokk-XAOi3H_Y3Tz5_B0Xyn1p4GhBV8Y6b_jxrhsPVZVzL081cNcQVxOdDE83sxbvJhZbpWs7GMkYg1RyDeJLh8-CV0lqgmuI/s1600/Batman_wallpapers_150.jpg" height="250" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">The game’s score, composed by Ron Fish and Nick Arundel, is as brooding and
bombastic as our hero. I’m a real fan of the claustrophobic track that plays
repeatedly whenever you enter the Intensive Treatment Lobby and all of the
driving material used during the fights and physical encounters very menacing
and pulsating.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">There’s also the charming muzak that plays in the glass domed Greenhouse of
the Botanical Gardens, which felt very reminiscent of the “Pretty Poison”
episode of “Batman: The Animated Series,” so that’s a great treat.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1BG2EmKr_O79nxzADHL0ySaPzvOHuAY0O3fXa0m-gFM9emS3bbu5cvfFxUmvkCnN6f5AQ6yxpNcst4ARbcuXWS4wdbAn5niGic_LkdbERIfRFybAlm1FPUo7FASOpSXmpz42yIhUa7NTD/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1BG2EmKr_O79nxzADHL0ySaPzvOHuAY0O3fXa0m-gFM9emS3bbu5cvfFxUmvkCnN6f5AQ6yxpNcst4ARbcuXWS4wdbAn5niGic_LkdbERIfRFybAlm1FPUo7FASOpSXmpz42yIhUa7NTD/s1600/14.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">I really love the track from the 2<sup>nd</sup> Scarecrow encounter, with
the tinkering notes of sadness and heartache as Batman transforms into young
Bruce Wayne kneeling over his parent’s bodies. There’s also great string work
in quieter moments like when Batman’s in the Batcave or right after an
objective has been accomplished. Other moments, like this great one when Batman
has to glide through a cliff side after Poison Ivy’s Titan-enhanced plants
destroy the Batcave, has a tremendous use of chorus and it’s very effective.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDQJTcqm-9uHcX5dDxF-Yg9iAOf3YGFJ8gHAqZyY4XMYPL73I6hcTgdyNIwKSktw5qu89QIMWPYhtGDf8OdGC0VHpR6c6csHcuA7543aESy2M_EOoRvwZuS_vcAXkLd8_-Fal5botMf_5/s1600/13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDQJTcqm-9uHcX5dDxF-Yg9iAOf3YGFJ8gHAqZyY4XMYPL73I6hcTgdyNIwKSktw5qu89QIMWPYhtGDf8OdGC0VHpR6c6csHcuA7543aESy2M_EOoRvwZuS_vcAXkLd8_-Fal5botMf_5/s1600/13.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>“Can you hear me Batman? I know you can.”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">In addition to the main story arc, the game is given a great side-objective
as Edward Nygma, the Riddler, hacks your communications and informs you of the
daunting task of acquiring and solving a total of 240 Riddler trophies and puzzles
scattered throughout Arkham Island.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQ9nM6JvHNFEhcEhmV5B6tt5Q6lf7TU108H_hEWt0NJlFRNjHzNY70thK6P7KyvwU-mNd1GtSFuan6LsdRTxdTfYuEFptaOpHWWQ5XPfcVXus3SO2AqVNb_e0yXnRf15o7p9FxrsGAWHG/s1600/17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQ9nM6JvHNFEhcEhmV5B6tt5Q6lf7TU108H_hEWt0NJlFRNjHzNY70thK6P7KyvwU-mNd1GtSFuan6LsdRTxdTfYuEFptaOpHWWQ5XPfcVXus3SO2AqVNb_e0yXnRf15o7p9FxrsGAWHG/s1600/17.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">From a collection of patient-interview tapes documenting conversations with
Pamela Isley, Jonathan Crane, the Joker and Nygma himself to various items and puzzles
that when scanned reward you with dossiers on Batman characters like Alfred, Commissioner
Gordon, Penguin, Catwoman, Black Mask, Ra’s Al Ghul, Killer Moth, Clayface and others
to a series of stone carvings supposedly left throughout the Island by fabled
and demented founder Amadeus Arkham, the Riddler’s challenges provide a
fulfilling side-story that tests Batman’s thoroughness and patience (as well as
yours as a player).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1FDKWtHFzMwhGviXVmqB2uwQGW2x6L-FVbOXvR1jHFjGl7XUU-fhf1_sVKtof96FlC1awSCMthRxS84modxwH3ErOZFQ93ocq7a-xmHs4j-gTYY0OlqKipS7ZAXqlZf5Y28YIrmkYLzv8/s1600/intensive-riddle-2--article_image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1FDKWtHFzMwhGviXVmqB2uwQGW2x6L-FVbOXvR1jHFjGl7XUU-fhf1_sVKtof96FlC1awSCMthRxS84modxwH3ErOZFQ93ocq7a-xmHs4j-gTYY0OlqKipS7ZAXqlZf5Y28YIrmkYLzv8/s1600/intensive-riddle-2--article_image.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>“Showtime, Batman!”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Remember that whole tangent about how the Titan-monsters destroying Gotham
would’ve been hokey?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Well for all its greatness leading up to it, “Arkham Asylum” does kind of
end on a “meh” note as Batman is faced with…you guessed it…a Titan-enhanced
Joker. The boss fight itself doesn’t quite match the elaborate impressiveness
of the encounters with Scarecrow, Croc or even Ivy, which is a shame since it’s
the final battle and all. Once the novelty of seeing the Titan Joker wears off,
it’s a rather lukewarm ending compared to everything that came before, save for
this one great moment in the following cinematic where Batman puts explosive
gel on his knuckles to take Joker down once and for all.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiaGFaeAjB6BqZZCUJf_bl49Kcwmi-eVi3Rh3A_1wkOZnZ2dBrCQFkU9gl8xqc2_BBaC36iPrfHvzFZzLdb_MmxLvXzioH3aAnRoqRYtCrxwEmIA8uorH5Y553CfAlgbeeMJwfwrrcbp4b/s1600/17.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiaGFaeAjB6BqZZCUJf_bl49Kcwmi-eVi3Rh3A_1wkOZnZ2dBrCQFkU9gl8xqc2_BBaC36iPrfHvzFZzLdb_MmxLvXzioH3aAnRoqRYtCrxwEmIA8uorH5Y553CfAlgbeeMJwfwrrcbp4b/s1600/17.png" height="225" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>“I’ll never let you win. Never.”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ultimately, “Batman: Arkham Asylum” is a classic tribute to the world of
Batman while also forging a bold new dynamic for the process of adapting film,
TV and comic book properties for the video game medium. It’s arguable that even
with its sequels, it has yet to be surpassed and it’ll be interesting to see if
Rocksteady or any other developers and publishers use it as a template for
adaptations in the future. I’m sure they will and, probably, already have.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">The fact that it can stand toe to toe in engaging gameplay with similar
console games like the “Call of Duty” or “Assassin’s Creed” series while also
boasting a compelling drama and portrait of Batman and his cast of friends and
foes that rivals anything found in the comic books or motion pictures speaks
volumes.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Arkham Asylum” is a terrific gameplay experience and if you’re a fan of
the character it’s one of the few outlets to date that gets you the closest to wearing
the cape and cowl yourself.<br /><br /> <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzc-RJd7CsyLF4P0VbLxovflS7LUsaK8VGukHn2FskU9mGroGy-mHQrAlqvfEcl9eJf6jDaJJAvUKuzfZW-oYzccrZlekKWZCeo9-ba70nbILLYLnNae9_L4fvMYEHMupfdVtWHtChJY_d/s1600/Batman+Arkham+Asylum+-+Original+_7-wallpaper_1920x1080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzc-RJd7CsyLF4P0VbLxovflS7LUsaK8VGukHn2FskU9mGroGy-mHQrAlqvfEcl9eJf6jDaJJAvUKuzfZW-oYzccrZlekKWZCeo9-ba70nbILLYLnNae9_L4fvMYEHMupfdVtWHtChJY_d/s1600/Batman+Arkham+Asylum+-+Original+_7-wallpaper_1920x1080.jpg" height="214" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">“</span>It's over, Joker.”<br /><br /><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">“</span>Over? Why my dear, delusional Dark Knight...it hasn't even begun.”</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">------------------------------------------------</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Chas Blankenship's "Bat-Mania" is proud to present "Batman: Arkham Asylum" - The Video Game Movie...an edited feature length presentation of the entire game story through cinematics and gameplay.</span><br />
<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/IVIuIIVVbIs?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Chas Blankenshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09152498045221353190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5986956018362546175.post-48760933432612330832014-02-23T15:20:00.000-08:002014-02-23T18:26:18.072-08:00"The Dark Knight Rises" (Christopher Nolan, 2012)(NOTE: This Review/Reflection contains SPOILERS.)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDWZrYRGngqonpLIItqQWy8vhwE0hWJrZUV7Vp8jgyHMmIHRh3QDh14kwEqEGExx8-8RHM8jUkW3JIksj-m_ftwGIVrEygzwVJJxDXNRVWmmiAfXniiXwU63TKujFRtPJN55wTqTXd1LNT/s1600/01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDWZrYRGngqonpLIItqQWy8vhwE0hWJrZUV7Vp8jgyHMmIHRh3QDh14kwEqEGExx8-8RHM8jUkW3JIksj-m_ftwGIVrEygzwVJJxDXNRVWmmiAfXniiXwU63TKujFRtPJN55wTqTXd1LNT/s1600/01.jpg" height="640" width="432" /></a></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/g8evyE9TuYk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Directed by Christopher Nolan<br />
Story by David S. Goyer and Christopher Nolan<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Screenplay by Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Based on the DC Comics Characters Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger<br />
<br />
Executive Produced by Benjamin Melniker, Michael E. Uslan, Thomas Tull and
Kevin De La Noy<br />
Produced by Emma Thomas, Charles Roven, Jordan Goldberg, Dileep Singh Rathore
and Christopher Nolan<br />
Cinematography by Wally Pfister<br />
Production Design by Nathan Crowley and Kevin Kavanaugh<br />
Costume Design by Lindy Hemming<br />
Editing by Lee Smith<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Original Motion Picture Score Composed by Hans Zimmer</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">
Christian Bale ... Bruce Wayne/Batman</span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tom Hardy ... Bane</span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Anne Hathaway ... Selina Kyle/Catwoman<br />
Gary Oldman ... Commissioner James Gordon<br />
Joseph Gordon-Levitt ... Officer John Blake <br />
Marion Cotillard ... Miranda Tate/Talia Al Ghul<br />
Morgan Freeman ... Lucius Fox <br />
Michael Caine ... Alfred Pennyworth <br />
Matthew Modine ... Deputy Commissioner Peter Foley <br />
Ben Mendelsohn ... John Daggett<br />
Alon Moni Aboutboul ... Dr. Leonid Pavel <br />
Nestor Carbonell ... Mayor Anthony Garcia<br />
Burn Gorman ... Stryver</span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Josh Stewart ... Barsad</span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tim Conti ... Friendly Prisoner</span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Uri Gavriel ... Blind Prisoner<br />
Daniel Sunjata ... Captain Jones<br />
Brett Cullen ... Congressman Byron Gilly <br />
Juno Temple ... Jen<br />
Rob Brown ... Officer Allen <br />
Will Estes ... Officer Simon Jansen <br />
John Nolan ... Douglas Fredericks<br />
Cillian Murphy ... Dr. Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><br />
Liam Neeson ... Ra’s Al Ghul</span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Chris Ellis ... Father Reilly</span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tyler Dean Flores ... Mark</span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Josh Pence ... Young Ra’s Al Ghul</span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">India Wadsworth ... Warlord’s Daughter <br />
Tomas Arana ... Wayne Lawyer<br />
Jillian Armenante ... Wayne Lawyer Clerk<br />
Charles Jackson Coyne ... National Anthem Singer <br />
Patrick Leahy ... Wayne Board Member #2 <br />
Wade Williams ... Blackgate Warden</span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">William Devane ... US President</span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Courtney Munch ... Gotham Stock Exchange
Female Security Guard</span></span></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Joey King ... Older Prison Child<br />
Rory Nolan ... Little Boy at Bridge<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">
Eight years after the fall of Harvey Dent, a mercenary called Bane leads a
newly formed League of Shadows to destroy Gotham City in the name of Ra’s Al
Ghul with the indirect assistance of a jewel thief named Selina Kyle. Taking up
the mantle once more, a previously exiled Bruce Wayne returns to defend the
city as Batman.<br />
<br />
----------------------------------------------<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhixkrN115vy_txuCaEV2j0cr7dxh6KER_SRI0OpOQ2_CkeF2JsW-Xu5M_LZJ7wN-UQB3IB1Obzwwj8I9KAVagXGF0TwIRKgrRFa9dV9P8CMfaTeaYfJIOYHbPXIHdo0nZgWynd6Rr9lBJP/s1600/02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhixkrN115vy_txuCaEV2j0cr7dxh6KER_SRI0OpOQ2_CkeF2JsW-Xu5M_LZJ7wN-UQB3IB1Obzwwj8I9KAVagXGF0TwIRKgrRFa9dV9P8CMfaTeaYfJIOYHbPXIHdo0nZgWynd6Rr9lBJP/s1600/02.jpg" height="640" width="328" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">“You see only one end to
your journey.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: large;">How many times have third iterations of a film franchise truly
succeeded?</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">All too often, it’s the same story.
The costs escalate with ballooning budgets while studio executives grow nervous
that the box office pull won’t generate the same returns and the result is a
stumble in quality and narrative. The tone shifts away from its predecessors,
gimmicks are enacted in a vain attempt to keep the property fresh and
ultimately, it creates a polarizing experience that does its work sending a
crack through audiences and splitting us into a divide between those who can
either tolerate those imperfections or not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">To this day, no threequel has truly
ever defied the odds.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">And while it personally isn’t an
exception, 2012’s “The Dark Knight Rises” achieves something else entirely;
something that brings it closer than any other film of its kind before.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
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<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Calm down, Doctor. Now’s not the time for fear. That comes later.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">It’s been eight years since the
events of “The Dark Knight” and Gotham City is enjoying its longest running
peace in history. Organized crime is nothing more than a memory and the streets
have never been safer. This is a result of the effects of the Dent Act, a piece
of legislation erected in honor of Gotham’s “White Knight” that they’d lost to
the insanity of the Batman (Christian Bale), who hasn’t been seen since.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">But a vicious evil has begun to
rise through the depths of Batman and Jim Gordon’s (Gary Oldman) deception, led
by a notoriously brutalist mercenary named Bane (Tom Hardy) who seeks to have
vengeance on both Wayne and Gotham in order to fulfill the dream of Ra’s Al Ghul
and the League of Shadows.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">Following a theft of his mother’s
pearls by hired cat burglar Selina Kyle (Anne Hathaway), Bruce decides to
return to the streets as Batman and inadvertently stumbles upon Bane’s plot,
triggering a chain of events that push him to a physical and spiritual breaking
point. As Bane seizes control over Gotham City, Bruce learns the value of his
own mortality again and leads a conflict to not only reclaim the city but leave
it as the very paradise the Wayne family had always fought for.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">“The Batman has to come back.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">“The Dark Knight Rises” benefits
from a number of aspects that, for me, does make it one of the strongest third
sequels I’ve ever seen. For any faults there are, I did enjoy it and that needs
to be made clear at the top.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">The greatest success of the film is
that if you’re a Batman fan and, frankly, have a soul that’s been influenced by
the character to any degree, then it stands arguably as the single most
emotional “Batman” movie produced to date.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">I didn’t just bring in Nolan’s
Batman or the history of his franchise alone with me but rather my entire
lifetime of commitment and passion for the Batman character. And in doing so,
plot points like Batman’s possible self-sacrifice relate and hit my heart that
much more. In that way, it’s very much an anti-thesis of the end of “The Dark
Knight.” Where one film ended with something I’d never seen before in a
“Batman” movie, the other ended with something I’d never felt before in a
“Batman” movie. “The Dark Knight” ended with Batman taking the blame for crime and
murder as a means of maintaining a fragile hope and I’d never even considered
that as a potential element of the character. “The Dark Knight Rises” strikes a
deep nerve in the idea of Batman being shunned and betrayed and ridiculed and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">STILL</i> making the choice to remain noble
and true to his crusade once he makes the call to take up arms again, facing
his own mortality in a way no previous film had examined before.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">One of the best aspects of the
“Dark Knight” trilogy as a whole cohesive piece is that each film seeks to
observe and reflect Batman and his universe through the lens of entirely
different genres and types of films to the point that while visually and
texturally they all have a similar identity, they structurally feel very
different from one another.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Batman Begins” is very much a
classically conceived action /adventure film and character study in the
tradition of “Superman: The Movie” or “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and that word,
“tradition,” really rings true. Though it stakes a new claim in the franchise,
there’s still a lot of familiarity between it and the previous “Batman” films.
It’s perhaps the most like a comic book movie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">“The Dark Knight” is an emotional
epic and a huge sprawling crime drama, standing shoulder to shoulder with films
like “The Godfather,” “Taxi Driver” and “Heat.” The character relationships and
dynamics are complex and frenzied and at the same time calculated and measured
and it elevates Batman’s world to an unprecedented level.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
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<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">Following his two previous efforts,
I felt that Christopher Nolan took a very (if I can word this appropriately)
“physical” approach to Batman with “The Dark Knight Rises.” What I mean is that
the film, even more so than “Batman Begins” or “The Dark Knight” feels
physically intimidating and larger in its scale. It’s a disaster picture and a
war epic more than anything else, inspired by titles such as “The Towering
Inferno” and “Lawrence of Arabia.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Isn’t it amazing how Batman, as a
character, can warrant such a wide variety of realizations that can still be
applied to the framework of the character’s universe?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Christian Bale returns to the role for his final performance as Bruce Wayne and it's remarkable to see him, especially in film's opening. A hollow shell of what he once was, Bale carries the burden of Batman and Gordon's secret very genuinely. While the idea of abandoning his crusade for eight years seems wholly out of character (if anything, Rachel's death should've fueled his war on crime that much more), Christian works well within the circumstances and the pain combined with his burgeoning desire to return is handled quite well. Once in costume, Batman is as vibrant as ever and though his voice might take a more forgiving ear yet again to get past, I appreciate how Bale handles himself as the character.</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">For “Rises,” this idea of scale and
physicality all starts with our most physically imposing villain in the
trilogy.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Tom Hardy’s presence as Bane isn’t
a mere matter of physical dominance but more of an internal sense of ominous
dread. Previous incarnations of the character in animation and obviously
“Batman & Robin” rely on the superficiality of the concept, creating more
or less just a drug-fueled monster. But for all his physicality, Hardy creates
a character that feels more calm, more predatory. How would a jungle cat
behave? He wouldn’t roar and chase after his prey so clumsily and obviously. He
would take his time, patiently stalking and approaching with clear intentions
that wouldn’t be clouded by poor judgment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Bane feels the same way. From his
more gentle voice to his walk and stature, his strength doesn’t reside on his
sleeve out in the open. It’s there, buried and maintained. Bane doesn’t charge
into a situation and scream to make his presence known. Hardy’s
characterization understands his own power and never betrays that, trusting in
it to overcome his enemies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Peace has cost you your strength. Victory has defeated you.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
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<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As a polar opposite of Bane, the
inclusion of Catwoman into the trilogy is as refreshing as any choice for sheer
fact that we were finally seeing Bale’s dark knight be confronted with a female
villainess. Well, villainess/anti-hero really. Even more than Michelle
Pfeiffer’s characterization, perhaps way more, this interpretation of Selina
Kyle very clearly rides the line between good and evil and certainly approaches
given scenarios with one or the other in mind. You could believe that if she
was in the company of antagonists, she would play off that in order to keep herself
safe and vice versa once the heroes started gaining the upper hand. Though she
ultimately comes to the aid of Batman, that ambiguity is handled very expertly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">Anne Hathaway has a very wry charm
as Selina and, very much like Bane, her asset of exuding eroticism and
sensuality isn’t played up in an artificial sense but is still absolutely
present. It isn’t a childish sexuality but a more mature, more alluring romanticism
and Hathaway captures that element of Selina quite well.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Keep pressure on that, sweetheart.”<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">The cast is once again given a
level of pedigree with the returning citizens of Nolan’s Gotham.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Michael Caine gives perhaps the
most nuanced and emotional of his performances as Alfred. I love how he plays
against Bruce with this more reality based angle of outright refusing to see
Bruce throw his life down into this pit of loss and tragedy all over again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">“I won’t bury you. I’ve buried enough members of the Wayne family.”<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">It’s admittedly somewhat out of
character, not just from the Alfred I’ve always known but even from the Alfred
that had been created in “Begins” with his dutiful statement of “Never” giving
up on Bruce. But it’s an approach that makes these characters feel more flesh
and blood and if that’s the drastic measure Alfred needed to take then so be
it. Caine's emotional weight, both in leaving Bruce and his moment at the Wayne graves at the end, is the definition of powerful and it's just excellent.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXw_vM8FFVQIWzsD9tfDpt9bsQW965OHM_SVjoWdSBubld4AXkgwmcZOeBupBgtfdKhIk8P605d-QqrdCp9TCx2cOh1oEsIQAS5aQMDSj2wumtQ1_eHoLQITPB7fX4v9rpmumUQwSYuxb/s1600/05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXw_vM8FFVQIWzsD9tfDpt9bsQW965OHM_SVjoWdSBubld4AXkgwmcZOeBupBgtfdKhIk8P605d-QqrdCp9TCx2cOh1oEsIQAS5aQMDSj2wumtQ1_eHoLQITPB7fX4v9rpmumUQwSYuxb/s1600/05.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Gary Oldman once again reigns and
provides a commanding and layered performance as my favorite character in the
trilogy beyond Batman himself. I love the idea of making Gordon just as youthful and energetic as he was in the previous films. They don’t fall back
on the passage of time to make him more elderly and soft. In a way, it’s a
statement on and testament to both his character and his relationship with
Batman and the idea that if Batman has chosen to give up on Gotham City for the
greater good then Gordon must have the strength and will to continue the
crusade for the both of them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">“And yet here you are, like we’re still at war.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6kDHVmR23qul7YfC0FVaKKeqmhibDadwRzseM7kQEYDLljcEcuEwJH_LlIBkOANLIwJGNdy19HgcOflbJKIIjHi3pLMcf0NB5_fsP44uuTiaBkOFaciFGfoh7MmI8EGTX4C6Gx4K3EIc/s1600/06.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6kDHVmR23qul7YfC0FVaKKeqmhibDadwRzseM7kQEYDLljcEcuEwJH_LlIBkOANLIwJGNdy19HgcOflbJKIIjHi3pLMcf0NB5_fsP44uuTiaBkOFaciFGfoh7MmI8EGTX4C6Gx4K3EIc/s1600/06.png" height="400" width="298" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The cast is given fresh faces with
both Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Gotham police officer John Blake and Marion
Cotillard as Miranda Tate, whom is later revealed to actually be Talia, the
daughter of Ra’s Al Ghul from the comic books.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">At first I wasn’t the biggest fan
of Blake as a character and felt that an unnecessary amount of time was spent
with him, time that could’ve gone towards developing Batman or Catwoman or Bane
that much more. But I can at least respect his presence and its representation
of the overall theme that anyone can be a hero and crusader for what’s right so
long as they’re not afraid to stand up for their convictions and beliefs. In
retrospect I’m somewhat charmed by his impulsive nature and eagerness to act on
instinct, whether it was his finding of Gordon after Jim’s<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>escape from the sewers or his steadfast
devotion to the Batman symbol even in the face of opposition.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZs-ob0PrdTxvwZH8x6o0iXh8Em0pGVASdp_TAHY_YK2XiKxUZTP7YZ3yFSrtpLqaTTwWpfo_41P04TYGnqnIAWR2QVp3C8D7FLci7YxgcjKx5GXJ5K1ZWlJDNHtiPm2cBL5ZiBtNuKoZ-/s1600/23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZs-ob0PrdTxvwZH8x6o0iXh8Em0pGVASdp_TAHY_YK2XiKxUZTP7YZ3yFSrtpLqaTTwWpfo_41P04TYGnqnIAWR2QVp3C8D7FLci7YxgcjKx5GXJ5K1ZWlJDNHtiPm2cBL5ZiBtNuKoZ-/s1600/23.jpg" height="166" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And how great is it to finally have
Talia as a character in the films, however brief? Marion perfectly captures the
exotic attraction of the character and, while it’s actually very obvious who
she is even leading up to her reveal by the end of the film, I still loved her
interplay with Bruce and their relationship under the disguise of Miranda Tate.
It’s a minor thing but for Bruce to actually have sex in a film for the first
time since “Mask of the Phantasm” was interesting. I know that’s not too big a
deal but I found that smile-worthy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">Though it’s not as star-crossed a
romance as Rachel, I loved the aspect that Talia brings of everyone surrounding
Bruce noticing that chemistry and just wanting him to have that connection with
someone, preferably a woman. It’s another element of humanization and after 70
years of history, that’s something you really need.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrF5uD_JrxBnceptdN2bkyfdrv8rZB3_mwmlsrXic08R57wyB0Uh9A1WppjZixaGbNHrSMKHJRyDRI0JgXPGvQmdeVgrEKcYay_xBn9xS1XeAEoe0CqFeaB4D0C1wDcSeiXqybye3IyA_I/s1600/22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrF5uD_JrxBnceptdN2bkyfdrv8rZB3_mwmlsrXic08R57wyB0Uh9A1WppjZixaGbNHrSMKHJRyDRI0JgXPGvQmdeVgrEKcYay_xBn9xS1XeAEoe0CqFeaB4D0C1wDcSeiXqybye3IyA_I/s1600/22.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The rest of the cast plays their
parts to form, including Morgan Freeman as the ever helpful Lucius Fox, Stanley
Kubrick alumni Matthew Modine as Gotham officer Peter Foley (it’s Dan Foley in
the comics but hey, we got a “Foley” just the same. Too bad we couldn’t get
Bullock) and <span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Ben Mendelsohn as white
collar criminal John Daggett (again, like Foley, it’s a “Daggett.” Not quite
Roland Daggett from the animated series, but the thought is there).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVUzeM-5ZD_MxMvqmOR_IMe9RromdMm-qWj0l9DzgGSqwq2IFGdiJ0krfBGtdhP-8kP19tOFvilq2wm-oNykjPhuQgoneUv3T-Aj_1XlMSOGPHjxXNIhI2UsIGMpnzWq2IJcQDuBg_oVV/s1600/33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVUzeM-5ZD_MxMvqmOR_IMe9RromdMm-qWj0l9DzgGSqwq2IFGdiJ0krfBGtdhP-8kP19tOFvilq2wm-oNykjPhuQgoneUv3T-Aj_1XlMSOGPHjxXNIhI2UsIGMpnzWq2IJcQDuBg_oVV/s1600/33.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">And how could anyone not help but cheer at the reappearance of both Liam Neeson as
Ra’s Al Ghul and the ever loyal Cillian Murphy, taking up the judge’s gavel as Jonathan
Crane?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">“The choice is yours. Exile
or death?!”</span><o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The action and pacing of “The Dark
Knight Rises,” from my perspective, is as grandiose and bold an effort in
filmmaking as one could find these days. It echoes similarly epic productions like
“Lawrence of Arabia,” “Spartacus,” “The Bridge on the River Kwai” and “Gone
with the Wind.” There’s tangibility to the scale of the film that flies right
in the face of contemporary visual effects extravaganzas like the
“Transformers” films or even the Marvel Studios releases.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">We open with a mammoth prologue
sequence as Bane escapes his CIA captors in a stunning aerial extraction. Shot
over the vibrant greenery of Scotland, the scene is an exquisite example of
combining practical and visual effects to birth a sequence that has an honest
sense of weight. The prologue, along with a number of subsequent set pieces, is
elevated by being shot in IMAX and as with “The Dark Knight,” seeing those gigantic
images of Batman battling Bane and the Bat flying through the streets of Gotham
will stay with me forever.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">“Rises” takes several elements from
iconic stories throughout the lore of the comics and Batman’s first
full-fledged appearance in the film following an attack by Bane on the Gotham
Stock Exchange is a terrific example.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/aj1Q_BAqwa8/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/aj1Q_BAqwa8&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/aj1Q_BAqwa8&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
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</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">“You are in for a show tonight, son.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">Batman returning to the main stage
after years of being in hiding and subsequently being chased by the Gotham
Police echoes similar plot points and scenes from Frank Miller’s “The Dark
Knight Returns” and “Year One.” That moment of Batman being surrounded by what
I can only assume is the entire police force is a fantastic image and a great
beat on the theme that even with all that muscle and all those guns, the GCPD
still can’t hope to bring in the caped crusader and the fanboy in me just
smiles at the thought.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">One of the strongest scenes in the
film, by far, is the first battle between Batman and Bane. The technique of
pulling the music out of the scene is the definition of creatively inspired,
allowing the sound design to play a vital role in creating a wave of suspense
and tension over the conflict. Even from the onset of Selina’s betrayal and
Batman’s brashness getting the better of him, you immediately sense and fear
for the fight to come.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMgbDJvrfsNmjXLK0bTV4kGaxxOAnEiu54lYieqsFYJbQN6DwOOSOrfi4gDpHEwxhM6EzrNGgbTJ3gTsUWWpGRg3GDhBmynW5ywcrHOvrohV3hYMqKUNNDU6V6FUf_xT2ST7VSpi83RpK3/s1600/25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMgbDJvrfsNmjXLK0bTV4kGaxxOAnEiu54lYieqsFYJbQN6DwOOSOrfi4gDpHEwxhM6EzrNGgbTJ3gTsUWWpGRg3GDhBmynW5ywcrHOvrohV3hYMqKUNNDU6V6FUf_xT2ST7VSpi83RpK3/s1600/25.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Fans have complained that Batman
would never be defeated so easily, which I never understood given that this is
clearly a Batman distanced from his physical prime. To have Wayne go from a
nearly decade-long exile to confronting the most physically challenging member
of the rogue’s gallery makes his defeat more than plausible, but imminent.
While it’s somewhat disheartening to think that Batman ever went soft, it makes
perfect sense once those circumstances are set in motion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_13lt-WVno11iDNc9mKHLM7gOSJ124Q2leh3E_Iz-RC8MCHWhBBRbJhVBSjCafOWMhPMGJfzlsr-oiYZNl1l7MLRVdbXhKjPz0vPoxFONmfFNHF7DlFjk2yXPYgIT-Lk3NuwIkiQUkGNI/s1600/26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_13lt-WVno11iDNc9mKHLM7gOSJ124Q2leh3E_Iz-RC8MCHWhBBRbJhVBSjCafOWMhPMGJfzlsr-oiYZNl1l7MLRVdbXhKjPz0vPoxFONmfFNHF7DlFjk2yXPYgIT-Lk3NuwIkiQUkGNI/s1600/26.jpg" height="242" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">“You fight like a young man, with nothing held back. Admirable, but
mistaken.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And what can you say about the
pinnacle moment of comic book iconography where Bane takes Batman over his head
and performs the unthinkable, breaking his back just as the character had done
in the “Knightfall” saga. My jaw was on the floor the first time, spectacularly
stunned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZsFZaZovvwqc-Lnxhzl9rPh6i7wYbCO6dZTQo7Jztpx_p8v7PR9EloTMpKgcAk4whCjbHQgd-JgwV-qobpYzAV1KwD0yHhT3a8R5DDfZ36kQwmMzou4owgj8wwhjCl2VaRhJByRvffO_g/s1600/27.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZsFZaZovvwqc-Lnxhzl9rPh6i7wYbCO6dZTQo7Jztpx_p8v7PR9EloTMpKgcAk4whCjbHQgd-JgwV-qobpYzAV1KwD0yHhT3a8R5DDfZ36kQwmMzou4owgj8wwhjCl2VaRhJByRvffO_g/s1600/27.png" height="225" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Ah yes, I was wondering what would break first. Your spirit or your
body.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFi6AYKPmj3qcSWWMFyuBWzVU5MHIOlX5QsZ8y2wIZLwornFhIkxFiK6tg-miWY0T7NCEbk7wjCtO07VjBALDQshZHrXIKpzxCddLxvTr_ODfSsaojtCIV7fujxC8N6j33I81U4GhTkCGJ/s1600/30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFi6AYKPmj3qcSWWMFyuBWzVU5MHIOlX5QsZ8y2wIZLwornFhIkxFiK6tg-miWY0T7NCEbk7wjCtO07VjBALDQshZHrXIKpzxCddLxvTr_ODfSsaojtCIV7fujxC8N6j33I81U4GhTkCGJ/s1600/30.jpg" height="218" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/h9xNy5z8PIA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">There’s also Bane’s siege and occupation
of Gotham. From his blowing the bridges and cutting the city off from the mainland
to Blake’s constant marking of a crude Bat emblem in chalk, those elements are
taken right from the pages of the landmark “No Man’s Land” storyline in the
comics of the 90s and if you’re a fan of that story, it’s incredibly worthwhile
to see a “Batman” film go down that path in certain cases. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZsrAwLTXs0LvNvdk2evczcj9uXAp98m_Xv63yWUsijHalK1NuhddpJDMf0B5xdUJO74IewsFDiU2Px14bBkeEVVNvTIKAld6LPxlhQOcLmRp0eRgSTzuufhqCJ9q6pysv_-JdYn3eTKsz/s1600/29.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZsrAwLTXs0LvNvdk2evczcj9uXAp98m_Xv63yWUsijHalK1NuhddpJDMf0B5xdUJO74IewsFDiU2Px14bBkeEVVNvTIKAld6LPxlhQOcLmRp0eRgSTzuufhqCJ9q6pysv_-JdYn3eTKsz/s1600/29.png" height="165" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The art direction, cinematography
and production design are simultaneously inspired and inventive yet maintain a
strong commitment to the visual through-line set up from the previous
installments. Wally Pfister creates a light scape for Gotham City that feels
more lush and warm in scenes such as the Harvey Dent day celebration at Wayne
Manor and Miranda Tate’s masquerade ball, which marvelously parallels the
hedonism and complacency that the city has fallen prey to. Specifically in the
masquerade scene, I love the art direction that feeds into this hedonistic
footnote of party staffers raining rose pedals on the proceedings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5nUkESbYTb5kW02Ypj3uUVG255omlMjHtaCCGYKXLeTo38x88kRRU58YAj-2AAF0ZYiJJpiOlOyoA5ruoxdPSv09r4s4CCX6IBNe5rZNu-R9Wkhvky7t2S3cfz14G91kQk1xKXeF63bI_/s1600/17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5nUkESbYTb5kW02Ypj3uUVG255omlMjHtaCCGYKXLeTo38x88kRRU58YAj-2AAF0ZYiJJpiOlOyoA5ruoxdPSv09r4s4CCX6IBNe5rZNu-R9Wkhvky7t2S3cfz14G91kQk1xKXeF63bI_/s1600/17.jpg" height="170" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">“There’s a storm coming, Mr. Wayne.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">This peace is shattered with harsh,
merciless sequences of light including Batman’s first confrontation with Bane
in the sewers and the dwindling flickers of hope in the prison pit.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It was also interesting to see
Batman in daylight. Typically fans find that sacrilegious but it's a great comment on how being a hero means stepping forth into the light. For Batman to become a true champion for the people, the symbol can't be withheld in the shadows by Bruce alone and bringing his heroics into the day with a rising sun (get it?) is fitting in this instance.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihsTo4aLW7KIYepZfokw4YQam06asNiPwaMoYgVv6CrxniXoS3Sw2Fd8i_b0L7-aV__mvwVGpTfxxhXlhCR3-8IFPBJx6ukX9YB9Y4oStMyCKZcMksMnEilGotubodD5ygg1ne3g4SXhvn/s1600/36.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihsTo4aLW7KIYepZfokw4YQam06asNiPwaMoYgVv6CrxniXoS3Sw2Fd8i_b0L7-aV__mvwVGpTfxxhXlhCR3-8IFPBJx6ukX9YB9Y4oStMyCKZcMksMnEilGotubodD5ygg1ne3g4SXhvn/s1600/36.png" height="223" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The production design heightens the
scale of Nolan’s Gotham and Crowley creates a number of environments that are
not only monstrously ambitious but decorated with wonderful old world touches.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZEn2cjJnjh5xIWh1fmXMfwXnQVqTntGxqJdRjTcMg0wJtIiOQvJnJKCKPfakgmaRgahmvmsK-rqJ2ws6EMcgQjWtcjE3M6TWPi0vr1mDAShsOhskZzn4lCHqJsH5DnATolBshp7H5f8i/s1600/11.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZEn2cjJnjh5xIWh1fmXMfwXnQVqTntGxqJdRjTcMg0wJtIiOQvJnJKCKPfakgmaRgahmvmsK-rqJ2ws6EMcgQjWtcjE3M6TWPi0vr1mDAShsOhskZzn4lCHqJsH5DnATolBshp7H5f8i/s1600/11.png" height="225" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Following the plans for
reconstruction at the end of “Begins,” we’re finally given a new Batcave. We
can charmingly refer to this rendition as the Batcave cubed. Pulling elements
from the Bat-Bunker in “The Dark Knight,” Batman’s crime fighting sanctuary is
given a minimalist, utilitarian approach centered on giant stone cubes that
lift out of the natural springs via hydraulics. This technique continues in a
trickle-down effect as both the Bat Computer and Batsuit vault similarly rise
from the cubes, feeding into this broad and overall theme of “Rising” through
the film, hence the title of course.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFAAFsBttsaf-CJgGFbP2C9bd6dT19KhcVBGY_3EoHq9oBLsvLqs9qFQPfYx7SKNhs7HG2s2bcQ96KBsH5zqQ71viCDLFzn3tT-0xRhms9Lspdwkpb_uv3R2J1WFpHzD20y2gOx-YoTrD/s1600/46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFAAFsBttsaf-CJgGFbP2C9bd6dT19KhcVBGY_3EoHq9oBLsvLqs9qFQPfYx7SKNhs7HG2s2bcQ96KBsH5zqQ71viCDLFzn3tT-0xRhms9Lspdwkpb_uv3R2J1WFpHzD20y2gOx-YoTrD/s1600/46.jpg" height="171" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Standing in stark contrast to the
organic stone and cavernous space of the cave, there’s the inner sanctum of
Bane dwelling within the bowels of the Gotham City sewers. It’s an oppressive
industrial space, webbed with catwalks of rusted metal. Ironically, both spaces
are given a sense of kinetics and life through the simultaneous use of water
and I just love how the water interacts with Batman’s costume during his fight
with Bane, making the suit a reflective surface. It’s kind of a stretch, but
one could say that this approach is a visual representation of Batman no longer
being what he was but only a simple reflection.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">Acting as two more cornerstones to
create a subterranean four-point between the Batcave and the Gotham sewer,
we’re also given the underground containment station for Bruce Wayne’s
abandoned Nuclear Reactor as well as the infamous pit-based prison that saw the
birth of Bane’s legend.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQSpjE9tJqXRe0kaWGad8EU5pYtIoX4JrtBWTiFA15LoKMay8BscVlpE30Xjfy0Op3cm3tvk6nuaBN-_5GF1UXb0dJ9EI15LZBOMrrr2Pg4BRybDAETdNSEY-jSCZrQ4G41FcxWxw1aAJO/s1600/47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQSpjE9tJqXRe0kaWGad8EU5pYtIoX4JrtBWTiFA15LoKMay8BscVlpE30Xjfy0Op3cm3tvk6nuaBN-_5GF1UXb0dJ9EI15LZBOMrrr2Pg4BRybDAETdNSEY-jSCZrQ4G41FcxWxw1aAJO/s1600/47.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The Nuclear Reactor is a great bit
of science fiction flavor, echoing previous high concept story points in the
trilogy like the microwave emitter or the sonar machine. It’s a tremendously vast industrial
space but a different kind of industry from the sewers and it’s a great bit of
fun seeing Fox bring Miranda down into it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGOaNcE_QGWkvR4qcWhnfZAPpw0hhkLwd-9V5Ij6IyH3hKbO0bCRC73lu78cJC5dSzPq4veyNVutN8DNPsZqsbJpbqQaL_xc8uIwiamBRh4p1tzbYPJ4dRvxFZHEHfbSjCfZMAF6KishPc/s1600/34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGOaNcE_QGWkvR4qcWhnfZAPpw0hhkLwd-9V5Ij6IyH3hKbO0bCRC73lu78cJC5dSzPq4veyNVutN8DNPsZqsbJpbqQaL_xc8uIwiamBRh4p1tzbYPJ4dRvxFZHEHfbSjCfZMAF6KishPc/s1600/34.jpg" height="166" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The pit is a colossal backdrop that
effectively, and clearly, parallels Bruce’s fall from grace and promise as well
as his grueling reconstruction, lifting himself up from the depths of his own
self-pity to once again rightfully claim his place as Gotham’s hero. It’s a
charming metaphor for the fabled Lazarus Pits utilized by Ra’s Al Ghul in the
comics with the idea of resurrection and something coming out of the pit even
stronger than what it was when it went in. The base of the pit circled with
prison cells and geometric staircases creates a visual metaphor for oppression,
almost like an ancient tomb fit for Bruce Wayne’s burial. He however defies
those odds and the moment of symbolism as bats erupt from the pit wall as he
makes the jump is fantastic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">“What does that mean?”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Rise”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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</span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXuvFJJfZETbnQ2KV1gBDNrtTaSKW6wKuC65leX6uBeZiHN2K6ch_3P4fgP4hNbqkPMaIhmyiAuZARF0HtZi-gqQJaOHqu0FeQ4ArjoDjSZr73YV5NT3BPc_el8vGJbJ1DedkqOdo8aUTD/s1600/38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXuvFJJfZETbnQ2KV1gBDNrtTaSKW6wKuC65leX6uBeZiHN2K6ch_3P4fgP4hNbqkPMaIhmyiAuZARF0HtZi-gqQJaOHqu0FeQ4ArjoDjSZr73YV5NT3BPc_el8vGJbJ1DedkqOdo8aUTD/s1600/38.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The film’s costume design is a
wonderful tribute to previous Batman incarnations while also making its own
statements, specifically on both Catwoman and Bane since, this time around and
for the very first time in franchise history, Batman himself isn’t really given
much of a design overhaul which is natural. If he gave up the mantle after “The
Dark Knight,” there’d be no point in modifying or updating the Batsuit and so
they don’t, which is refreshing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRsZp6brBHa4ZbsaUORnOMrVw_g54GctmBTOzm7x83Qg6MjrO0tiRwrQYw69kAxWfty5OkLYEYTswaMtvXfECxw0Q1hfIOdMIBGPMR5AGLsNfnRlIWvOw7Etg6fXW-3FKPxN9iI-Qd6K0p/s1600/37.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRsZp6brBHa4ZbsaUORnOMrVw_g54GctmBTOzm7x83Qg6MjrO0tiRwrQYw69kAxWfty5OkLYEYTswaMtvXfECxw0Q1hfIOdMIBGPMR5AGLsNfnRlIWvOw7Etg6fXW-3FKPxN9iI-Qd6K0p/s1600/37.png" height="225" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Catwoman is given a beautiful
rendering that is influenced mostly by the 1966 “Batman” television series and
I welcomed that with open arms while a lot of fans seemed, for whatever reason,
to hate the idea, questioning why she wasn’t being given a more contemporary
approach like the Jim Lee design from the comics. To take a costume in the
tradition of Julie Newmar, Eartha Kitt and Lee Meriwether and pull it through a
high-tech funnel is a terrific method of honoring what came before while moving
forward. It’s a simple thing but I love that we can see Selina’s hair and the
idea of these high-end googles that conveniently flip up into accidental
cat-ears with the classic domino mask gives the character a sense of elegance,
romanticizing the idea of the cat burglar to great effect. The rest of Hathaway’s
wardrobe feels very old Hollywood glamour along the lines of Elizabeth Taylor
or Vivian Leigh and that’s a great fit for Selina.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_dnqaZKQX49mTGdqrKbYcRucS4pKTP-fyQ69tXf110xZUBbqn-eCkJtf3ZTHIznmCmETa6ZVp1s-FpnLqvyqbk0LOIdss9AUirwC2NRTFq1T3RmBAOze7qQ81Cbg8g_QGJAqDF64bnpz-/s1600/48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_dnqaZKQX49mTGdqrKbYcRucS4pKTP-fyQ69tXf110xZUBbqn-eCkJtf3ZTHIznmCmETa6ZVp1s-FpnLqvyqbk0LOIdss9AUirwC2NRTFq1T3RmBAOze7qQ81Cbg8g_QGJAqDF64bnpz-/s1600/48.jpg" height="640" width="425" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Bane and his revolutionary roots
are dramatized through a costume that chooses to base itself on plausibility
rather than the iconography of the comics. Do I miss the Mexican wrestler mask?
Going a step further, do I miss the inclusion of Venom? I’m not so precious
and, for the circumstances of the film and the portrait Nolan and Hardy are
creating, I think Bane is given a fresh appearance that still mirrors familiar
ground. He’s given a mask that still manages to have an ominous effect as it
does on the page and I love the additions made by Lindy Hemming, especially his
French revolutionary-inspired coat with its silhouette-creating high collar and
certain pieces like his forearm brace and vest with its straps and buckles.
It’s a set of costumes that don’t wear Hardy, don’t overshadow his physique and
they give the character an almost Napoleonic presence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_MkqrQXl0u6188SBH79ahgEO0R0fznqdy6Wsfms6qcGCGAEdayObox3tP3mzYxjTYWF9Au88a_exUZDpMEMth7hxDoopDTkKLncY-cg2Nn7QOlYQMQ4ljB2vGEXSVHUYoI2YBhewmkvW-/s1600/40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_MkqrQXl0u6188SBH79ahgEO0R0fznqdy6Wsfms6qcGCGAEdayObox3tP3mzYxjTYWF9Au88a_exUZDpMEMth7hxDoopDTkKLncY-cg2Nn7QOlYQMQ4ljB2vGEXSVHUYoI2YBhewmkvW-/s1600/40.jpg" height="166" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/fpw0ajm3_5k/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/fpw0ajm3_5k&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/fpw0ajm3_5k&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The entire final sequence of the
film is just staggering as hundreds of Gotham police officers and mercenaries charge
each other in the streets outside city hall. It’s surreal to consider that kind
of scale following previous installments like “Batman Returns” that feel
microscopic by comparison. The image of Batman stalking through smoke and he
and Bane incapacitating obstructions while en route to one other is graphic and
amazing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">“So you came back to die with your city.”<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxh-HY_WE-1PjZDb9mNGhCGZxP8es9fDWvH1p85JTulQZUdOIlQpODzVqYZdzkyN9iajWDBFJNGa40cvrl21CUOctIxFDMh0TApy7n1lPCGFl9YcdP6wxvNuDbrZMOVdNf3_XprzrbEWvI/s1600/41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxh-HY_WE-1PjZDb9mNGhCGZxP8es9fDWvH1p85JTulQZUdOIlQpODzVqYZdzkyN9iajWDBFJNGa40cvrl21CUOctIxFDMh0TApy7n1lPCGFl9YcdP6wxvNuDbrZMOVdNf3_XprzrbEWvI/s1600/41.jpg" height="153" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/W_X9QNKzpB0/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/W_X9QNKzpB0&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/W_X9QNKzpB0&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p></o:p> </div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">The scene literally takes off with
the Bat, a new aerial vehicle in Batman’s employ. As with the different genres
incorporated from film to film, I love that Nolan decides to examine various
aspects of Batman’s arsenal. “Batman Begins” focused on the Tumbler and Batman’s
ability to get through Gotham on four wheels, “The Dark Knight” transitioned to
the Bat-Pod, taking the wheels down to two and making Batman’s transportation
more efficient, more modest. “The Dark Knight Rises” observes Batman as a crime
fighter in flight, just as he’s been in the comics and it’s a dynamic choice
that once again pays dividends to the theme of rising; rising to the occasion,
rising up from despair, rising like a Phoenix and taking wing.</span><br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji290A5C2z1zRmezuNUy7awO3cnwbOXrtAyVCSSEyP6wQxL_kubzFGqEetDY8JqV-cdOCECxv90ivxN8rDmYakNBlhFlND41qyNwuTM5QKPuH5UiA6ZwFUiAqFjs2HwijpTCiQKuwkvApE/s1600/19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji290A5C2z1zRmezuNUy7awO3cnwbOXrtAyVCSSEyP6wQxL_kubzFGqEetDY8JqV-cdOCECxv90ivxN8rDmYakNBlhFlND41qyNwuTM5QKPuH5UiA6ZwFUiAqFjs2HwijpTCiQKuwkvApE/s1600/19.jpg" height="169" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/nqOcxxA8UCo?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The film is given its emotional strength
through the driving rhythms of Hans Zimmer’s score. He creates a poetic theme
for Catwoman that I absolutely fell in love with as it slinks around with its
gracefully tinkering piano work and the now famous Bane chant is arguably as
iconic and recognizable as the two-note motif Hans had composed for the Joker.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The Batman material is given a new
elevation and Zimmer’s work with tracks such as “Risen from Darkness” and “Imagine
the Fire” is breathtaking, approaching the foundations constructed for “Batman Begins”
and “The Dark Knight” and building upon them with heightened bombasity and the
inclusion of chorus. The “Rises” score gets the blood pumping big time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrG3V1D5VmHZvYrlEZHmqHD4ZCqSiKNDsrunqZ8_eFYzCFZM6FoqwoXsE0S0YEYqoEyCx53kYJS__r8gIPYhQ2pHJ4g5o5Cd-zFVIjmIRo0THThaXqrAKYE8N9UTHz4WbmmyocowKJq7Mj/s1600/49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrG3V1D5VmHZvYrlEZHmqHD4ZCqSiKNDsrunqZ8_eFYzCFZM6FoqwoXsE0S0YEYqoEyCx53kYJS__r8gIPYhQ2pHJ4g5o5Cd-zFVIjmIRo0THThaXqrAKYE8N9UTHz4WbmmyocowKJq7Mj/s1600/49.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Tell me where the trigger is. Then…you have my permission to die.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">How many times have third
iterations of a film franchise truly succeeded?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">The film has a number of plot holes
to be sure and there are certain elements that feel as though the film is purposefully
and inappropriately self-aware, trying to raise the stakes and have lightning
strike as with “The Dark Knight” instead of focusing on being its own entity
without unnecessary regard for what came before.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">You’ve probably heard them all.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7Ri3eOGAtnvVeLp8qg3E9w4MY_kH79yhGCowWtzGkSHN-K_Go8tMfmKY9YGoih32USA7YybrqGs0pO_fC9YJySTtqFqXSLsemYuU_y6UFje6yDobs3D8lf17kHI5M5kxClgrA1rYUWm7/s1600/06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7Ri3eOGAtnvVeLp8qg3E9w4MY_kH79yhGCowWtzGkSHN-K_Go8tMfmKY9YGoih32USA7YybrqGs0pO_fC9YJySTtqFqXSLsemYuU_y6UFje6yDobs3D8lf17kHI5M5kxClgrA1rYUWm7/s1600/06.jpg" height="193" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">How’d Bruce make it back to Gotham?
How’d his back heal up from nothing more than being strung up by a rope? Robin?
I was fine with that one to be honest. And man, who were they fooling with that
whole “Miranda Tate” disguise?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">But while the film might not be a
full-fledged success in exactly the same way as its predecessor, I still find
it a success for one reason above all others.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjAjSIS6Sfllg0bmVF0_xwb1Z05Yl5PvVZ2Z8_3M5Ra8SBI30qOLanLAKozg_ClX5KoaETGSBS1TBr4CM4E_pYFPEaRBDAPyHpVeX12asDw7IoHmcFbybLvD3rrELxuZU2mWtE3_w1lnYS/s1600/42.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjAjSIS6Sfllg0bmVF0_xwb1Z05Yl5PvVZ2Z8_3M5Ra8SBI30qOLanLAKozg_ClX5KoaETGSBS1TBr4CM4E_pYFPEaRBDAPyHpVeX12asDw7IoHmcFbybLvD3rrELxuZU2mWtE3_w1lnYS/s1600/42.png" height="225" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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</div>
</span><br />
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ohQY7kpOc50?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">“The Dark Knight Rises” is the one
Batman film that has ever made me cry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">I’ve felt that way about my own
life from time to time, the way Batman does. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">There have been points where I’ve
felt disenfranchised, lonely, abandoned and left behind as an afterthought
while all I’ve ever done is my own thing, living my life the way I’ve always
lived it. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">In my observation, there are these
bizarre and dramatic swings I go through where family and friends seem more
interested and invested and supportive of my goals and ambitions in one
instance and then in another, I feel alone but all for naught because I stay
committed to my path in life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB7_OnXNcAJODneKLQeCWEJqWbixi4JWxUSrsSFSl9BflDx3tkPDJPkkZzOfpaYn6QZQ3M2sVrksMBtj2F_nVp7bBfxgUtG6bd_CnZfaQ0CULZl5VXrTF0n-17t53WO_JzADNCbmD6a8ZH/s1600/43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB7_OnXNcAJODneKLQeCWEJqWbixi4JWxUSrsSFSl9BflDx3tkPDJPkkZzOfpaYn6QZQ3M2sVrksMBtj2F_nVp7bBfxgUtG6bd_CnZfaQ0CULZl5VXrTF0n-17t53WO_JzADNCbmD6a8ZH/s1600/43.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">That’s a big part in why I relate
to Batman so much and you see it not just in “Rises” but in other works such as
“The Dark Knight Returns” book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">All Batman is (I’m) doing is being
true to his motivations and his goals while the media and those surrounding him
(my family and friends) speculate or ignore or loathe or support, whatever…but
that’s not the point. The point is that he and I continue and endure regardless
of what everyone else is saying or thinking about us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_6wji6WAwdGshaKvHQyeHwLNC5uxylEtJ-WrH2sEPcbhawj5EWODLf29d_qNcDa1RkkUD5PTKQrmeXvy-yfkMysK0u6Fis0JnWa0CRatl_tiwn2GDj0_r1dlXMR0yfQ7Sk1VtrEhUKojB/s1600/08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_6wji6WAwdGshaKvHQyeHwLNC5uxylEtJ-WrH2sEPcbhawj5EWODLf29d_qNcDa1RkkUD5PTKQrmeXvy-yfkMysK0u6Fis0JnWa0CRatl_tiwn2GDj0_r1dlXMR0yfQ7Sk1VtrEhUKojB/s1600/08.jpg" height="169" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">“You don’t owe these people anymore. You’ve given them everything.”<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></b></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Not everything. Not yet.”<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">To reach that zenith by film’s end
of seeing my hero, my idol, still enduring as I feel I do and coming to terms
with the possible outcome of his inevitable death…without recognition, without
reward but because he needed to save everyone…made me shed tears of pure
adoration and solidified my connection with Batman even more than what it had
already been. My mom will testify to this; I blubbered throughout the entire
ending.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXMVk3j5EGV6Mvg5vEpRDabepQmzfF58sWI81ndrpX3VFkMddml960m1TR_YghyjWU8pk3y8uKT_ZyR8c-EzQ4QPr990tPWH7-mT1mgxxndpFQ9MWeQ58b2CBZy07aEdVvu-kh0e-_Fia/s1600/09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXMVk3j5EGV6Mvg5vEpRDabepQmzfF58sWI81ndrpX3VFkMddml960m1TR_YghyjWU8pk3y8uKT_ZyR8c-EzQ4QPr990tPWH7-mT1mgxxndpFQ9MWeQ58b2CBZy07aEdVvu-kh0e-_Fia/s1600/09.jpg" height="224" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">“A hero can be anyone. Even a man doing something as simple and
reassuring as putting a coat around a young boy’s shoulders…to let him know the
world hadn’t ended.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">From there the emotion just ascends
with poignant scenes such as Gordon figuring out Batman’s true identity to Alfred
weeping at the graves of Thomas and Martha Wayne, declaring his failure of
their son and Lucius Fox driven to figure out what he could’ve done to change
things. It’s humanizing and really goes to great lengths to portray these
characters not as characters but as people. Because to me and to fans around
the world for 75 years strong, they ARE people, as real and meaningful as
anyone in our lives. Bruce, Jim, Alfred, Lucius; they reside in our hearts just
as the eulogy at the end declares.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">And in the end, we’re given a
glimpse of Batman that touched my heart.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf5tPTWQ1hRitPGMRNiNm8XdQ_gEaVH4oODrw9ai0f4MyOPzDdKiJpEDy3zcmyrRBPYvXSnbKRkd_OakEPzkF2kbN4feOLDPSX1m2XAzkwG7xEJ5qMiGrYTpsVKX4uMODwlsrflBVUiDcs/s1600/19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf5tPTWQ1hRitPGMRNiNm8XdQ_gEaVH4oODrw9ai0f4MyOPzDdKiJpEDy3zcmyrRBPYvXSnbKRkd_OakEPzkF2kbN4feOLDPSX1m2XAzkwG7xEJ5qMiGrYTpsVKX4uMODwlsrflBVUiDcs/s1600/19.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Bruce Wayne survived. Alive and
happy, we’re given a moment however brief to realize that our hero has been
given a chance to lead a life free from tragedy and bloodshed because he rose
to show the people of Gotham and the world that they can take responsibility
and power for themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">Batman can be anyone.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">That’s the strength of his symbol.
The mark of his legend.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">That’s how you make yourself more
than just a man.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8aVpKYuc9-XFpJKO4lnjhZNqGMqDKZ-7KXLcltgkFeHJJ3EE9qHSCV-sezBkolR0Z9JA1SnBDcniGPztn5WCcyekfjd-qXVcbSGfjeW3Xgdt_OKyMLaSUW-MBVYcrGOuBAdIUTy57sWkk/s1600/44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8aVpKYuc9-XFpJKO4lnjhZNqGMqDKZ-7KXLcltgkFeHJJ3EE9qHSCV-sezBkolR0Z9JA1SnBDcniGPztn5WCcyekfjd-qXVcbSGfjeW3Xgdt_OKyMLaSUW-MBVYcrGOuBAdIUTy57sWkk/s1600/44.jpg" height="299" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">“It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done. It is
a far, far better rest that I go to, than I have ever known.”<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;">“The Dark Knight Rises” is as
fitting a conclusion to the Batman legend as any.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A poignant, operatic, sweeping
conclusion to a vibrant interpretation, Christopher Nolan and his casts and
crews should be, and most certainly are, very proud of the work they’ve done.
These films are a testament to both Batman’s longevity and his intimacy; how
the character can be so larger than life and yet so personal and identifiable
and their influence on both Batman and filmmaking at large will certainly be
felt for years to come.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">“No one’s ever going to know who saved an entire city.”<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></b></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">“They know. It was the Batman.”<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAu6NOmx08h6tZV2i-z5WunqIoFa8hLjGR8w55-7It61b5vihKxm2n2g4Dute_cVcvss6Z1v1DaZQo97nCkEKCy3Uwc-qHhkqaJzte1A72MlNxW6fLNYFJ31eGLgJTj2kwuEvOgODtxmL8/s1600/45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAu6NOmx08h6tZV2i-z5WunqIoFa8hLjGR8w55-7It61b5vihKxm2n2g4Dute_cVcvss6Z1v1DaZQo97nCkEKCy3Uwc-qHhkqaJzte1A72MlNxW6fLNYFJ31eGLgJTj2kwuEvOgODtxmL8/s1600/45.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/5YKsZQGBZaA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">----------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Chas Blankenshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09152498045221353190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5986956018362546175.post-47772629661314415412014-02-22T23:44:00.003-08:002014-02-22T23:45:29.562-08:00Bat-Computer Database: The Essential Batman Web Supplemental (Bibliography Part 3 of 3)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6qwRXALAVTe6NZmnCbDqxDDt9MJy2cBqYDyqDgc36EK7iudiOG152vG-iD5iTgVwPJnfC0UOA9GsqqIf3nrfZnVtsQB56bxY0Yczn_auOWRzx19uWxXgJMHdTEJjoJ9XuiIbxx18_y7Gk/s1600/16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6qwRXALAVTe6NZmnCbDqxDDt9MJy2cBqYDyqDgc36EK7iudiOG152vG-iD5iTgVwPJnfC0UOA9GsqqIf3nrfZnVtsQB56bxY0Yczn_auOWRzx19uWxXgJMHdTEJjoJ9XuiIbxx18_y7Gk/s1600/16.jpg" /></a></div>
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<o:p></o:p><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">With
the dawn of digital age, web masters, podcast hosts and bloggers have taken to
the frontier of the internet in order to stake a claim with some incredible
independent content. While it’s arguable that a majority of the web has fallen
prey to mediocrity and ignorance at large with sweeping devotions to crude and
poorly produced materials and nonsense, there are diamonds in the rough to be
discovered once it becomes clear that the internet is a blank canvas waiting to
become what you make of it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">And
when it comes to a subject as fascinating and beloved as Batman, there’s no shortage
of incredible and entertaining outlets spanning the depths of the internet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">So
plug in and log on with these 5 incredible Batman related web sources, followed
by a list of 10 more resources:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;"><o:p>-------</o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>1:
“Fatman on Batman” - </strong></span><a href="http://smodcast.com/channels/fatman-on-batman/"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><strong>http://smodcast.com/channels/fatman-on-batman/</strong></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1O6YMGIw61Kib1epg9cSOczcE-uTfM6w9hkbZZuB7UiLkI755US93DwdInQLlZKjLFLJZnA2whzVYF1cvrIsZsDUBYBsWTuTztgHD5OZtVA3av5U_b_3nBdkYfP4qGFFjNeT20R0uBgF/s1600/02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1O6YMGIw61Kib1epg9cSOczcE-uTfM6w9hkbZZuB7UiLkI755US93DwdInQLlZKjLFLJZnA2whzVYF1cvrIsZsDUBYBsWTuTztgHD5OZtVA3av5U_b_3nBdkYfP4qGFFjNeT20R0uBgF/s1600/02.jpg" height="223" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></o:p></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">A
wonderful podcast that’s both parts entertaining and informative, “Fatman on
Batman” is a weekly Smodco show hosted by filmmaker, comic book writer and
hardcore Batman fanatic Kevin Smith. Through his geek cred and contacts, Kevin
brings on a host of guests all on the basis of speaking with those who’ve
either been directly responsible for aiding in the legacy of the character or
have had their lives forever touched by the dark knight detective and, very
often, it’s a combination of both. Ranging from legendary comic book creators
including Neal Adams, Jeph Loeb, Scott Snyder and Jim Lee to Batman media
guests like Paul Dini, Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill and Adam West, “Fatman on
Batman” is an excellent insight into Batman through the lens, reverence and
humor of a fellow Bat-Fan from the Jersey Burgs.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>2:
“Batman News” - </strong></span><a href="http://batman-news.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><strong>http://batman-news.com/</strong></span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">From
casting announcements to comic reviews, “Batman News” is a premiere website for
staying up to date with all things Batman in comics and all subsequent media.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>3:
“Legions of Gotham” - </strong></span><a href="http://www.legionsofgotham.org/"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><strong>http://www.legionsofgotham.org/</strong></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Sub-titled
as “The Premiere Batman Resource,” “Legions of Gotham” provides everything from
an online timeline of Batman’s complete history to Message Boards for connecting
to fellow Batman fans and stands as one of the strongest Batman fansites on the
web.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>4:
“DC Comics – Batman” - </strong></span><a href="http://www.dccomics.com/characters/batman"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><strong>http://www.dccomics.com/characters/batman</strong></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The
official DC Comics page devoted to Batman. As good a place to start as any to
get your online Batman fix under the watchful eye of DC’s current custodians.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>5:
“Batman-On-Film” - </strong></span><a href="http://www.batman-on-film.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><strong>http://www.batman-on-film.com/</strong></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Created
by fellow Texan and Batman fan Bill “Jett” Ramey, “Batman-On-Film” was one of
the first fansites devoted to Batman in non-comic media. While the website has
since adopted discussion of the comics (you can find a link to </span><a href="http://www.batman-in-comics.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">www.Batman-In-Comics.com</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> on the home
page), the page continues to focus on film and television efforts past, present
and future.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>6:
“1966 Batfan” - </strong></span><a href="http://www.1966batfan.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><strong>http://www.1966batfan.com/</strong></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>7:
“66 Batman Message Board” - </strong></span><a href="http://www.66batman.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><strong>http://www.66batman.com/</strong></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ue2rDbXu3Lm9PuM-5JFIIrR9R9yrs0wBYM8kJBtZ0h30V3d6-tRLcrGeBKLW2uvY-dKdRTIEMhwQeNYB6XAPYTJx2elUf0LXmF6QhcxPDATZmcUaqVDWNGZUL7IjT17X0ZHWM2CjTgD6/s1600/15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ue2rDbXu3Lm9PuM-5JFIIrR9R9yrs0wBYM8kJBtZ0h30V3d6-tRLcrGeBKLW2uvY-dKdRTIEMhwQeNYB6XAPYTJx2elUf0LXmF6QhcxPDATZmcUaqVDWNGZUL7IjT17X0ZHWM2CjTgD6/s1600/15.jpg" height="150" width="400" /></a></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>8:
“1989 Batman.com” - </strong></span><a href="http://www.1989batman.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><strong>http://www.1989batman.com/</strong></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>9:
“Bat-Blog” - </strong></span><a href="http://tomztoyz.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><strong>http://tomztoyz.blogspot.com/</strong></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit6hbv8m-v-L0PkeoiNrYrfKu1wz2-5yzsrNzLorchXeM8Zr_gtTQx-o2poqQy4sACzBipuae50eYK8rS3eYWtd8zg-VVOyCVD-hJsfpOiZxbnjDIoHA-ixrdHTPfubp6QN53CYmmfQqFW/s1600/07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit6hbv8m-v-L0PkeoiNrYrfKu1wz2-5yzsrNzLorchXeM8Zr_gtTQx-o2poqQy4sACzBipuae50eYK8rS3eYWtd8zg-VVOyCVD-hJsfpOiZxbnjDIoHA-ixrdHTPfubp6QN53CYmmfQqFW/s1600/07.jpg" height="70" width="400" /></a></span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>10:
“Batman Fan Films.com” - </strong></span><a href="http://www.batmanfanfilms.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><strong>http://www.batmanfanfilms.com/</strong></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>11:
“The Batman Universe” - </strong></span><a href="http://thebatmanuniverse.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><strong>http://thebatmanuniverse.com/</strong></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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“The Bat Squad.net” - </strong></span><a href="http://thebatsquad.net/"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><strong>http://thebatsquad.net</strong></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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“Brotherhood of the Bat” - </strong></span><a href="http://bbrotherhoodofthebat.runboard.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><strong>http://bbrotherhoodofthebat.runboard.com/</strong></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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“Steve and Andy Meet Batman” - </strong></span><a href="http://steveandandy.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><strong>http://steveandandy.blogspot.com/</strong></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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“The World’s Finest Online” - </strong></span><a href="http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><strong>http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/</strong></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Chas Blankenshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09152498045221353190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5986956018362546175.post-22509818987575271632014-02-21T20:49:00.000-08:002014-02-23T00:14:59.976-08:00Historical Analysis: The Essential Batman Documentary Supplemental (Bibliography Part 2 of 3)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXzdnRjKsNutxh3yiM1ZiXZjQ3rqEAPJrTlc-kwN-VLaInhN1cYSBBhl1n_yWbJhkulgKoYr0w4V8qi-HSTVbBFxlEhI-JuD7-kYVj0q4HbTv_Cb6aJj3a9JFYuLmrVCBWKlXfBONG4IYK/s1600/3267840483_e07a0921d9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXzdnRjKsNutxh3yiM1ZiXZjQ3rqEAPJrTlc-kwN-VLaInhN1cYSBBhl1n_yWbJhkulgKoYr0w4V8qi-HSTVbBFxlEhI-JuD7-kYVj0q4HbTv_Cb6aJj3a9JFYuLmrVCBWKlXfBONG4IYK/s400/3267840483_e07a0921d9.jpg" height="400" width="368" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Not only are there tremendous reference tools for Batman in print, but there are also a number of noteworthy documentaries that take a critical and educative look at Batman both in his fictional history as well as his literal history in publication, film and popular culture.<br /><br />From the story of co-creator Bob Kane himself to the creation of the "Batman" feature films to a look into the psychology of the character, here is a collection of essential Batman Documentaries:<br /><br />(NOTE: Some Documentaries are unavailable on YouTube. Information on their locations will be provided as is necessary).<br /><br />----------</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">"Batman & Me: The Bob Kane Story"</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6gvj8-ayR3vUoBi48jg5kJoJGvv0DJNR8Z4UZDCzZZe1cHGA6G284GTM8_s378bR07ifD1n9HgBq_vhEpBg5jJtU1ichqiI18lKWxTa9f6Gv6aYFpNN_Ih1bO4OTi8GxYnpN8HxOcaLh/s1600/Batman+&+Me+-+The+Bob+Kane+Story.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6gvj8-ayR3vUoBi48jg5kJoJGvv0DJNR8Z4UZDCzZZe1cHGA6G284GTM8_s378bR07ifD1n9HgBq_vhEpBg5jJtU1ichqiI18lKWxTa9f6Gv6aYFpNN_Ih1bO4OTi8GxYnpN8HxOcaLh/s400/Batman+&+Me+-+The+Bob+Kane+Story.jpg" height="336" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Based on the biography of the same name, "Batman & Me" tells the story of "Batman" co-creator Robert Kahn, who would go on to be known as Bob Kane. From his early childhood and introduction to the fantasy of Zorro and Sherlock Holmes to the creation of Batman and his subsequent pride and interest in the wealth and fame as a result of the character's success, this documentary is a fascinating insight into the man who's idea started it all.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />This documentary can be found on the DVD/Blu-Ray release of 2008's "Batman: Gotham Knight" animated feature and the DVD/Blu-Ray release of 2012's "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part 1."<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">"Batman Unmasked: The Psychology of the Dark Knight"</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPRw22evjFqGoHFK8s9ZpdBbikLL7wHsS9IQPQJD96xVF4ZWImY5k9Es_5Rh5U9ats6WBhngeCdAyf-l77bceX7_7DVZYVogg7NRdayXrG8PLU1MzAwJVkHqQPki_E0ubgOp1hKRIjVKV/s1600/Batman+Unmasked+Psychology.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPRw22evjFqGoHFK8s9ZpdBbikLL7wHsS9IQPQJD96xVF4ZWImY5k9Es_5Rh5U9ats6WBhngeCdAyf-l77bceX7_7DVZYVogg7NRdayXrG8PLU1MzAwJVkHqQPki_E0ubgOp1hKRIjVKV/s400/Batman+Unmasked+Psychology.jpg" height="215" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Created in anticipation for Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight," "Batman Unmasked" is a fascinating look at Batman and his rogues gallery through the utilization of psychological analysis to educate and enrich viewers with the character complexities these mythic figures possess. Includes interviews with prominent psycho-analytical authorities and authors as well as filmmakers Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas, Charles Roven and actor Christian Bale.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">"Legends of the Dark Knight: The History of Batman"</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2cVBieqLP9FPeXZ0U6zag-nFDtS5pngJvWW7VynE6nyfw5y-8ui1EhHfjTm5eaOMiYU4YyZ1Xm6H-crsvr7lwXnrsMqjDzUfug2u9UUH1JdZlJJD2RP_q1JhpIGUgA2wzLG4nwMV19FB/s1600/4+-+Legends+of+the+Dark+Knight+the+History+of+Batman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2cVBieqLP9FPeXZ0U6zag-nFDtS5pngJvWW7VynE6nyfw5y-8ui1EhHfjTm5eaOMiYU4YyZ1Xm6H-crsvr7lwXnrsMqjDzUfug2u9UUH1JdZlJJD2RP_q1JhpIGUgA2wzLG4nwMV19FB/s1600/4+-+Legends+of+the+Dark+Knight+the+History+of+Batman.jpg" height="293" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Narrated by Mark Hamill, this documentary (included in the Special Edition DVD/Blu-Ray release of Tim Burton's "BATMAN" (1989), spans the publication and film/TV production of Batman from his creation in 1939 to both "BATMAN" and "Batman: The Animated Series" with interviews from quintessential Batman participants including Dennis O'Neil, Paul Dini, Frank Miller, Alex Ross, Les Daniels, Jeph Loeb and several others.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">"A Mirror for the Bat"</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-R0pBwgxEVeFVNVMP8tImxb5ik5Ss8En21Ly4UBoHHNMuPaGXQP4ADRNHUVtRyl0Zd2_BEILehZWsMMJkY0qfFjrEyrL_los_AxT7FaSUvZYerDOCnpPgmbYc5TzljRFWZ6LlVz8qrUWz/s1600/Jokers_Reckoning.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-R0pBwgxEVeFVNVMP8tImxb5ik5Ss8En21Ly4UBoHHNMuPaGXQP4ADRNHUVtRyl0Zd2_BEILehZWsMMJkY0qfFjrEyrL_los_AxT7FaSUvZYerDOCnpPgmbYc5TzljRFWZ6LlVz8qrUWz/s400/Jokers_Reckoning.gif" height="400" width="279" /></span></a></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xs72bsbGlls?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A series of talking heads including "Batman" comics scribes and DC Comics heavy's such as Greg Rucka, Paul Dini, Brian Azzerello, Dan Didio, Paul Levitz, Geoff Johns and Gregory Noveck weigh in on all of Batman's greatest foes, shedding personal insight onto what makes them tick and what makes them perfect foils for the caped crusader.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">"Batman Tech"</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Plunging into the world of Batman's gadgets and cutting edge technology, "Batman Tech" offers insight on the real world applications of the equipment designed and created by Wayne Enterprises and the possibilities of whether or not items such as the Grappling Hook, the Batsuit, the Batarang or the Batmobile could actually be utilized in the real world of crime fighting and forensics.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">"Shadows of the Bat: The Cinematic Saga of the Dark Knight"</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Composed within the Special Edition DVD/Blu-Ray releases of the Tim Burton/Joel Schumacher directed "Batman" films, "Shadows of the Bat" takes us on an incredible journey through the history and production of these four films in a wonderful 6-part odyssey from Michael Uslan's initial desires to produce a definitive Batman film to Joel Schumacher's actual apology for "Batman & Robin."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Portions of this documentary are unavailable on YouTube, including the first two parts of "BATMAN" and the "Batman Forever: Reinventing a Hero" portion.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>"Legends of the Knight" (Brett Culp, 2013)<br /> </strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIA0lQUOm2mwVO6qHdiiXcVZ-g5Ks24scSlRpdwW5RBaXJbbB1U3BWztoM-YLVW9cgIfnoc6I72RH-JRBLQ6m9u5b6EEctN_zapn1dNZtEIy71xxYzTuPm4qaTQkaP5G76GUDfO0sfYPRr/s1600/untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIA0lQUOm2mwVO6qHdiiXcVZ-g5Ks24scSlRpdwW5RBaXJbbB1U3BWztoM-YLVW9cgIfnoc6I72RH-JRBLQ6m9u5b6EEctN_zapn1dNZtEIy71xxYzTuPm4qaTQkaP5G76GUDfO0sfYPRr/s1600/untitled.png" height="225" width="400" /></a></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>
</strong>Through a combination of heart, humanity and crowd-sourced funds, Miami-based filmmaker Brett Culp has successfully directed and produced an inspired feature length observation on the emotional, spiritual and moral influence of Batman on culture, society and the world by following and telling a handful of stories across the nation including Miles Scott, a who gained feverish acclaim as<br /><br />Featuring a number of interviews including Michael E. Uslan, Dennis O'Neill and pop culture blogger Jill Pantozzi, the trailer for the documentary can be found at the following link, along with instructions on how to request and schedule a screening in your city.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="http://www.wearebatman.com/" target="_blank">www.wearebatman.com</a></span></div>
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Chas Blankenshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09152498045221353190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5986956018362546175.post-60335957714030101622014-02-21T20:29:00.000-08:002014-02-25T23:13:30.282-08:00Textual Reference: The Essential Batman Literature Supplemental (Bibliography Part 1 of 3)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXutg1REIHaTvLcjEx9krFQgf08vJO2PrYOur9uTlR4saFlPSYxzn119KDDgL90NCTcUi2QDUuP1vyaTvM94Mt0eKFp1vulBKpq2w5PoZe171hROwc1s9HYRJJhFLrseLsXC00Vg6tKdo3/s1600/Batman+Reading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXutg1REIHaTvLcjEx9krFQgf08vJO2PrYOur9uTlR4saFlPSYxzn119KDDgL90NCTcUi2QDUuP1vyaTvM94Mt0eKFp1vulBKpq2w5PoZe171hROwc1s9HYRJJhFLrseLsXC00Vg6tKdo3/s1600/Batman+Reading.jpg" height="400" width="330" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">As
a character born on the page, Batman has his own wealth of texts based on
numerous aspects of his creation and existence, not only as Gotham City’s
heroic crusader but as a comic book property, a film icon, a psychological
curiosity, a spiritual barometer and a pop culture phenomenon.<br />
<br />
Here now is a highlight of my 10 favorite in-depth texts about the Batman
character spanning across several topics of discussion followed by a subsequent
alphabetical list documenting 40 additional texts categorized from topic to
topic:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;">----- </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">1:
“The Batman Files” (Matthew Manning)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3lOZxHVbEaUVeXLd07kOsIPkhioLjQVDdnI27wzCjYPscB23p2KPG-PXDIwAXe-RutC6sDwqTQCyyN_QcW1uFm7puW0NY2IFRLgmwhDII18XtNx2qgFceLriwie7FWXgo3xSLpA0o3BG/s1600/3+-+The+Batman+Files.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3lOZxHVbEaUVeXLd07kOsIPkhioLjQVDdnI27wzCjYPscB23p2KPG-PXDIwAXe-RutC6sDwqTQCyyN_QcW1uFm7puW0NY2IFRLgmwhDII18XtNx2qgFceLriwie7FWXgo3xSLpA0o3BG/s1600/3+-+The+Batman+Files.jpg" height="400" width="246" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">2:
“Batman: The Complete History” (Les Daniels)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmLuTvZEmFNZ8FiRaja3Cl4FNdh4SI5f5O1-xiiT8tVsU3aNoNfi5pdqBP4Txsnq7eGUSbGS3GFwPwUe9YA-iZMqTgrcVxsIuV3y_hSjJHevPlxIt8xl5VVYp9eGtj92tl6z0won-OIX3m/s1600/7+-+Batman+The+Complete+History.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmLuTvZEmFNZ8FiRaja3Cl4FNdh4SI5f5O1-xiiT8tVsU3aNoNfi5pdqBP4Txsnq7eGUSbGS3GFwPwUe9YA-iZMqTgrcVxsIuV3y_hSjJHevPlxIt8xl5VVYp9eGtj92tl6z0won-OIX3m/s1600/7+-+Batman+The+Complete+History.jpg" height="320" width="253" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">3:
“Batman and Philosophy: The Dark Knight of the Soul” (Mark D. White and Robert Arp)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFYLiNwOEYNzB0CW3YFI6DCas_2QOaocgcpUjOV_uU7pHx4v7aQPl6MsdVi2TU-xNoUSf9qQJh7IQn-If6QZYklKGXCfEO_8vMUXnBlmxVIq8gMC0oBL5qFJD4p1_S-0xKr9APHJ9nt88/s1600/5+-+Batman+and+Philosophy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFYLiNwOEYNzB0CW3YFI6DCas_2QOaocgcpUjOV_uU7pHx4v7aQPl6MsdVi2TU-xNoUSf9qQJh7IQn-If6QZYklKGXCfEO_8vMUXnBlmxVIq8gMC0oBL5qFJD4p1_S-0xKr9APHJ9nt88/s1600/5+-+Batman+and+Philosophy.jpg" height="400" width="268" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">4:
“The Boy Who Loved Batman: A Memoir” (Michael E. Uslan)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0laYzU2X0ZHB6Z1JDG3XZFdOZEAg_3A2rqTlabdBjIqgflYebYPyFXazVJwBvqYFAur7kY6uu0gRZeoI9zfcpMpW-xntCOR8Tacmj38HEogd9mBQHsIOZ1qOdwJtuSfpMiJgPc0XQ5n8/s1600/8+-+The+Boy+Who+Loved+Batman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0laYzU2X0ZHB6Z1JDG3XZFdOZEAg_3A2rqTlabdBjIqgflYebYPyFXazVJwBvqYFAur7kY6uu0gRZeoI9zfcpMpW-xntCOR8Tacmj38HEogd9mBQHsIOZ1qOdwJtuSfpMiJgPc0XQ5n8/s1600/8+-+The+Boy+Who+Loved+Batman.jpg" height="400" width="288" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">5:
“Batman and Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight” (Travis Langley)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1gvmuFvuQo9TsG1JrV4OA1Uq7DG8242665s7-xcoY0ihjoF12Gw2h4VbiCsDH7Wr31vLOOzK8H0tBxM_xlFR5Qe9DPQHniETxLJQka1HFy7UmGnekL5uk_Q7qbDjv-VDDJRtzb8pBng7V/s1600/4+-+Batman+and+Psychology.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1gvmuFvuQo9TsG1JrV4OA1Uq7DG8242665s7-xcoY0ihjoF12Gw2h4VbiCsDH7Wr31vLOOzK8H0tBxM_xlFR5Qe9DPQHniETxLJQka1HFy7UmGnekL5uk_Q7qbDjv-VDDJRtzb8pBng7V/s1600/4+-+Batman+and+Psychology.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">6:
“Batman Unmasked: Analyzing a Cultural Icon” (Will Brooker)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFfjjASODHMHb7SV4ZnNTCJSMNlMM4h9LgmBnPo9HwOHszrTVJOe8oaMDQRKrXHXJRGpHT6ggu-UW2naH5wQ6lz4VTnKeVVZHlS5oFEZcRtQeUn9l6vGzcM6Qu873q1W0WLuQwXyoAv8Pw/s1600/27+-+Batman+Unmasked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFfjjASODHMHb7SV4ZnNTCJSMNlMM4h9LgmBnPo9HwOHszrTVJOe8oaMDQRKrXHXJRGpHT6ggu-UW2naH5wQ6lz4VTnKeVVZHlS5oFEZcRtQeUn9l6vGzcM6Qu873q1W0WLuQwXyoAv8Pw/s1600/27+-+Batman+Unmasked.jpg" height="400" width="263" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">7:
“The Essential Batman Encyclopedia” (Robert Greenberger)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPE1a_dEi27VNjGVyb1SutYpv8lmL_19VrAQC4RHZTBnTfjgRSCgS51E1qrFaulP8NP2eKXhsDymEWJtP0cGAuK6mc07NV7SISrhSJvjatxvIvQcbVghdc8fuTouKiVgtKyASkTV8KIXkg/s1600/6+-+The+Essential+Encyclopedia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPE1a_dEi27VNjGVyb1SutYpv8lmL_19VrAQC4RHZTBnTfjgRSCgS51E1qrFaulP8NP2eKXhsDymEWJtP0cGAuK6mc07NV7SISrhSJvjatxvIvQcbVghdc8fuTouKiVgtKyASkTV8KIXkg/s1600/6+-+The+Essential+Encyclopedia.jpg" height="400" width="303" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">8:
“Batman: The Ultimate Guide to the Dark Knight” (Scott Beatty)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqCnlNdupn66nWSDZShLpEQfsbSqLflfca30T_euA6ddfiiqtTztZ0mMTPaZUbUpzbukLTf43NkXhgipEvv5PMIy8Yhyphenhyphen7eXbxwiGR94uX_GDAHJPpQLHFX9XHg1FCBH_NH4pHCRuqph1hU/s1600/2+-+The+Ulimate+Guide+To+The+Dark+Knight.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqCnlNdupn66nWSDZShLpEQfsbSqLflfca30T_euA6ddfiiqtTztZ0mMTPaZUbUpzbukLTf43NkXhgipEvv5PMIy8Yhyphenhyphen7eXbxwiGR94uX_GDAHJPpQLHFX9XHg1FCBH_NH4pHCRuqph1hU/s1600/2+-+The+Ulimate+Guide+To+The+Dark+Knight.png" height="400" width="345" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">9:
“Batman & Me” (Bob Kane and Tom Andrae)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS4zRCzgqSdC65nYR2yFMWWboVNJJNsjpmagnw-vy2dSpva2nark-Yasx7mCD6ILvr3SvNB3xOZAXocW6QYhyhuKXVaR57bIY1QF5_NIar_IYlcevXe6v9c7CW7G45ouAYM8NudF0AyZ0o/s1600/9+-+Batman+&+Me+Bob+Kane+Story.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS4zRCzgqSdC65nYR2yFMWWboVNJJNsjpmagnw-vy2dSpva2nark-Yasx7mCD6ILvr3SvNB3xOZAXocW6QYhyhuKXVaR57bIY1QF5_NIar_IYlcevXe6v9c7CW7G45ouAYM8NudF0AyZ0o/s1600/9+-+Batman+&+Me+Bob+Kane+Story.jpg" height="320" width="242" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">10:
“Wisdom from the Batcave: How to Live a Super, Heroic Life” (Cary A. Friedman)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFg7-UO2VTnsQuicCjILrxAshHxBcrCc3uCcK4qiG5csJhoKu2mYgLMRJsOh6tpcBjRX3MXSJ2Nnw2BIPYCbeA5zuUc3iVG4izvaRcB7qjMdaBOwv0bE-JKt0Lj4AbNzomTl-zeejqsuLN/s1600/25+-+Wisdom+from+the+Batcave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFg7-UO2VTnsQuicCjILrxAshHxBcrCc3uCcK4qiG5csJhoKu2mYgLMRJsOh6tpcBjRX3MXSJ2Nnw2BIPYCbeA5zuUc3iVG4izvaRcB7qjMdaBOwv0bE-JKt0Lj4AbNzomTl-zeejqsuLN/s1600/25+-+Wisdom+from+the+Batcave.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">-----<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Autobiographies:<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">11:
“Back to the Batcave” (Adam West and Jeff Rovin)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBNzFYDZQCUACVKRUvN6WihB61KTi_vgk69sOLbyN5y9z32YFuW85q1f6h7HzNhfflpHMH4efJfB41YPgY-XCxnc99o8t25f84Ua3_UEMmTUGpbGj-_gCo84m0NuT3GPbRmDtxYV4xK-r3/s1600/11+-+Back+to+the+Batcave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBNzFYDZQCUACVKRUvN6WihB61KTi_vgk69sOLbyN5y9z32YFuW85q1f6h7HzNhfflpHMH4efJfB41YPgY-XCxnc99o8t25f84Ua3_UEMmTUGpbGj-_gCo84m0NuT3GPbRmDtxYV4xK-r3/s1600/11+-+Back+to+the+Batcave.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">12:
“Boy Wonder: My Life In Tights” (Burt Ward and Stanley Ralph Ross)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9NarZjf88IkWP6vQFINQsA1Zp7RRQyjDJad2CJLX0DS0lLjYf7mCYKeHYAKr34Raw80oSZK7rOpdHGoiHWadSE1QPmnBArAhZDW34YrB4XVQXT1WFlVcccD0R2oErBEgnjBawSLEOwDI/s1600/15+-+Boy+Wonder+My+Life+In+Tights.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9NarZjf88IkWP6vQFINQsA1Zp7RRQyjDJad2CJLX0DS0lLjYf7mCYKeHYAKr34Raw80oSZK7rOpdHGoiHWadSE1QPmnBArAhZDW34YrB4XVQXT1WFlVcccD0R2oErBEgnjBawSLEOwDI/s1600/15+-+Boy+Wonder+My+Life+In+Tights.jpg" height="400" width="262" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Film
(Official):<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">13:
“BATMAN: The Official Book of the Movie” (John Marriott)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpDztBduaFKxd7btBEryleMfL_LPw3Jygt5__bh5ZTBIQa8KxynulZjoHaVQAUk0reKWUMxk_2364u-ZL0UYUhq_LO_Z2ZC2g92bWETYRylZvB-ZRJqmVhioNhCEXVcpGfTbptHwkftg4/s1600/16+-+Batman+the+Official+Book+of+the+Movie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpDztBduaFKxd7btBEryleMfL_LPw3Jygt5__bh5ZTBIQa8KxynulZjoHaVQAUk0reKWUMxk_2364u-ZL0UYUhq_LO_Z2ZC2g92bWETYRylZvB-ZRJqmVhioNhCEXVcpGfTbptHwkftg4/s1600/16+-+Batman+the+Official+Book+of+the+Movie.jpg" height="400" width="315" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">14:
“Batman Returns: The Official Movie Book” (Michael Singer)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWJ5v1dZlizgz5oVnaUFzkqJeeL8LZAcRXwD0THaI2ZIwQTVdFjgq1YosnfibOb4La1jHEbIYF6fFqILZdIWbgag1Mbkna7zRR_ESqbysP33YGDXrLxO-Na3dIeoLEeeVCYmOC3ZcJASEN/s1600/17+-+Batman+Returns+Official+Book+of+the+Movie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWJ5v1dZlizgz5oVnaUFzkqJeeL8LZAcRXwD0THaI2ZIwQTVdFjgq1YosnfibOb4La1jHEbIYF6fFqILZdIWbgag1Mbkna7zRR_ESqbysP33YGDXrLxO-Na3dIeoLEeeVCYmOC3ZcJASEN/s1600/17+-+Batman+Returns+Official+Book+of+the+Movie.jpg" height="400" width="316" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">15:
“Batman Forever: The Official Movie Book” (Michael Singer)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrtreOpfR6BXxrySX9ZqJMbqJR1D51AXCQfdYDhEd00HQ2_xR_D737tqQGb4RbDWVNIe3mPQ_Itqw5AI5iUYRNZZr0xj0qCu9npCMlM8VM1WNHBEovcFgLLJU2xBNkqap_Fxa9otUdgBnW/s1600/18+-+Batman+Forever+Official+Book+of+the+Movie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrtreOpfR6BXxrySX9ZqJMbqJR1D51AXCQfdYDhEd00HQ2_xR_D737tqQGb4RbDWVNIe3mPQ_Itqw5AI5iUYRNZZr0xj0qCu9npCMlM8VM1WNHBEovcFgLLJU2xBNkqap_Fxa9otUdgBnW/s1600/18+-+Batman+Forever+Official+Book+of+the+Movie.jpg" height="400" width="315" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">16:
“Batman & Robin: The Making of the Movie” (Michael Singer)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQc1Kil1oPzACToOd-oMraRuImRlEcFngKFmUG3sBSle9P4BMlJodDRcLzdHcxwhLte13j3HTW2VbQALVo_WE035YfYCahkx8pzGuV9G1AFh7SsBIkO_7TaTTmyX-n7XRex0A0_ANzisB1/s1600/16+-+Batman+&+Robin+Movie+Book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQc1Kil1oPzACToOd-oMraRuImRlEcFngKFmUG3sBSle9P4BMlJodDRcLzdHcxwhLte13j3HTW2VbQALVo_WE035YfYCahkx8pzGuV9G1AFh7SsBIkO_7TaTTmyX-n7XRex0A0_ANzisB1/s1600/16+-+Batman+&+Robin+Movie+Book.jpg" height="400" width="303" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">17:
“Batman Begins: The Visual Guide” (Scott Beatty)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDxGSdx9BuEozfqM5IZAp5vvsfpyjvUZ9HDsNN17lp_amSDB7wzPbLv4DdtHtFKDGhswTaSmY69Diyk4YFpx4WBrd7WQWOZxZo128GEkEmBw0BFFoZRQvTGsa98f3402xHOTM_TO5kx0p/s1600/17+-+Batman+Begins+Visual+Guide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDxGSdx9BuEozfqM5IZAp5vvsfpyjvUZ9HDsNN17lp_amSDB7wzPbLv4DdtHtFKDGhswTaSmY69Diyk4YFpx4WBrd7WQWOZxZo128GEkEmBw0BFFoZRQvTGsa98f3402xHOTM_TO5kx0p/s1600/17+-+Batman+Begins+Visual+Guide.jpg" height="400" width="337" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">18:
“The Art of Batman Begins: Shadows of the Dark Knight” (Mark Cotta Vaz)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxQWNNd-iW7AlR8AQZLoCr5oPIkuK9d80-iIHI_e9jhlrpuiV613mjnoAAplWa-k_3LF_HGEh67lMygudbtW0sMld01NYz6HC23lUkmN6AuQamemFQs0XnrF0gqg-3cQeRXm43PgK4m7Gb/s1600/18+-+The+Art+of+Batman+Begins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxQWNNd-iW7AlR8AQZLoCr5oPIkuK9d80-iIHI_e9jhlrpuiV613mjnoAAplWa-k_3LF_HGEh67lMygudbtW0sMld01NYz6HC23lUkmN6AuQamemFQs0XnrF0gqg-3cQeRXm43PgK4m7Gb/s1600/18+-+The+Art+of+Batman+Begins.jpg" height="312" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">19:
“The Art and Making of The Dark Knight Trilogy” (Jody Duncan Jesser and Janine
Pourroy)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilaSBwQUSr5CSScis1iELgHV-X4xgl3yBd9_Rcbx6cuS5d9z4HVMYsjTlJ5j5HQS0ctQh011MB743oXHf805PcAODtzaTksLI-8neEUnBB8jenWbpdJTNffsXXK91GJ894N-7N3KHq9iaa/s1600/19+-+The+Art+and+Making+of+the+Dark+Knight+Trilogy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilaSBwQUSr5CSScis1iELgHV-X4xgl3yBd9_Rcbx6cuS5d9z4HVMYsjTlJ5j5HQS0ctQh011MB743oXHf805PcAODtzaTksLI-8neEUnBB8jenWbpdJTNffsXXK91GJ894N-7N3KHq9iaa/s1600/19+-+The+Art+and+Making+of+the+Dark+Knight+Trilogy.jpg" height="400" width="312" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">20:
“The Dark Knight Trilogy: The Complete Screenplays” (David S. Goyer,
Christopher Nolan and Jonathan Nolan)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0E2mkIkB7Yw6p9KyNSm1pO4mUqqA8n7iI_wTMUavWGqA8IW7S_v80uI53fMPwbZuZeKvNkuua3o84q2yTBocaz8Ta9GVfd-o5FSpYV0v-zrTn8oUFAyC2NHRWRdbiqsJC5mSL3RgJZ9c/s1600/20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0E2mkIkB7Yw6p9KyNSm1pO4mUqqA8n7iI_wTMUavWGqA8IW7S_v80uI53fMPwbZuZeKvNkuua3o84q2yTBocaz8Ta9GVfd-o5FSpYV0v-zrTn8oUFAyC2NHRWRdbiqsJC5mSL3RgJZ9c/s1600/20.jpg" height="400" width="261" /></a></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Film
(Behind the Scenes):<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">21:
“Billion Dollar Batman: A History of the Caped Crusader on Film, Radio and
Television From 10<span style="color: white;">¢ Comic Book To Global Icon” (Bruce
Scivally)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4YVbK1OEMQCu6k0m-d1bR9HgCBTjsBAm8b96ZRvJeJiD0MWwtrxekedvoN95hekpG2kWNVpnhqL-4JGvBtlzaCb5GNbqRRB3R0lZk0FFUvtLevipp572QyYo5BvtVDG8e9Op3ujiUPD96/s1600/21+-+Billion+Dollar+Batman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4YVbK1OEMQCu6k0m-d1bR9HgCBTjsBAm8b96ZRvJeJiD0MWwtrxekedvoN95hekpG2kWNVpnhqL-4JGvBtlzaCb5GNbqRRB3R0lZk0FFUvtLevipp572QyYo5BvtVDG8e9Op3ujiUPD96/s1600/21+-+Billion+Dollar+Batman.jpg" height="400" width="280" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">22:
“The Batman Filmography (Second Edition)” (Mark S. Reinhart)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_YedgQW5tsb7TkAWqZbZ3nDLJQH7Epg21yEThW_DGajqKfPPL0INJ6KpvcBsyBN56aqoLWV1dLazQ0_8l9DGGRca0hyphenhyphenbueo5BWIQJhMcVYnOUyKbo82tkz5XOBZ_PC7Rwb97JcLurwiwz/s1600/22+-+The+Batman+Filmography.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_YedgQW5tsb7TkAWqZbZ3nDLJQH7Epg21yEThW_DGajqKfPPL0INJ6KpvcBsyBN56aqoLWV1dLazQ0_8l9DGGRca0hyphenhyphenbueo5BWIQJhMcVYnOUyKbo82tkz5XOBZ_PC7Rwb97JcLurwiwz/s1600/22+-+The+Batman+Filmography.jpg" height="400" width="280" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">23:
“Holy Franchise, Batman: Bringing the Caped Crusader to the Screen” (Gary
Collinson)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxW9_VluPXGgqyeP7Q-bmn7rXvsNB7UOKmqwMmuVu1zHojQ0rPZSo42-1tilkVX665uSeiAy-ZAWGNfZdbUjejovEz7wY7uUDFbezJHJTcB7CWYdP6bWoW3k8Lqd90pEYI1ccSKXmTkDNj/s1600/23+-+holy+franchise+batman+bringing+the+caped+crusader+to+the+screen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxW9_VluPXGgqyeP7Q-bmn7rXvsNB7UOKmqwMmuVu1zHojQ0rPZSo42-1tilkVX665uSeiAy-ZAWGNfZdbUjejovEz7wY7uUDFbezJHJTcB7CWYdP6bWoW3k8Lqd90pEYI1ccSKXmTkDNj/s1600/23+-+holy+franchise+batman+bringing+the+caped+crusader+to+the+screen.jpg" height="400" width="390" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Live
Action Television:<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">24:
“Gotham City 14 Miles: 14 Essays on Why the 1960s Batman TV Series Matters”
(Jim Beard et. al)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJKbchPA2g3lGkHPxSIUN_FdkF5YxvUgcY7oui8asJFyYV8p62q4nr7yu3y5ITFMOCjqGp6qLnLm4F3spUVE_GEIA1ZF6mbbik6K6RRnuJJLrMKi0iVWVMFFQOw0GeiwAIib3ughaK76em/s1600/24+-+Gotham+City+14+Miles.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJKbchPA2g3lGkHPxSIUN_FdkF5YxvUgcY7oui8asJFyYV8p62q4nr7yu3y5ITFMOCjqGp6qLnLm4F3spUVE_GEIA1ZF6mbbik6K6RRnuJJLrMKi0iVWVMFFQOw0GeiwAIib3ughaK76em/s1600/24+-+Gotham+City+14+Miles.png" height="400" width="265" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">25:
“The Official “BATMAN” Batbook: The Revised Bat Edition” (Joel Eisner)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYcPdeHsoGaSN7tENRhJjMg55kl9SpdfX3HYQIFYIt8pXJchJOKpipGZ-aVwHIS6eYckx744Dtjc7LeqEkPOz-ovas9pHLQR0-GUq1lMOCi6ih42wrWQbrgte0Yug_nKzt7Qo6atW-ve44/s1600/25+-+The+Official+Batman+Batbook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYcPdeHsoGaSN7tENRhJjMg55kl9SpdfX3HYQIFYIt8pXJchJOKpipGZ-aVwHIS6eYckx744Dtjc7LeqEkPOz-ovas9pHLQR0-GUq1lMOCi6ih42wrWQbrgte0Yug_nKzt7Qo6atW-ve44/s1600/25+-+The+Official+Batman+Batbook.jpg" height="400" width="297" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Animation:<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">26:
“Batman Animated” (Paul Dini and Chip Kidd)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsAGsCDlXwiGU9p2yppNALNhzdFjlgfiW1ZViRM8sZ6LFmMmwyxQ3ueelcErxcmvdceizA5jQE0b7dZDe8FGp8twwiWgftHDk54mj17cSQ3NvMS7ARBdfkRhhxLZNiY7npUC63DW49WsjU/s1600/26+-+Batman+Animated.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsAGsCDlXwiGU9p2yppNALNhzdFjlgfiW1ZViRM8sZ6LFmMmwyxQ3ueelcErxcmvdceizA5jQE0b7dZDe8FGp8twwiWgftHDk54mj17cSQ3NvMS7ARBdfkRhhxLZNiY7npUC63DW49WsjU/s1600/26+-+Batman+Animated.jpg" height="400" width="288" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">27:
“Batman: The Animated Series Guide” (Scott Beatty)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Z_xyGcXp-87EolgCQTIDurtMyQS94TEUAAJ7mzTT3QId1dDw7oQGyX_uKEsATHTYMJsvIyLdre-rNCwMXcK86GwkYadh2xeHOPfLK053xJJgc5FCcwDe4AjUu5FSL-SbSyReJwYlB6EO/s1600/27+-+Batman+Animated+Guide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Z_xyGcXp-87EolgCQTIDurtMyQS94TEUAAJ7mzTT3QId1dDw7oQGyX_uKEsATHTYMJsvIyLdre-rNCwMXcK86GwkYadh2xeHOPfLK053xJJgc5FCcwDe4AjUu5FSL-SbSyReJwYlB6EO/s1600/27+-+Batman+Animated+Guide.jpg" height="400" width="302" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">28:
“Batman Beyond: The Animated Series Guide” (Scott Beatty)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEy2G2XSvA6t3ZKyT-h0SLme0TjN5sgGgWY2UPitBVcqygn3tTvp-buernIB8pawZY9uC52_EIOOmRv0V9FQQHCLljhr3lyJU3-BdDpUm5GuamQnD4hWFrpJNdPupbY7SUNqmyR_JIz-PG/s1600/28+-+Batman+Beyond+Animated+Guide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEy2G2XSvA6t3ZKyT-h0SLme0TjN5sgGgWY2UPitBVcqygn3tTvp-buernIB8pawZY9uC52_EIOOmRv0V9FQQHCLljhr3lyJU3-BdDpUm5GuamQnD4hWFrpJNdPupbY7SUNqmyR_JIz-PG/s1600/28+-+Batman+Beyond+Animated+Guide.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></span></div>
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</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>In-Canon
Texts:<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></o:p></span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">29:
“Batarangs and Grapnels: The Science Behind Batman’s Utility Belt” (Agnieszka
Biskup and Heidi A. Burns)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBUZz9ZO2xsj-dHxSbanIvyeVDztU3rORGAUjNHVW_r5sjc82gM6MhDUvcmHzYeYpkDz-oHF4tQvapk4_jFbH-88RtZgp_8NKHN8hTjNJKSgzWrcnrzot5dXv1B1dzbM_rua8lJnkr6-A6/s1600/29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBUZz9ZO2xsj-dHxSbanIvyeVDztU3rORGAUjNHVW_r5sjc82gM6MhDUvcmHzYeYpkDz-oHF4tQvapk4_jFbH-88RtZgp_8NKHN8hTjNJKSgzWrcnrzot5dXv1B1dzbM_rua8lJnkr6-A6/s1600/29.jpg" height="400" width="270" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">30:
“Batman: The World of the Dark Knight” (Daniel Wallace)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCVdYfTGy2YeSzJHfsu7CHuMJqJGW231pyigLLYLXpY2qV3Y5380d419wVirwz3w6ahDR2Xo-UrIMiQV_h6QDiIEUkb3z0bTmCBwhZp3MX1kOj7QX9Y8VGKWFtjbkmzN1jPCjI2uYITrA/s1600/30+-+Batman+The+World+of+the+Dark+Knight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCVdYfTGy2YeSzJHfsu7CHuMJqJGW231pyigLLYLXpY2qV3Y5380d419wVirwz3w6ahDR2Xo-UrIMiQV_h6QDiIEUkb3z0bTmCBwhZp3MX1kOj7QX9Y8VGKWFtjbkmzN1jPCjI2uYITrA/s1600/30+-+Batman+The+World+of+the+Dark+Knight.jpg" height="400" width="335" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">31:
“Batmobile: The Complete History” (Mark Cotta Vaz)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRGWRuf2S6EZFQ9-uQ582jnV_IpkTXYciTlngLCad_WqPFUujQn8568EIvQH5x-ZERaFINjkpxucG87qmsKr-JGEHUw3n07ioRK9Mh-ZInqiGE32yQkGkuOxnhI3kPkVLbwnGpxxeaGzQB/s1600/31+-+The+Batmobile+the+Complete+History.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRGWRuf2S6EZFQ9-uQ582jnV_IpkTXYciTlngLCad_WqPFUujQn8568EIvQH5x-ZERaFINjkpxucG87qmsKr-JGEHUw3n07ioRK9Mh-ZInqiGE32yQkGkuOxnhI3kPkVLbwnGpxxeaGzQB/s1600/31+-+The+Batmobile+the+Complete+History.jpg" height="313" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">32:
“The Batman Handbook: The Ultimate Training Manual” (Scott Beatty)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX3N2bcfcyp8zg5j28F6ZkD2LTQj6bV_Wh-_UO06VXCKnFNbuFcSgfTh-6L7zKtFESGK1bKeOemdm0vtHyIv390K165M6a8icGg00cnm4c4yczbSZFdRVOUeZKnaNZJuGhTgkeCkLDW8Sp/s1600/32+-+Batman+Handbook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX3N2bcfcyp8zg5j28F6ZkD2LTQj6bV_Wh-_UO06VXCKnFNbuFcSgfTh-6L7zKtFESGK1bKeOemdm0vtHyIv390K165M6a8icGg00cnm4c4yczbSZFdRVOUeZKnaNZJuGhTgkeCkLDW8Sp/s1600/32+-+Batman+Handbook.jpg" height="400" width="292" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">33:
“The Batman Vault: A Museum-In-A-Book featuring Rare Collectibles from the
Batcave” (Robert Greenberger and Matthew Manning)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5gCDKO-Y2YSXOdd7B9x8xY-CblYJxxmbn_RWhyphenhyphen3eHp_QkDw3-DNIYEwkKo5PUp6hl9Pzaf10nAuj5JaPdfmoRZx4AILdBy2nPNyVYXByhjdK5WFdPeAnKk-k7RrpB7G049NUmayXm6l_/s1600/33+-+The+Batman+Vault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5gCDKO-Y2YSXOdd7B9x8xY-CblYJxxmbn_RWhyphenhyphen3eHp_QkDw3-DNIYEwkKo5PUp6hl9Pzaf10nAuj5JaPdfmoRZx4AILdBy2nPNyVYXByhjdK5WFdPeAnKk-k7RrpB7G049NUmayXm6l_/s1600/33+-+The+Batman+Vault.jpg" height="326" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">34:
“The Dark Knight Manual: Tools, Weapons, Vehicles and Documents from the
Batcave” (Brandon T. Snider)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl0cK-mHRpH5YHaBqgEJ9ClD4ajOuRGRD_aP6PN0uW-AqJmQp8S0IeI2KazQdovVBhY5KV-pfL7sfqBKsHmk36O8pIKLjehSswbqcKrrDnYUzJOBcUHbzAfUlfLut1XtURWPnH91Yd35m4/s1600/34+-+The+Dark+Knight+Manual.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl0cK-mHRpH5YHaBqgEJ9ClD4ajOuRGRD_aP6PN0uW-AqJmQp8S0IeI2KazQdovVBhY5KV-pfL7sfqBKsHmk36O8pIKLjehSswbqcKrrDnYUzJOBcUHbzAfUlfLut1XtURWPnH91Yd35m4/s1600/34+-+The+Dark+Knight+Manual.jpg" height="400" width="337" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">35:
“The Joker” (Daniel Wallace)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhynq-lJYcZeHzyeQbEFeGFLvHQAEAcsRq6bQINpQlm-5UliX6wHhB2pM2eRHLf1Fdl4-MsFykus6byupyFgfdkVl6jumcWX6qbxE5kXmKeYT3_9sHYG2aDX2o_8NQLC5W4Ki2b3d3Nr5jX/s1600/35+-+The+Joker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhynq-lJYcZeHzyeQbEFeGFLvHQAEAcsRq6bQINpQlm-5UliX6wHhB2pM2eRHLf1Fdl4-MsFykus6byupyFgfdkVl6jumcWX6qbxE5kXmKeYT3_9sHYG2aDX2o_8NQLC5W4Ki2b3d3Nr5jX/s1600/35+-+The+Joker.jpg" height="400" width="303" /></a></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Collector’s
Texts:<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">36:
“Batman Collected” (Chip Kidd)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibqO6Pxd4Lsxs7nyXw1wxFpkHUhgRp-MWZ4KvmjGDotGh0_ZcyAK30jw8LMQYEH3U0AEvS0eH9CDOa-231B7wvBUkJVhL_VF3KrZvJ5_bFTW8S_Q6JKa516wBjUjiozV42NvbrNQNkqvi7/s1600/36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibqO6Pxd4Lsxs7nyXw1wxFpkHUhgRp-MWZ4KvmjGDotGh0_ZcyAK30jw8LMQYEH3U0AEvS0eH9CDOa-231B7wvBUkJVhL_VF3KrZvJ5_bFTW8S_Q6JKa516wBjUjiozV42NvbrNQNkqvi7/s1600/36.jpg" height="400" width="297" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">37:
“Batman: The Unauthorized Collector’s Guide” (Alan J. Porter)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-ET1oGPmlZq2j9zpePqxQIz1Kfj_RXIMrzSDfA0sMfrqhXDY_usRO5_52a8SO_msXE0pByzhVE529HCOFDzJ_7hVlQzE_VIgkb0FA1yioOgBNolxySzdQNu5H8VsJ4qfyDCaMBqsq_0m/s1600/37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-ET1oGPmlZq2j9zpePqxQIz1Kfj_RXIMrzSDfA0sMfrqhXDY_usRO5_52a8SO_msXE0pByzhVE529HCOFDzJ_7hVlQzE_VIgkb0FA1yioOgBNolxySzdQNu5H8VsJ4qfyDCaMBqsq_0m/s1600/37.jpg" height="400" width="305" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">38:
“The Unofficial Reference to Collecting Everything Batman - Volume I” (Scott Elder)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibetiaeCQinLHu9fHBXIiLgXkow9_FUZOGmqg9tNr0HBYzKyFVP2LrYrsQHe4Qyv1_bYCvTYFMmJeZMAvJiZlY0akFtCs6YYUpMMxH3nkgrJK_FTzQR43eVEGjOcJgydWk-YQTYllHqoXr/s1600/38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibetiaeCQinLHu9fHBXIiLgXkow9_FUZOGmqg9tNr0HBYzKyFVP2LrYrsQHe4Qyv1_bYCvTYFMmJeZMAvJiZlY0akFtCs6YYUpMMxH3nkgrJK_FTzQR43eVEGjOcJgydWk-YQTYllHqoXr/s1600/38.jpg" height="400" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Cultural
Texts:<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">39:
“Bat-Manga: The Secret History of Batman in Japan” (Chip Kidd, Geoff Spear and
Saul Ferris)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6LPT42N1MYFfFudUAHxOHCfF7DQCNg7zSNml_1f4e-IWFcMmv0S_yF25QAqDJJKCFdQ4Qi3yt7myXzlq1UR9TWfRhqzVV4guGQHIyofYWNHdIIHx1y0nu9QEUFqkwxe_yZ-Nfu_gNGVS/s1600/39+-+Bat+Manga.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6LPT42N1MYFfFudUAHxOHCfF7DQCNg7zSNml_1f4e-IWFcMmv0S_yF25QAqDJJKCFdQ4Qi3yt7myXzlq1UR9TWfRhqzVV4guGQHIyofYWNHdIIHx1y0nu9QEUFqkwxe_yZ-Nfu_gNGVS/s1600/39+-+Bat+Manga.jpg" height="400" width="308" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">40:
“Becoming Batman: The Possibility of a Super Hero” (E. Paul Zehr)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglO2jbxDSioUKC1uwIvUcFEOknx9qgl5g6aJe9tU6-FswFpEoB5lh6vP-nqsBsk7xdeK2sHx2U-T-1rZgeEfJW_7R8Ln85N8D_D5LfajDw-6d4qDVXFELGCXhjsVUJKp4BQ4QTYuhzeu9I/s1600/40+-+Becoming+Batman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglO2jbxDSioUKC1uwIvUcFEOknx9qgl5g6aJe9tU6-FswFpEoB5lh6vP-nqsBsk7xdeK2sHx2U-T-1rZgeEfJW_7R8Ln85N8D_D5LfajDw-6d4qDVXFELGCXhjsVUJKp4BQ4QTYuhzeu9I/s1600/40+-+Becoming+Batman.jpg" height="400" width="257" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">41:
“Fan Phenomena: Batman” (Liam Burke) <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjReOyoo-tHPcGZZ1_YZjyzx4v9uabWEE_W9eK7cZ8K-nLKfXPOzWsV9HBykRSWHSuTT7hcrJadfnJQOswSIZ-lQC34vF_wLt_5SIuK5OXNQTQvxyobU2hvkwgE2Cc3UFjEbcKumpQbPbt/s1600/41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjReOyoo-tHPcGZZ1_YZjyzx4v9uabWEE_W9eK7cZ8K-nLKfXPOzWsV9HBykRSWHSuTT7hcrJadfnJQOswSIZ-lQC34vF_wLt_5SIuK5OXNQTQvxyobU2hvkwgE2Cc3UFjEbcKumpQbPbt/s1600/41.jpg" height="400" width="275" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">42:
“Hunting the Dark Knight: Twenty-First Century Batman” (Will Brooker) <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk8XgCVKSeQ9HmPAAM2fES-IkfnwYZCEVdJFdOYTLwzXhQIyA4fYEIvfveHUZrFU9CJupyC2ecaARyPxzLWpt-XdiQF6-Bj7wy9hYqSsVkFQxHNM_V4kfPRzXl35mqSONrZqB5edxqYgfw/s1600/42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk8XgCVKSeQ9HmPAAM2fES-IkfnwYZCEVdJFdOYTLwzXhQIyA4fYEIvfveHUZrFU9CJupyC2ecaARyPxzLWpt-XdiQF6-Bj7wy9hYqSsVkFQxHNM_V4kfPRzXl35mqSONrZqB5edxqYgfw/s1600/42.jpg" height="400" width="251" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">43:
“The Unofficial Batman Trivia Challenge” (Alan Kistler)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJaUSuYCYPWXTcAaGFeFz57vkOGfONsgksCkm31M-MQ4VRx29d4qAqqdNyA49qYWTVSovFk3iGwb7sdRcFPh4v57R9tkHSH8DnLzyN34E4zO_Q7c99z8MFP8i3SNc3pbIFWWrBryWsE5-/s1600/43.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJaUSuYCYPWXTcAaGFeFz57vkOGfONsgksCkm31M-MQ4VRx29d4qAqqdNyA49qYWTVSovFk3iGwb7sdRcFPh4v57R9tkHSH8DnLzyN34E4zO_Q7c99z8MFP8i3SNc3pbIFWWrBryWsE5-/s1600/43.png" height="400" width="263" /></a></span></div>
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</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Psychological
Texts:<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">44:
“What’s the Matter with Batman?: An Unauthorized Clinical Look Under the Mask
of the Caped Crusader” (Robin S. Rosenberg, Ph.D)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIH2PtDFYoOfke8uAEro7A9RkPvaCu_FCVcaRK9zCD861bvl00-aBle4KuJB9bpv-LcMwysZIENnOr-9yRMX543PFohRlz7UZH_TfXplA0FjR1RbI-2dTA1HJ56qLXgM5J8co8jcc0WGaL/s1600/44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIH2PtDFYoOfke8uAEro7A9RkPvaCu_FCVcaRK9zCD861bvl00-aBle4KuJB9bpv-LcMwysZIENnOr-9yRMX543PFohRlz7UZH_TfXplA0FjR1RbI-2dTA1HJ56qLXgM5J8co8jcc0WGaL/s1600/44.jpg" height="400" width="257" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Spiritual
Texts:<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">45:
“God on the Streets of Gotham: What the Big Screen Batman can Teach us about
God and Ourselves” (Paul Asay)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWH_CzhDxoPLlv_xGTaXRXvshO2dyalVs_G3qnM1Rt0KXsvQVwLGJFPVVFiLzygzNkZrVmOi_BtHezyf4zoqBte-OU3sGVwQKIORLD3QGIMBSQo4AnZ9ZooRVL45aumQ2p01kslV2eBW2j/s1600/45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWH_CzhDxoPLlv_xGTaXRXvshO2dyalVs_G3qnM1Rt0KXsvQVwLGJFPVVFiLzygzNkZrVmOi_BtHezyf4zoqBte-OU3sGVwQKIORLD3QGIMBSQo4AnZ9ZooRVL45aumQ2p01kslV2eBW2j/s1600/45.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">46:
“Soul of the Dark Knight: Batman as Mythic Figure in Comics and Film” (Alex. M.
Wainer)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1Xbn_sqXDjPIgJxzleAdjdqlPLr8qBCk2YANm11y2e1W00xuW6gx5BJM3FTjvue0mz9vhVgYpZqj1Lg4DksmTz22we1fLvO27qNBn0UeZKsZBAcrSPR4TeLS8lfwtC1F_5lBaW5_NilI/s1600/46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1Xbn_sqXDjPIgJxzleAdjdqlPLr8qBCk2YANm11y2e1W00xuW6gx5BJM3FTjvue0mz9vhVgYpZqj1Lg4DksmTz22we1fLvO27qNBn0UeZKsZBAcrSPR4TeLS8lfwtC1F_5lBaW5_NilI/s1600/46.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Educational
Texts:<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">47:
“Batman: The Story of the Dark Knight” (Ralph Cosentino) <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAN1jEbxpeVynXTTx9rnVok-1M_Waigt3emWZOA7ZL_W1L-085xaQLARwvkObe3bF4K5OcYrsfDcCsny6Yt8XGT_nwAbs8gY3UWtQVG0OpHkgTVt9sL1LzInBOEPFSMSmjorDEH7fUpgxO/s1600/47+-+Batman+the+Story+of+the+Dark+Knight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAN1jEbxpeVynXTTx9rnVok-1M_Waigt3emWZOA7ZL_W1L-085xaQLARwvkObe3bF4K5OcYrsfDcCsny6Yt8XGT_nwAbs8gY3UWtQVG0OpHkgTVt9sL1LzInBOEPFSMSmjorDEH7fUpgxO/s1600/47+-+Batman+the+Story+of+the+Dark+Knight.jpg" height="400" width="355" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">48:
“Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman” (Marc Tyler Nobleman and
Ty Templeton)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2SG8qQhLuV994eGaF8caN3IOhRcOFHNxumIzLekGtpNq4nVMD7qJj_ERtv2GP2fzDiinLOd-EVqbDt_eoTLJAYAYdbvYrkGOknyqiqgyl95ONv6s-NJEQd8Reuxm7A7474qMi3-9iMxvg/s1600/48+-+Bill+The+Boy+Wonder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2SG8qQhLuV994eGaF8caN3IOhRcOFHNxumIzLekGtpNq4nVMD7qJj_ERtv2GP2fzDiinLOd-EVqbDt_eoTLJAYAYdbvYrkGOknyqiqgyl95ONv6s-NJEQd8Reuxm7A7474qMi3-9iMxvg/s1600/48+-+Bill+The+Boy+Wonder.jpg" height="400" width="310" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">49:
“The Batman Masterpiece Edition: The Caped Crusader’s Golden Age” (Les Daniels)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFgCutO3C4Hq5vnSJZwwrQ3upirXdRFQEes7VU9j3UBVsA429zeU_FwGieeObJP9ftZX4OoIbwF_74xlXniJKGi-oa2oitY0c4_UNvA74A0soWnfDKGBMTN3qSDIV5fT6d6ZjFGB9muI2/s1600/49+-+The+Batman+Masterpiece+Edition.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFgCutO3C4Hq5vnSJZwwrQ3upirXdRFQEes7VU9j3UBVsA429zeU_FwGieeObJP9ftZX4OoIbwF_74xlXniJKGi-oa2oitY0c4_UNvA74A0soWnfDKGBMTN3qSDIV5fT6d6ZjFGB9muI2/s1600/49+-+The+Batman+Masterpiece+Edition.jpg" height="400" width="307" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Miscellaneous
Visual Texts:<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
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“Batman Cover to Cover: The Greatest Comic Book Covers of The Dark Knight”
(Various)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_v3oLxlE6IIXlQZ2mAwgnvEV0jZlQysQMMyTD0B2bPT4Y1k8A5yofC6OnAGSnI-ZPOGOJrOIn49CFcaezU2q6zUqguXA2svgVmVu3MiTpC_WqIrGO2pUYKuXlvaInsyZ19JfzKuimMWSl/s1600/50+-+Batman+Cover+to+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_v3oLxlE6IIXlQZ2mAwgnvEV0jZlQysQMMyTD0B2bPT4Y1k8A5yofC6OnAGSnI-ZPOGOJrOIn49CFcaezU2q6zUqguXA2svgVmVu3MiTpC_WqIrGO2pUYKuXlvaInsyZ19JfzKuimMWSl/s1600/50+-+Batman+Cover+to+Cover.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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Chas Blankenshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09152498045221353190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5986956018362546175.post-33296371090722812592012-04-27T05:52:00.000-07:002012-04-27T05:52:01.736-07:00"Batman: Under the Red Hood" (Brandon Viette, 2010)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgph9OfqpKH7a-KBFNp7XjsRIiAZ2w0_TtJWbWiBqQoJgBjL_vbcln-hieJ-joVwjLhL9AFcPjZ5CWYclWgijPWB1ZDHZD1npCFU_DioBjAaDFjW-Y0aBMxQe-Axjq5iuIjsLs1-F-CxhBo/s1600/Batman+Under+the+Red+Hood+2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgph9OfqpKH7a-KBFNp7XjsRIiAZ2w0_TtJWbWiBqQoJgBjL_vbcln-hieJ-joVwjLhL9AFcPjZ5CWYclWgijPWB1ZDHZD1npCFU_DioBjAaDFjW-Y0aBMxQe-Axjq5iuIjsLs1-F-CxhBo/s640/Batman+Under+the+Red+Hood+2009.jpg" width="422" /></a></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/YLymYj2Thfc?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Directed by Brandon Vietti<br />
Written by Judd Winick <br />
Based on the DC Comics Characters Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Adapted from the Graphic Novel by Judd Winick<br />
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Executive Produced by Benjamin Melniker, Michael E. Uslan and Sam Register<br />
Produced by Bobbie Page, Alan Burnett and Bruce W. Timm<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Main Title Design by Erin Sarofsky<br />
Art and Character Design by Dusty Abell and Vince Toyama<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Storyboards by Christopher Berkeley, Sam Liu, Lauren
Montgomery and Jay Oliva<br />
Editing by Margaret Hou<br />
Original Motion Picture Score Composed by Christopher Drake</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bruce Greenwood … Bruce Wayne/Batman (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Jensen Ackles … Red Hood (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">John Di Maggio … The Joker (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Neil Patrick Harris … Dick Grayson/Nightwing (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Jason Isaacs … Ra’s Al Ghul (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Wade Williams … Roman Sionis/Black Mask (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Kelly Hu … Ms. Li (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Jim Piddock … Alfred Pennyworth (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Alexander Martella … Kid Jason Todd/Robin (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Vincent Martella … Teen Jason Todd/Robin (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Kevin Michael Richardson … Tyler Bramford (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gary Cole … Police Commissioner James Gordon (Voice)<br />
Brian George … Ra’s Assistant (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Robert Clotworthy … Leon/Thug (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Phil LaMarr … Rick/Bulk (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Dwight Schultz … Freddie/Drug Dealer (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A mysterious new player called the Red Hood sets off a
firestorm of gang violence in Gotham City, drawing the attentions of underworld
figurehead Black Mask, the murderous Joker and Batman.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">--------------------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Following the conclusion of “Justice League: Unlimited”
in 2006, several fans were left to wonder what would come of DC Comics
animation.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The regime had begun with 1992’s “Batman: The Animated
Series” and flourished with subsequent follow ups including “Superman: The
Animated Series,” “The New Batman Adventures,” “Batman Beyond” and “Justice
League: The Animated Series.”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">For many, this animated DC Universe was and still remains
in a league of its own in terms of narrative quality, character development and
visual aesthetic.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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</span><br />
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</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">That being said, it was admittedly a hard pill to swallow
that the potential successor to the series was to be found in the likes of “The
Batman” or “Batman: The Brave and The Bold.”<br />
<br />
As tremendous as those shows are in their own right and by their own rules, the
foundation of this production team was built upon stories more grounded in the
dramatic than straight up kid’s fare and, rightfully so, Warner Brothers along
with longtime producer Bruce Timm saw fit to offer a possible solution with “DC
Universe Animated Original Movies.”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgah-mqC3_YbH-X-MijoMSssYlh2V6id0XLnXcSuD5DJD0TZHOPLh4w1GxUfZL-ocRgg0GHOsXRdgY5jry3x-N42X9oMwYb0TuEGvZUxc2Ffa0OK2XpJYwgRVBt7TE9obV9QsLC1Jta6tfn/s1600/Photo+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgah-mqC3_YbH-X-MijoMSssYlh2V6id0XLnXcSuD5DJD0TZHOPLh4w1GxUfZL-ocRgg0GHOsXRdgY5jry3x-N42X9oMwYb0TuEGvZUxc2Ffa0OK2XpJYwgRVBt7TE9obV9QsLC1Jta6tfn/s400/Photo+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Enacted with 2007’s “Superman: Doomsday,” this line of
home video releases culminates in the participation of several original
influences from the DCAU including Timm, voice director Andrea Romano and
frequent collaborators Alan Burnett, Glen Murakami and current participants
such as Sam Register and Duane Capizzi.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The films, separate from the DCAU continuity, range from
original stories to adaptations of classic stories straight out of comics and
are often liberated from the regulations of broadcasting with the bestowing of
PG-13 ratings.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">To date, Batman holds the title of most appearances with
his involvement in the narratives of eight films out of the current list of
thirteen. Given his current tidal wave of popularity, I don’t see that changing
for the forseeable future.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">While “Batman: Gotham Knight” was the first solo Batman
endeavor in 2008 to capitalize on the anticipation for “The Dark Knight,” it
wasn’t until 2010’s “Batman: Under the Red Hood” that the character received
his first feature length film both under the “DC Universe” banner and helmed by
a single director for its entirety (“Gotham Knight,” while feature length, was
split between six filmmakers as opposed to one).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFNrTdn3elBieqn3zZ5qWo7VJWUpzZgw32z57GNJTNnaUqRNQUDBjkPOQ9e4zupPKL1wkMNlwG3LZC4jTjAVw-biT9xCtHanRFaYmmDzCTOJd7QuwLCFZjZcxp9z8pPoCxbk6qkHVFkT6/s1600/Photo+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFNrTdn3elBieqn3zZ5qWo7VJWUpzZgw32z57GNJTNnaUqRNQUDBjkPOQ9e4zupPKL1wkMNlwG3LZC4jTjAVw-biT9xCtHanRFaYmmDzCTOJd7QuwLCFZjZcxp9z8pPoCxbk6qkHVFkT6/s400/Photo+4.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Adapted from the 2005 comic arc of the same title
(technically, the comic is titled “Under the Hood”) by Judd Winick, “Under the
Red Hood” tells the story of a new menace manipulating the gang landscape of
Gotham City.</span></span><br />
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</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGQn4HtX_ss" target="_blank"><span style="color: white;">"Batman: Under the Red Hood" (2010) Scene</span><span style="color: white;"> -- Batwing Pursuit/First Great Defeat</span></a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Becoming the newest custodian to a long-running alias used
by everyone from petty thieves to a certain Clown Prince of Crime, the new Red
Hood (Jensen Ackles) pits the various mob elements up against underworld baron
Black Mask (Wade Williams) to a mysterious end.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkNJU66u_3Vg5XVqryCh1dq4eEqWujQB9j90d_fAl_M5EINs8SGdX10Okg8SDyg2wbTP6LAQ_kTjBAJEwF6C8Qvu8bAC7RieRIvs2bF12xs1zduwfSSXAtZOypI61J5_NPeJ7-Y5HWMUkV/s1600/Photo+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkNJU66u_3Vg5XVqryCh1dq4eEqWujQB9j90d_fAl_M5EINs8SGdX10Okg8SDyg2wbTP6LAQ_kTjBAJEwF6C8Qvu8bAC7RieRIvs2bF12xs1zduwfSSXAtZOypI61J5_NPeJ7-Y5HWMUkV/s400/Photo+1.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCtSArjZCLI" target="_blank">"Batman: Under the Red Hood" (2010) Scene -- A Death In The Family</a> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">With violence mounting, Batman (Bruce Greenwood) and
Nightwing (Neil Patrick Harris) rush to counter the Hood’s efforts before
things go from bad to worse; all the while Bruce is conflicted with the death
of former Robin Jason Todd, who was lost in a battle against the Joker (John
DiMaggio) five years prior.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">As the dark knight encounters Gotham’s newest menace,
however, things take a shocking turn when Red Hood’s identity becomes all too
tragically clear.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">For many people, the very thought of resurrecting Jason
Todd was a bad idea from the get-go. Sure comics are a realm of heightened
reality and fantasy, where the laws of life and death might not (and certainly
never do) necessarily apply. But “A Death in the Family” is sacred ground for
many fans, symbolizing Batman’s greatest defeat and ranking among the greatest
Batman stories ever told. Doing a follow up is just asking for trouble to begin
with, but bringing Jason back to life is still a matter that splits fans in
debate.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The difference with the character in regards to the supposed
fatalities of other DC heroes is that his death was by choice on part of the
readers themselves in the notorious fan poll of the time. Where Superman’s
death was created by the teams on his books as a large-scale event that never
intended to keep him dead for long, actual readers willingly voted that Jason
die at the hands of the Joker.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">As harsh as it can be interpreted, the decision can
ultimately be argued as the right one for several reasons.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The character wasn’t popular to begin with. Having said
that, he was clearly a perfect candidate to demonstrate the reality that Batman’s
crusade would be suspect to casualty and having him remain dead for so long
created a foundation of reality for the “Batman” books.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Sure this Batman still interacts with Superman, but for
the majority of the time Batman’s is a world of actual consequences and repercussions.
If you’re going to make the effort to attribute Batman to a more grounded
realm, you’re obligated to keep that aesthetic going by doing everything from
using scientific explanations for scenarios to having people caught in the
crossfire stay dead like they actually would in real life.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">It’s definitely a double-edged sword, to be sure.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhraS7DeLQ60zPXWq1S_c5U3D4Dz6gWkGPB5IMS590TRao3J1ewOKPWhZ6nDplVq_qRdxFLoWhlmYjIEtySMIViowPxa4CUXRFyo9wCaYxmr65RPY-g2ZUSIrVRnwptAy8bGiLfqwIBfIDz/s1600/271406-17_super.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhraS7DeLQ60zPXWq1S_c5U3D4Dz6gWkGPB5IMS590TRao3J1ewOKPWhZ6nDplVq_qRdxFLoWhlmYjIEtySMIViowPxa4CUXRFyo9wCaYxmr65RPY-g2ZUSIrVRnwptAy8bGiLfqwIBfIDz/s1600/271406-17_super.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The film adaptation of “Under the Hood” is played
straight forward in its faithfulness to the source material with one exception,
namely that of Ra’s Al Ghul’s hiring of the Joker, which never happened in the
comic.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Other than that, it’s loyal to the emotional weight of
the story and molds it fairly successfully for a PG-13 animated venture.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I love Bruce Greenwood’s approach to Batman. An older
character actor most recognizable for his performances as the President of the
United States in “National Treasure: Book of Secrets” and most prominently that
of Starfleet Captain Christopher Pike in J.J. Abrams’ “Star Trek,” Greenwood
rightfully plays Batman older, more refined and weathered.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">This is certainly a Batman I can believe in, both in
terms of his actions and reactions. It’s odd; there’s weight to his presence
here and yet there’s also just as much flight to it. It’s a Batman that comes
with experience without losing youthful edge and that’s a terrific way to take
the character with this story.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5vNqVOAP2jCKHlhYJZwJ_JSAv-nvA033h9oO90HmYZA4W1DIRK1k935JG7NaTliYTgqdP-K0MCn6YJmCN4hvhr73cmfGP47nmAJZjdMX-mVwiA61PKZHAhrf0Vby1oy1eqSJwz2ckFAQ/s1600/Photo+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5vNqVOAP2jCKHlhYJZwJ_JSAv-nvA033h9oO90HmYZA4W1DIRK1k935JG7NaTliYTgqdP-K0MCn6YJmCN4hvhr73cmfGP47nmAJZjdMX-mVwiA61PKZHAhrf0Vby1oy1eqSJwz2ckFAQ/s400/Photo+6.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Neil Patrick Harris delivers as Nightwing and, despite
having little to do beyond the first conflict with Amazo, he somehow
embellishes Grayson with the same qualities Greenwood does for Wayne.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The odd duck for me here is John DiMaggio as the Joker;
like Kevin Michael Richardson in “The Batman,” the voice might be just a bit
too low in pitch for my taste.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">This, however, brings to light a larger issue. Well not
so much an issue as it is a point of interest and a refreshing rarity.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtsKA1Oq0S6nIwKyoNOTRXuP1NDCfccrEpwhyphenhyphenrGx7fL_mJCseunKp6A8E8-I3YPFqgVmAv4Hbps-hDEqL-GcgQ7FFrrw2gLBUW5hsINsQrS759qHsseI2kBTTjYHTeiG9Wnw17KSHUC-3R/s1600/Photo+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtsKA1Oq0S6nIwKyoNOTRXuP1NDCfccrEpwhyphenhyphenrGx7fL_mJCseunKp6A8E8-I3YPFqgVmAv4Hbps-hDEqL-GcgQ7FFrrw2gLBUW5hsINsQrS759qHsseI2kBTTjYHTeiG9Wnw17KSHUC-3R/s400/Photo+5.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“Under the Red Hood” is one of the few instances where I’ve
found myself genuinely more invested and interested in a villain other than the
Joker during a story in which the Joker is an active participant.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Now I’m fully aware that nearly all of Batman’s prominent
rogues are intriguing and engaging characters with the right approach and
material. Being his greatest adversary, however, lends itself to the Joker
quickly and most often becoming a show-stealer if he’s involved.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Here, nothing of the sort happens and yet one of the
flaws of “Under the Red Hood” reveals itself with the narrative almost acting
as if it’s trying to force it to happen.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">I’m fully aware of how integral the Joker is to the Jason
Todd story, but I found myself disappointed that all of the intrigue and effort
Red Hood puts into his plan is deflated when the plan is just reduced to
getting closer to the Joker and killing him in revenge.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The moment is saved when Jason attempts to force Batman
to make the kill but to me it just feels like the movie wants me to focus on the
Joker when I don’t want to.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUbe_-kv04GLSzfQ5SEIaGzHfe3PIYTWsPEoGOmAlC_DHhpklgonuuO055hocHJ_aspHFt2VnPU0NZMasAENWBKQwkiZ1sMgqgrT3Ck4YSGxzk_L1ahBsz_r7tqhJGnDIDgwYwoFqR6PQy/s1600/Photo+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUbe_-kv04GLSzfQ5SEIaGzHfe3PIYTWsPEoGOmAlC_DHhpklgonuuO055hocHJ_aspHFt2VnPU0NZMasAENWBKQwkiZ1sMgqgrT3Ck4YSGxzk_L1ahBsz_r7tqhJGnDIDgwYwoFqR6PQy/s1600/Photo+2.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eAGyqD46rc" target="_blank">"Batman: Under the Red Hood" (2010) Scene -- "This is a contact sport..."</a></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">When I say I don’t want to, it’s because I found a far
more interesting villain in the film with Black Mask. I loved how he was
handled, both in Wade Williams’ performance and his operations within the
narrative. The only shortcoming is his actual design; they should’ve gone a
little less Tony Montana and a little more Al Capone.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Aside from that, Mask is just a treat to watch. His attitude, his mannerisms and his temper are all wonderfully conceived and calibrated in this showcase.</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>"I hope you understand the trouble I've gone through to arrange this little get together here. A lot of money. A lof of dead meat."</strong> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">I don’t know; maybe it’s all residual and I had just been
building up all this time as far as story after story feeling pressured to fall
back on the Joker that I was ready for another rogue to get the limelight.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The visual style of the film is great and rightfully dark
and moody, combining contemporary urban landscape with gothic flare such as the
monstrous cathedral as part of the film’s climax. Other stand out locales include Black Mask's high-rise office, rich in its color palette and especially the Batcave and Arkham Asylum, which came out great. I suspect that this version of Arkham was somewhat inspired by Rocksteady's mega popular video game version from the year before.</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">I also love the approach to Ra's Al Ghul's mountain based citadel; it fits the longevity of the character and is wonderfully rendered.</span></span><br />
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</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">The action is intensely paced to say the least.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The rooftop chases between Batman and Red Hood are
kinetic and have incredible rhythm.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAyd7GgzPKyMD-nkYA8Id60AHIIqnNhyphenhyphengENs_CmOdIVwzvyQAUFwWa-_MzNb9ZVBBdvaOv4pCeM29zLKAshpY6VDxF8OfK0L_crudcC8EQlIB15FYGKw60VVhm0XdjEj6Sd3tnOh-ny3B3/s1600/rhmovie_05_0000488.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAyd7GgzPKyMD-nkYA8Id60AHIIqnNhyphenhyphengENs_CmOdIVwzvyQAUFwWa-_MzNb9ZVBBdvaOv4pCeM29zLKAshpY6VDxF8OfK0L_crudcC8EQlIB15FYGKw60VVhm0XdjEj6Sd3tnOh-ny3B3/s400/rhmovie_05_0000488.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLLfhO0zXGI" target="_blank"><span style="color: white;">"Batman: Under the Red Hood" (2010) Scene -- The Fearsome Hand of Four</span></a> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">And there’s also the awesome confrontation with the
Fearsome Hand of Four as Batman and Red Hood team up to take them out.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But of course my favorite scene HAS to be the finale of
the piece, in which Batman faces Jason in a rundown apartment before being
given the ultimate decision. This scene is exceedingly emotional and I love
Jensen’s performance here, despite some of the hokey dialog.</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhbf71XEnSg5D8a12U8SPiHK4X4ze0Qcio81yrMOrkRW4igLVIAN8IZTbd-50Ulk95qUaLLS1yyL2aD6eApBmSV-fpoR4ePe4ltiYLzHKErYGN56ozP1jSNoY7H4OufcKMfuPMSHDMxmZ/s1600/tumblr_l5erbtuzs21qbmuffo1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhbf71XEnSg5D8a12U8SPiHK4X4ze0Qcio81yrMOrkRW4igLVIAN8IZTbd-50Ulk95qUaLLS1yyL2aD6eApBmSV-fpoR4ePe4ltiYLzHKErYGN56ozP1jSNoY7H4OufcKMfuPMSHDMxmZ/s1600/tumblr_l5erbtuzs21qbmuffo1_500.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRiX5Mh2YCo" target="_blank"><span style="color: white;">"Batman: Under the Red Hood" (201</span><span style="color: white;">0) Scene -- The Final Confrontation</span></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Why? I’m not talking about killing
Penguin or Scarecrow or Dent. I’m talking about him. Just him. And doing it
because…because he took me away from you.”</b><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">And one thing I have to say; I love that the film takes
us through this horrible tragedy with Jason before ending it on a note of
fateful optimism as we watch a flashback of him donning the Robin costume for
the first time.</span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">What's interesting here is that in the context of the scene, there's a moment when Jason encourages Bruce for them to get going on patrol.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Looking at it within the context of what happens to Jason and how Batman feels about him and their bond before and after his death, one can almost interpret it as if it's actually the ghost of Jason Todd. But not just Jason Todd; rather the Jason that he wants to remember. The young child with a bright future, uncompromised in his youthful innocence with becoming Robin for the first time.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">It's as if it's an apparition Bruce might see nightly. Just as he's suiting up, the ghostly figure of Jason leaps into action with metaphorically as he holds the memory of the boy in his heart.</span></span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">“This is the
best day of my life.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizhRU1o8ym2_m-Zr2eeUKzA21XKYr1-XMkNjVggMMj-jQF2f_lxdQynpwS9gh6QARNLNoJ-sAzBs9KtPBrWULQrIDArZB-UwZD6vvAnaHP002qu-c1Nd1zZ6-3GKthD6aXMVa6utNvWV1W/s1600/Photo+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizhRU1o8ym2_m-Zr2eeUKzA21XKYr1-XMkNjVggMMj-jQF2f_lxdQynpwS9gh6QARNLNoJ-sAzBs9KtPBrWULQrIDArZB-UwZD6vvAnaHP002qu-c1Nd1zZ6-3GKthD6aXMVa6utNvWV1W/s400/Photo+7.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">It’s just heartbreaking.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">If nothing else “Batman: Under the Red Hood,” like
several of the Animated “DC Universe” movies, is a great way to introduce a broader
audience to concepts and characters from the comics like Jason Todd and the
idea of there being multiple Robins.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">With its approach as far as adaptations, the format can
also help introduce viewers to the iconic DC stories we all know and love and I
think that’s a positive thing.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Who knows; maybe someone’s interest got piqued enough
that they went and bought the “Under the Hood” trade. That would certainly justify creating these films more than anything.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">One can only hope that outcome is the one most favored.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Whatever the case, “Under the Red Hood” is a decent watch
and certainly worth a look for diehard fans of the character.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGJDYdQzOWPCYj8EzvGhw8LRo3beovwfd_qsJEEqBEGPvoH8MuPnqPWk_JRtrbgO3K6kTM85pSF1VvfWA-6GIG5OAW6DhbYrJ7V54IA-LydglrYPPkIkXvzgLTDtavQrvzVHzx27byyXH/s1600/Photo+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGJDYdQzOWPCYj8EzvGhw8LRo3beovwfd_qsJEEqBEGPvoH8MuPnqPWk_JRtrbgO3K6kTM85pSF1VvfWA-6GIG5OAW6DhbYrJ7V54IA-LydglrYPPkIkXvzgLTDtavQrvzVHzx27byyXH/s1600/Photo+8.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_rcWs_h0hU" target="_blank"><span style="color: white;">"Batman: Under the Red Hood" (2010) Scene -- "This is the best day of my life."</span></a></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: large;">--------------------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>Chas Blankenshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09152498045221353190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5986956018362546175.post-83471348355426237412012-04-26T19:07:00.000-07:002012-04-26T19:07:31.725-07:00"Batman: The Brave and The Bold - Mayhem of the Music Meister: Original Television Soundtrack" (Neil Patrick Harris and Various, 2009)<div style="text-align: center;">
<img height="400" id="il_fi" src="http://www.game-ost.com/static/covers_soundtracks/1/2/12325_379332.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="400" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Composed
by Michael McCuistion, Lolita Ritmanis and Kristopher Carter</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Vocals Performed by Neil Patrick Harris, Grey DeLisle, James Arnold Taylor, John DiMaggio, Kevin Michael Richardson, Tom Kenny, Dee Bradley Baker, Jeff Bennett and Diedrich Bader</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">"Batman: The Brave and The Bold" Theme Composed by Andy Sturmer</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Produced
by New Line Records<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Track Listing:</strong></span><br />
<br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">1:
"Batman: The Brave and the Bold" Theme – Andy Sturmer (0:32)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">2.
"I'm The Music Meister" – Neil Patrick Harris (5:55)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">3.
"Drives Us Bats" – Neil Patrick Harris and Various (1:46)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">4.
"If Only" – Neil Patrick Harris and Grey DeLisle (2:35)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">5.
"Death Trap" – Neil Patrick Harris and Grey DeLisle (1:49)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">6.
"The World Is Mine" – Neil Patrick Harris (3:33)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">7.
"If Only" (Reprise) – James Arnold Taylor and Grey DeLisle (2:03)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">8.
"Drives Us Bats" (Mayhem Of The Music Meister End Credits) – Neil Patrick Harris
and Various (0:32)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s
a testament to the creativity and ambition of the producers and show runners
responsible for “Batman: The Brave and The Bold” when they can take the format
of a half-hour super hero cartoon aimed at young children and incorporate the
beautiful gift of music into it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Of
course episodes of the show had featured score beforehand thanks to the talent
and effort of longtime collaborators Lolita Ritmanis, Michael McCuistion and
Kristopher Carter. But the Season 1 episode “Mayhem of the Music Meister” raises
the bar tenfold, creating an episode build upon a foundation of orchestration
and vocals that works wonders for creating an incredible atmosphere of cultural
appreciation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCA9SvslznPPidF-VQ2XIlbsgtPWBZtXl-OjuFgfvr8U4ymgyAkegbBUG4_Kv8-iEo2OiNzeot-ZYQx24gG63vi58DUBo481P7aIR4KSo1mWhUCQP4rqRqgPk97fQ1V3s5sMU1CkOh0bJ/s1600/mayhem-of-the-music-meister.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCA9SvslznPPidF-VQ2XIlbsgtPWBZtXl-OjuFgfvr8U4ymgyAkegbBUG4_Kv8-iEo2OiNzeot-ZYQx24gG63vi58DUBo481P7aIR4KSo1mWhUCQP4rqRqgPk97fQ1V3s5sMU1CkOh0bJ/s1600/mayhem-of-the-music-meister.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Introducing
young children to music is highly commendable and the fact that it’s Batman
makes it that much better!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Created
in the tradition of musical stage production and attuned to the recent surge of
its popularity with shows such as “A Chorus Line,” “Jersey Boys,” “West Side
Story” and “Wicked,” the soundtrack to “Mayhem of the Music Meister” is
infectious and theatrical, given even more quality with the participation of
cast members such as the welcome Neil Patrick Harris and the lovely Grey DeLisle.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Let’s
take a look at the tracks individually:<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">----------<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">"Batman: The Brave and the Bold" Theme</span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/UksS5AhGHpI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Composer
Andy Sturmer’s theme for the television series echoes the flight and whimsy of
the 60s television series with its brass instrumentation and percussion. To
tell you the truth, the theme reminds me of a lot of the music specifically
from Nelson Riddle’s score to the ’66 movie, especially the material for when
Batman and Robin take to the seas in the Batboat in search of the Penguin’s
submarine. It’s delightfully zany and sets the mood for this animated Batman
each episode with a heroic undertone that plays up his inability to lose.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">----------<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">"I'm The Music Meister"</span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/tKOJK-o0uzk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">NOTE: Ignore the Video; the Point is the Song.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">As
we open the episode, a collection of foes including Black Manta and Gorilla Grodd find themselves inexplicably forced
into a need to express themselves through the power of song as they come under
the spell of the one and only Music Meister, voiced and performed by Neil
Patrick Harris. I think Harris, with his background in theatre and previous
experience in that community as both an active participant and recurring host
of the Tony Awards, lends himself perfectly to the character. The concept of
the character works very well with the aesthetic of the show and its tone and
this opening number is a reflection of that with its wonderful vocals.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">----------<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">"Drives Us Bats"</span></span></b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwy5wd_XWgo" target="_blank"><span style="color: white;">"Drives Us Bats" --</span> <span style="color: white;">Neil Patrick Harris and Various</span></a></span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">One
of my two favorites off the album, this is just fun and theatricality at its
most infectious. The tempo is rollicking as Batman gives chase throughout
Gotham City in pursuit of the Music Meister and the lyrics are a wonderful
homage to the caped crusader himself, and how he’s so proficient that he drives
both friend and foe berserk. The track is full of swagger and beat; very 80s
eclectic in its pace and presentation and I love the guitar work that plays in
undercurrent. Of course the song works exceptionally well when perceived from
the point of the view of the villains but I find it charming that even other
heroes like Aquaman and Green Arrow get in on the fun, commenting about how no
matter how hard they try, they can never reach the level of respect and popularity
that Batman holds. It’s funny because it’s true. I love DC Comics
super heroes, but they’ve all got a point on this one.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<br /></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">----------<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">"If Only"</span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZcYlHUgoaQ" target="_blank"><span style="color: white;">"If Only" --</span> <span style="color: white;">Grey DeLisle and Neil Patrick Harris</span></a></span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">No
Broadway exhibition would be complete without a full blown romantic ballad.
Somewhat campy and deliberately relatable, “If Only” sings a tale of what one
might call unrequited love that befalls a collection of our characters. The
Music Meister sings his portion for Black Canary while Black Canary sings hers
for Batman. It’s a tender moment of vulnerability for these mythic figures as
they vocalize their possible yearnings for one another. However, the song’s
true intent unveils itself as each performer reveals their true love; fighting
villainy and being villainous as per the individual character. Harris’ vocals
are tremendous here, demonstrating the aforementioned vulnerability and it’s a
touching, albeit comical song.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<br /></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">----------<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">"Death Trap"</span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/jiZ2sACpQPs?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Capped
with a hard edged foundation of percussion and guitar that picks up its tempo
from the get-go, “Death Trap” is a playful tip of the cap to the precarious
scenarios the villains always had a knack for placing Batman in throughout
their history. This idea carries with the Music Meister as he lyrically
describes what would possibly be the moving parts of this omnipotent
contraption (“Gears Grindin,’ Ropes Bindin,’ Coils Windin,”) and the resulting
fatality of their operations. The exponentially rising pace wonderfully
metaphors the concept of death inching itself closer and closer, building
tension as a result as we sit in awe, wondering if Batman will make it out
alive.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">"No encore for you THIS time, Batman."</span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">----------<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">"The World Is Mine"</span></span></b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0HIDrk8Muc" target="_blank"><span style="color: white;">"The World Is Mine" --</span> <span style="color: white;">Neil Patrick Harris & Various</span></a></span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">My
other favorite track from the collection, “The World Is Mine” plays as a
hypnotic counterpoint to “I’m the Music Meister.” The track has a wonderful
sense of pitch and beat; it’s not too fast and the fact that it’s a bit slower,
more methodical lends itself to the villainy of the Music Meister very well.
The brass work is generous and brilliant, flourishing with immense boldness and
brevity. It’s a delightful ode to the villain of the episode and it’s over the
top in all the right ways.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">----------<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">"If Only" (Reprise)<o:p></o:p></span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnjcSYSBfHU" target="_blank"><span style="color: white;">"If Only" (Reprise) --</span> <span style="color: white;">Grey DeLisle and James Arnold Taylor</span></a></span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Keeping
in the Broadway tradition, the album comes complete with its own reprisals. As
Batman leaves to fight crime, Black Canary reiterates her feelings for him
while looking up to the Bat-Signal. However, another voice adds itself to the
mix, creating a duet between Canary and Green Arrow. This is a great nod to the
comics, where Dinah and Oliver are well recognized for having a romantic
relationship with one another which eventually blossomed into marriage with
their “Wedding Special” published by DC Comics in 2007. Personally, I find
James Arnold Taylor’s voice a better match for DeLisle and they play off each
other’s emotional fluctuations tremendously.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">"Drives Us Bats" ("Mayhem of the Music
Meister" End Credits)<o:p></o:p></span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Kx7lqi7NOUs?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The
album and episode end on a high note with the reprise of “Drives Us Bats,”
which I suspect was meant to be the highlight for the show runners since it’s
given the final word so to speak. Just as great as the full track, condensed and
shortened for the end credits of the show. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">----------<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">With
the gimmick of the Music Meister, the soundtrack to the episode fits seamlessly
with his interpretation and approach.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s
just an incredible feeling to know that a property like Batman can so easily
and passionately lend itself to a concept like an episode packed with Broadway
style numbers; again, that just goes to show how durable the character truly
is.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Slightly
criticized for its briefness (imagine that; criticism because there isn’t
enough music!), the soundtrack was critically acclaimed and went on to win “The
Brave and The Bold” an Emmy award for musical excellence in a half hour
program.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">A
worthwhile addition to any Batman music collection to be sure!</span></span><br />
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-r3RPHKUow2-NmmdzgIsnwXYpHxuB6RjavS27l28u2atQtlCasRjEie-0b60G4S9jdYUEe4vimVCG7N806mhYh74-x80B4Lk9dVz9XDS7P9rFmgOSnT0D81Zq1b6TxSx3MZDnc-ixyUjy/s1600/bb-music.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-r3RPHKUow2-NmmdzgIsnwXYpHxuB6RjavS27l28u2atQtlCasRjEie-0b60G4S9jdYUEe4vimVCG7N806mhYh74-x80B4Lk9dVz9XDS7P9rFmgOSnT0D81Zq1b6TxSx3MZDnc-ixyUjy/s400/bb-music.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">--------------------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
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</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh43OfVA1ZaaxAyWBc-3oQSISormmkaIueqj1E_4hB1Lgk-7VCWBIEEq-qO4U_0grk40Z30jZu9N0NfgJOiSBA9E29WIuYC0v9lP0buhR-Z4rC8xX-mIMAmlQMiWBzqFTcRlMO0M8aKoXsU/s1600/293_harris_np_071409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh43OfVA1ZaaxAyWBc-3oQSISormmkaIueqj1E_4hB1Lgk-7VCWBIEEq-qO4U_0grk40Z30jZu9N0NfgJOiSBA9E29WIuYC0v9lP0buhR-Z4rC8xX-mIMAmlQMiWBzqFTcRlMO0M8aKoXsU/s1600/293_harris_np_071409.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Neil
Patrick Harris<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_bix15HqekpWY2PHBuXtuEqs48Z0HBhjY5Ac_OEB6cYbkhwaIaNEf0RePqgd-LdeOJz1GpZGpxkNPzhT0a4kh6xpGkVEUDxXxE78KzbKqyW_Q5hyphenhyphenaX0gOcOL7LhCL2Bv5PCmyVqIQQ5ii/s1600/1202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_bix15HqekpWY2PHBuXtuEqs48Z0HBhjY5Ac_OEB6cYbkhwaIaNEf0RePqgd-LdeOJz1GpZGpxkNPzhT0a4kh6xpGkVEUDxXxE78KzbKqyW_Q5hyphenhyphenaX0gOcOL7LhCL2Bv5PCmyVqIQQ5ii/s400/1202.jpg" width="345" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Grey
DeLisle<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk7qjUq4hXuAbkTTt3ZFG0L0P5Fy2B_Bweb9AqNmbn2BWhj64Cl7XQxtM10Ysq_Riiwl9zQfZLmNZ9fjTnuDYfTVhAjEEaX0mCKXbZlGOBam3gtAHWr6cEo5ycHeFcj48ttsJEh5lX1U9O/s1600/jamestaylor_ffo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk7qjUq4hXuAbkTTt3ZFG0L0P5Fy2B_Bweb9AqNmbn2BWhj64Cl7XQxtM10Ysq_Riiwl9zQfZLmNZ9fjTnuDYfTVhAjEEaX0mCKXbZlGOBam3gtAHWr6cEo5ycHeFcj48ttsJEh5lX1U9O/s400/jamestaylor_ffo.jpg" width="290" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">James
Arnold Taylor<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTo10WNLg_zeKzbcKTdbXKmNq3QqUh0TyW5jyGM16MvXDjs4oOyzkUlPtCI8KjvlhPJlQYGPJSSW6ddwh8DsgUGg6VnW1NakL2wnLM8gm2219TiyTd04HK0nVZ0POR4oweVshMtBTOg1Lb/s1600/11512683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTo10WNLg_zeKzbcKTdbXKmNq3QqUh0TyW5jyGM16MvXDjs4oOyzkUlPtCI8KjvlhPJlQYGPJSSW6ddwh8DsgUGg6VnW1NakL2wnLM8gm2219TiyTd04HK0nVZ0POR4oweVshMtBTOg1Lb/s400/11512683.jpg" width="338" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Andy
Sturmer<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>Chas Blankenshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09152498045221353190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5986956018362546175.post-19044663041950085372012-04-26T19:05:00.000-07:002012-04-26T19:05:56.448-07:00"Batman: The Brave and The Bold" (Sam Register, 2008 - 2011)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/UksS5AhGHpI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Episodes
Directed by …<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Ben
Jones (25 episodes)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Michael
Chang (17 episodes)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Michael
Goguen (15 episodes)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Brandon
Vietti (9 episodes)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Episodes
Written by …<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Steven
Melching (11 episodes)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Thomas
Pugsley (9 episodes)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">J.M.
DeMatteis (8 episodes)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Joseph
Kuhr (7 episodes)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Todd
Casey (6 episodes)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Paul
Dini (5 episodes)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">James
Krieg (5 episodes)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Adam
Beechen (3 episodes)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Jack
Cole (3 episodes)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Paul
Giacoppo (3 episodes)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Michael
Jelenic (2 episodes)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Dean
Stephan (2 episodes)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Greg
Weisman (2 episodes)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Matt
Wayne (2 episodes)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Dani
Michaeli (1 episode)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Jake
Black (1 episode)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Marsha
Griffin (1 episode)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Stan
Berkowitz (1 episode)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Kevin
Hopps (1 episode)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Alan
Burnett (1 episode)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Gail
Simone (1 episode)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Alexx
Van Dyne (1 episode)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Based
on the DC Comics Characters Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Series
Executive Produced by Sam Register<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Series
Produced by ...<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">James
Tucker<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Michael
Jelenic<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Linda
Steiner<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Amy
McKenna<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Series
Art Direction by … <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Lynell
Forestall<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Casting
and Voice Direction by Andrea Romano<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Series
Editing by Christopher D. Lozinski<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;"><o:p>"Batman: The Brave and The Bold" Theme Composed by Andy Sturmer </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Original
Television Scores Composed by …<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Kristopher
Carter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Michael
McCuistion<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Lolita
Ritmanis<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Diedrich
Bader ... Bruce Wayne/Batman (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">James
Arnold Taylor … Green Arrow (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Dee
Bradley Baker ... Clock King (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">John
Di Maggio ... Aquaman (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Jeff
Bennett ... Captain Marvel (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Greg
Ellis ... Gentleman Ghost (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Tom
Kenny ... Plastic Man (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Will
Friedle ... Blue Beetle (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Kevin
Michael Richardson ... Black Manta (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Corey
Burton ... Doc Magnus (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Jason
Marsden ... Paco (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Grey
DeLisle ... Black Canary (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Jim
Piddock ... Calendar Man (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Tara
Strong ... Billy Batson (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Zachary
Gordon ... Young Bruce Wayne (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Gary
Anthony Williams ... Mongul (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">R.
Lee Ermey ... Wildcat (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Lex
Lang ... Dr. Polaris (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Stephen
Root ... Woozy Winks (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Armin
Shimerman ... Ace (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Oded
Fehr ... Equinox (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Scott
Menville ... Metamorpho (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Bumper
Robinson ... Black Lightning (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Clancy
Brown … Mugger (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Kevin
Conroy ... Batman of Zur-En-Arrh (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Mark
Hamill ... Spectre (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Neil
Patrick Harris ... The Music Meister (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Alexander
Polinsky ... G'nort (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Jeremy
Shada ... Young Robin (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Crawford
Wilson ... Robin (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Tom
Everett Scott ... Booster Gold (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Marc
Worden ... Kanjar Ro (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Thomas
F. Wilson ... Cat-Man (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Jennifer
Hale ... Poison Ivy (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Andy
Milder ... Jay Garrick (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Nika
Futterman ... Catwoman (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Phil
Morris ... Jonah Hex (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Paul
Reubens ... Bat-Mite (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Billy
West ... Skeets (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Vicki
Lewis ... Wonder Woman (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Adam
West ... Proto-Bat (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Batman
defends Gotham City, the world and the universe at large everywhere and in any
time with the assistance of various DC Comics Heroes, historical figures and
intergalactic entities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">----------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Key
Episodes:<o:p></o:p></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">“Rise
of the Blue Beetle!”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">“Evil
Under the Sea!”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">“Enter
The Outsiders!”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">“Journey
to the Center of the Bat!”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">“The
Color of Revenge!”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">“Legends
of the Dark Mite!”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">“Last
Bat on Earth!”<br />
“When OMAC Attacks!”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">“The
Fate of Equinox!”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">“Mayhem
of the Music Meister!”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">“Death
Race to Oblivion!”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">“The
Golden Age of Justice!”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">“Clash
of the Metal Men!”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">“A
Bat Divided!”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">“Sidekicks
Assemble!”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">“The
Super-Batman of Planet X!”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">“Chill
of the Night!”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">“The
Siege of Starro! Part 1”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">“The
Siege of Starro! Part 2”<br />
“Requiem for a Scarlet Speedster!”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">“The
Last Patrol!”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">“The
Mask of Matches Malone!”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">“Emperor
Joker!”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">“The
Criss Cross Conspiracy!”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">“The
Plague of the Prototypes!”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">“The
Knights of Tomorrow!”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">“Darkseid
Descending!”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">“Bat-Mite
Presents: Batman’s Strangest Cases!”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">“Joker:
The Vile and the Villainous!”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">“Shadow
of the Bat!”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">“Night
of the Batmen!”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">“Battle
of the Superheroes!”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">“Time
Out for Vengeance!”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">“Bold
Beginnings!”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">“Mitefall!”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">As
a fan who’s been suspect to the genesis of Batman from cornball cultural powderpuff
to vengeful Dark Knight, it’s always fun to see the concept of multiple
interpretations take root in actual practice.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;"><o:p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fps--OssUow" target="_blank"><span style="color: white;">"Batman: The Brave and The Bold" (2008 - 2011) Scene -- Bed Side Vow</span></a></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">When
“Batman Begins” hit movie screens with a darker, more grounded iteration,
television offered lighter fare with “The Batman.” It was as if Warner Brothers
could sense the widespread appeal and sought to give everyone a Batman they
could enjoy depending on which way they wanted to go.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">It’s
a smart move on part of the studio, ensuring that no one be made to feel left
out of the fandom while making the effort to aid in the education of fans that
there’s no right or wrong way to interpret Batman.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">The
approach worked so well at the time that it was used once more in the height of
appreciation for the character in 2008.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Although,
interestingly and in hindsight, extremity was the way to go both ways.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">“The
Dark Knight” created a bleak portrait of Gotham City that was plagued by chaos
and hopelessness privy to the Joker’s madness as it corrupted the proceedings,
destroying everything in its path in a swirl of death and tragedy. This
darkness was only hinted at in “Batman Begins,” pushing the envelope even
further.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">And
simultaneously, the same emphasis was put on part of the televised caped
crusader as 2008 introduced fans to “Batman: The Brave and The Bold,” which is
far and away lighter and brighter than “The Batman” ever actually was.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Named
after the popular DC Comics book of the same name that ran in uninterrupted publication
from 1955 to 1983 (with a subsequent mini-series from 1991 to 1999 and a new
ongoing title that’s been going since 2007) The series follows the framework of
the comic by partnering an established Batman with a number of fellow DC Comics
heroes including Aquaman, Red Tornado, Green Arrow, Plastic Man, Blue Beetle,
Metamorpho and several others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">What
I immediately love about this idea is that the show uses Batman’s popularity as
a catalyst for introducing viewers to B and even C-level DC characters they
might have otherwise never known.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">It
still retains the focus on Batman, sure, but now kids could walk away from an
episode with a newfound fondness for someone like B’wana Beast or Deadman or
Elongated Man; or, at least, knowledge of their existence.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">The
show’s tone is often labeled to be in line with the mid-60s television series
starring Adam West, and I can definitely see that. But it’s far more in sync
with the Silver Age in the comic books more than anything.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Because
of that approach, it’s just amazing to find a Batman heavily influenced by Dick
Sprang’s design aesthetic in the same year of Christopher Nolan’s haunted urban
soldier.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Hell,
a child growing up on a Silver Age visualization of the DC universe is in and
of itself incredible.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;"><o:p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-iDLwSrkx4" target="_blank"><span style="color: white;">"Batman: The Brave and The Bold" (2008 - 2011) Scene -- An Unlikely Partnership</span></a></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">From
donning Catwoman in the classic costume complete with a green cape to dressing
Mr. Freeze in the sci-fi spaceman tone he originated in, the visual
approach can also easily lend itself to the treatment of the characters in the Filmation
cartoon series.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">This
liberation of whimsy breaks the mold of previous animated encounters, creating
a world where there were no bounds to hold the dark knight or his adventures
back.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">From
travelling to distant colorful galaxies to being thrown back into the throes of
time to encountering alternate dimensions and parallel universes complete with their own Batmen, it’s such a wonderfully amped up comic book zaniness that you can’t help
but fall in love with if you allow yourself to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">What
really sets “The Brave and The Bold” apart is that, for several episodes more
specifically towards the end of its broadcast run, it became incredibly
self-conscious about the source material, even more than “Batman: The Animated
Series” or “The Batman.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">This
is demonstrated in one of my favorite episodes, “Bat-Mite Presents: Batman’s
Strangest Cases!”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Overseen
by Bat-Mite, played in a very clever casting choice by Pee-Wee Herman himself,
Paul Ruebens (who’d previously enjoyed a small cameo as the Penguin’s father in
“Batman Returns”), the episode pokes fun at the bizarre and irreverent within
Batman’s pantheon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">First,
of all things, it opens with homage to “Batboy and Rubin,” the Batman parody
that showcased frequently in MAD Magazine specifically during the heights of
the character’s popularity with the 60s show and the Burton/Schumacher movies.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Can
you imagine? The idea of a “Batman” show being so open and receptive to the
character’s history in ALL its aspects that it would willingly acknowledge something
like that is just fantastic.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">From
there, we’re given a hilarious romp that hits everything from “Bat-Manga” and
the wild interpretation of the character in the land of the rising sun to a
satirical mockery and parody of the legendary team up of Batman and Robin with
Scooby Doo, rushing to beat Joker and Penguin to a buried treasure left behind
by a long passed mobster in an abandoned theatre.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">There's even an inexplicable cameo from Weird Al Yankovic. WHAT!??</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Bat-Mite
is rightfully impish and obnoxious when he pops into the show, not unlike his
predecessor from the Filmation show, and Ruebens does a terrific job with him.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">I
love the moment of mischievous deviancy when he tries to convince Batman of how
glamorous his battle with the Joker has been through the years. That moment
when he nods to the death of Jason Todd as a result of calling in to vote,
which actually happened with the comics in reality, really hits home just how
crass the character is.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;"><strong>“Guess
how I voted...”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;"><o:p>The homages didn't end with Bat-Mite, as the show sought to pay dividends to several incarnations on multiple occassions, such as the wonderful scene that features Batman battling against a brain-washed Superman while armored in the supped-up Batsuit straight off the pages of their conflict at the end of Frank Miller's "The Dark Knight Returns!" </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Given
the aesthetic with this incarnation, we’re given a Batman that exudes
overconfidence to a point that’s almost frustrating; I love the character, but
it’s clear that he wins the day because the scripts demand it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Even
so, Diedrich Bader lends his pipes very well to this authoritative caped crusader
and he clearly dominates the show as it rests on his broad, caped shoulders.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">“The
Brave and The Bold,” as with all animated projects from DC Comics, gained the advantage
of having a tremendous laundry list of guest stars and talented recurring voice
actors.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">As
a long time Kubrick fan, it was great to hear the iconic grizzled edge of R. Lee
Ermey, perfectly suited for the boxing legend turned hero Wildcat.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;"><o:p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwYjGDIWlNw" target="_blank"><span style="color: white;">"Batman: The Brave and The Bold" (2008 - 2011) Scene -- "Drives Us Bats"</span></a></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Neil
Patrick Harris, stemming from his roots both on Broadway and in fan favorites
such as Joss Whedon’s film “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog” lends his
delightful theatricality to the lovably villainous Music Meister in one of the
show’s most critically acclaimed episodes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">The
legendary Kevin Conroy returns to the booth to provide the voice for the galactic
Batman of Zur-En-Arrh and Adam West, still going strong after over forty years,
plays the role of Proto-Bat. What’s interesting here is consider such longevity;
how bringing Adam back into the Batman property with the Grey Ghost when Kevin
was starting out has now translated to Kevin as well with his cameo work both
in “The Batman” and here. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">The
show even manages to scoop up a two-episode performance from the Clown Prince
of Crime himself, with Mark Hamill lending his talents to the otherworldly
Spectre.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">The
music of “The Brave and The Bold” is admittedly one dimensional and cartoony
but given the mold of the show, it’s no surprise. The theme composed by Andy
Sturmer is delightfully infectious in its own right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">In
spite of the darker psychological layers added to the character over the years,
Batman is, in essence, a creation of comic books. Comic Books are built upon a
foundation of being fun and “The Brave and The Bold” is just that.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Zany,
colorful, bombastic FUN!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Chas Blankenship's 'Bat-Mania' 2012 is Proud to Present "Bat-Mite Presents: Batman's Strangest Cases!" from "Batman: The Brave and The Bold."</span><br />
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<br />Chas Blankenshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09152498045221353190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5986956018362546175.post-45607590661786892422012-04-26T12:13:00.001-07:002012-04-26T21:44:37.584-07:00BATMAN in Comics - I've Seen The Future, And It Will Be... (2010 - 2012 and Beyond)<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">With the ushering
in of a new decade, Batman’s popularity has currently reached fever pitch.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Even now, fans
around the world anxiously anticipate his latest cinematic exploits with 2012’s
“The Dark Knight Rises.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">However, with what
time remains until the release of the film, DC Comics has provided an
incredible amount of material in the comic books themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Things got off to
an incredible start with “Blackest Knight,” the third story arc told in the
“Batman & Robin” title, where it’s revealed that the Omega Effect that
supposedly killed Batman in “Batman R.I.P.” and “Final Crisis” #6 actually
scattered his consciousness to parallel worlds and timelines.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">“The death that is
life,” according to Darkseid.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Further discovery
leads to the realization that the corpse left behind after Batman’s ‘death’ was
a clone created by Darkseid in a failed attempt to give birth to an army of
‘Batmen.’ This reveal occurs when Dick Grayson, believing the body to be
Bruce’s, places it in one of Ra’s Al Ghul’s Lazarus Pits to revive him, which
only ends up producing an insane opponent that Grayson defeats.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">May 2010 began the
6 issue “Return of Bruce Wayne” story arc with “Batman: The Return of Bruce
Wayne” #1, which follows Wayne’s journey through time after being transplanted
by Darkseid following “Batman & Robin” #12. From the prehistoric era
through the age of witch hunts and the Wild West, all 6 issues hit a different
time period until Bruce finally arrives in present day by the end of the
mini-series.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjudiqGGqTyWWMb07znju9oUu1ViJ_tuOiUAhD-d3H5rPBhbgyVLVHM1fM5yWkdxsixyqq1psq-ayqb8e_KIpRHNJ-k2-ebVaAVPNLh2uPWjVYYq7eNp5s43xaAx5LaO5oDxO86HQd_mfX5/s1600/return-bruce-wayne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjudiqGGqTyWWMb07znju9oUu1ViJ_tuOiUAhD-d3H5rPBhbgyVLVHM1fM5yWkdxsixyqq1psq-ayqb8e_KIpRHNJ-k2-ebVaAVPNLh2uPWjVYYq7eNp5s43xaAx5LaO5oDxO86HQd_mfX5/s1600/return-bruce-wayne.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Written by Grant
Morrison, the story is a wonderful homage to the concept that Batman’s mantle
can endure and impact at any point and in any age and it’s an excellent treat
to see Batman visually represented in multiple points of time, in the tradition
of his steampunk/noir appearance in Mike Mignola’s “Gotham by Gaslight” graphic
novel.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">A number of
one-shots and extended mini-series events were created to conclude the story.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Among them was the
month-long conclusion arc “Bruce Wayne: The Road Home,” which began in December
of 2010, carrying over into one-shot installments such as “Batman: The Return”
and the “Black Mirror” storyline.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Wayne’s return
creates a number of ramifications and particularly affects Dick Grayson, who’d
adopted the mantle of Batman following 2007’s “Battle for the Cowl” story arc.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8IQR2anxrNZkcpEeslCF7Xauy7V4qvzn-QdS_g2xpHP6sGn-yY82bw7X-AZALNJPkMFx-eQyucxtLoQgU7-8eYRSaxJeP6AVF4UEFQlVs4lbu-4k5pUiX47R6tiFtVrsWTi90TvL7oq70/s1600/batman-the-return-game-on.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8IQR2anxrNZkcpEeslCF7Xauy7V4qvzn-QdS_g2xpHP6sGn-yY82bw7X-AZALNJPkMFx-eQyucxtLoQgU7-8eYRSaxJeP6AVF4UEFQlVs4lbu-4k5pUiX47R6tiFtVrsWTi90TvL7oq70/s1600/batman-the-return-game-on.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Whatever the hang
ups, the decision had been made.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Bruce Wayne was
back.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<br /></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">And following his
and his allies defeat of Darkseid, another choice was made; a choice that would
take the character down a new and completely fresh path altogether.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe0vkeH7SZaHH7AUKxFZOapCDIrvx3qD9uoE5Zfziu5_sHxdYD-TQyYJlXgHCReMs9J5lyarBQdvSBzAKFc00gnqcKsX4mJg0Kf26GNNtog0tMN4pIBHK13BFIF4y4yUEmPI0PHKT9jppQ/s1600/bmrob_cv16_ds-copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe0vkeH7SZaHH7AUKxFZOapCDIrvx3qD9uoE5Zfziu5_sHxdYD-TQyYJlXgHCReMs9J5lyarBQdvSBzAKFc00gnqcKsX4mJg0Kf26GNNtog0tMN4pIBHK13BFIF4y4yUEmPI0PHKT9jppQ/s640/bmrob_cv16_ds-copy.jpg" width="416" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Despite reclaiming
the mantle of Batman, Wayne decides to allow Dick Grayson and his son Damian to
remain in their positions as the dynamic duo of Gotham City.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<br /></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">His priority
shifted; no longer concerned with one city, Bruce set his sights on the world at
large.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Launched by Grant
Morrison, Frazer Irving and Cameron Stewart with art provided from Yanick
Paquette and Scott Clark, “Batman Incorporated” began its run in January of
2011.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Bruce Wayne returns
to the cape and cowl, freshly designed by artist David Finch, and begins a
campaign to create a legion of fellow ‘Batman’s around the world, establishing
them in nearly every major country as a sort of crime fighting network,
universal in their being adorned with the Bat-Logo.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7wXp8URiM4hMSkDSMZ3yeuJbgEZY2-tbL9UcNpt4sbrOu_oQSQQbnlwO-NDPGWf4OeqOodcLEY_oanXtm9_tuqmHWxlUWfzocvD1lc0-t9isp2ZI9mRsaE1tM-fhKZ0m56mEsj2UzXtZ/s1600/bmrob_16_dylux-39-copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7wXp8URiM4hMSkDSMZ3yeuJbgEZY2-tbL9UcNpt4sbrOu_oQSQQbnlwO-NDPGWf4OeqOodcLEY_oanXtm9_tuqmHWxlUWfzocvD1lc0-t9isp2ZI9mRsaE1tM-fhKZ0m56mEsj2UzXtZ/s640/bmrob_16_dylux-39-copy.jpg" width="416" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">A play on concepts
of widespread marketing and brand-recognition, Bruce takes it a step further by
announcing his involvement in the endeavor as a financial supporter. To that
end, Wayne Enterprises is revealed as a contributor to Batman’s campaign,
aiding him with the weapons and technology that the public now knows he’s been
‘given’ by the company over the years.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">From there, Bruce
travels the globe to recruit the dark knights of various regions including
Asia, South America and Africa.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Justice on a global
scale.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<br /></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Given his being a
wealthy industrialist, this development for Wayne as a character makes a
tremendous amount of sense; in the current climate of the franchise mentality,
the idea of franchising and commanding such a team fits synonymously.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Batman Inc.” ran
as a storyline from January to October of 2011, nearing its conclusion just as
DC Comics decided to revitalize their properties, for better or worse, once
again.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">As with “Crisis on
Infinite Earths” in the mid-80s, DC created a massive revamp launch event with September
2011’s “The New 52.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBKpZta0bp45gW0Kkoe-HUI8xzqvNY62d1yXcaY0Wyurm4loX0xN-eLUNNk6CmUGixnqVf8psuPznlpYMuxJ9dmkAb4JuxbnGP8Wk8Ap1gmKtjNnSTx-djFOo2Lo7XJoe_E-7k1SVWhcuI/s1600/Guide-to-the-DC-New-52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBKpZta0bp45gW0Kkoe-HUI8xzqvNY62d1yXcaY0Wyurm4loX0xN-eLUNNk6CmUGixnqVf8psuPznlpYMuxJ9dmkAb4JuxbnGP8Wk8Ap1gmKtjNnSTx-djFOo2Lo7XJoe_E-7k1SVWhcuI/s1600/Guide-to-the-DC-New-52.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Spread throughout
all of their titles, continuity was once again reset in “Batman,” “Detective
Comics,” “Batman & Robin” and a brand new addition to the Bat books,
“Batman: The Dark Knight,” as Bruce Wayne was put back into the mantle as the
one and only Batman and Dick Grayson returned to his role as Nightwing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Speaking of new
bat-books, going off topic for a moment, 2010 also saw the debut of a brand new
title for a fan favorite.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCN6EYUdVlKF4h7mPzDy03s3JbEQZwKgzWlcDTa3j3Th450Ga6avSF7K1bC5cQfObfT9GJrLW6MdDNzbOEzQhgeh847Vw1s4N-PCPnHcLri_gSp1MEtsc0sMGEjGw2NrEvOEcTzSm9ixH/s1600/Batman_Beyond_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCN6EYUdVlKF4h7mPzDy03s3JbEQZwKgzWlcDTa3j3Th450Ga6avSF7K1bC5cQfObfT9GJrLW6MdDNzbOEzQhgeh847Vw1s4N-PCPnHcLri_gSp1MEtsc0sMGEjGw2NrEvOEcTzSm9ixH/s1600/Batman_Beyond_1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Batman Beyond” continued
the adventures young Terry McGinnis as he protected the future Gotham City with
the aid of mentor Bruce Wayne.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The “Beyond” story
had found its place in comics before, such as the ongoing comic than ran in
correlation to the animated series from November 1999 to October 2001, totally
24 issues.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<br /></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">This time around, the
2010 mini-series featured art by Ryan Benjamin and a narrative titled “Future
Evil,” written under the pen of Emmy-Award winning scribe Adam Beechen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">In the wake of its
success, “Batman Beyond” was published as an ongoing series that ran two story
arcs spread over eight issues starting with “Batman Beyond” #1 in January of
2011. The first story arc teamed McGinnis once more with the Justice League of
the future as they battle the man who would become the Matter Master. In the more
personal 2<sup>nd</sup> storyline, Terry is faced with the reappearance of
Blight, his original nemesis.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIbLQ5yv4zQOZMefh9Pyl5qtP5-g3Y3I8H-gTCo0Q4p0ss5VJefteLbV02SRnHuD5IsPOodmPp2NRhoAKh1HsMV4JnLwNJ6LWqTXbDSXHXH1a9yDoMRHR30Cd-LZtpeUyqvkkutJpkAVui/s1600/Batman_Beyond_Unlimited_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIbLQ5yv4zQOZMefh9Pyl5qtP5-g3Y3I8H-gTCo0Q4p0ss5VJefteLbV02SRnHuD5IsPOodmPp2NRhoAKh1HsMV4JnLwNJ6LWqTXbDSXHXH1a9yDoMRHR30Cd-LZtpeUyqvkkutJpkAVui/s640/Batman_Beyond_Unlimited_1.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The creation of the
“Beyond” stories in the comics just goes to show the true impact and popularity
of the original animated series and 2012 will see the return of two bi-weekly digital
titles “Batman Beyond” and “Justice League Beyond,” which will be packaged and
released monthly in a 48 page comic simply titled “Batman Beyond.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s nice to see
the dark knight of the future get his due.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">But back to “New
52.”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">With the exception
of Stephanie Brown’s tenure, which was erased, the line of Robins was kept
intact and Barbara Gordon was maintained in the role of Oracle.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">However, fate and the
editors both saw fit to deal Babs a different hand.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ6V8ZCZYhXHTjTFEB5EqIKxthYgxY5WuU3tUzX32937Z78z67et_0j9mmzcCtsFhJdVXG7ShswYU7oY9wUr0LzTU8kkV4ZuR-oPI0SHVUP8m53k_muU3aKVN3BXS4JbV06VPIxgEssDAu/s1600/birdsofprey7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ6V8ZCZYhXHTjTFEB5EqIKxthYgxY5WuU3tUzX32937Z78z67et_0j9mmzcCtsFhJdVXG7ShswYU7oY9wUr0LzTU8kkV4ZuR-oPI0SHVUP8m53k_muU3aKVN3BXS4JbV06VPIxgEssDAu/s1600/birdsofprey7.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Following “The New
52,” a story-arc dubbed “Flashpoint” saw to the establishment of a new
continuity in which all of our heroes and villains have been regressed to
earlier stages in age and in their careers while remaining in a modern
timeline.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Confusing?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Kind of.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Be that as it may,
every book was launched with a brand new #1 issue.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">For Barbara, it
meant the unthinkable; something fans thought they would never see.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBrebrfYIOVsar6BgjIzbX2t5_71BwZ2b9eWUjNk2pHBCqsQBGDK5fnNAhA13HSrCWkKJx0utXVHfaHDRKrzfEuaxdQuluTWfiYYO-_8o5UfVJid5xndx5LAFdInx0fJrld5GATTdtVm-_/s1600/photo-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBrebrfYIOVsar6BgjIzbX2t5_71BwZ2b9eWUjNk2pHBCqsQBGDK5fnNAhA13HSrCWkKJx0utXVHfaHDRKrzfEuaxdQuluTWfiYYO-_8o5UfVJid5xndx5LAFdInx0fJrld5GATTdtVm-_/s400/photo-1.png" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Within the
parameters of this new continuity, Barbara undergoes experimental surgery in
South Africa three years after the events of 1988’s “The Killing Joke.” Once a
paraplegic tech broker named Oracle, Barbara recovers in the span of a year and
dons cape and cowl once again as Batgirl for the first time in established
comics in decades! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo3fK-2I9Kmom1dS7hv6QtNssotT_yhXUm3ySHBGGG3wv3IQHcurXlqw99jhTBVBKjZalVAr0hDvhN5YN5wn9KKCMdWaq33t0DvC8t5Qko4C-_1aAg4jKbPwrG1FIBQ48CATbHKJcAZOQc/s1600/Batgirl_Barbara_Gordon_0037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo3fK-2I9Kmom1dS7hv6QtNssotT_yhXUm3ySHBGGG3wv3IQHcurXlqw99jhTBVBKjZalVAr0hDvhN5YN5wn9KKCMdWaq33t0DvC8t5Qko4C-_1aAg4jKbPwrG1FIBQ48CATbHKJcAZOQc/s640/Batgirl_Barbara_Gordon_0037.jpg" width="415" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">In her new
“Batgirl” ongoing title, we learn that even though she’s back on her feat ready
to take on criminals the way she once had, Barbara still suffers from
post-traumatic stress, often finding herself hesitant when faced with gunfire
that could potentially cause another spinal injury. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Such attention to
detail helps advance the grounding of these characters, making them relatable
without diminishing the flamboyant, larger than life icons that they are.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">With the dawn of a
new decade, Batman has also been met with a number of new and bizarre
adversaries; foes who long to have the longevity of the dark knight’s legendary
rogues.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiG9iEC8ceVxllhMaDtjLTe2SebPPOe_6EnahfuBWvWItZslL1yxftVTWFmQBJNhO5y-PS2G2p3p03Lg9-uTSUS8O_rvW2RL4YwrUeaBkcdyoqQa7CNZKBntNUN0JUwQa-tt2IBdsXHnGD/s1600/batman_robin_14b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiG9iEC8ceVxllhMaDtjLTe2SebPPOe_6EnahfuBWvWItZslL1yxftVTWFmQBJNhO5y-PS2G2p3p03Lg9-uTSUS8O_rvW2RL4YwrUeaBkcdyoqQa7CNZKBntNUN0JUwQa-tt2IBdsXHnGD/s1600/batman_robin_14b.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The biggest new
antagonist arrived in 2008’s “Batman” #673 with the creation of Dr. Hurt, who would
go on to become the central threat to Batman during Morrison’s entire run into
2011.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Also known as Dr.
Simon Hurt, the character is revealed to have a long and twisted past
connection to Batman and wishes to break the dark knight in body and soul as a
means of replacing him as a corrupted counterpart.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s Hurt that
leads the campaign to target Batman as conducted by the Black Glove
organization in “Batman R.I.P.” and throughout the whole of Morrison’s run,
characters speculate who he really is.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Some, like the
Joker, claim he’s the devil incarnate. Hurt himself claimed to be a
reincarnation of Thomas Wayne. In a fight atop Arkham Asylum, Batman accuses
him of being Mangrove Pierce, an actor and acquaintance of Thomas.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Eventually, all
roads lead in culmination to a finale that finally uncovers the truth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8GGPfONjTe0NpzPVoKhdZiK6LW6WTFgLO_tK9LepCpiTl80oyhf2TlVTa8bqh0dzANvTPs274V5KHvUkJfYwY3c1IGV6LbmTUmZ8U_Z9aR6Bhh6TCXPMGsEHTfRm8Q45d77P6_sURWGy/s1600/hurtpunch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8GGPfONjTe0NpzPVoKhdZiK6LW6WTFgLO_tK9LepCpiTl80oyhf2TlVTa8bqh0dzANvTPs274V5KHvUkJfYwY3c1IGV6LbmTUmZ8U_Z9aR6Bhh6TCXPMGsEHTfRm8Q45d77P6_sURWGy/s1600/hurtpunch.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Dr. Hurt is a 17<sup>th</sup>
century relative of the Wayne’s, also named Thomas, who’d been black marked and
shunned by the family for his satanic worshippings. While attempting to make
contact with a demon named Barbatos, Thomas is actually confronted by the
Hyper-Adapter; a creature birthed on Apokolips by Darkseid and tasked with
overseeing Batman’s voyage through history after the resulting Omega Effect.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Through the
creature’s energies, Thomas is supposedly given near immortality, enough to
live into the present day to confront Batman and his allies.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">To date, the
villain is positioned to become one of the most personal and threatening villains to Batman
since the likes of Two-Face and Ra’s Al Ghul.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s a wonderful
twist and a bizarre addition to the supernatural and unexplainable that Batman
is often confronted with. I suppose it’s only a matter of time until Dr. Hurt’s
evil is unleashed upon Gotham and the world once again.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-4q5KT-XEVewhwy6ZRaOss9SBdwqmjKbq5HfdOyLFChlce4igB35R2vkgMUaGdTn-myk29aFxDXwhjyaU1aLZsYrnIZonJe604axaiSbFZdk5X3pGXyEBrxurxovu5Wq6EtQiFiGOkYt/s1600/batmanandrobin14+-+pyg2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-4q5KT-XEVewhwy6ZRaOss9SBdwqmjKbq5HfdOyLFChlce4igB35R2vkgMUaGdTn-myk29aFxDXwhjyaU1aLZsYrnIZonJe604axaiSbFZdk5X3pGXyEBrxurxovu5Wq6EtQiFiGOkYt/s400/batmanandrobin14+-+pyg2.jpg" width="343" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Following his cameo
in 2007’s “Batman” #666, readers were also introduced to Professor Pyg; a
gifted scientist and madman that would plague the dynamic duo in the “Batman
& Robin” title.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Revealed as Lazlo
Valentin, Pyg is the leader of a group of followers dubbed the Circus of the
Strange who aid in his demented pledge to create a “perfect” society by
introducing a highly addictive narcotic virus that turns people into
lobotomized, genderless abominations.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Other villains have
made their mark, such as Dollmaker in “Detective Comics” #2 (2011), Morgan
DuCard in “Batman & Robin” #1 (September 2011) and The White Rabbit from
“Batman: The Dark Knight” #1 (2011).<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Which brings us to
2012.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcfoUfu27M76r4mcPQUqDjgVlbBZdzu2yBcV0HD2K7eesGu8OdvOX4DS4huqSIz8OeGrVA15HfslYy2kT7JHiP-Tkn6VLv49T033jceRMpIbZENjZJzq14bYPfXEWS2o_GIB1JuFlZgUJm/s1600/BatmanInLeviathan1_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcfoUfu27M76r4mcPQUqDjgVlbBZdzu2yBcV0HD2K7eesGu8OdvOX4DS4huqSIz8OeGrVA15HfslYy2kT7JHiP-Tkn6VLv49T033jceRMpIbZENjZJzq14bYPfXEWS2o_GIB1JuFlZgUJm/s1600/BatmanInLeviathan1_sm.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">With the resultant
continuity adaptations from “The New 52,” Grant Morrison and company created a
giant sized one shot titled “Batman Incorporated: Leviathan Strikes,” in which
Batman and his allies are confronted with Leviathan, a new and deadly
organization lead by Talia Al Ghul that seeks to induct young girls into a
group of deadly warriors called the Girls of Death.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The story has
introduced Janoz Valentin, the son of Professor Pyg, and to date is currently
continuing its run in the Batman titles with 2012’s “Batman Incorporated”
Volume Two as Batman and his allies fight to fend off the wrath of Leviathan.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XPTw0qSvBNPaunQN8BSY26E27kMZM622JdSN9i0fMurjoCzA2LNbXluiJcsihIMJTV0X287v_U9a_I7NV5Pq-5ZInCxHHlrGxbcUgujpgexepUPZOWVmMLgBqLxz5NYwggBkxOlcodZq/s1600/Batman-Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XPTw0qSvBNPaunQN8BSY26E27kMZM622JdSN9i0fMurjoCzA2LNbXluiJcsihIMJTV0X287v_U9a_I7NV5Pq-5ZInCxHHlrGxbcUgujpgexepUPZOWVmMLgBqLxz5NYwggBkxOlcodZq/s400/Batman-Logo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The comic book
history of Batman transcends the stuff of legend, built upon a formidable
foundation of passion, creativity, drama and loyalty on part of the legions of
writers, artists and editors who have guided and shaped his adventures through
73 years of continuous publication.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">As incredible and
monumental an achievement it is in reflection, excitement percolates with the
promise and possibility of what lies ahead for the caped crusader in the
future.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">There’s no denying
the character’s staying power after enduring decades of depression, war,
counter culture, commerciality, near irrelevance and surging popularity.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">As with the times
themselves, the legacy of Batman tempers and shifts; It balances itself, privy
to rebirth as it contorts its paradigm to fit the mold of the current
condition.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">And yet in essence,
at its core, the tale remains the same.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">No matter the
history, no matter the villains, no matter what the future holds, the ‘Batman’
persona will live on in its never-ending battle against injustice and evil.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The story may be
bent, but the spirit will never be broken.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s the idea that
one can suffer tragedy and carry on; the idea that one can remain loyal and
uncompromised to morals and beliefs when they’re threatened.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">But above all, it’s
the idea that someone can take a stand before the dangers of adversity,
conformity, benevolence, ignorance, corruption, fear, loss; challenge them,
defeat them, conquer them.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">And as long as
readers and fans can relate to the struggle and pick themselves up to continue
the fight for survival and life in a dangerous world, the character’s impact
will continue on beside them.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s the
universality of being human.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s the
universality of Batman.</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRztwiA9NWrEO-drfWZIqmZHkoIK5y7jx3Gqd5b-uParM1oaETly8MwqoaJ-I437Nq-MSB3qp0i8pcKYo9IZ6ikjGnCDTJVsPRcGDDEaKU8-SRaohDPpStaHtD1r4CLahBYnumzSAAqZWC/s1600/3718752793_1f2ccaa79f_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRztwiA9NWrEO-drfWZIqmZHkoIK5y7jx3Gqd5b-uParM1oaETly8MwqoaJ-I437Nq-MSB3qp0i8pcKYo9IZ6ikjGnCDTJVsPRcGDDEaKU8-SRaohDPpStaHtD1r4CLahBYnumzSAAqZWC/s640/3718752793_1f2ccaa79f_o.jpg" width="604" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">------------------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></span>Chas Blankenshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09152498045221353190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5986956018362546175.post-11372363622917234032012-04-25T18:31:00.001-07:002012-04-25T18:31:57.455-07:00Fan Film Theatre - Coming Attractions: "Grayson" (John Fiorella, 2004)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISOFGldhzIPiPvWgKoNnnQcJYltiMvCLGHD2iXIeTN3P-5Qa2p2A0eI3JodYmtrM0S_jKIjZoY2FcEOuHKm5RR62GSCo9KhODdpC4083nu7g41naNIShpIP0PAkCIZOG6dHPN2__NVeQO/s1600/Grayson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISOFGldhzIPiPvWgKoNnnQcJYltiMvCLGHD2iXIeTN3P-5Qa2p2A0eI3JodYmtrM0S_jKIjZoY2FcEOuHKm5RR62GSCo9KhODdpC4083nu7g41naNIShpIP0PAkCIZOG6dHPN2__NVeQO/s640/Grayson.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Written
and Directed by John Fiorella<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Based
on the DC Comic Characters Created by Bob Kane, Bill Finger, Jerry Siegel, Joe
Shuster and William Moulton Marston<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Produced
by … John Fiorella and Gabriel Sabloff<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Cinematography
by … Gabriel Sabloff<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Editing
by … John Fiorella and Gabriel Sabloff<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Costume
Design by … John Fiorella and Virginia Medina<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">John Fiorella …
Richard ‘Dick’ Grayson/Robin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Mark Brodkin …
Police Commissioner James Gordon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Anthony Heartly
… Police Chief O’Hara<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Gloria Payne …
Barbara Gordon/Batgirl<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Paul Hasenyager
… Clark Kent/Superman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Kate Clarke …
Diana Prince/Wonder Woman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Brian C. Bethel
… The Joker<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Kimberly Page …
Selina Kyle/Catwoman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Buddy Daniels
Friedman … Oswald Cobblepot/The Penguin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Gabriel Sabloff
… Edward Nygma/The Riddler<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Kofi Natei …
Gotham Police Officer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">After
the tragic murder of Batman at the hands of his foes, his ward Dick Grayson
seeks to avenge the death of his mentor, despite attempts by Superman, Wonder
Woman and others to stop him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">-------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">One
of the most appreciated fan films isn’t even a film at all; though it boasts a
budget that some independent features would be envious of.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Writer/Director/Star
John Fiorella, along with his company Untamed Cinema, unleashed “Grayson” upon
audiences in 2004.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwRb-5y9KfNOxP1sYcllHBI0Pv2TMpOxhTwLcabpDB92aYXn9tMyPrsPpn8XO3PTYiIDSWJ982Lz4LPbHgQDsa3Nnsml9ciPGa2u8rIp-cthrgKe2IjIO1CzHDwlvBfSVVcBL5me8wyZsj/s1600/Photo+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwRb-5y9KfNOxP1sYcllHBI0Pv2TMpOxhTwLcabpDB92aYXn9tMyPrsPpn8XO3PTYiIDSWJ982Lz4LPbHgQDsa3Nnsml9ciPGa2u8rIp-cthrgKe2IjIO1CzHDwlvBfSVVcBL5me8wyZsj/s400/Photo+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">A
trailer based upon a wonderful feature length script by Fiorella, “Grayson”
tells of the unthinkable as Batman has finally met his end; murdered in the
midst of his crusade to preserve law and order in Gotham City.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">But
the time of sorrow quickly passes as the caped crusader’s former protégé, Dick
Grayson (Fiorella) suspects that his mentor wasn’t simply killed by some
no-name punk. In fact, he suspects foul play. Looking into the murder, Grayson
finds himself being shut out and left aside by Police Chief Clancy O’Hara
(Anthony Heartly) as well as Clark Kent (Paul Hasenyager).</span><br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5wpxPMWuj86tURZGKJmEq9jjjWnAU-IqVT7Rh-CVi4JNpv2DwoUjn9JpqjRU3kxiHUqPJtQM7ZoqeCY2qwby3gGOUdMnkbE5wKx7K3PjD6ltvc57wOq_KkS54AxOE8w8suywXEu0OtITG/s1600/Photo+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5wpxPMWuj86tURZGKJmEq9jjjWnAU-IqVT7Rh-CVi4JNpv2DwoUjn9JpqjRU3kxiHUqPJtQM7ZoqeCY2qwby3gGOUdMnkbE5wKx7K3PjD6ltvc57wOq_KkS54AxOE8w8suywXEu0OtITG/s1600/Photo+1.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">With
nothing more than the aid of Commissioner Gordon (Mark Brodkin), Dick begins
re-training his body to take up the fight his mentor had left behind. And much
to the dismay of his wife, and former Batgirl, Barbara (Gloria Payne), he
assumes the mantle of Robin once more to uncover the truth behind Batman’s
death; a truth everyone from the Joker (Brian C. Bethel) and Catwoman (Kimberly
Page) to Wonder Woman (Kate Clarke) and Green Lantern will fight to keep
hidden.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Now
as a trailer, one obviously has to look at it more as a trailer than the film
its representing. Since there’ll never be an opportunity to see what’s going on
between the scenes, you have to take it at face value.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">And
at face value the trailer, put frankly, is a fanboy’s dream.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0dUZ0Qv-ii2Vmih8FsXiRbMKMYy4mCFqkCa-ggo1gOmmp4ZUgzla0wY3hNcM-jsIknXEhONW9VJMSzJSuKdeTDkl-And7zoN2uqZG66zFQ6fGSFkdrsNwvQUlUZIL9oHi75G1Fg-MbyX6/s1600/Photo+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0dUZ0Qv-ii2Vmih8FsXiRbMKMYy4mCFqkCa-ggo1gOmmp4ZUgzla0wY3hNcM-jsIknXEhONW9VJMSzJSuKdeTDkl-And7zoN2uqZG66zFQ6fGSFkdrsNwvQUlUZIL9oHi75G1Fg-MbyX6/s1600/Photo+6.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">At
a time when the thought of seeing a collection of heroes in one piece was
unfathomable, a good eight years prior to the release of “The Avengers,” to
feature Superman, Wonder Woman and Green Lantern together with a respectable
budget to back them up was just fantastic.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">In
its own small way, it proved the weight and impact of putting all these powerhouses
together in a film. The anticipation, the elation and the expectation of
something comic book fans thought they would never have the opportunity to see.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">As
much as I’m looking forward to “The Avengers,” I can only hope that the day
comes when we get to see a “Justice League” film grace the silver screen.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">The
story of the trailer is certainly shocking; the thought of Warner Brothers ever
sanctioning a film that kills off DC Comics’ most popular character (sorry,
Superman, but let’s just go ahead and be honest) is highly unlikely. It’s
unfortunate because the story also happens to have a wealth of emotional
material and subsequent visual potential.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">The
backbone of the plot here details the importance of legacy; its pressures and
consequences as Grayson takes it upon himself to continue his mentor’s crusade
despite the fact that it’s reasonable to assume he hasn’t been fighting crime
for a while, settling down with Barbara and raising a daughter. It’s difficult
to determine whether Dick needs to carry on the legacy or he has to do it.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">On
the one hand, it can be interpreted in terms of a concept like the pupil
rightfully avenging his mentor through simple obligation. But you could also
say that, in this mundane existence he’s been placed in, Grayson isn’t as alive
as he could be, as he wants to be. With the death of Batman, a trigger is put
in place to give Dick an excuse to go back to the life he wants.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">It’s
just a trailer, but it’s fun to speculate.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcfBUpxNxH1bYTg9jnPgYkrOURB5aIfBN0U2d_Ggi911C79nomzFiyc5bfEwtCDV0TjKiNIt5s39sP3DaaF2q8mA20MeC0Mm0R4OqFWM7blVF6ENQHctHt5xvTcFVH36VXjlO1m4WhTilT/s1600/Photo+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcfBUpxNxH1bYTg9jnPgYkrOURB5aIfBN0U2d_Ggi911C79nomzFiyc5bfEwtCDV0TjKiNIt5s39sP3DaaF2q8mA20MeC0Mm0R4OqFWM7blVF6ENQHctHt5xvTcFVH36VXjlO1m4WhTilT/s1600/Photo+3.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">I
think it’s a great benefit to the piece that it aligns itself specifically with
the universe of the Bill Dozier television series. Fiorella could’ve easily
just set it within the parameters of the comic books or more contemporary fare
like the animated series or the Burton/Schumacher films. But there’s something very
clever to be found in putting a dramatic twist on the camp of the Adam
West/Burt Ward regime.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">This
explains why Grayson returns as Robin instead of Nightwing; because within the
paradigm of the TV show and at that time in the books, the Nightwing mantle
hadn’t been conceived.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">There’s
just something about it that I can’t put my finger on but it works. It works
when you know that this is carrying over from the 60s show; knowing that
creates a strange dynamic that fits the project.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Making
Chief O’Hara a villainous bastard after all those years of his lovable
buffoonery alongside Commissioner Gordon just clicks in your brain in a way
that’s charming.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Fiorella
himself provides a commanding presence as Grayson; it certainly exudes the idea
that this is an older version of Burt Ward, hardened by the loss of Batman.</span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrdAHP776ZpDXzn2CH7bJDauoObDcVnERJ6BOUN6aMSiDsuRjYrs-_ERgetktg2YwCbbOF-EHCh7fRO_8gGrU2IC3wtXDXstHr4kQNzjMIAXktO0PCBT8T0EW1evYE4gGJTV65NV0682l6/s1600/Photo+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrdAHP776ZpDXzn2CH7bJDauoObDcVnERJ6BOUN6aMSiDsuRjYrs-_ERgetktg2YwCbbOF-EHCh7fRO_8gGrU2IC3wtXDXstHr4kQNzjMIAXktO0PCBT8T0EW1evYE4gGJTV65NV0682l6/s1600/Photo+5.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">The
Joker is rightfully very creepy and I love his presence in the trailer; he’s
got a great look and a tremendous laugh. The shot of the door opening on him
with the axe is chilling, as is the image of him skipping through the park with
Grayson’s daughter as if he were just a harmless street performer when we all
KNOW he’s anything but.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">That’s
the thing about the trailer to. Watch it once, and its images stick with you.
They have a power.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">The
sequence of shots depicting a fist fight between Robin and Superman on the
beach is iconic. When Dick takes a swing and it connects with a jaw of steel as
he reels back in pain; I’ll never forget that image!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">Very
emotionally charged and packed with explosive visual extensions of a fresh and
inspired narrative, “Grayson” achieves in the sum of a few minutes what a lot
of fan films that are two to three times longer fail to do.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">On
top of everything, it’s a great case for proving just how bad ass Robin can
actually be.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;">If
the boy wonder were ever handled like this in an official movie, I don’t think
anyone would question the validity of his presence in the Batman universe.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6xE2QG8PR5P78eN0pqECqvFdWjeGfWOYJpfVxl5CbtwY5iaVvIB4oU9Fpbpj-8g-yJEcMgmhkLGjcUhhdiqlBEIc1MwPy_R4n0Yek9PQxxVtLkW2mtho9cujFC-ozCxLEKx-k63Q4sIx/s1600/Photo+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6xE2QG8PR5P78eN0pqECqvFdWjeGfWOYJpfVxl5CbtwY5iaVvIB4oU9Fpbpj-8g-yJEcMgmhkLGjcUhhdiqlBEIc1MwPy_R4n0Yek9PQxxVtLkW2mtho9cujFC-ozCxLEKx-k63Q4sIx/s400/Photo+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p>----------------------------------------------------------</o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
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<br /></div>Chas Blankenshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09152498045221353190noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5986956018362546175.post-25684518324291278492012-04-25T15:46:00.001-07:002012-04-25T15:46:24.274-07:00"The Batman vs. Dracula" (Michael Goguen, 2005)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4DWkOEazqDje8DTjaJKEW5yEBPSB8GCkDLKLXviGKAi6unj8y-J3q_AG61DzaXRggmGOsmEain2S3GEs5PGPSOsysmXnDNdVlIy_o79ou_pThGnWCuIJP3W3-94DL_YrAHWa4um78J5pM/s1600/2005+The+Batman+vs.+Dracula.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4DWkOEazqDje8DTjaJKEW5yEBPSB8GCkDLKLXviGKAi6unj8y-J3q_AG61DzaXRggmGOsmEain2S3GEs5PGPSOsysmXnDNdVlIy_o79ou_pThGnWCuIJP3W3-94DL_YrAHWa4um78J5pM/s640/2005+The+Batman+vs.+Dracula.jpg" width="476" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Directed by Michael Goguen<br />
Sequences Directed by Seung Eun Kim, Sam Liu and Brandon Vietti<br />
Written by Duane Capizzi<br />
Based on the DC Comics Character Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger<br />
Based on the Dracula Characters Created by Bram Stoker<br />
<br />
Executive Produced by Benjamin Melniker and Michael E. Uslan<br />
Produced by Duane Capizzi, Michael Goguen and Kimberly Smith<br />
Art Direction by Rick Morales<br />
Editing by Christopher D. Lozinski<br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br />
Rino Romano … Bruce Wayne/Batman (voice)<br />
Peter Stormare … Dracula (voice)<br />
Alastair Duncan … Alfred Pennyworth (voice)<br />
Kevin Michael Richardson … The Joker (voice)<br />
Tom Kenny … Oswald Cobblepot/The Penguin (voice)<br />
Tara Strong … Vicki Vale (voice)</span></span></div>
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<br />
Gotham City is terrorized not only by recent escapees Joker and Penguin, but by
the original creature of the night; Dracula.<br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UCmrg2Mt2M" target="_blank"><span style="color: white;">"The Batman vs. Dracula" (2005)</span> <span style="color: white;">Scene -- First Encounter</span></a></span></div>
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Despite the questionable quality of “The Batman” television series, producers
of the show had managed to gain enough momentum (more due to the success of
“Batman Begins”) to warrant a direct to video feature based on their Saturday
morning efforts.<br />
<br />
As is expected, given both its title and affiliation with the show, 2005’s “The
Batman vs. Dracula” is an odd one packed to the brim with tired clichés and the
usual flourishes of simple-minded plot and flat dialogue that populate the show
upon which it’s based. However, as minor as they may be, there are a few points
that make this piece slightly stronger than its television counterpart.<br />
<br />
In an undetermined point within the timeline of “The Batman” (Batman’s sole
involvement probably puts it somewhere within the first or second season), the
dastardly Penguin (Tom Kenny) is planning a breakout of Arkham Asylum to find a
treasure of gold hidden in Gotham Cemetery. But the odds are prematurely
stacked as the Joker (Kevin Michael Richardson) beats him to the punch, enacting
battle between the two rogues as they scrap their way to the loot.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIn37fobNiLgjd_HfkTQ4vYzK5Pa-5G7WyI-JuyMBCDfbu2wEU_boWXDgJi2joybzjxYaWH66zi8Q7kWTRp4gWfey4815ra4is47RwRwasoiKzdWvbZLsm7QCHUojawuORnozvdAs56MA/s1600/Photo+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIn37fobNiLgjd_HfkTQ4vYzK5Pa-5G7WyI-JuyMBCDfbu2wEU_boWXDgJi2joybzjxYaWH66zi8Q7kWTRp4gWfey4815ra4is47RwRwasoiKzdWvbZLsm7QCHUojawuORnozvdAs56MA/s1600/Photo+1.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<br />
While Batman (Rino Romano) tangles with the Clown Prince of Crime, Cobblepot
makes it to the cemetery only to accidentally unleash the dark overlord of the
Vampires; the one and only Dracula (Peter Stormare), whose tomb had been
uprooted from Transylvania and transplanted into Gotham.<br />
<br />
As Dracula begins a supposed kidnapping spree of ‘Lost Ones’ (in truth, they’re
victims of Vampirism being driven underground to serve their master), Batman
works to fend off the Police who believe him responsible for the disappearances,
not to mention the reporter’s intuition of the lovely Vicki Vale (Tara Strong).<br />
<br />
<br />
What makes the film standout, aside from the obvious inclusion of Dracula
(which I can only assume is a longshot nod to visionary artist Andy Warhol’s “Batman vs.
Dracula” short film in the late 60s.) is its darker nature given his presence.
</span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As a result, “The Batman vs. Dracula” is far darker than the show. The police
actually use automatic gunfire in pursuit of Batman as opposed to those funky
laser pistols Detective Yin and Bennett used. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpxehl0J2Ve135P0jSgO9BmhyphenhyphenFtb4_BdrBEFX38w60YiDKIXoAJtOkm2rh_78jxlFp7ZzdbbxaO0D_hyphenhyphenYVgI8v4MZ-iUhatVSHdlYguCP2KodgFBA2hgbbMsWkEgGbZ1CKfm9-SQyMycyP/s1600/Photo+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpxehl0J2Ve135P0jSgO9BmhyphenhyphenFtb4_BdrBEFX38w60YiDKIXoAJtOkm2rh_78jxlFp7ZzdbbxaO0D_hyphenhyphenYVgI8v4MZ-iUhatVSHdlYguCP2KodgFBA2hgbbMsWkEgGbZ1CKfm9-SQyMycyP/s400/Photo+3.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">And, of course, there’s blood; lots of blood. The
benefits of the liberties the team was given on the project no doubt.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;"> </span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;"><br />
<br />
</span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uv_ekAdlMIw" target="_blank"><span style="color: white; font-family: Times; font-size: large;">"The Batman vs. Dracula" (2005) Scene -- Captive Vampire Joker</span></a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> <br />
One of the standout points of the film easily has to be the Joker turned into a
Vampire. To actually have a scene built upon the parameters of “The Batman” in
which Batman battles an infected Joker trying to steal from a Blood Bank; that’s
fairly intriguing. The site of the Joker, imprisoned in the Batcave and feeding
on bags of Bruce Wayne’s own willingly given blood is also quite shocking given
the simpleton nature of the series.</span></span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
Another highlight is the inclusion of Vicki Vale. A far better love interest
within the show then Catwoman, it’s a genuine presence that works in the
picture’s favor. Tara's performance also gives the character a very feminine
quality that works well.</span></div>
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<br />
The finale of the film, however, is at fault; mainly because it drags. Batman’s
final assault on the tomb, rescuing the Lost Ones and then leading Drac back to
the Batcave to do him in with a Solar Weapon feels like it takes forever.<br />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><br />
The cast is decent enough with standout performances from Kevin Michael
Richardson and Tara Strong (Tara provided the voice of Batgirl in “The New
Batman Adventures” back in the late 90s).</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qBKHg7Ku8k" target="_blank"><span style="color: white;">"The Batman vs. Dracula" (2005) Scene --</span> <span style="color: white;">Inventor's Gala Dinner</span></a></span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
But the clear star of the cast is none other than a welcome Peter Stormare,
who’s earthy yet haunting tone as Dracula easily makes him the most engaging
character in the piece, despite a few points of hokey dialogue (“I’ll use your
cape as a dinner napkin!”).<br />
<br />
Some of the conventions and plot points working to make the story fit are just
laughable and feel overtly contrived, like having Dracula wander around Bruce
Wayne’s party with the alias Alucard (you get it? If you don’t, shame on you!)<br />
<br />
The music of the film is nothing interesting. Hell, they couldn’t even bother
with using the Edge’s theme which is, from my perspective, the best piece of
music they had going for them with the show.<br />
<br />
Mildly intriguing animation and storytelling can’t really save it but “The
Batman vs. Dracula” is worth the look for any die-hard fans (more fans of
Vampires than of Batman, I’d say). Ultimately its emphasis on action should
appeal to its target audience but aside from that, there's little to discover.<br />
<br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9zR9wnLOtc" target="_blank"><span style="color: white;">"The Batman vs. Dracula" (2005) Scene --</span> <span style="color: white;">The Tomb/Battle between Creatures of the Night</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Chas Blankenshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09152498045221353190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5986956018362546175.post-3350877181097305182012-04-25T06:25:00.000-07:002012-04-25T06:25:13.532-07:00"The Batman" (Alan Burnett and Sander Schwartz, 2005 - 2008)<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Episodes
Directed by …<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Brandon
Vietti (15 episodes)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Seung
Eun Kim (7 episodes)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Sam
Liu (7 episodes)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Vinton
Heuck (5 episodes)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Christopher
Berkeley (4 episodes)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Anthony
Chun (4 episodes)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">John
Fang (4 episodes)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Matt
Youngberg (2 episodes) <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Episodes
Written by …<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Steven
Melching (11 episodes)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Alexx
Van Dyne (7 episodes)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Joseph
Kuhr (7 episodes)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Greg
Weisman (5 episodes)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Stan
Berkowitz (4 episodes)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Michael
Jelenic (3 episodes)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Bob
Goodman (2 episodes)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Jane
Espenson (2 episodes)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Douglas
Petrie (2 episodes)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Paul
Dini (1 episode)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">J.D.
Murray (unknown episodes)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Christopher
Yost (unknown episodes)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Based
on the DC Comics Characters Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Series
Executive Produced by Alan Burnett and Sander Schwartz<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Series
Produced by ...<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Duane
Capizzi<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Michael
Goguen<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Linda
Steiner<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Jeff
Matsuda<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Glen
Murakami<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Kimberly
Smith<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Series
Art Direction by Jeff Matsuda<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Casting
and Voice Direction by …<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Andrea
Romano<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Michael
Hack<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Ginny
McSwain<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Series
Editing by …<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Myra
Owyang<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Christopher
D. Lozinski<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Michael
Miscio<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Tim
Iverson<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Bradford
Keatts<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Donnell
Ebarrete<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Samantha
Friedman<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Jay
Lawton<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Original
Television Theme Written/Performed by The Edge<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Original
Television Scores Composed by Thomas Chase<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Rino
Romano ... Bruce Wayne/Batman (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Alastair
Duncan … Alfred Pennyworth (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Ming-Na
… Police Detective Ellen Yin (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Steve
Harris … Police Detective Ethan Bennett/Clayface I (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Jsse
Corti … Police Chief Angel Rojas (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Mitch
Pileggi … Police Commissioner James Gordon (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Evan
Sabara ... Richard ‘Dick’ Grayson/Robin (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Danielle
Judovits … Barbara Gordon/Batgirl (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Louis
Gossett Jr. … Lucius Fox (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Adam
West … Mayor Grange (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Kevin
Michael Richardson … The Joker (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Hynden
Walch … Dr. Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Gina
Gershon … Selina Kyle/Catwoman (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Piera
Coppola … Pamela Isley/Poison Ivy (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Robert
Englund … Edward Nygma/The Riddler (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Ron
Perlman … Waylon Jones/Killer Croc (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Tom
Kenny … Oswald Cobblepot/The Penguin (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Clancy
Brown … Victor Fries/Mr. Freeze (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Peter
MacNicol … Dr. Kirk Langstrom (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">James
Remar … Roman Sionis/Black Mask (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Frank
Gorshin … Professor Hugo Strange I (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Richard
Green … Professor Hugo Strange II (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Jason
Marsden … Garfield Lynns/Firefly (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Jeff
Bennett … Ragdoll (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Patton
Oswalt … Cosmo Krank (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Patrick
Warburton … Cash Tankinson (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Three
years after his first appearance in Gotham City, a youthful and mysterious
vigilante called the Batman begins to fight a host of costumed super villains.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">----------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Key
Episodes:<o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“The
Bat in the Belfry”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Traction”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“The
Cat and the Bat”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“The
Big Chill”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“The
Rubberface of Comedy”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“The
Clayface of Tragedy”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Riddled”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“The
Laughing Bat”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Swamped”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Grundy’s
Night”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Strange
Minds”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Night
and the City”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Batgirl
Begins” Part I<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Batgirl
Begins” Part II<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“RPM”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Thunder”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Gotham’s
Ultimate Criminal Mastermind”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“A
Matter of Family”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“The
Breakout”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Artifacts”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Two
of a Kind”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Riddler’s
Revenge”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“The
Joining” Part I<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“The
Joining” Part II<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“The
Batman/Superman Story” Part I<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“The
Batman/Superman Story” Part II<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Lost
Heroes” Part I<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Lost
Heroes” Part II<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">----------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">With
the instant theatrical success of “Batman Begins,” the time seemed right for
the masked man hunter to return to television screens in the form of a brand
new animated series.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Perhaps
in retrospect it was conceived in a bit of haste but regardless, 2005’s “The
Batman” made its Saturday morning debut for Kids WB!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">With
some mixed results.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Opening
up on the three year anniversary of his donning the cape and cowl, Batman (Rino
Romano) has (supposedly) spent the past three years as little more than an
urban myth, decimating the mob throughout Gotham including crime boss Rupert
Thorne.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">But
as it will always be with Batman’s crusade, escalation rears its head.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Organized
crime can’t stand up to The Batman, but a quick emergence of costumed villainy
can as colorful but deadly foes like the maniacal Joker (Kevin Michael
Richardson), the dapper Penguin (Tom Kenny), mutated jewel thief Mr. Freeze
(Clancy Brown) and the flirtatious Catwoman (Gina Gershon) all step up to
challenge Batman on his own terms.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Despite
the fact that “Begins” was the catalyst for its creation, “The Batman” decided
not to follow example by emulating gritty realism; instead it chose
hyper-stylized fantasy anime for its inspirations.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The
cast of the series does what they can, given they were the ones that had to
follow up the legacy of the Timmverse (BIG shoes to fill, which they obviously
don’t).<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Rino
Romano gives us a fresh, young Batman; still with the same resolve as Kevin
Conroy but nowhere near the gravitas or presence. Romano’s youthful edge would
definitely be more suited for Spider-Man (interestingly enough, Rino DID
provide the voice for the webhead in Activition’s “Spider-Man” video game and
its sequel, “Enter Electro.”)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Just
like Romano, all of “The Batman” counterparts insist on playing second fiddle
to the “TAS” versions i.e. Alastair Duncan’s overdone English accent for Alfred
doesn’t measure up to the warmth of Efrem Zimbalist.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The
casting for the villains is a bit intriguing however.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">There’s
also the absolutely sexy Gina Gershon providing the voice of Selina Kyle (which
is funny; I’ve always been one to cast Gershon for a turn as a live action
Catwoman!).<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">And
what about Robert Englund, Freddy Krueger himself, as the Riddler!? Wonderful
choice there!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p> <span style="font-size: large;"></span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">For
a broad and bravado black actor like Kevin Michael Richardson to perform a
lanky (and dare I say Rastafarian-inspired) Joker seems like it might not meld but
in actuality that’s probably one of my favorite bits of casting. Now of course,
like most fans, I was appalled by the Joker’s initial design. Even when they
wised up and put him in the purple coat ensemble there’s just something off
about a longhaired Joker dishing out karate at Batman. Overtime I came to
tolerate it, but then again the same can be said about Jar Jar Binks, so.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In
fact, a lot of the character design, right out of said anime, just seemed to be
overdone.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">At
least when Bane pumped his Venom compound in the original series it made sense but
here, it seems to turn him into a giant (not the problem) that turns red
(little bit of a problem) and manipulates his mask, giving him a giant row of
teeth (GUH!?).<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">There
was also their bizarre adaptation of the Terrible Trio.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In
the comics, the Trio was a band of rich socialites whose family fortunes were
respectively gained by businesses on land, in sea and in air, thusly when they
turn to crime they respectively take on the disguises of a Fox, a Shark and a
Vulture.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">For
“The Batman,” its three no-name college (i.e. broke) students who’ve somehow
created a chemical brew that allows them to temporarily mutate into said
creatures.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">As
I said; GUH!?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Now
of course I know full well that Batman’s universe is afforded such a lens through
which to see his adventures but I’m never one to compromise intelligence for
the piece.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“The
Batman,” even by its fifth and final season, was really nothing more than a
bloated example of style over substance. Aside from a few exceptions, most of
the episodes were one note. A villain comes along with a self-themed scheme and
Batman stops them with minimal detective work and a whole heap of fists and
gadgets.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">See
that’s what made the original “Batman: The Animated Series” so enticing; the
fact that it actually took the time to be cinematic. That show had entire
scenes with nothing but Batman stalking through office buildings in silent
investigation.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">But
nowadays, thanks to the almost non-existent attention span of viewers,
producers felt it was necessary to make Batman nothing more than a brawler, apparently
unable to use his mind and resorting to his fists instead. Granted we’re
dealing with a younger and inexperienced crusader at the beginning of the
series, but even so.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Many
of the plot lines throughout the show make it clear that its audience is
children. That I have no issue with, although when I was a kid we weren’t taken
for granted like that by “The Animated Series.”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Where
characters had psychological motivations for their actions, those are abandoned
here for, well, no reason I’d say. There’s nothing wrong with making changes to
the material, provided those alterations are just as compelling and inspired if
not more so.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In
the original animated series, for instance, Kirk Langstrom was attempting to
discover a new species; a hybrid of man and bat, which led to his
transformation into Man-Bat.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">For
“The Batman,” Langstrom’s motivation is that he wants to be feared.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Literally
that’s it. That’s the ONLY reason he creates the mutagenic formula. I’m sorry
but c’mon, that’s not enough.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Back
in the 50s, it was fine for bad guys to simply state “I’m a super-villain” and
have that be that.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">But
the show was being created in 2005. Audiences demand a bit more depth for their
characters by now.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The
same can be said for their idea on the origins of Mr. Freeze.</span></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Gone
is the concept of him being a cryogenics scientist, along with Nora Fries and
that tragically emotional lynchpin.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Here?
Victor Fries quotes himself as “A Common Bank Robber.”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">What
the hell!? <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">They
took one of Batman’s most tragic adversaries and turned him into a thief?
That's absurd!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">This
is same problem with the live-action “Catwoman” film that starred Halle Berry
in 2004; when they took the strong foundation of Selina Kyle and abandoned her
for some poor imitation called Patience Phillips. If you’re going to throw out
Paul Dini’s groundbreaking origin for Freeze, you better have an interpretation
that can at least match that. Otherwise, why deliberately turn your back on
something that works so well for something that doesn’t work at all?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I
know I’m probably being a bit too critical and for that I apologize. On the
flip side, “The Batman” does have its strong points and few highlight episodes
here and there.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">What’s
interesting about the show is that its strongest episodes seem to be its season
finales.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">There’s
“The Rubberface of Comedy” and “The Clayface of Tragedy” two-part Season 1
finale, where the Joker kidnaps Ethan Bennett, a Gotham Police Detective and
one of Bruce Wayne’s closest and only friends, and drives him to the point of
insanity. Bennett is then accidentally exposed to a chemical called ‘Joker
Putty’ which turns solid matter into clay. Thusly he becomes the show’s first version
of Clayface.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I’ll
always prefer this story being told with Harvey Dent and the creation of
Two-Face, but it was nice to finally see some genuine emotion get into the show
and to have a story that wasn’t resolved in one sitting (in fact, Ethan’s story
following his descent into villainy doesn’t end until the 4<sup>th</sup> Season
which was nice!).</span></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Another
favorite, despite skepticism from many fans, was the series’ handling of the
Riddler, which I personally loved.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Yes
I know; “He looks like Marilyn Manson, yuck!”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Blah,
blah, blah.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The
Riddler episodes were standouts, especially his debut in “Riddled.” I loved the
idea of Batman and Detective Yin having to travel all throughout Gotham City to
solve riddles and disable bombs (seems to be a great nod to “Die Hard: With a
Vengeance”) and this particular interpretation of Edward Nygma and his
motivations was superb.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Unlike Freeze or the Terrible Trio, one of the villains I thought the show interpreted very well was Black Mask; he's played a lot like the Ra's Al Ghul of this incarnation, complete with a global wide organization of trained warriors and disciples at his command.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Other
key episodes came during the shows later seasons when it finally began introducing
other key supporting characters for Batman, including his sidekicks.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Batgirl
Begins” (you get it!?) is the fantastic Season 3 two-part opener that
introduced both Barbara Gordon/Batgirl and Pamela Isley/Poison Ivy, even
hinting at their being a friendship between them when they begin the story as
partners-in-crime vandalizing ecologically damaging chemical establishments in
Gotham.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Another
wonderful episode is “Two of a Kind.” Written by Paul Dini himself, the episode
presented a brand new contemporary interpretation of the origins of Harley
Quinn (the fact that said origin was created by her original conceiver is just
great). In this version, Quinn isn’t necessarily a full-fledged psychologist
and she isn’t interning at Arkham Asylum. Instead, she earned her psychology
degree online and became a talk-show personality akin to Dr. Phil (!) It’s a
great modernization of the character and it was ingenious to have Dini be the
one to do it. Too bad they couldn’t have consulted him the same way with Mr.
Freeze.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">There was also "Artifacts," which leaped into a distant future where researchers found and explored the Batcave, long abandoned. As they search for clues to aid in their fght against Mr. Freeze, whose immortality has allowed his villainy to live on beyond Batman, they remember the last encounter between the dark knight and Fries.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/q4AZHyoPn34?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The flashback is a loose adaptation of Frank Miller's "The Dark Knight Returns" as an aged and hulking Batman battles Freeze alongside Barbara Gordon, who now operates from the Batcave as Oracle, and Dick Grayson, who has abandoned the mantle of Robin in favor of Nightwing.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none;">
<br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">But
my favorite episode in terms of storytelling, mood and character HAS to be “A
Matter of Family,” which details the origins of Dick Grayson and his coming
into the role of Robin; Batman’s official partner.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Mfn54XSNi1JPmFmxa1fHWZ41zay9cgMkrvlggMelhi6TjrpaFzh7Kp816tOOmtt0QaJhzaUZ9x1eXuAP_vuMY1MPK9oWVqYJSK_Dx-x4ztGpWvez-Zw3h4wpzYpbwO-apSgW6BHg7wjN/s1600/Photo+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Mfn54XSNi1JPmFmxa1fHWZ41zay9cgMkrvlggMelhi6TjrpaFzh7Kp816tOOmtt0QaJhzaUZ9x1eXuAP_vuMY1MPK9oWVqYJSK_Dx-x4ztGpWvez-Zw3h4wpzYpbwO-apSgW6BHg7wjN/s400/Photo+9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">It’s
a very emotional episode and what makes it so great, for me, is that the murder
of Grayson’s parents isn’t at the hands of the Joker or some other rogue (the
kind of move you’d think this show would make), but true to the comics, it’s at
the hands of mob extortionist Tony Zucco.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Zucco’s
characterization is beautiful here. Plus Dick’s father, John Grayson, is voiced
by none other than the man himself, Kevin Conroy!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Overall
“The Batman,” as valid as it is and for all its efforts, just can’t hold up in
the long run. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgc3TevMEQR2p9RQle7cqWXaWtJDnqhyfm7tEhn4_DHl3FFSgN-FLPGC281gsEC_FeOaW4KJDEC9H0-b7IKvWSZF3XysrE9-OsUnrfdbKd1PDGkmh_zQrjwmpVVDeUsdB-AKhv-FU7ITts/s1600/Photo+18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgc3TevMEQR2p9RQle7cqWXaWtJDnqhyfm7tEhn4_DHl3FFSgN-FLPGC281gsEC_FeOaW4KJDEC9H0-b7IKvWSZF3XysrE9-OsUnrfdbKd1PDGkmh_zQrjwmpVVDeUsdB-AKhv-FU7ITts/s400/Photo+18.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/OcW95B2G6sM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">By
the end of the series, it became less about Batman and more about the Justice
League, which was a much uninspired idea. This is Batman’s show. At least have
the decency to wait like the original line of shows did. It just felt like they
were overstuffing the show by the end, trying to keep it on life support with
appearances from Superman, Green Lantern, Flash, Hawkman, Green Arrow and
Martian Manhunter. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">As
if Batman couldn’t sustain the show on his own.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Had
they put more confidence in the character, well, you never know.</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0PtyDAPs-sfYGQSvTIJMDL-mQ_c04zl9RuOLWZr3jToNGv8pGHr3v_lYDQs2gBwyr7HPNz2QI1RjnXhZQ-FHbMxZlqYi5bXdGTjwVUC3u9fLH5jYWzwQ0x86MeTTTu5XzZC-94oTM7Uhy/s1600/Photo+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0PtyDAPs-sfYGQSvTIJMDL-mQ_c04zl9RuOLWZr3jToNGv8pGHr3v_lYDQs2gBwyr7HPNz2QI1RjnXhZQ-FHbMxZlqYi5bXdGTjwVUC3u9fLH5jYWzwQ0x86MeTTTu5XzZC-94oTM7Uhy/s400/Photo+6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">With
gimmicks like the “Bat-Wave” (clearly meant to sell toys) and a naïve approach
to storytelling, the series is fun to look at (along with a dynamite pair of
theme songs; one of them designed and performed by U2 guitarist the Edge!) and
a few episodes ARE downright enjoyable.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">But
in the end there’s little more to “The Batman” than that.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">----------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;">Chas Blankenship's 'Bat-Mania' 2012 is Proud to Present "A Matter of Family;" the Season 4 premiere of "The Batman."<br /><br /> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/M1WKTTd4ydA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/YsDlL7Jkrv8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Chas Blankenshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09152498045221353190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5986956018362546175.post-65757599271839718492012-04-24T22:55:00.000-07:002014-04-05T16:21:47.756-07:00Chicks Love The Car: Top 10 Batmobiles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXkJJ-v9vUnHQ1en1EsfKOIb0kXZgEQc3Bkg8SWftJ6o35UvR2Vt4VId2clJLPGjRhy8fm0QJsPcW2zXScxoYIaoUixIsg5QlQNCIpnMLtqAGecdsJlbbRUqM2zOtlgPJp72WDZeKSFbny/s1600/batmobile-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXkJJ-v9vUnHQ1en1EsfKOIb0kXZgEQc3Bkg8SWftJ6o35UvR2Vt4VId2clJLPGjRhy8fm0QJsPcW2zXScxoYIaoUixIsg5QlQNCIpnMLtqAGecdsJlbbRUqM2zOtlgPJp72WDZeKSFbny/s1600/batmobile-2.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">The coolest car on the block; everyone wants one.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">The Batmobile is as iconic as its driver and, like Batman, it's been interpreted in so many ways that it's nearly impossible to keep track.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">Thankfully, the fine makers of the website 'Batmobile History' have painstakingly logged an entire inventory of every single one of these incredible vehicles that has ever been honored with the title.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">The current total stands somewhere at the sum of 220 Batmobiles throughout the character's history!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">That's A LOT of mileage!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">Here are Chas Blankenship's Top 10 Favorite Batmobiles.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;"><strong>"It's the car, right? Chicks love the Car."</strong></span><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;"></span></strong> <br />
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">----------</span><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">10: "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns" (Frank Miller, 1986)</span></strong><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqq2P-5kg_BUTnqCSokDtKyfGsFFhsSeryKFVDUAgq9Xa55vsJOTlsWhJhz8hLng6Vc8lkqllD7DkR1MfPE74TH-rkIhaqQonfmfaJeSMHTAbr4P7o6pRaklRsJSlJzTRCq7SaJBjAxJUl/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqq2P-5kg_BUTnqCSokDtKyfGsFFhsSeryKFVDUAgq9Xa55vsJOTlsWhJhz8hLng6Vc8lkqllD7DkR1MfPE74TH-rkIhaqQonfmfaJeSMHTAbr4P7o6pRaklRsJSlJzTRCq7SaJBjAxJUl/s1600/10.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">----------</span><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">9: "Batman #47" (Bob Kane and Charles Paris, 1948)</span></strong><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvoBOlXjdSoLZ362e-0862yABGNrfOUw6pDBIrgGZ1ppAL2sCyyRShBe2iOD91EFOSmiRbQfO43XpLGrUPp8CTH3hunbKDnKl7XP48hcKVwn5SwBznSDX2prhDrrWw4khGRp1JyxSBKy6/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvoBOlXjdSoLZ362e-0862yABGNrfOUw6pDBIrgGZ1ppAL2sCyyRShBe2iOD91EFOSmiRbQfO43XpLGrUPp8CTH3hunbKDnKl7XP48hcKVwn5SwBznSDX2prhDrrWw4khGRp1JyxSBKy6/s1600/9.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">----------</span><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">8: "Batman/Judge Dredd: Judgment in Gotham" (Simon Bisley, 1991)</span></strong><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgxG7fupFWdreMy1Z5abPDJkaow13ZqQWLzsyIcVrbutu1bSRHSaT7UVhVheP9w62C-sF3heqgon11fsKFjhX01feUbPFZqGNmKU89pR7izn5dK4leMhRk3Rhi0mF5saX9DrTd_1HHWZb/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgxG7fupFWdreMy1Z5abPDJkaow13ZqQWLzsyIcVrbutu1bSRHSaT7UVhVheP9w62C-sF3heqgon11fsKFjhX01feUbPFZqGNmKU89pR7izn5dK4leMhRk3Rhi0mF5saX9DrTd_1HHWZb/s1600/8.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">----------</span><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">7: "Batman Begins"/"The Dark Knight"/"The Dark Knight Rises" (Christopher Nolan and Nathan Crowley, 2005 - 2012)</span></strong><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwcAuC34pmTYm1caTzfrz6nkmh5lBqkH-MtYrq7i3huRmZtvAD650QMX5-HQRY3eO0YAHBoO5j4ryOJIcjhe8_LxIVfaOOT6xPva2H6KrwCvA4wmZYi6XwOTrmJfgysO1o0GtPd6dxhrAf/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwcAuC34pmTYm1caTzfrz6nkmh5lBqkH-MtYrq7i3huRmZtvAD650QMX5-HQRY3eO0YAHBoO5j4ryOJIcjhe8_LxIVfaOOT6xPva2H6KrwCvA4wmZYi6XwOTrmJfgysO1o0GtPd6dxhrAf/s1600/7.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">----------</span><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">6: "Batman Forever" (Barbara Ling, 1995)</span></strong><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibvwVV6qSZxWUgB3vStTa1kGahg9druPgwYxH0FcZ9WHmgYimDkOy7whV0PLeMQXW3wxl8ObRMPyA8rAIg0GmGKzaMWe4vgJ-jDaWBz5eLJdhxko8hTISXlNJ3QidRAsqo0sGwyEQx7u6B/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibvwVV6qSZxWUgB3vStTa1kGahg9druPgwYxH0FcZ9WHmgYimDkOy7whV0PLeMQXW3wxl8ObRMPyA8rAIg0GmGKzaMWe4vgJ-jDaWBz5eLJdhxko8hTISXlNJ3QidRAsqo0sGwyEQx7u6B/s1600/6.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">----------</span><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">5: "BATMAN: The Series" (George Barris, 1966 - 1968)</span></strong><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUIPpLZqbNAF96ij6fdPr_aPydfr6v06ZuvnnsKUzchRtptP8RgDBWHR5U1I5K0xHLjSDzyB5cBnhJUQvSYHmCwu1aZk-vltSsZ9XrGDrlPzjYywjQUB_Va0M5S2kimOyEGSWUWtSFALXd/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUIPpLZqbNAF96ij6fdPr_aPydfr6v06ZuvnnsKUzchRtptP8RgDBWHR5U1I5K0xHLjSDzyB5cBnhJUQvSYHmCwu1aZk-vltSsZ9XrGDrlPzjYywjQUB_Va0M5S2kimOyEGSWUWtSFALXd/s1600/5.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">----------</span><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">4: "Batman: Shadow of the Bat" (Norm Breyfogle, 1992 - 1995)</span></strong><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhkmfSwoEbQnGfKhW0B6CdRhQdXDPi02Lmtdqt40tulSbHFV12Utb_WwljfCurzyJYFDB7OfnvnE-RjGHnvl_urWB09m_r8ntEzY12rbqBbRjfiOkp3DtzVqyWfjEPZgRkMVNEm63RO0xJ/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhkmfSwoEbQnGfKhW0B6CdRhQdXDPi02Lmtdqt40tulSbHFV12Utb_WwljfCurzyJYFDB7OfnvnE-RjGHnvl_urWB09m_r8ntEzY12rbqBbRjfiOkp3DtzVqyWfjEPZgRkMVNEm63RO0xJ/s1600/4.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">----------</span><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">3: "Batman #526" (J.H. Williams III and Mick Gray, 1996 - 2008)</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">2: "Batman: The Animated Series" (Bruce W. Timm, 1992 - 1995)</span></strong><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNgwlqIO36UUo7S6WWI1ycrvurSLp0BRU6i0kuPrP5Ter21RJiA6kmEXHpBhavFS4jc5PB5zoTilKM2rE9nHd-V6bIr2-i1hsQWp9lEeUwbNYVLTmIVx0zo5j4iXmSFyWIz9TR6enxdvK/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNgwlqIO36UUo7S6WWI1ycrvurSLp0BRU6i0kuPrP5Ter21RJiA6kmEXHpBhavFS4jc5PB5zoTilKM2rE9nHd-V6bIr2-i1hsQWp9lEeUwbNYVLTmIVx0zo5j4iXmSFyWIz9TR6enxdvK/s1600/2.jpg" /></a></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">1: "BATMAN"/"Batman Returns" (Anton Furst, 1989 - 1992)</span></strong><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXBleAnuvkD0Z85SOZJpbIYHT7tPnKR7vywEWQTL0OjyYOxBS0hTrI5sGJZQZYYXLsXoWrvQI65bcjEl8XG9NWriEO4sTdf1w1tuzggQbpUuMjuGrtx7Cm3-prIeKxVF-uPOycBwoebjz/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXBleAnuvkD0Z85SOZJpbIYHT7tPnKR7vywEWQTL0OjyYOxBS0hTrI5sGJZQZYYXLsXoWrvQI65bcjEl8XG9NWriEO4sTdf1w1tuzggQbpUuMjuGrtx7Cm3-prIeKxVF-uPOycBwoebjz/s1600/1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">Chas Blankenship's 'Bat-Mania' 2012 is Proud to Present "Building the Batmobile;" the 'Making-Of' Documentary for the Anton Furst-designed Batmobile from 1989's "BATMAN."</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/lfnzgPU28aQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;"> </span>Chas Blankenshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09152498045221353190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5986956018362546175.post-45769014733523212422012-04-24T22:30:00.001-07:002012-04-24T22:30:54.030-07:00Armors of the Knight: Top 10 Batsuits<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtoNlSRLylsbtWkrrt_EzuMop2_8hHKjjj4MmOQSokJe5q1Oc3b_3EnPdOm2q363V2ZXRNOmi4_Qk4zUlLCALGfwMFEQ-B2C57KQUF9fVDHYmgnTLZsTU7pRMu65oo1E2f8k5jj8D-roVf/s1600/batmancowl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtoNlSRLylsbtWkrrt_EzuMop2_8hHKjjj4MmOQSokJe5q1Oc3b_3EnPdOm2q363V2ZXRNOmi4_Qk4zUlLCALGfwMFEQ-B2C57KQUF9fVDHYmgnTLZsTU7pRMu65oo1E2f8k5jj8D-roVf/s400/batmancowl.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">Throughout his history, Batman's mythic costume has undergone numerous artistic iterations. From the pages of his comics to the costume departments of his films, the Batsuit has been conceived, created, refined and interpreted through the eyes and imaginations of an endless number of artists both in two-dimensional and three-dimensional space.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">Never losing the core of Batman's iconography, yet always pushing the Batsuit to new horizons and possibilities.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">Here are Chas Blankenship's Top 10 favorite takes and spins on the Batsuit:</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">----------</span><br />
<br /><strong>10: The Sonar Modified Panther -- from "Batman Forever"</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;"><strong>9: Gotham Gatchaman -- from "Batman: Gotham Knight" ("Field Test")</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;"><strong>8: Batman Beyond -- from "Batman Beyond"</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;"><strong>7: 'Dead End' Batman -- from "Batman: Dead End"</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;"><strong>6: Nomex Combat Survival -- from "Batman Begins"</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;"><strong>5: Urban Soldier -- from "Batman: Seeds of Arkham"</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;"><strong>4: Madhouse Vigilante -- from "Batman: Arkham Asylum/Arkham City"</strong></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrjC76bfa_MhBSHY6hhFY8HKmh8Z7J6OFp3jQv27XVUalzI-SaZWzptj6aMxT_dO8BP2iEEzERe6DjBsDWDE2SwDzeByESMrPJSVjf48MADbtjj_1XMjR7eXnyOvd9R7BWPA7QuZOfAhRk/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrjC76bfa_MhBSHY6hhFY8HKmh8Z7J6OFp3jQv27XVUalzI-SaZWzptj6aMxT_dO8BP2iEEzERe6DjBsDWDE2SwDzeByESMrPJSVjf48MADbtjj_1XMjR7eXnyOvd9R7BWPA7QuZOfAhRk/s1600/4.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;"><strong>3: Art Deco Armor -- from "Batman Returns"</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;"><strong>2: Simplicity -- from "Batman: HUSH"</strong></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhamM-oNZlW3pe2AIiCyCCMp1d9wspqb7OYNku6Zwffd3YgltYkMNrOjZlr7h_6iPfkqe3xWsa4w96jMso6Chw7k_bHjVJZy0n3tP5rC5afPInZ1xuyZcSA9Yz2L_04pX6L594mVrrdq0w3/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhamM-oNZlW3pe2AIiCyCCMp1d9wspqb7OYNku6Zwffd3YgltYkMNrOjZlr7h_6iPfkqe3xWsa4w96jMso6Chw7k_bHjVJZy0n3tP5rC5afPInZ1xuyZcSA9Yz2L_04pX6L594mVrrdq0w3/s1600/2.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;"><strong>1: The '89 -- from "BATMAN" (1989)</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;"> <span id="goog_883853822"></span><span id="goog_883853823"></span></span></strong>Chas Blankenshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09152498045221353190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5986956018362546175.post-56133605043903131482012-04-24T22:11:00.000-07:002012-04-25T22:16:53.338-07:00"The Dark Knight" - Complete Original Motion Picture Score (Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard, 2008)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgozaKlB4UBLbmHRBapencfDmM65UZYFNulYHFTzsoFcVajHzx1Cp1oCz4Ro1YYaDV7HPFbFHs9NAfYPcdFnKdyoNAnkzUf3GZmeMiAA4pXXw1ttL4xtc9pbptT-s8Jg_ahKmh2m-nfM6jl/s1600/The+Dark+Knight+Hans+Zimmer+and+James+Newton+Howard+2008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgozaKlB4UBLbmHRBapencfDmM65UZYFNulYHFTzsoFcVajHzx1Cp1oCz4Ro1YYaDV7HPFbFHs9NAfYPcdFnKdyoNAnkzUf3GZmeMiAA4pXXw1ttL4xtc9pbptT-s8Jg_ahKmh2m-nfM6jl/s400/The+Dark+Knight+Hans+Zimmer+and+James+Newton+Howard+2008.jpg" width="398" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Composed
by Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Co-Composed
by Lorne Balfe<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Orchestrated
by Bruce Fowler, Jeff Atmajian, Brad Dechter, Elizabeth Finch, Kevin Kaska,
Randy Kerber, Suzette Moriarty and Walter Fowler<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Conducted
by Matt Dunkley, Gavin Greenaway and Bruce Fowler<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Ambient
Design by Mel Wesson<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Performed
by The Sinfonia of London Orchestra<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Produced
by Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Co-Produced
by Lorne Balfe and Alex Gibson<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Track Listing:<o:p></o:p></span></b></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Disc 1:<o:p></o:p></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1: Logo (0:59)</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2: Bank Robbery (5:36)</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3: Find The Batman (1:46)</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4: Buyer Beware (3:06)</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5: Dirty Cash (Unused) (0:55)</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6: The New DA (1:04)</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">7: Hostile Witness (1:43)</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">8: Bank Warrants - LSI Holdings
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">9: Who Appointed Batman? (1:17)</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">10: Move The Money (1:34)</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">11: Kill The Batman (3:18)</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">12: Halfway To Hong Kong (Unused)
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">13: Trip To Hong Kong (1:29)</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">14: Put A Smile On That Face (4:05)</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">15: LSI Extraction (4:01)</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">16: Mobsters Taken To Justice (0:59)</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">17: Are You Up To It? (1:14)</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">18: A Hero With A Face (1:25)</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">19: Joker Crashes The Party (3:05)</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">20: Panic Room (0:33)</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">21: You're Gonna Love Me (3:04)</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">22: Watch The World Burn (3:19)</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">23: Loud Enough (4:06)</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">24: Speech Ambush (1:39)</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">25: Dent To Van (0:52)</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">26: Gordon Is Dead (1:05)</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">27: Rachel Next (1:05)</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">28: Interrogating Schiff (2:50)</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: large;">Disc 2:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1: Blood On My Hands (1:41)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2: The Outcast (1:00)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3: I Am The Batman (3:44)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4: Truck Convoy (1:07)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5: Pod Deploys (0:57)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6: Batman Down (0:51)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">7: We Gotcha (1:17)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">8: Gordon Returns Home (1:08)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">9: You Complete Me (3:41)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">10: Wired (8:49)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">11: Harvey Two-Face (2:43)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">12: This Is My City (2:22)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">13: Hospital Bomb Scare (Part 1)
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">14: Hospital Bomb Scare (Part 2)
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">15: Explosion Aftermath (2:20)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">16: Dent Kills Wertz (1:15)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">17: Sonar System (3:24)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">18: Unlucky Driver (1:19)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">19: The Ferries (4:35)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">20: Always A Catch (2:43)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">21: Storming Pruitt Building (3:52)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">22: Give It To Me (3:44)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">23: A Little Push (2:19)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">24: Eye For An Eye (3:49)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">25: Dent Defeated (0:36)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">26: I'm Not A Hero (3:45)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">27: A Dark Knight (0:37)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">28: End Credits (2:14)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Disc 3:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1: The Joker Suite (9:31)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2: Harvey Dent Suite (6:17)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3: The Dark Knight Suite (16:15)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4: New Batman Theme (5:03)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5: Interrogating Schiff (Alternate
Intro) (2:43)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">----------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;">With "Batman Begins" (2005), Composer duo Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard had successfully ushered in a new and impressionable approach to the lyrical crafting of a comic book adaptation.</span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;">Symphonic score still has its place in such a world, but the advent of weaving the music into the sound design to create a hybrid fusion of all things auditory was a technique that hadn't quite been tapped in its full potential. Several composers, such as Elliot Goldenthal with his work on "Alien III" (1991), played with the concept.</span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;">But it was Zimmer and Howard's succession and ascension to "The Dark Knight" (2008) that created a foundation for a more dominant place in attitude and aesthetic.</span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;">The combining of music and sound effects has since begun to reign as the method of choice for a lot of contemporary drama and action-fare. In an odd parallel, it seems to resemble the aftermath of Danny Elfman's work on "Batman;" how subsequent films and television shows like "Dick Tracy" and "The Flash" sought the same vein of score, to the point of bringing Elfman himself onto those respective projects.</span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;">"The Dark Knight" is a sweeping epic of the largest of scales and it's score is no exception, crafted with skill and sensitivity into a body of work that is suspensful, tragic, wounded and ultimately bold and heroic.</span></o:p></span></div>
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It's a morality play told in music, where the emotional subtext of the film isn't diminished by the lack of visual accompanyment. On the contrary, the emotion of watching the movie is just as stimulated by listening to the score alone. It's that powerful.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the fashion of "Batman Begins," the score opens on a tense, thrumming motif before a new and distinct sound pierces our senses.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A high, whiny guitar string that stratches and swells and bouys in volume and weight as we see a bat emerge from blue flame.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is the musical note associated with the Joker.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And already, before the film has even begun, his haunting, terrifying presence descends upon us like a black cloud of anarchy that will hang over the entirety of the score, waiting to lash out when we least expect it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The meat of the "Begins" score was driving beats as dictated by heavy strings and an admittedly redundant undercurrent motif that plays like waves throughout the tracks. "Knight" is given the same undercurrent as a means of connectivity to the previous film but the buck stops there as far as comparison.<br /><br />Where "Begins" was more refined and infantile in its approach, "Knight" amplifies the motif on all cylinders. More strings, more brass, more tension.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Like a vice, the score closes in and holds us in its grasp as it builds and mounts into dizzying heights of aggression and suspense, not unlike the Joker himself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Bank Robbery" is the quintessential example of the overall effect taken with the score. You can clearly hear the music echoing the beat-motif laced throughout "Begins" but it's harder here. It's as if the foundations that we witnessed with Batman coming to fruition in Gotham City are being viciously corrupted by the Joker and the technique almost acts like a correlation between the two legendary adversaries. This is evidenced at the end of the track as the Joker's presence gradually disappears and Batman's is finally introduced with "Find the Batman" and "Buyer Beware."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Following a tremendous plucking motif, I love the added string work for the cue, which appears alongside Jim Gordon as he stands beside the lit Bat-Signal about ten seconds into the cue. It creates the passage of time; the idea that Batman's existance, while speculated, is permeated throughout the criminal underworld, urging scum such as the Czech and Scarecrow to take precautions in their dealings lest the dark knight find them. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The strings forty four seconds are also wonderful.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The track quickly dives into the sound effect motif accompanied with ferocious percussion as the fake Batmen begin their assault until, finally, Batman reveals himself and his full theme follows suit and the new string material is reintroduced.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">With all of its incredibly percussive action material, Zimmer and Howard also introduce a new bed of material in their musical interpretation of crusading District Attorney Harvey Dent.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Hostile Witness" opens with what I'd dub the 'Harvey Dent' theme, rendered in a poetically crafted three-note succession on piano, followed by a five-note piece on french horn.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This cue reminds us that for all the corruption and subterfuge that runs rampant in Gotham, there are, as Bruce said himself, still good people here. Dent is one such individual, seeking lawful means for chipping away at the criminal heiarchy that Salvatore Maroni now sits upon.<br /><br />The track is a beautiful representation of the justice that slowly but surely is doing its part, however minut it may be, to reclaim Gotham City from its ugly underbelly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">However, given his omnipresence, the Joker absolutely reigns over the majority of the score; both his own presence and the resultant chaos of his actions are </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I love the escalation of "Joker Crashes the Party" as the aforementioned chaos crescendos, all consuming as it takes over the tender strings of Harvey asking Rachel her thoughts on marraige.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's tragedy incarnate.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There's no hope in this Gotham City; not so long as the Joker's madness thrives in the streets, destroying everything in its path. As before, he corrupts the score everywhere he pops up and this is once again demonstrated by his motif's appearance at the end of the cue.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As the Joker's actions push our heroes to a moral breaking point, the tension lifts on high as Batman, Gordon and Dent shift priority from the mob to the new and immediate threat in their midst.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Blood on My Hands" highlight's Bruce's dilemma; torn between the life he wants with Rachel, the life he leads as Batman and the ugly truth of the edge the Joker's efforts are attempting to push him over.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The action picks up with the collection of tracks "Truck Convoy," "Pod Deploys," "Batman Down" and "We Gotcha."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Joker's theme slams us into the sequence as the wheels are already set in motion against the Police as they transport Harvey Dent via convoy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As the trucks pass by a Firetruck lit ablaze (get it?), the track swells enormous and it's so overbearing and maddening and threatening; you can feel that things are about to take an ugle turn as the convoy descends to lower 5th street given the obstruction.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">With the majority of the action unscored as the Joker and his men work to run the convoy off the road and assassinate Dent, the music picks back up with Batman in "Pod Deploy" as he emerges from the wreckage of the Tumbler in the new Bat-Pod, proving that you can't keep a good vigilante down for long.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Batman Down" reiterates the Joker's theme as he emerges from the overturned semi-truck, egging Batman on to kill him; to end the madness the only way they both know he could.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's musically striking to say the least.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>"Come on, come on I want you to do it, I want you to do it c'mon hit me. Hit me. Hit me, c'mon HIT ME. HIT ME!"</strong> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As the sequence closes with "We Gotcha," it appears as though the Joker's won the day with his theme opening in dominance. However, it's abruptly interrupted with the reintroduction of the string motif that I suppose you could dub the 'Law' theme as Gordon reveals himself, apprehending the Joker and earning his promotion to Gotham City's police Commissioner.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The score takes a slow burn in the aftermath of the truck chase.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's here that we're introduced to a new Joker theme, secondary to the central motif of the character.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Demonstrated in his intimate one on one with Batman in the MCU interrogation room, "You Complete Me" is a wonderfully refreshing track that's far more reserved in its scale than the action cues. It's quiet, it's calm and yet its arguably just as powerful.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here, Batman and the Joker aren't at war with one another with fists or rocket launchers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's a battle of ideologies, of methodologies.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's the most vulnerable these two mythic figures ever appear in the movie and it's beautiful.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">but things quickly pick up once more with two of my favorite tracks from the collection.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Wired" is a tour de force of symphonic power and emotional resonance as Batman and Gordon race against time to save Harvey and Rachel from death. There's a wonderful inclusion of the piano motif from "Batman Begins," that one would recognize as "Aftermath" from that score.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the previous film it was used to represent a loss of innocence, as exampled by the loss of Bruce's when his parents were murdered and the loss of the innocence of relationship between Bruce and Rachel when it's decided that they can't be together because of his decision to be Batman.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">That innocence concept remains, but it becomes more desperate and with more at stake. Harvey Dent is a physical manifestation of the law and order in Gotham and in his case, innocence has matured into hope.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now the piano threatens a loss of that hope.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The pulsating string work is also beautifully rendered with the shots of Batman speeding through the streets on the Bat-Pod.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">All the while, littered throughout the track, the Joker's theme permeates, building once more to his eventual breakout from the MCU as the cue blows out much like his cell-phone bomb as Gordon and his cops gun it faster while Batman arrives just in time to save Harvey, but not Rachel as he intended.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Joker's theme cues Batman's entrance into the room as Harvey screams in anguish over what his being there means for Rachel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As desperate and struggling as "Wired" was, those same elements amp up even more for "Hospital Bomb Scare," which is split between two seperate tracks on the album.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">With the Joker's threat to lay a random hospital to waste unless Mr. Reese is murdered within the hour, the track peels back the veil of civility in Gotham as the city quickly falls prety to madness and widespread panic.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCH2By9nxhqkIHOXvt5eBABbYwNHlP6_EYijMFz7KC3CS5BcJf02v60FIb31lr4wT9T1RYbW5nCuK3mZFrJW3QwqMTVhu9Z2Vv7qFvfcOzwzObevy6luLdKBpi2JTWrC69-u3NiBDiEgq_/s1600/Photo+15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCH2By9nxhqkIHOXvt5eBABbYwNHlP6_EYijMFz7KC3CS5BcJf02v60FIb31lr4wT9T1RYbW5nCuK3mZFrJW3QwqMTVhu9Z2Vv7qFvfcOzwzObevy6luLdKBpi2JTWrC69-u3NiBDiEgq_/s1600/Photo+15.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Exceptional moments in the cues include the escelating strings one minute and twenty eight seconds into "Part 1" and especially the bit at two minutes and seventeen seconds with the crashing six-note motif pulled from the Batman theme as doctors, nurses and orderlies scramble to evacuate the patients out of Gotham General.</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Other cues do their part to create the tense, calibrated atmosphere of the movie.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">One of my favorite cues from the original studio release has to be "Harvey Two Face," which is distinguishable in its representation of the overall framework of Dent's heroism and eventual tragic fall.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This track is wonderful in its composition of several motifs; I especially love the material that runs from two minutes and twelve seconds in to just over the three minute mark.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">There's also a wonderfully tragic bit of brass at five and a half minutes in that's just too good to put into words.</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">There's also the thundering percussion and low strings of "Sonar System" which are incredible as Bruce convinces Lucius Fox to assist in his capture of the Joker.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This brings to mind something.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">One of the things I love about the film and the score is that even with each new tragedy and complication that's piled onto the narrative, you still have Batman and Gordon at the core of the piece, fighting to maintain something, ANYTHING as far as hope.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Joker's insanity sacrifices so much and you feel the desperation of these men as they struggle with each defeat to keep it from getting out of hand. At first they fight to save Harvey from death. In spite of doing so, he's disfigured and the public face of the 'White Knight' is tarnished. When they fail Dent and his psyche is fractured, they fight to save him from the threat on Gotham General but he disappears.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">When they can't find him, they're STILL fighting to undo what's been done to their champion.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>"How long can you keep this quiet?"</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Things amp up for the film's thrilling finale with "Storming Pruitt Building," as Batman's theme flourishes to life, representing his desperate struggle to protect the hostages, incapacitate both the Joker's henchmen and the police and ultimately in reaching the Clown Prince himself.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The track plays very much like a supped up adaptation of the cue from the Monastery battle in "Begins," but there are several additions to the material, fleshing out out, raising the stakes.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">There's an incredibly heroic addition to the Batman theme here with a descending three-note scheme that can be clearly heard at a minute and six seconds into the piece.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I love that!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The Joker is given his proper curtain call with "A Little Push" as he explains himself (somewhat) to Batman in chilling fashion. As with the entirety of the film, the cue once more taps into the dark well of the Joker's screaming guitar motif as Batman comes to the terrifying realization of the full ramifications of what the Joker's done.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>"What did you do?"</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The four-note secondary theme from the interrogation scene reappears before the strings swell and plumet into a hollow vibrating tone, possibly to mimic Batman's heart as it drops from his chest.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">After Batman's defeat of Two-Face and rescuing Gordon's son, the score ends on a somber note as Batman decides to make the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of the peace he and Gordon have fought for; the peace Rachel Dawes and Harvey Dent died for.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">With "I'm Not A Hero," The piano motif reappears as Batman's intent becomes painfully clear to Gordon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>"I'm whatever Gotham needs me to be."</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The track sprawls across the moral scope of the story we've seen played out as Gordon, Fox, Alfred and Batman all feel the effects of what they've endured and it's a piece that's ironically uplifting in its hopelessness.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The film's ending is not one of victory for Batman, not in the least, and the score properly reflects that. And yet, it does so in a manner that still deems him heroic for the choice he's making.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's a tremendous fit to what is overall a brilliant score.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In the end, "The Dark Knight" was knocked out of contention at the Academy Awards for musical score on a technicality, something to do with it being a dual effort between Zimmer and Howard.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">At this point, awards are of little consequence and weight.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The score for "The Dark Knight" is thrilling in its more character driven moments and just grand in its larger-than-life point.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">An amazing body of work from two very distinguished and talented composers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hans Zimmer</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> James Newton Howard</span></div>
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<br /></div>Chas Blankenshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09152498045221353190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5986956018362546175.post-77133948943863545372012-04-24T06:09:00.000-07:002012-04-24T06:17:00.473-07:00"The Dark Knight" (Christopher Nolan, 2008)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx6Jo-JgfXPK8OZ9Gk-KFBVZWgHabMc4inBQHtVxsNGLxmET7nhfuxtl2r82_HyOq6u_RLhNJQup_Gs7_K1ElYnZVUPtjkuJg3XYBbuEAUipJ45CgAT9_voP5Zk426-5-Y3YpmQBNatTGv/s1600/The+Dark+Knight+2008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx6Jo-JgfXPK8OZ9Gk-KFBVZWgHabMc4inBQHtVxsNGLxmET7nhfuxtl2r82_HyOq6u_RLhNJQup_Gs7_K1ElYnZVUPtjkuJg3XYBbuEAUipJ45CgAT9_voP5Zk426-5-Y3YpmQBNatTGv/s1600/The+Dark+Knight+2008.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Directed
by Christopher Nolan<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Story
by David S. Goyer and Christopher Nolan<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Screenplay
by Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Based
on the DC Comics Characters Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Executive
Produced by Benjamin Melniker, Michael E. Uslan, Thomas Tull and Kevin De La
Noy<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Produced
by Emma Thomas, Charles Roven and Christopher Nolan<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Cinematography
by Wally Pfister<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Production
Design by Nathan Crowley<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Costume
Design by Lindy Hemming<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Editing
by Lee Smith<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Original
Motion Picture Score Composed by Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Christian
Bale ... Bruce Wayne/Batman <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Heath
Ledger ... The Joker <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Aaron
Eckhart ... Harvey Dent/Two-Face <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Michael
Caine ... Alfred Pennyworth <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Maggie
Gyllenhaal ... Rachel Dawes <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Gary
Oldman ... James Gordon <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Morgan
Freeman ... Lucius Fox <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Monique
Gabriela Curnen ... Detective Anna Ramirez <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ron
Dean ... Detective Wuertz <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Cillian
Murphy ... Jonathan Crane/The Scarecrow <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Chin
Han ... Lau <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Nestor
Carbonell ... Mayor Anthony Garcia <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Eric
Roberts ... Salvatore Maroni <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ritchie
Coster ... The Chechen <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Anthony
Michael Hall ... Mike Engel<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Keith
Szarabajka ... Detective Stephens <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Colin
McFarlane ... Commissioner Gillian B. Loeb <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Joshua
Harto ... Coleman Reese <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Michael
Jai White ... Gambol <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Melinda
McGraw ... Barbara Gordon <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Nathan
Gamble ... James Gordon Jr. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Michael
Vieau ... Al Rossi <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Michael
Stoyanov ... Dopey <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">William
Smillie ... Happy <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Danny
Goldring ... Grumpy <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Matthew
O'Neill ... Chuckles <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">William
Fichtner ... Bank Manager<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">David
Dastmalchian ... Schiff Thomas<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Beatrice
Rosen ... Natascha<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Nydia
Rodriguez Terracina ... Judge Surrillo<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Patrick
Clear ... Judge Freel <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Sarah
Jayne Dunn ... Maroni's Mistress<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Batman,
Gordon and Harvey Dent are forced to deal with the chaos unleashed by an
anarchist mastermind known only as the Joker, as it drives each of them to
their limits.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">----------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">In
a word?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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</span><br />
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</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">EPIC.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://1.gvt0.com/vi/0OYBEquZ_j0/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0OYBEquZ_j0&fs=1&source=uds" />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">What
could I possibly say about 2008’s “The Dark Knight” that hasn’t been said
already? <o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The
truth is nothing, so I’ll have to settle for saying it my way.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Christopher
Nolan has a clear vision; a vision of an ever evolving saga that seeks and yearns to
be founded on logical characterization, compelling drama, plausible action and
intelligent reverence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And
whether you agree or not, Nolan undeniably refines that vision in "The
Dark Knight;" a vicious, engrossing, overwhelming event of a film that in
contemporary terms has completely redefined what one as a viewer can expect
from a film that is adapted from a 'comic book.'</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">Now I don't say that as a means of stating that every film adaptation of a comic should be made with the agenda of becoming "The Dark Knight;" other heroes have other tones and stylings and filmmakers would do best to remember that by honoring their roots rather than try to rip off a successful film like this.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">What I mean is just that; filmmakers should approach their own repsective material with as much passion and interpretive vision as Nolan and company.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">The days of treating this material without proper respect should be long over thanks to "Knight."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Hhn8VVtrfDk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In
Nolan's grim, dark depiction of Gotham City, the director strives to give everything a world-trodden and tangible
weight (something he began in the well received "Batman Begins"). He
makes Batman’s war on crime plausible, possible. And yet there's more to it:
just as "Begins" was a dissection of the myth, the nature of symbols and
heroes, "Knight" is the escalation of that notion. It's a biblical
confrontation of 'good-and-evil', yet as 'good-and-evil' really exists: a
conflict of ideals, something that can't be purely-defined but that is relative
to a viewpoint. In Nolan's world, the line of villainy and heroism isn't
crossed. It's non-existent. The bad guys don't see themselves as bad guys, and
as such something so unnerving comes across it might fly past some people's
minds (no insult to anybody, it's just common that people don't look deep into
'popcorn flicks'): the battle is a complete ambiguity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
film runs at a hearty and appreciated 153 minutes, yet it never ceases to lose
interest or momentum. Not once. It doesn't waste a scene or a moment; there’s
no extraneous shoe leather and if you watch the film when TNT broadcasts it,
you’ll notice that not one single scene is edited out for the sake of time. Every
action, every set piece and every ounce of dialog and characterization is
utilized and necessary.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“The
Dark Knight” tells a story worth telling and it takes the proper amount of time
to tell it. Action-sequences are frantic, old school, eye popping stunts
(vastly superior to "Begins" on terms of pacing, editing and composition) and
in their chaotic intensity we see that they serve purpose to the story, yet
more interesting are not played for pure entertainment value: we are meant to
watch, petrified, simply hoping that the outcome will go the hero's way.
Attention is never lost because we are immersed in a breathtaking, almost
completely-unpredictable story (it packs many a shock), that makes us think and
more importantly gains our emotional-investment. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We come to care for the
characters, because they are believable, developed, and personified fully.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
cast is pure A-grade. With both the absence of Katie Holmes
and the injection of new cast, every player in “The Dark Knight” brings their
skill to the table, an act that the character of Batman should always demand
from involved and skilled casts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now
some people cite that “Knight” has a potential fatal flaw in the supposedly
wooden acting of Christian Bale. Admittedly, his development is not as grand as
in "Begins" (yet that film DID give us such a good psychoanalysis of Wayne, we
hardly need more. By this point, the persona’s established. It was time for the
Bat to leave the roost and see if he’d fall or fly), yet what Bale pulls off is
admirable. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wayne is not an eccentric personality. He is a disillusioned man who
can hardly find any joy in having no family, giving up his love interest and
spending his life fighting a battle that may never end. This is a younger Batman;
one that is trying to come to terms with the terms he’s defined and it’s
fascinating to watch him wrestle between what he wants, what he needs and what
he has to sacrifice regardless. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">He's dark and conflicted, and Bale plays up on
that brooding-mood by making Wayne look as though a thousand dark things were
on his mind. He's not wooden. He's a humorless, quiet individual, just as a
burgeoning dark knight would be.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Even
when Wayne is acting as a frivolous playboy for the public, every now and then
Bale offers us a powerful glance that reminds us it’s all a façade; that deep
down, something more disturbed irks him. Occasionally he offers a broken-smile
when exchanging banter with Alfred, letting us know that beyond the dour
depression of the Caped Crusader lays a heavily fractured human being. It is
only in the guise of a growling masked vigilante that he can unleash his true,
ferocious personality. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">n many ways, fans have shown concern that the character
is lost amongst the scope of the picture but looking at the eventual outcome of
the film’s ending and Batman’s ultimate sacrifice, I disagree. This film might
not be as directly about Batman as “Batman Begins” was, but it’s focus on
Batman is intact, broadening itself to detail the consequences of Wayne’s actions both
prior to and within the context of the film.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Everyone
has great-chemistry together on screen. Maggie Gyllenhaal is a more mature Rachel Dawes
than Katie Holmes. Morgan Freeman provides his authoritative presence to the
role of gadget-inventor/Wayne Enterprises CEO Lucius Fox, and under anyone
else's portrayal, the part would be less memorable. Gary Oldman underplays his
world-wearied lawman with such honest nobility; you never feel for a second any
of its forced acting. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">His ascension to Police Commissioner is well deserved and
congratulated. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The irreplaceable Michael Caine makes a gentle, reassuring
father like presence as Alfred, and the movie would surely fail without his
strong-resolve and interjected moments of light humor. And even bit actors like
Eric Roberts, Anthony Michael Hall and Keith Szarabajka populate the film with
such charisma and character; it’s truly something when your ENTIRE cast is of
this quality.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">While
everyone (rightfully) pours the praise unto Bale and Ledger being the standouts, I think most
initially glanced over "Knight"s breakout performance. As Harvey Dent, Aaron
Eckhart does more than hold himself in the company of such a renowned cast. He
makes his presence known, whether he's playing on the easy going charisma of
being Gotham's 'White-Knight' or the broken, damaged and twisted soul of
Two-Face. He achieves a full-impact with the tragedy that comes unto his
character, and so closely connects with Dent, that he makes his pain tangible
for us: we sympathize even as we become terrified. He captures both facets of
each personality flawlessly and his fall from grace is truly the backbone of
the entire film, as Nolan has stated on numerous occasions.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>"You thought we could be decent men, in an indecent time. But you were wrong."</strong></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;"><strong>"Why So Serious?"</strong></span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It goes without saying that the most talked about cast member and performance
of the film is the Joker, as performed by the late Heath Ledger. Now, when he
was first announced for the part, I (along with many other people) was asking
myself: "Why?" <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yes,
Mr. Ledger had proved with "Brokeback Mountain" he could deliver a potent
performance. But as a Batman fan, I knew the Joker was a different story than a
cowboy with homosexual longings. But the response was bubbling beneath the surface.
The industry was abuzz. There were rumors, strong ones, concerning the
brilliance of the performance; even words like ‘Oscar’ and ‘Academy Award’ were
being thrown around. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho8ah-2ETwnTVk6vokHMe5FjlIUC3D6kSyhfbrrkr5b8iHrSqoM1NrxKtFbO-3saf1HfT-2UtSaN8Mb3G0OEVqWrV2KDAvl6rsaUuKtbis5Xbrw_obs3Wh4vMqJN5NQd6yzOE4vVfetsmM/s1600/Photo+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho8ah-2ETwnTVk6vokHMe5FjlIUC3D6kSyhfbrrkr5b8iHrSqoM1NrxKtFbO-3saf1HfT-2UtSaN8Mb3G0OEVqWrV2KDAvl6rsaUuKtbis5Xbrw_obs3Wh4vMqJN5NQd6yzOE4vVfetsmM/s400/Photo+13.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">At
first I didn’t want to believe it, as great as it sounded. Why get your hopes
up concerning an award no other Comic Book adaptation had ever hoped to reach
before? Not that the verdict of the MPAA dictates what I can or cannot consider
a masterful performance but it’s truly a mark of genius that in this regard, we
were in perfect and harmonious agreement.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tragically
the news of Ledger’s shocking accidental death in January of 2008 began pouring
in, and that was the first time I started to buy into how tremendous this
performance would be, albeit under tremendously bitter circumstances.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Needless
to say, all of that anticipation paid off in spades, and Heath left behind not
only the most memorable performance of his too-short career but perhaps the
most memorable performance of the decade.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">When
Heath first appears in the movie, he is completely unrecognizable. His voice is
distinctly altered; a near whiny, pedophile-like tone that sends shivers down the
spine. His face is completely splattered with makeup that renders him both
freakishly nightmarish and strangely funny. And when you see him, you don't
think it's him. In this, his final performance, Ledger proved he was a
chameleon. His two iconic performances in this and "Brokeback" couldn't be
more different. I am convinced he could have been anything in his career. He
commits so intensely to character that the line of actor/portrayal isn’t just
blurred, it’s erased. His every tick and gesture only further enhances his
Joker into a truly sinister and evil creature of a man. </span></span></span></div>
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<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://0.gvt0.com/vi/fk7R_6xqkKw/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fk7R_6xqkKw&fs=1&source=uds" />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Heath never hams the
role up or goes for something cheap: he delivers a fully immersed display of
psychotic madness. Or do we just label him that to feel safer? The movie writes
the character brilliantly, blending terrifying truth into his every social
accusation, and making us question why we laugh at his sick jokes knowing in
the back of our minds that there’s a definite grain of truth in what he
believes.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The resulting philosophical conflict between Joker and Batman is as fascinating here as its ever been in the comics.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">The Joker is a chaotic manifestation of all the horrible conotations that people perceive of Batman, and Batman is struggling to hold onto the hope that he's not as similar to the Joker as he might have to admit.</span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/xxRYgUlIDpY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
technical advances made in the film are astounding, providing a very rich
experience. Cinematographer Wally Pfister should be commendednot just for the
lighting of the film, which combines ‘glossy and lavish’ with ‘urban grit and
decay,’ but for the utilization of IMAX camera technology for a handful of the
opening exterior shots of both Gotham City and Hong Kong as well as several
full-blown sequences. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Seeing the film in IMAX wasn’t a necessity as far as enjoying
and following the film but I did jump at the opportunity when the film was
re-released for a short period. And let me tell you; the images of Batman
gliding across Hong Kong and the Joker with guns blazing on the IMAX screen
will stay with me forever.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rightfully, Pfister would go on to win the Academy Award for cinematography for Christopher Nolan's science fiction epic "Inception."</span></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pushing
it one step further, there are a handful of single shots in the film that are
composed in such a large, iconic fashion that I would very easily consider them
works of art.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Batman
gliding over the Hong Kong skyline.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
Joker hanging out the side of a GPD Squad Car as he makes his escape from the
MCU.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A
scarred and bandaged Dent screaming at the realization that Rachel is dead.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Batman
kneeling in sorrow as Barbara Gordon curses him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
Joker walking away as Gotham General Hospital is engulfed in an inferno.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Batman
standing within the rubble of 250 52nd street.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">All
parts of a lush, visual mosaic.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
production design isn’t as groundbreaking (for me) as Burton’s original film.
While the sets of “The Dark Knight” are still made with such passion and
quality, the production design in “Batman” has more character to it, I feel.
</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But again “Knight” is still amazing in this regard. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wayne’s Penthouse is a
gorgeous display of modernism with marble floors, glass and chrome (this, more
than any other comic book pad – aside from Wayne Manor and Tony Stark’s Malibu
Manson – is the place I’d want to live). </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I also love the utilitarian approach
to the holding cells and interrogation rooms that reside in the MCU. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And of
course there’s Batman’s new base of operations which looks magnificent, like a
giant and perfectly structured concrete stronghold box. Here I thought I was
going to miss the Batcave, but the underground garage fits well (both because story-wise it was
necessary following the destruction of Wayne Manor in “Batman Begins,” but it
also works from a design perspective given Batman’s almost militaristic
approach to crime fighting in this day and age.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I
was a bit disappointed that the Joker himself doesn’t have his own digs, like
the Axis Chemicals basement in Burton’s first film, but I did like the nod to
the characters constant use of Amusement Park hideouts and the like throughout
his own history with the Hyams Amusement Park truck.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
costume design is also a testament to Nolan’s approach to the material. Here,
Batman is given yet another Batsuit, but it isn’t change for change’s sake.
There’s reason and a good one. The Batsuit IS a tad busy, but the concept of
armored plating is very cool and the ability for Batman to FINALLY turn his
head without his torso following suit is a breakthrough.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
Joker is something else. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">He’s still recognizable with the use of Purple
and Green and giving him a suit of sorts but it’s scruffier, dirtier and
rougher in broad strokes. It makes sense in a way, given that Ledger’s Joker is
a man who wouldn’t have a care in the world about his hygiene (although I admittedly
was raised on a Joker that was a bit more vain and conscious about appearance,
what with being a showman and all). </span></span></span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">However it works well here and all of the
parallels to grunge and punk rock are well founded (why couldn’t Kids WB’s “The
Batman” do the same thing? Makes you wonder).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Composers
Zimmer and Howard provide us with a score that’s leaps and bounds above “Batman
Begins” with its use of high tension strings and electric guitar grit (every
time you hear them, you KNOW the Joker is closing in) and these eerie cascading
sounds. They also do well to flesh out the score a bit more, which I
appreciate. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">My favorite moment in the score, bar none, is the building of
tension when Commissioner Loeb, Judge Surrillo and Harvey Dent are simultaneously
attacked (arguably one of my favorite moments in the film). As far as the
released soundtrack, my favorite track would have to be “Harvey Two Face”
showcasing the uplifting rise of Dent and the tragic fall of Two-Face.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
make-up should also be commented on. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Joker’s look, along with his costume,
is visually jarring. Being a fan that’s so used to a fully bleached Joker resulting in a chemical plunge, I was
a bit confused with the make-up approach. But damn it, it works. Any hang ups I had about it were resolved quickly. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thanks to both
Nolan and Ledger, everything concerning the Joker works. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But for me, Eckhart’s
Two-Face make up is just incredible, and it's incredible because it isn't make-up at all, but rather visual effects. For something so delicate and particular to be rendered and handled digitally is amazing. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">When you first see it, you just shudder and squint your
eyes in pain it’s that gruesome. Visually, it is the BEST Two-Face I’ve ever
seen (making Tommy Lee Jones and the animated renditions look like child’s
play).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
action is pulse-pounding and operatic in its scale. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Batman’s
assault on LSI holdings in Hong Kong is well choreographed and well executed and the idea of bringing in Sky-Hook was a nice touch. It also demonstrates Batman's tactile nature; a true war on crime being fought not just by a vigilante but a soldier.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Batman’s
fist fights both in Hong Kong and at Maroni’s club are also very well done,
especially the latter, showcasing Batman as a tough-as-nails warrior making quick
work of Salvatore’s thugs and Sal himself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>“From
one professional to another, if you’re trying to scare somebody pick a better
spot. From this height, fall wouldn’t kill me.”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>“I’m
counting on it.”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then
we’ve got the truck chase as Joker works to get to Harvey, which gives us the
wonderful moment of debuting Batman’s newest crime-fighting device; the Bat
Pod. It molds quite well with the design aesthetic of the Tumbler and I
personally prefer it to the Tumbler; kudos to designer Nathan Crowley and to
both Crowley and Nolan for holding off on giving Batman a 2nd vehicle until the
sequel. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And that truly dynamic moment of the Joker’s semi flipping vertically; my
jaw dropped the first time I saw that, no joke. </span></span></span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I also love the Prewitt
Building sequence and the Ferries. You couldn’t even cut the tension with a
machete, it was so thick. Even watching the film now I still hold my breath,
despite knowing the outcome. After a film that's been so emotionally charged by this point, it's nearly unfathomable how Nolan can build from there and yet he effortlessly pulls it off.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;"><strong>"No, there's no time. We have clear shots! Dent is in there with them, we have to save Dent. I...have to save Dent."</strong></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was also a stroke of genius having Batman
continuously work to both disable the police without killing them and rescuing
the hostages. It paints a target on Batman's back before the end of the film and it's such a finely-tuned set piece. The action, like the rest of the film, is so well grounded and narratively dictated without being gratuitous.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Another
great aspect of the film is its depiction of the detective side of Batman’s
character. Sure we’ve seen him huddled over the Bat-Computer in other films but
if memory serves me right we never once saw an official live action scene of
Batman out in the field, visiting a crime scene. That’s one of my favorite
smaller moments in the film, seeing him on sight going through the motions of
investigation (although that whole ‘fingerprint off a bullet’ gimmick was a bit
odd, it’s certainly creative).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>“I
need ten minutes with the scene before your people contaminate it.”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></span><br />
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</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But
the hands down greatest scene in the film is the finale in its entirety, for
the sole fact that it takes the myth and history of the Batman character and
spins it in a way that’s not only shocking and unexpected but makes all the
sense in the world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Prior
to the film, I’d never once read a story or seen anything concerning Batman
taking the fall and blame for a villain’s actions for the sake of retaining
order, faith and fragile moral in Gotham City. That move was simply genius.
Needless to say, I eagerly await the outcome and conclusion of the story in “The
Dark Knight Rises.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“The
Dark Knight” has had an incredible-amount of hype running for it from the
get-go, mounting ever-higher, and percolating with Heath Ledger's all-too-soon
passing.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes the praise is overwhelming, but that’s not the
issue. It’s that it’s wild and unfocused. But that’s not to say it’s
undeserved. In short, calling the film the greatest thing since the wheel or
sliced bread is going too far but that’s not what I’m doing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
finished-product does more than exceed all of the near-impossible expectations
placed upon it. It does become something much richer than a
super-hero-franchise-saga. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Christopher Nolan has opened a new door on action
cinema: allowing material that would traditionally be regarded as the stuff of
children to become more serious, capable of intelligence. Through this
approach, Nolan has transformed “The Dark Knight” from a comic book movie
sequel (technically the 6th contemporary Batman film) into a piece of sheer
artwork full of beauty, terror, moral-conundrums and heroism by those both in
and out of a cowl. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This
movie has changed things. Forever. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">From
here, despite the efforts of “Punisher: War Zone,” “The Spirit” or most
recently “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance” there truly is, to quote the Joker,
“no going back.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">One
of the greatest films of the past decade, “The Dark Knight” is a cinematic
masterpiece in every sense of the phrase.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/psSGVhTd0i8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">----------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>Chas Blankenshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09152498045221353190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5986956018362546175.post-28049952937790678422012-04-23T22:34:00.001-07:002012-04-23T22:34:52.072-07:00"Batman: Gotham Knight" - Original Motion Picture Score (Christopher Drake, Robert J. Kral and Kevin Manthei, 2008)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW6oXTdO5-3cdMgBKwM9VZXruP_k4h0dKPGm_aoZ7twinjvFziYVdrcwASSrPedlWO73q5OKalWz3uLLB1PY7siHuvXlD2rK1JbS6Ins9PZzwKa8il3FHWhnRppf1RNWq0xgj07C0OfLXo/s1600/Batman+Gotham+Knight+Chris+Drake+and+Robert+Kral+and+Kevin+Manthei+2008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW6oXTdO5-3cdMgBKwM9VZXruP_k4h0dKPGm_aoZ7twinjvFziYVdrcwASSrPedlWO73q5OKalWz3uLLB1PY7siHuvXlD2rK1JbS6Ins9PZzwKa8il3FHWhnRppf1RNWq0xgj07C0OfLXo/s1600/Batman+Gotham+Knight+Chris+Drake+and+Robert+Kral+and+Kevin+Manthei+2008.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Composed
by Christopher Drake, Robert J. Kral and Kevin Manthei<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Track Listing:<o:p></o:p></span></b></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Have
I Got A Story For You”</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> - Christopher Drake</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">1:
Main Titles/Intro/Interlude/Punk Skater/Trouble At The Dock (2:28)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2:
Living Shadow/Living Shadow Finale (1:45)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">3:
Skater Girl / Trouble In the City (0:50)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">4:
Batmonster Appears/Batmonster Do-Over/Batmonster Finale (2:18)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">5:
Rooftop Robbery/Robobat (1:44)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">6:
Have I Got A Story For You Finale (1:35)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Crossfire”</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> - Kevin Manthei</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">7:
Crossfire (4:49)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">8:
Inferno (5:48)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Field
Test”</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> - Robert J. Kral</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">9:
New Device (1:22)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">10:
Trigger A Device/As Good As Your Drive (1:10)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">11:
A Russian in His Grave/It Works Too Well (3:53)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“In
Darkness Dwells”</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> - Christopher Drake</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">12:
In Darkness Dwells Intro (1:00)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">13:
Gordon's Cannibal/Ghost Station (3:00)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">14:
Epidermolytic Hyperkeratosis (0:43)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">15:
Killer Croc/Hallucinations/Scarecrow Interrupted (3:19)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">16:
Escape and End (1:45)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Working
Through Pain”</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> - Kevin Manthei</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">17:
Working Through Pain/The Fall (1:46)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">18:
Bazaar (0:26)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">19:
There is Another/Training (2:46)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">20:
Rejected and Despised (1:30)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">21:
Painless Fight/I Can't (3:23)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“Deadshot”</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> - Robert J. Kral</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">22:
Parents Killed (0:54)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">23:
Gun Attraction/Park Killing (1:26)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">24:
Gordon/Batman/The Train (6:14)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">25:
His Life's Quest (0:56)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“End
Credits”</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> - Christopher Drake, Robert J. Kral, Kevin Manthei<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">26: End
Credits Suite (5:02)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">--------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">In
the wake of the hard-rocking soundtracks packed with contemporary bands and
fluff that littered the Gotham City of Joel Schumacher’s visualization,
director Christopher Nolan made quick work of reuniting Batman with the power
and respect of only being musically identified through symphonic score.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">While
I’m more in favor of Danny Elfman and Shirley Walker’s compositions, there’s no
denying that Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard made an impact on super hero
music that has continued today with projects such as “The Dark Knight,” “Arkham
City” and even rival projects such as Craig Armstrong’s score for “The
Incredible Hulk” and the “Captain America: The Firs Avenger” score written by
Alan Silvestri.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">For
“Batman: Gotham Knight,” the influence carried over on the wings of logic and
yet the scores crafted for the piece inform the mythos as it’s being
interpreted by Nolan’s influence with a wonderful sense of craftsmanship and
atmosphere worthy of the dark knight.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Let’s
go ahead and take a look at all six scores in chronological order:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
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</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Have I Got a
Story for You”<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Opening
the film with a standard shot through Gotham City that encompasses the entire sprawl
of the narrative itself, the “Main Title” already works to build the bedrock of
atmosphere with swelling strings that combine elements of suspense, drama and
horror as we descend upon the city we’re about to inhabit musically.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">What
I love about the title is that it’s not overtly heroic yet; it’s biding its
time, setting up the location, which keeps the title of “Gotham Knight” clearly
in mind.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">After
a bold crescendo of percussion and chorus, we’re immediately plunged into a new
and thrilling dynamic with “Punk Skater” and this transition almost plays as if
it’s echoing the transition from the Batman that once was into the Batman that
contemporary audiences now have.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">By
the end of the original film franchise it’s reasonable to assume that Bruce is
no longer a young man. Here, however, we’re being given that younger dark
knight and it’s evidenced as we shift gears from a musical register that calls
forth the past efforts of Danny Elfman and slams us right into the mentality of
a more energized, aggressive, youthful, exuberant Batman.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The
tone shift also reminds me of the handling of score for “Batman Beyond” with
the guitar and synthetic work. I especially LOVE the instrumentation that hits
the cue about a minute and twenty eight seconds in; it’s laced with such
atmosphere for Gotham City itself and not just Gotham through Batman’s
perspective, but through those of the skater kids that weave the story of this
first chapter together. Very mood and informed by the locales and visuals in
the film.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Another
favorite track, probably my favorite in this specific score, is “Skater
Girl/Trouble In the City,” which begins with a terrific composition of skittish
brass work and the beautiful motif of the plucking strings; all of the whimsy
comes to a head with a venomous brass flourish as the Man in Black descends
into the streets in his duel with Batman.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The
music takes a more deliberate, militaristic tone with “Robobat,” possibility acting
as a lyrical representation of the more lumbering nature of that particular
incarnation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Lots
of fleeting, tense strings and brass flow in undercurrent for the score and all
around it’s a tremendous work from Christopher Drake.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Crossfire”<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Crossfire”
is, to me, the most reminiscent of the work created by Hans Zimmer and James
Newton Howard for “Batman Begins” in its approach to have a less traditional
symphonic score by creating tracks that are created more so out of sound design
and effects work.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The
two tracks under this banner are commanded by synthesizer work and several
sound effect accompaniments such as omnipresent, thrumming strobe flourishes
and a lot of layered percussion.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Inferno”
confirms this idea but it’s more methodical. Two and a half minutes in, we’re
given some wonderful chorus work as Batman makes himself fully visible to
Maroni and the detectives, backlit by flame.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Field Test”<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Robert
Kral brings up back to symphonic score with his introduction into the
collection.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">“New
Device” is a terrific composition, including such highlights as the wonderful
string work that brings about a dynamic sense of pace thirty nine seconds into
the track.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">As
the score goes along, it’s clear that while “Crossfire” represents the
sound-angle of Zimmer and Howard’s efforts, “Field Test” best symbolizes what
orchestral work was crafted for “Begins.” There’s a touch of sadness and
resolve to these cues that echoes the live action film tremendously. Moments in
the original score of “Begins,” such as “Prototypes” and “Aftermath” are
reincarnated here; it’s somewhat different but the core essence still remains.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">There’s
a great melody that’s introduced about twenty seconds into “Trigger a Device/As
Good as Your Drive” and the tracks is highlighted with wonderful woodwind
composition, particularly on oboe and possibly bassoon if my ear serves me
right.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">“A
Russian in his Grave/It Works Too Well” ends the score with some excellent
flute work five seconds in and a lot of great percussion to take us out.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">“In Darkness
Dwells”<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">My
favorite of all the scores on the album, Christopher Drake’s “In Darkness
Dwells” opens with a great tactile, aggressive duel of string and brass as we
fly over Gotham to find Batman perched on a ledge as the Bat-Signal illuminates
the sky.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The
material here is atmospheric, distinct and persuasive in its tone and its
representation for Batman.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">As
the chapter takes us underground, the aggression of the score is toned down to
a moodier, slower pace and it works in juxtaposition between Batman’s utter
dominance in the air above Gotham and the authority of Killer Croc and
Scarecrow in the catacombs and ghost stations beneath the city; this idea lends
itself to giving the score a true sense of scope in its own right.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The
score takes flight out in the open while it’s burdened by the weight of
villainy and it’s a clever dichotomy to take musically.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Gordon’s
Cannibal” plunges us into the sewers as Batman begins his search for Cardinal O’Fallon’s
abductor. The strings here are meaty and hold a tremendous amount of weight to
their presence throughout the cue.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">I
love the clinical approach taken with “Epidermolytic Hyperkeratosis” as Batman
informs Gordon of the medical condition that’s responsible for Croc’s
disfigurement; the synthetic harp work and high strings carry a sense of
delicate investigation, representing Batman’s detective side to great effect.
In fact, the strings here remind me of Batman’s investigation of Phoenix Labs
in the opening Animated Series episode “On Leather Wings.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">We
get back into the visceral nature of the sound design angle as Batman engages
in battle with both Killer Croc and Scarecrow and the material becomes laced
with a horror movie sensibility as we finally discover where Dr. Crane’s been
operating this whole time since the Narrows.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Escape/End”
takes the score to new heights as Batman’s sense of flight and victory is
reestablished with his departure from the sewer with the rescued Cardinal and
it’s a great ending; very heroic and bombastic, like an “Indiana Jones”
scenario of getting out at the last second.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Working Through
Pain”<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Kevin
Menthei’s score for “Working Through Pain” is perhaps the most character-driven
work in the piece, most notable for its ethereal approach to a more culturally
apt profile.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Things
get moody real fast as we find Batman back in the sewers, suffering from the injuries
he’d endured in “In Darkness Dwells;” very eclectic, very eerie and haunting.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Obviously
given the story’s taking place across the globe, specifically in India, nearly
all of the tracks are given the added heft of Indian, ethnical instrumentation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Bazaar”
is the most on the nose with driving drum beats and wiry sitar work that weaves
along much like the cobra dueling and mongoose in the market as Bruce Wayne
watches on. It might be a bit too obvious with the instruments being used, but
it works given that we at the location. As a result, it’s handled as tastefully
as possible.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">“There
is Another/Training” introduces Bruce and the audience to Cassandra as Wayne
begins his physical and psychological training under her tutelage and guidance.
The Indian/Hindi influenced material here is gorgeous and a welcome sense of
refreshment after scores composed nearly entirely of more ‘Batman’ driven
material.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The
score for the chapter is incredibly reflective, not just on this one flashback,
this one instance of training but really on the whole of Bruce’s time spent
abroad prior to becoming Batman.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Bruce
is based in Gotham City for the other five chapters but here he’s on the other
side of the world and the other side of the world is influencing the Menthei’s
score.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Rejected/Despised”
is my favorite cue in the “Working through Pain” score as a young Cassandra is
cast out of her village by her own family. It’s very emotional and regal in the
vein of the traditions of her village and there’s a touch of sadness in her
being shunned by those traditions and having a contributing factor be her
gender.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Painless
Fight/I Can’t” is a beautiful demonstration of woodwind work, particularly of
Indian wooden flute.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s
a powerful track as far as representation, reminding one of the final
confrontation between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader in “The Empire Strikes
Back.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Even
though he’s overpowering these men physically, Bruce’s decision to fight her
tormentors casts him in a light of failure. He’s failed Cassandra and the
education she was intending for him. Clearly, it evokes the fact that Bruce is
only seeking a means to an end for Batman and he’s not there to learn what she
truly had to offer. The track ends with a wonderful flourish of sitar reprisal
as Cassandra asks Bruce to leave.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The
material for Gotham City reflects this as Bruce’s failure echoes to him with
the discovery of violence he’s surrounded himself with back home, pulling guns
out of the every pile of trash he’s wading in beneath the streets.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Deadshot”<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The
final score of the collection opens with the most obviously emotional track,
titled “Parent’s Killed,” as Bruce remembers his parent’s murder. There’s great
piano work being used here to tremendous effect. As the track develops, the ‘Deadshot’
motif intrudes on the vulnerability like a representation of his style of
assassination intruding on Bruce’s sensitivity towards firearms.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The
‘Deadshot’ theme flies in the face of tenderness with its aggression and it’s
an interesting parallel between a man sworn to destroy the gun and a man who
lives by the gun.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Gun
Attraction” emphasizes this idea as the music swells in escalation alongside
Deadshot’s kill via Ferris wheel and the brass work thirty seconds in, creating
a full-blown iteration of the Deadshot theme is wonderful.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">There’s
beautiful woodwind work that accompanies “Gordon” as the Commissioner takes
refuge in the back of a squad car in a convoy while being transported to a safe
house for fear of Deadshot’s threat on his life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The
Batman theme takes flight fifteen seconds into the track and swells at key
moments such as Batman intercepting Deadshot’s bullet with his gauntlet; the
theme reminds me a bit of the theme created by Zimmer and Howard for “The Dark
Knight;” it’s supped up and yet minimalist, maybe a bit more heroic than Zimmer
and Howard’s.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The
aggression of percussion and brass in the score is indicative, of all things,
of the ‘Bat Ski-Boat’ from “Batman Returns” with its militaristic edge. Four
minutes into the track “Gordon/Batman/The Train” sees the introduction of great
synthesizer work highlighting the conflict atop the train as it rockets through
a monorail tunnel.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Deadshot”
closes out with a reprise of the theme from “Parent’s Killed” and what’s
wonderful about it is the shift in tone. At first, this motif is conducted
negatively with a lot of baggage and tragedy as Bruce remembers the worst
memory he could ever know. Here, however, it’s given an extension and a
rendition that uses the experience with Deadshot to symbolize a more uplifted
outlook for Wayne.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s
not so much that he’s mourning the loss of his parents; he’s using it to
motivate himself, to urge himself forward and carry on.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The
track ends with a beautiful string motif, closing out the score with a sense of
hope and promise as Bruce stares out of the Manor window to see the signal in
the sky. It ties the loose ends with a note of punctuation and it’s tremendous.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">--------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The
“End Credits” concludes with a compilation of previous material into an
overture the takes us back, however quickly, to what we’ve just experienced.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The
‘Batman’ theme from “Deadshot” plays us in, followed by recognizable tracks and
motifs from “Deadshot,” “In Darkness Dwells,” “Working Through Pain” and
finally “Crossfire.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Like
the medium through which it was crafted, the score for “Batman: Gotham Knight”
takes its opportunities to bend and reflect Batman through a varying number of
different musical techniques and realizations that hadn’t been attempted
previously. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s a wonderful addition to the Batman regime of soundtracks and
scores and certainly worth a listen or two.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JC2BnR9rx4I" target="_blank">"Batman: Gotham Knight" (2008) -- "End Credits Suite"</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;">---------------</span></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;">------------------------</span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Christopher Drake</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Robert J. Kral</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Kevin Manthei</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>Chas Blankenshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09152498045221353190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5986956018362546175.post-22807154926282940862012-04-23T06:24:00.000-07:002012-04-23T06:41:31.504-07:00"Batman: Gotham Knight" (Various, 2008)<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Directed
by ... <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Shoujirou
Nishimi (“Have I Got a Story For You” segment)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Futoshi
Higashide (“Crossfire” segment)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hiroshi
Morioka (“Field Test” segment)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yasuhiro
Aoki (“In Darkness Dwells” segment)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yuichiro
Hayashi (“In Darkness Dwells” segment)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Toshiyuki
Kubooka (“Working Through Pain” segment)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jong-Sik
Nam (“Deadshot” segment)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Story
by Jordan Goldberg<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Screenplay
by …<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Josh
Olson (“Have I Got a Story For You” segment)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Greg
Rucka (“Crossfire” segment)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jordan
Goldberg (“Field Test” segment)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">David
S. Goyer (“In Darkness Dwells” segment)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Brian
Azzarello (“Working Through Pain” segment)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Alan
Burnett (“Deadshot” segment)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Based
on the DC Comics Characters Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Executive
Produced by Benjamin Melniker, Michael E. Uslan, Bruce W. Timm and Emma Thomas<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Produced
by Norifumi Fujita, Yohei Hamada, Toshi Hiruma, Mitsuhisa Ishikawa, Rui Kuroki,
Jungo Maruta, Masao Maruyama, Koichi Mashimo, Fumiaki Otake, Kimberly Smith,
Kazuma Taketani, Daisuke Tanaka, Eiko Tanaka and Alex Yeh<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Cinematography
by Michiya Katou, Kenji Takehara and Koji Tanaka<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Art
Direction by Kaoru Inoda, Shinji Kimura, Naoyuki Onda, Shinobu Tagashira,
Shinobu Takashira and Yoshimi Umino<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Editing
by Joe Gall, Taeko Hamauzu, Kashiko Kimura and Mutsumi Takemiya<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Casting
and Vocal Direction by Andrea Romano<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Original
Motion Picture Score Composed by Christopher Drake, Robert J. Kral and Kevin
Manthei<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kevin
Conroy ... Bruce Wayne/Batman (voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gary
Dourdan … Police Detective Crispus Allen (voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">David
McCallum … Alfred Pennyworth (voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kevin
Michael Richardson ... Lucius Fox/Avery (voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ana
Ortiz … Police Detective Anna Ramirez (voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Parminder
Nagra ... Cassandra (voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">George
Newberb … Man in Black/Guido (voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rob
Paulsen … Salvatore Maroni/Mole Man (voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Brian
George … Cardinal O’Fallon/Arman (voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Corey
Burton … Scarecrow/The Russian (voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jason
Marsden … Dr. Thomas Wayne (voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Andrea
Romano … Martha Wayne (voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Scott
Menville … B-Devil (voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Corey
Padnos … Porkchop (voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Crystal
Scales … Meesh (voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Alanna
Ubach … Dander (voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A
collection of tales of The Dark Knight of Gotham City, as conceived by noted
anime talents.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">----------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">With
all of the realizations, both historical and creative, that have been bestowed
upon him, it’s hard to believe how long it took for Batman to finally come
under the wing of full-on 100% Japanese Animation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s
been an inspiration over the years, especially with the “Batman Beyond” and
“The Batman” television series and the character has also been featured in
manga material such as “Batman: Hong Kong” and Kia Asamiya’s “Batman: Child of
Dreams” graphic novel.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But
to see the character as presented in the 6 vignettes that make up 2008’s
“Batman: Gotham Knight” is truly a sight and spectacle to behold.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Have I Got a Story
for You.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
first chapter in the film, directed by Shoujirou Nishimi and written by “A
History of Violence” screenwriter Josh Olson plays wonderfully as an adaptation
of the classic Batman story motif where a collection of characters sit around
telling ‘campfire’ tales of their idea of Batman.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In
this instance, it’s a pack of skateboarding kids and I really love the
inventiveness of their imaginations. In one example, Batman is literally a
shadow creature dipping in and out of darkness like a smoky wraith. The next
depicts him as a winged animal, an actual Bat with flapping leathery wings and
razor sharp teeth. And the last, possibly the most hilarious, is the idea of an
Iron Man type Batman; Batman as a robot, who can wield his gadgets on a whim.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
art direction for “Have I Got a Story for You” is quite unique; it might be my
favorite depiction of Gotham City as a location in the film. I also love its
notion that there is no right or wrong way to interpret Batman.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In
many ways he IS a shadow. In some ways he IS an animal.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">There’s
no definitive way to present Batman visually or to tell his adventures. THAT’s
what makes him such a versatile and endearing character.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Crossfire”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
next chapter, “Crossfire” really begins to get into the thick of the story for
“Gotham Knight.” Written by prominent comics authority Greg Rucka, the segment
certainly shows it with its “Gotham Central” themed aesthetic.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It
also begins to present the fact that since each chapter is handled by a
different director and screenwriter, each chapter is then potentially meant to
focus on Batman from a different perspective.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
first dealt with kids telling tales; an extension of a society that wouldn’t
know any better beyond the figments of Batman that it sees in public. This one
deals with Batman as interpreted by the Police; namely Detectives Crispus Allen
(a character from the comics) and Anna Ramirez (from “The Dark Knight” film) as
they’re caught in the crossfire of the mob war between the Sicilians, headed by
Salvatore Maroni, and the Russians.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">One
of the interesting aspects of this one, oddly enough, is Gordon’s
interpretation. He’s barely in it save his one scene in the opening and I can’t
put my finger on it; Jim feels more reclusive in this installment, as if we’ve
caught a rare glimpse of a man who’s still trying to feel out the transition of
aiding and abetting a vigilante and the internal conflict he must’ve had to go
through given his mutual passion for the law. It felt very raw to me and in
subsequent viewings, I find myself charmed by the idea of seeing these mythic
characters at different points of an evolving relationship with one another.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkwDEZ9gyKQ" target="_blank">"Batman: Gotham Knight" (2008) Scene -- "Crossfire" - Batman vs. Maroni</a></span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Batman
is given a very hellish imagining here (it helps that he’s surrounded by fire
for most of the final portion) and when he finally speaks, you do best to
listen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>“You’re
MCU aren’t you? Gordon’s squad. Lieutenant Gordon is a good judge of
character.”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></span><br />
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</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I
also love the styling of the animation here, specifically in the design and
pacing with the approach to Arkham Island and the handling of Batman’s combat
skills (though a few chapters later improve on this).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ultimately,
“Crossfire” is a great bridging point.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Field Test”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Helmed
by Hiroshi Morioka, the third chapter of the film reflects very much on Bruce
Wayne’s own perspective of the Batman persona; more specifically, the public
persona of billionaire industrialist Bruce Wayne, as other variations of
Wayne’s persona take the helm later.<br />
<br />
Admittedly this is the youngest looking character model so it’s a bit odd to
hear Conroy’s voice. On the other hand, the short is privy to one of the more
inspired Batsuit designs I’ve ever seen. Here, Batman is given a look heavily
influenced by “Gatchaman,” with the bird-like helmet cowl and the broad
shoulder chest plate. I also love the trial and error approach brought to the
table with Bruce’s partnership with Lucius Fox. I grew up on a Batman’s whose
identity remained a mystery to Fox but, in this day and age and with the advent
of such abundant technology, bringing Lucius into the fold makes sense.<br />
<br />
Having said that, I love that the focus of “Field Test” ultimately resides on
the very genuine and human fact that not all of the ideas they implement for
Batman are as effective as they’d like them to be. What works in the comfort of
Wayne Enterprises laboratories reaps dire consequences out in the field (hence
the title) and I’m a fan of Bruce’s character building at the end.<br />
<br />
<strong>“I’m willing to put my life on the line to do what I have to. But it has to be
mine; no one else’s.”</strong>
</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <br />
The story also expands here with the inclusion of industrialist Ronald Marshall
into the plot and Batman’s takedown of both the Russian and Maroni. What’s
great here is that Batman is depicted with a very human soul, going so far as
to rush one of the goons he’s dispatched to the hospital after Fox’s new device
caused harm.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
art direction here is also tremendous, especially in Fox’s lab and the editing
work on the battle aboard the ships in the harbor is stylistic and sweeping
without losing momentum; no easy feat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In
the long run, “Field Test” can be argued as one of the more forgettable of the
six, but it holds up for me personally.<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“In Darkness Dwells”</b><br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH92CB1WNZI" target="_blank">"Batman: Gotham Knight" (2008) Scene -- "In Darkness Dwells" - Batman and Gordon</a></div>
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<br />
For many, including myself, “In Darkness Dwells” is one of the strongest shorts
in the collection. Given that “Gotham Knight” was conceived as a potential
bridge between “Batman Begins” and “The Dark Knight” narratively, it makes
perfect sense given that this one was written by “Begins” and “Knight”
screenwriter David Goyer. The short features the most connection to “Begins”
with Batman and Gordon discovering a kidnapping that ties back to the
Scarecrow, who’s been missing since Ra’s Al Ghul’s Fear Toxin attack on the
Narrows.<br />
<br />
Directed by the duo of Yasuhiro Aoki and Yuichiro Hayashi, the short is also
aesthetically synchronized to “Begins” right down to the color scheme of earthy
ambers, yellows and browns so clearly inspired by Wally Pfister’s
cinematography.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkwDCV41zN8" target="_blank">"Batman: Gotham Knight (2008) Scene -- "In Darkness Dwells" - Speaking for the Holy Man</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Aside
from the visuals, what stands out here most distinctly for me is the atmosphere
of Batman’s search through the sewers and abandoned subway stations in search
for Crane, discovering none other than Killer Croc in the process. I love
moments of Batman where it’s made clear that the majority of what he does is
neither enjoyable nor glamorous. As much of a fan as I am, I’d never want to be
Batman; to the credit of the character, he wouldn’t wish his life on me either.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">From
my perspective, “In Darkness Dwells” is really a depiction of Batman from James
Gordon’s point of view. This is in juxtaposition with “Crossfire.” In
“Crossfire,” the police interpret him as a much broader, less defined figure
and someone who is very clearly operating outside the law. Here, that doubt and
disconnect still lingers but given Gordon’s closer ties, we’re given facts that
the other members of the force might not be aware of, such as Batman’s
technological and intellectual prowess, and while there’s a mutual
understanding that the law is being glossed over, Gordon is learning to look
the other way given the equally important understanding that Gotham’s
infrastructure is steeped in enough corruption to make Batman a necessary evil.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
The action of Batman’s combat with the gassed masses in Scarecrow’s
subterranean sanctuary is awesome (love the moment where Batman gets right in
the face of a goon with enough controlled force to blast a gust of wind in his
face before hoisting him up and taking him out) and how he retrieves the
kidnapped Cardinal O’Fallon is as explosive and ingenious a plan as any,
reminiscent of how Batman would get out of situations at the last second in the
40s film serials.<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Working Through Pain”</b><br />
</span></span></div>
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<br />
At first, I was naively uninterested in this short more than any of them.
Fortunately with time, that has quickly changed and Brian Azzarello's material is
now among my favorite for the character, so much so that “Working Through Pain”
got me interested in reading his comic contributions.<br />
<br />
Here we’re given a developed flashback to Wayne’s time abroad, specifically the
time spent in India under the tutelage of village outcast Cassandra as Bruce
sought a means for learning the metaphysics of enduring and controlling pain
receptors. This idea is especially potent given how many variations of pain can
be discussed with a character like Batman.<br />
<br />
The perspective on the character falls in a more ambiguous place; to me its
split between Cassandra, acting as a collective conscious of all the mentors
Bruce sought out in his travels, and Bruce himself. Unlike the public façade of
“Field Test,” Batman is personified here through the eyes of Bruce in his most
disciplined form; that of the student, the warrior, man seeking the means to
hone himself to the peak of human potential.<br />
<br />
As was also speculated in “Batman: The Animated Series” episodes such as “Night
of the Ninja” and “Zatanna,” as well as comic books like “The Man Who Falls,”
we’re once more given a tale of Bruce’s training and the concept that his only
agenda in that training is to acquire the necessary skills for his pilgrimage
back to Gotham, not to necessarily complete or succeed in it. It’s made clear
that Cassandra sees Wayne as a failure when he so blatantly resorts to violence
in a scenario where he didn’t have to and this idea goes to great lengths to illustrate
that this is still a young dark knight that we’re dealing with.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">What
I also especially love about this installment is the score by composer Kevin
Manthei; it’s far more understated and less heroically imposing as the other
music in the piece and it, along with the short itself, is a testament, like
“Begins,” to the fact that Wayne himself is as fascinating and layered a
character as his masked alter ego.<br />
<br />
In a piece that isn’t populated by costumed rogues, the material is allowed to
breathe and focus on our protagonist; a practice that is very refreshing given
that Batman’s villains tend to overshadow our hero on most occasions.<br />
<br />
Yes, I find the villains exceedingly intriguing. But in a mythology that is
ripping at the seams with men and women who’ve adopted dual identities and
disguises, it’s important to always remember that Bruce Wayne, as a character,
was the first of this breed. If the costumed personas of Gotham City are a
species unto themselves, Batman is the catalyst to all of it and should be
treated with as much interest and fascination as the rest of them.<br />
<br />
I loved the moment at the end and what it represents; seeing Batman weighed
down by an armful of weapons (i.e. violence) and unable to pull himself out of
the depths is extremely befitting of the character’s psychological fracture and
a provocative image built upon his long-documented hatred of firearms from the
comic books.<br />
<br />
Also, fun fact: while the Batmobile makes two other appearances in “Gotham
Knight,” including “Field Test” and “Deadshot,” the design here, in a complete
moment of fan elation, is obviously based on Anton Furst’s Batmobile from the
Tim Burton films. LOVE that!<br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Deadshot”</b><br />
</span></span></span></div>
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<br />
Great to see this collection of shorts go out with a bang.<br />
<br />
Pardon the pun.<br />
<br />
The most clear-cut, action-oriented piece of the puzzle, Jong-Sik Nam and Alan
Burnett’s “Deadshot” completes “Gotham Knight” on a dazzling artistic note
utilizing the premiere animation style that was at the forefront of the
marketing push for the film, depicted more than any of the others. It’s a good
call; Batman himself looks his absolute best here, commanding and ominous in
his stature as he races to foil a speculated <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>assassination attempt on Gordon at the hands
of notorious marksman-for-hire Floyd Lawton, otherwise known as Deadshot.<br />
<br />
The motif of seeing Batman from the points of view of other characters falls
slightly apart here and in its place we’re really just given more of a typical
narrative than anything. I suppose one could see it as detailing Batman through
the eyes of Deadshot himself, which is an extension for the criminal element
that’s hired him as opposed to society, the authorities, or Bruce Wayne
himself.</div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4goJjELNuxU" target="_blank">"Batman: Gotham Knight" (2008) Scene -- "Deadshot" - Batman vs. Deadshot</a></div>
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<br />
<br />
The action is pulse-pounding to say the least. The centerpiece of the train
fight is operatic and gorgeous both in its art direction and pacing. I’m
usually not the biggest fan of slow motion in action, preferring to keep
kinetics heightened in such a scene, but that shot of Batman descending upon
Deadshot and using his gauntlet to decimate his wrist-cannon is beautiful.<br />
<br />
What also stands out for the short is the concept of faithful butler Alfred
Pennyworth aiding Batman in his crime fighting endeavors from the command post
of the Batcave; an idea that has played repeatedly throughout the mythology
and, in terms of media, most notably in “Batman Returns” and “The Dark Knight.”
Just as “Field Test” and “Working Through Pain” remind the viewer of how
important Bruce Wayne and Lucius Fox are to the upkeep of the Batman persona,
respectfully, “Deadshot” affords the same care and attention to Alfred and the
lengths he must go to in order to do his part.<br />
<br />
----------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Collectively,
“Batman: Gotham Knight” is a tremendous creative force that propels the idea of
Batman being such an enduring character that he can translate to any and all
forms of art, entertainment and interpretation. Hell that happened in and of
itself within the context of these shorts alone portraying the character in a
variation of artistic styles in one piece.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Traditionally,
my passion for anime hasn’t been as feverish as others I know. I was first
introduced to the art styling of Japanese animation through titles like “Astro
Boy,” “Gatchaman,” “Speed Racer” and eventually properties like “Dragonball”
and “Mobile Suit Gundam.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">These
days, beyond “Gundam” and revered titles like “Akira” or “Cowboy Bebop,” I’m
not as involved as I once was. Perhaps “Gotham Knight” is a means of returning
to the style. Anime is certainly beautiful in its own right and to not see and
acknowledge that would be irresponsible on my part.<br />
<br />
If the style and tone fits, it has an incredible power and it’s visually very
striking when compared to American animation.<br />
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Seeing this approach taken with a property like Batman just seems to fit so
well, certainly better than a character like Superman ever could.<br />
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I’d highly recommend “Gotham Knight” to Batman fans and anime and art
enthusiasts alike.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">----------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>Chas Blankenshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09152498045221353190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5986956018362546175.post-67477061029528951672012-04-23T06:00:00.000-07:002012-04-23T06:00:20.162-07:00"Batman Begins" - Complete Original Motion Picture Score (Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard, 2005)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Composed by Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard<br />
Additional Music Composed by Ramin Djawadi and Mel Wesson<br />
Orchestrated by Brad Dechter and Bruce Fowler<br />
Conducted by Gavin Greenaway<br />
Performed by The Sinfonia of London Orchestra<br />
<br />
Produced by Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard<br />
<br />
<b>Track Listing:</b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><br /><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
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<span class="apple-style-span"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Disc 1:</b></span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">1: Opening Titles/Young Bruce Falls (2:04)</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><br /><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
<span class="apple-style-span">2: Prison Nightmare (1:01)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">3: Meeting Ducard (1:57)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">4: The Long Walk (2:19)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">5: Monastery (2:45)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">6: Father To The Rescue (2:12)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">7: Bruce’s Discomfort (0:37)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">8: Mugging (Part 1) (1:18)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">9: Mugging (Part 2) (2:50)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">10: Training (2:50)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">11: Campfire (3:27)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">12: Courthouse (2:39)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">13: Your System Is Broken (0:56)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">14: Meeting Falcone (3:08)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">15: Decision (2:31)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">16: Hide In The Dark (2:59)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">17: Initiation Into League/Temple Fight (6:30)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">18: Return To Gotham (0:51)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">19: Crane Warns Rachel (Part 1) (0:59)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">20: Crane Warns Rachel (Part 2) (1:14)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">21: The Bat Cave (2:57)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">22: Wayne Enterprises (1:24)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">23: Prototypes (1:41)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">24: Preparing Equipment (1:49)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">25: Batman Visits Gordon (1:13)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">26: Why Bats (2:34)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">27: Dockyard Ambush (3:10)</span><br />
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<span class="apple-style-span"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Disc 2:</b></span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">1: Rachel Attacked (2:24)</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><br /><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
<span class="apple-style-span">2: Microwave Stolen (1:24)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">3: Meeting Rachel (1:37)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">4: Crane’s Mask (0:44)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">5: Gordon At Home (1:27)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">6: Batman On Fire (2:31)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">7: Finders Keepers (1:41)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">8: Fox Is Fired (1:11)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">9: Making Medicine (4:08)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">10: Fight In Crane’s Lab (5:01)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">11: Back Up (1:34)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">12: Batmobile Chase (5:01)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">13: Rachel In Bat Cave (1:26)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">14: Your Father’s Name (0:55)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">15: Crane Interrogated (0:33)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">16: Ducard Appears (1:08)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">17: Ducard & Gotham’s Fate/Bruce Left For Dead
(3:30)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">18: Antidote (3:32)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">19: Batman Arrives (2:30)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">20: Rescue Rachel (2:55)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">21: Final Confrontation (1:19)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">22: Train Fight (3:18)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">23: Danger Over (0:52)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">24: Surveying The Ruins (3:19)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">25: Gordon Says Thanks (1:51)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">26: End Credits (3:30)</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Disc 3:</b><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<span class="apple-style-span"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">1: Ra's Al Ghul Suite (7:15)</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><br /><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
<span class="apple-style-span">2: Batman Theme (3:16)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">3: Prison Nightmare (Alternate Mix) (1:01)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">4: Monastery (Alternate Mix) (2:45)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">5: Father To The Rescue (Alternate Mix) (2:12)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">6: Mugging (Part 1) (Alternate Mix) (1:06)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">7: Mugging (Part 2) (Alternate Mix) (2:50)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">8: Training (Alternate Mix 1) (2:53)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">9: Training (Alternate Mix 2) - 2:49)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">10: Campfire (Alternate Mix 1) (3:27)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">11: Campfire (Alternate Mix 2) (3:27)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">12: Your System Is Broken (Alternate Mix) (0:56)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">13: Meeting Falcone (Alternate Mix) (3:09)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">14: Decision (Alternate Mix) (2:31)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">15: Crane Warns Rachel (Part 1) (Alternate Mix)
(0:58)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">16: Crane Warns Rachel (Part 2) (Alternate Mix)
(1:14)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">17: Preparing Equipment (Alternate Mix) (1:54)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">18: Why Bats? (Alternate) (2:33)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">19: Batman On Fire (Alternate) (2:28)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">20: Batmobile Chase (Alternate Mix) (4:51)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">21: Gordon Says Thanks (Alternate Mix) (1:51)</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">22: Original End Credits (7:15)</span></span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><br /><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">
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To aid in the vital resurrection of Batman to the silver screen, director
Christopher Nolan made the refreshing and necessary choice not to infuse his
comic book spectacle with the mindless angst of a rock-a-by soundtrack.<br />
<br />
No Maroon 5.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">No Green Day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">No Snow Patrol.<br />
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<br />
For his journey into Gotham City, Nolan did away with the traps of
contemporizing and stuck to his guns by providing us the duel efforts of Hans
Zimmer and James Newtown Howard, who in turn delivered an often tolerable,
often repetitive but very moody exhibition with their score to “Batman Begins”
(2005).<br />
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Now I say repetitive because it’s literally just that.<br />
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The driving backbone of the entire score is a rhythmic, melodic motif of
percussion and strings that’s clearly identifiable right out the gate with the
opening of the film. This cue can subsequently be heard frequently at various
tempos throughout the score.<br />
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Because of this, I truly feel that the “Begins” score doesn’t have a voice
quite as illustrious as Danny Elfman’s scores for the Burton pictures. This very
key is why Elfman reigns as the master of music for the caped crusader.<br />
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But that’s not to take away from Zimmer and Howard, not at all.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In fact, over time, I’ve come to appreciate the approach
they took and I understand the methodology.<br />
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Several cues exist within the score that I find quite memorable and indicative of the character of Batman; certainly of the Batman Nolan was working to create.</span></span></span></div>
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Right at the outset, there’s the haunting chorus motif that opens “Mugging
(Part 2)” which highlights the loneliness of young Bruce Wayne in the aftermath
of his parent’s death and the somber atmosphere of their wake on the grounds of
Wayne Manor, beautifully conceived with a light piano and high strings as Bruce
and Alfred embrace in sorrow.</span></span></span></div>
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<br />
Another standout is “Temple Fight;” the first full blown action sequence cue of
the score spanning the battle in Ra’s Al Ghul’s Himalayan Monestary as Bruce
turns his back on the League of Shadows, deciding not to become a murderer for
their cause.<br />
<br />
<br />
Rightfully bombastic and pulsating as Wayne takes on the Demon’s Head, it’s a
terrific motif that finally injects some much welcome brass work into the
material. I also love the cue because it’s heroic without being as menacing as
Zimmer and Howard’s theme for Batman, which comes into the picture later. It
helps sell the idea that the important character here isn’t technically Batman
but rather Bruce Wayne.</div>
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The opening of “Prototypes” (which I also frequently dub “Applied Sciences”) is
a great motif introducing Bruce both to Lucius Fox as well as the concept of
utilizing his companies’ vast resources for his impending crusade. </div>
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Very
analytical in its tempo, it’s a great set up for the notion that this vow that
Wayne has made hasn’t been made lightly. This isn’t some wealthy debutant’s
idea of having a good time; the mantle he’s crafting for himself is becoming
more and more formidable with the necessary tools and precision.</div>
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The string work here, particularly the incorporation of harp, is tremendously inspired and I love the string motif that enters the cue fifty three seconds in.</div>
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</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This track reappears in “Fox is Fired,” however it ends
with a beautiful string set that works terrifically as far as atmosphere.<br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">There’s also “Father to the Rescue,” played when Thomas Wayne retrieves his son
from the catacombs he’d fallen into. This, I feel, can be identified as a ‘Love
Theme’ shared both between Bruce and the memory of his parents as well as
romantically between him and Rachel Dawes. It’s sweeping and very tender when
necessary, but what I love about it is that there’s an underlying current of
tragedy, almost inevitability in its nature.</span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">You know that the optimism the track first implies is inevitable in its destruction and the piano work that cues in at thirty nine seconds encapsulates that ideal so simply and yet so effectively.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">The track confirms the inevitability with the gorgeous string motif a minute in before the track whisks us away into the sweeping shots of Gotham City as Bruce and his parents travel by monorail to the opera</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Transitioning you have the vastly bizarre and sinister turn from
“Initiation into League,” when Bruce is exposed to Fear Toxin for the first
time to have a duel with Ducard. From this point it’s clear to say that, while
the score doesn’t have as much voice as Elfman, I WILL say that Zimmer and
Howard create a great sense of atmosphere and spirit with the piece.</span></span></span></div>
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<br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I also love the use of more eclectic instrumentation as a way of conveying Bruce's travels abroad. The asian flute in "Meeting Ducard" is wonderfully balanced with a combination of foreign intrigue and the swelling nobility of the strings that come into play.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The tracks' use of airy chimes and wind-like sound effects is also very good.</span></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This approach can also be attributed to the terrific utilization of percussion throughout the score, specifically in tracks such as "Monastery."</span></span></span><br />
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<br />
Aesthetically, the score is very much in line with Batman as the character is being
represented here, and for that it works wonders.</div>
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Of course the biggest and most recognizeable cue from the score is easily “Batmobile Chase.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As its namesake obviously refers, this cue is heard
during the Tumbler Chase in which Batman attempts to thwart the police while
taking Rachel, infected by the Fear Toxin, back to the Batcave. It’s dynamite.
Kinetic. No wonder it’s the most memorable cue in the picture. </div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here, unlike “Temple Fight,” is where Zimmer and Howard’s
own Batman Theme gets to truly shine and take flight. Thanks to the unreleased complete score, a track is included that's titled “Batman Theme” on the third
disc, which highlights Zimmer and Howard’s true musical intentions for the
caped crusader.</span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <br />
As for that theme, it’s certainly worthwhile. In this day and age with the
approach that Nolan and the studio is taking with the character it DOES fit.
While I prefer Elfman, it fits. And that’s all that matters.</span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><br />
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Zimmer and Howard’s theme is Heroic without being overbearing. It's tonally in sync with this interpretation and, as with nearly all Batman themes, can be played menacingly or hauntingly; upbeat and lively or downplayed and solemn.<br />
<br />
And you know something?<br />
<br />
While I will always side with Danny’s “Batman March,” there IS something Zimmer
and Howard’s theme does that the others don’t.<br />
<br />
It never loses sight of the man beneath the mask. <br />
<br />
Elfman and Goldenthal’s romps
dabble in the spectacle and atmosphere of Batman but Zimmer and Howard do so
while leaving a heroic human component in their melody to remind us that Bruce
Wayne is still somewhere in there, hiding in the shadows of his new persona,
still beating with the heart that drives his war on crime.<br />
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The score comes to a somber close with “Surveying the Ruins,” re-introducing
the Love Theme amidst a tinkering on piano of a few bars from the Batman Theme
as Wayne and Rachel share a tender yet, as I said, tragic kiss while walking
amongst the rubble of Wayne Manor.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <br />
<br />
</span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And as Batman takes wing in “Gordon Says Thanks,” closing out the film with his
assurance to Lieutenant Gordon that thanks isn’t necessary, the score ends on a
triumphant note of tempered brass and swelling strings; a note not of sheer elation
and victory, but of resolve. </span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Things in Gotham City have finally been put on the
right track towards healing and the cue reflects that wonderfully.<br />
</span></span></span></div>
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On the whole, the score for “Batman Begins,” on its surface, doesn’t seem that
bold. Upon first impression and in many ways it isn’t (Zimmer and Howard would
take care of that for the sequel though).<br />
<br />
But I believe that, with time, I’ve come to understand the point of making the
score so understated, especially when compared to the previous scores or even
the future work on “The Dark Knight.” I think what they were trying to emphasize
was the notion of Bruce, pure and simple.<br />
<br />
While Batman is the persona, Bruce Wayne is the man that makes that persona
exist and thrive. The score isn’t flashy and I think it’s for that reason; to
encapsulate that it’s not the cape and cowl but the soul that resides beneath
that surface.<br />
<br />
An aesthetic fit for the film it represents, the “Batman Begins” score is
earthy, organic but above all, I think it’s human.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I think it’s more representative of the ‘Man’ than it is
of the ‘Bat.’<br />
<br />
I think that’s a good thing in many ways and for the age we live in.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
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Now as you may have realized, this is a retrospective on the complete motion
picture score for the film.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The score, along with its sequel, has an illustrious
history to say the least.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Originally, the studio released album consisted of a
single disc with 12 tracks. The tracks were initially, and cleverly, titled
after sub-species of bat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the time since the release of the film and the score,
fans knew immediately that there was more score to be found than the thin
collection the studio had provided. At first, fans sought to create their own
bootleg versions of the full material, including tracks that still had sound
effects and dialogue littered throughout despite attempts to extract music on
its own.</span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Eventually, composer Hans Zimmer recognized the desire for
the material and a massive 3-disc unofficial collection was created, dubbed the
“Complete Score.”<br />
<br />
However, the collection is unofficial and very hard to come by. With the
official soundtrack now out-of-print, the complete “Batman Begins” collection
is one that can only be found in the netherworld of online torrents, search
engines and file-sharing sites.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">It’s my hope that at some point a label like LaLa Land
Records, given their successful expansion releases for the scores to “Batman,” “Batman
Returns” and “Batman Forever,” will eventually work with Zimmer to produce and
release the full blown and give it its proper due.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Hans Zimmer</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;"> James Newton Howard</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Chas Blankenshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09152498045221353190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5986956018362546175.post-30897371478542240112012-04-23T05:58:00.000-07:002014-02-24T22:42:01.419-08:00"Batman Begins" (Christopher Nolan, 2005)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Directed by Christopher Nolan<br />
Story by Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer<br />
Screenplay by David S. Goyer<br />
Based on the DC Comics Characters Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger<br />
<br />
Executive Produced by Benjamin Melniker and Michael E. Uslan<br />
Produced by Emma Thomas, Larry Franco and Charles Roven<br />
Cinematography by Wally Pfister<br />
Production Design by Nathan Crowley<br />
Costume Design by Lindy Hemming<br />
Editing by Lee Smith<br />
Original Motion Picture Score Composed by Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard<br />
<br />
</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Christian Bale ... Bruce Wayne/Batman <br />
Michael Caine ... Alfred Pennyworth<br />
Liam Neeson ... Henri Ducard/Ras’ Al Ghul<br />
Katie Holmes ... Rachel Dawes <br />
Gary Oldman ... Sgt. James Gordon <br />
Cillian Murphy ... Dr. Jonathan Crane/The Scarecrow<br />
Tom Wilkinson ... Carmine Falcone <br />
Rutger Hauer ... Mr. Earle <br />
Ken Watanabe ... Ra's Al Ghul/Ubu<br />
Mark Boone Junior ... Detective Flass <br />
Morgan Freeman ... Lucius Fox <br />
Linus Roache ... Thomas Wayne <br />
Larry Holden ... District Attorney Finch <br />
Gerard Murphy ... Judge Faden <br />
Colin McFarlane ... Commissioner Gillian Loeb <br />
Sara Stewart ... Martha Wayne <br />
Gus Lewis ... Bruce Wayne - age 8 <br />
Richard Brake ... Joe Chill <br />
Rade Sherbedgia ... Homeless Man<br />
Emma Lockhart ... Rachel Dawes - age 8<br />
John Nolan ... Fredericks<br />
Tim Booth ... Victor Zsasz<br />
Ilyssa Fradin ... Barbara Gordon<br />
Charles Edwards ... Wayne Enterprises Executive <br />
Lucy Russell ... Female Restaurant Guest <br />
Timothy Deenihan ... Male Restaurant Guest<br />
David Bedella ... Maitre D <br />
Flavia Masetto ... Restaurant Blonde #1 <br />
Emily Steven-Daly ... Restaurant Blonde #2<br />
Turbo Kong ... Enormous Bhutanese Prisoner</span></span></div>
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
<br />
After witnessing the senseless murder of his prestigious parents, orphaned heir
Bruce Wayne travels abroad to learn the skills necessary to strike fear into
the criminal element of Gotham City and take on the evils that plague her as
the Batman.<br />
<br />
----------------------------------------------<br />
<br />
Due to the less then well-received downer films directed by Joel Schumacher,
Gotham City's most famous (or infamous) inhabitant took refuge in his Batcave
and waited for things to evolve. In the meantime, audiences marveled (or
cringed) at the exploits of Frodo Baggins, Neo and Anakin Skywalker. Soon the
caped crusader was upstaged by Spider-Man and the X-Men as Warners floundered
about without any direction to take him. Was there even a cinematic future for
Kane's creation?<br />
<br />
Rather than moving forward with another Joel Schumacher endeavor or pouncing on
the elaboration of a new adventure following Clooney and O-Donnell’s exit (at
one point, one even talked about the possibility of Wolfgang Peterson tackling
a little project called "Batman vs. Superman"), why not jump on a
streak which has been seizing the Hollywood firm for several years? Just look
at the titles of the following works: "The Exorcist: the Beginning"
(2004) or "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: the Beginning" (2006). These
titles give a thought: to go back to the sources and roots and unearth what
made Batman the captivating comic book myth that he is. Like many moviegoers
and fans, when I learned that Christopher Nolan was to be the heir of this
work, I felt that the project was in good hands. Little did I realize just how gifted those hands truly were and how vital they'd become in their contribution to Batman's rehabilitation in the eye of both moviegoers and popular culture.<br />
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</span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As 2005’s “Batman Begins” opens, Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) is not a happy man. Being trapped
in a cave full of bats as a child left him full of fear, and he can’t help but
feel obligated to blame himself for the death of his parents at the hands of a
typical street thug.<br />
<br />
Years have passed since Bruce left Gotham City to travel the globe, never to
return, after his parents were murdered and the man responsible was executed
outside the courthouse. While here, he enters into harsh training with the
League of Shadows, a band of stealth vigilante ninjas who have an apparent
organization all over the world, not just in the mountains of Asia.<br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <br />
But when Bruce draws a line between being judge and executioner, he becomes a
marked man by the League, and makes mortal enemies out of Ducard (Liam Neeson) and the
group's leader Ra's Al Ghul (Ken Watanabe). Meanwhile in Gotham, things have
gotten steadily worse since Bruce forced himself into exile away from the city.
On the business front, Bruce must contend with a ruthless corporate raider
(Rutger Hauer), and a powerful gangster named Carmine Falcone (Tom Wilkinson)
who controls the city's central criminal elements and assistant D.A. Rachel
Dawes (Katie Holmes) - who's also a childhood friend of Bruce - is trying her
best to find a way to have him incarcerated.<br />
<br />
Falcone's wave of terror, however, is mere child's play compared to the scheme
being orchestrated by corrupt Arkham Asylum psychiatrist Dr. Jonathan Crane
(Cillian Murphy), who moonlights as a hooded maniac called "the Scarecrow"
and is unearthing plans to contaminate Gotham's water supply with a powerful
hallucinogenic drug that when vaporized and inhaled, will drive the denizens of
the crime-ridden Narrows insane and then they'll begin to tear the city apart.
When it becomes apparent that Crane is not working alone in his devious plans
and that he is merely a pawn being used by a mysterious third party, Bruce is
forced to spring into action as Batman.<br />
<br />
</span></span></span><br />
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</span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Batman Begins" takes something old and makes it new again, makes it fresh again.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But it does so not by piling on more polish, gussying it up and making it bigger and bolder than the previous efforts.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Instead, it strips the character of Batman down in essence, peeling back layers of rhetoric until we're finally left with a stunning portrayal of the man inside the persona; the spirit beneath the mask.</span></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is a film about Batman but, more importantly, it's a film about Bruce Wayne. The man who's discipline and will persevere to fuel the dark knight mantle he creates for himself.</span></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's as far a departure from the Joel Schumacher films as you can find.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <br />
Now the problem with the Schumacher films, among many things, is that those
films ignored what is explored so proficiently in "Batman Begins”: the
fragmented mind of a billionaire who grew up under the constant shadow of his
family's legacy, and never wanted to accept his reality; a man who learns to
hate crime (and more specifically criminals) after his parents are murdered
before his eyes.<br />
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In time and through study, I’ve come to find Bruce Wayne to be a fascist at heart, whether he's aware of it or not. He's a man torn by a moment where control eluded him; now he devotes himself to ensuring that he's always in control. What sets him apart is that he has enough moral fiber
to resist devolving into an executioner; the one line he'll never afford himself the risk of crossing.<br />
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<strong>"Your compassion is a weakness your enemies will not share."</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>"That’s why it's so important. It's what separates us from
them."</strong><br />
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That's something that the film latches on to, amongst other themes, and what makes it one of the better "Batman"
movies around. There are themes in the other films if you look hard enough, but none are as universal as are presented here.<br />
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I suppose the biggest theme in the piece is fear. The tragedy of allowing fear to overwhelm you into submission versus the power to overcome fear and channel it into a means of motivation and action.<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP4KLs_1G6I" target="_blank">"Batman Begins" (2005) Scene -- The Death of Thomas and Martha Wayne</a></div>
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Bruce is traumatized not just by the deaths of his parents, but by the fact that it was his fear that led to them leaving the opera and it was fear that paralyzed him in hesitation; he was too afraid.<br />
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Thomas Wayne, realizing the dilemma and the potential ramifications it could have, leaves his parting words to his son.<br />
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<strong>"Don't be afraid."</strong><br />
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Upon returning to Wayne Manor in adulthood, Bruce seeks to conquer fear before he feels he can rightfully master and control it. It depicts a man so driven, all consuming and, in the end, he's made all the more of an impressive hero because he realizes the importance and responsbility of not just inspiring Gotham to relinquish fear but of being the first person to do so himself.<br />
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And therein lies the true brilliance of "Batman Begins" and, as a result, the other films in the Christopher Nolan series.<br />
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Batman is created as a symbol and a means to an end that isn't won merely on fighting crime with gadgets and intimidation. To be honest, this Bruce Wayne couldn't care less about being Batman for the span of his life. He just sees the importance of being Batman long enough to inspire Gotham City to stand up and save itself.<br />
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A rallying cry for the underdogs to reclaim power from the corrupt overclass that rules them through fear and death.<br />
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<strong>"People need dramatic examples to shake them out of apathy and I can't do that as Bruce Wayne. As a man, I'm flesh and blood. I can be ignored. I can be destroyed. But as a symbol; as a symbol, I can be incorruptible. I can be everlasting."</strong><br />
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In the political climate that both the film was released in and that we live in today, the message of taking that stand and fighting for ownership of your own future is something people can not only relate to but hunger for. As much as Batman is asking the citizens of Gotham to take a stand, perhaps in a subtle way, Nolan and Co. are recognizing the parallel of reality and, in their way, urging for us to take a stand against OUR greedy officials and corrupt beaurocracies.<br />
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What a wonderful spin on the character!<br />
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<br />
I admire the technical skill of this production and truthfully, "Batman Begins" might be among the most visually striking of the films in the series. <br />
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<br />
The fight scenes are fast and
blurred, thanks to Lee Smith’s kinetic editing. I hated this upon first
viewing, but it works well for me now because we're meant to fear the unknown.
Sounds are used to great effect. Cinematic ally, Batman becomes a movie monster
on occasion – the scene where a group of smugglers are picked off one-by-one in
the darkness of the Gotham docks, with scattering sounds overhead and screams
and gunshots piercing the silence, brings to mind images of Ridley Scott's
masterful "Alien." In another segment, Batman questions a Fear Toxin
induced Jonathan Crane, which results in some truly terrifying images.<br />
<br />
I also like the fact that Christopher Nolan, who admittedly does not prefer
using modern special effects, bases his film around the characters so much that,
thankfully, he uses very little CGI. Apart from a few action sequences and
swarms of bats, most of "Batman Begins" is tangible and it’s real,
and that really impressed me. (I’m not fond of the over-use of modern effects,
either.) I could tell that this Gotham City was real; I could tell the Tumbler
was real, and thusly I could tell Batman was real.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Remember the segment in "Batman and Robin" where they surf 30,000
feet above ground on pieces of an exploding rocket ship and look like cartoon
characters? The kid in me might still get a kick out of the sky-surfing once in
a while, but there's none of that here and ultimately it’s for the better.</span></span></span><br />
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<br />
Another key scene as far as action HAS to be the famous Tumbler chase as Batman races against time and the Gotham Police Dpeartment to rescue Rachel from the effects of Fear Toxin.<br />
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CG vehicles have nothing on this bad boy, which was built with the capability to withstand all of the pressures of the production as it sped through the Gotham night with power and intensity, crossing rooftops and highways as if it were child's play.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
Following in the footsteps of Richard Donner’s “Superman: The Movie,” Nolan
does a great service by populating “Batman Begins” with a nearly flawless and
all-star cast, perhaps one of the strongest casts in comic book films alongside
“Superman” and “Sin City.”</span></span><br />
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Christian Bale is perfect for the contemporary Batman, and he fits every aspect
of the character; he’s believable as a smug, ruthless and nonchalant playboy.
We can see him as a troubled young man haunted by his past and an unbearable
sense of guilt. And in the suit, he looks confident without being comfortable –
he's still learning how to adapt to the trials and tribulations of fighting
crime on a nightly basis. At the time we could only imagine how far he would
progress in the sequel when, at the end of "Begins," he had set a
firm foot forward in becoming the Batman we all know.</div>
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Aside from Christian, the cast is just spectacular. Notable standouts include
Gary Oldman’s wholesome but competent turn as Gotham Police officer James
Gordon, looking like he stepped right out of a David Mazzuchelli’s sketchbook.</div>
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The more I think about it, the more I find myself feeling like Gordon is my favorite character in the Chris Nolan films. It's truly a testament to Oldman as an actor; notorious for playing villainous roles, you'd never know it with the genuine heart and commanding presence his interpretation of Jim has.</div>
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He's absolutely amazing in the role, I think.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As faithful as I’ll always be to Michael Gough, having Alfred be played by
the legendary Michael Caine is just a dream. His Pennyworth is a bit more authoritative of Bruce but Caine handles himself in a manner where it's clear that the only reason he can be tough on Bruce is because he cares that much for him.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;"><strong>"You still haven't given up on me."</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;"><strong>"Never."</strong></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The remainder of the cast is just
strong across the board.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Cillian Murphy’s got the right quirky attitude for Dr. Jonathan Crane. He's charming in a way that's off-putting to the common passer-by and yet behind his eyes, you can see the stilted madness that's buried underneath, only brought to forefront when masqueraded in burlap.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;"><strong>"Would you like to see my mask?"</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">He's threatening without being physically imposing, and that's the best approach for someone like the Scarecrow. Murphy plays him as the guy who wouldn't slug you in the face but would absolutely plunge a syringe into the back of your neck if you turned around.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">There's also an unbridled kineticism to Crane that, while Murphy keeps in check and composore for the most part, bubbles up here and there, such as when he catches himself getting exciting about showing his mask to Falcone. You can feel him fighting it the entire time but eventually, like a kid at Christmas, he can't help himself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tom Wilkinson's Falcone is a far cry from the one I always envisioned in "Year One" and "The Long Halloween." To me, 'The Roman' was always modeled after Marlon Brando as Don Corleone and here he's played more like a Brooklyn brute, accent and all. Still, he's got presence in what little amount he's involved in and I love his dialogue both in paper and in practice.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;"><strong>"You've never tasted desperate. You're uh, you're Bruce Wayne, the prince of Gotham, you'd have to go a thousand miles to meet someone who didn't know your name."</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The no-nonsense presence of Morgan Freeman is delightful as WayneTech basement slummer Lucius Fox; his dry wit services the idea of portraying a man too smart for his own good but simultaneously Freeman's gravitas calls for an air of authority and respect just based on his existance, which makes it entirely believable when he transitions from a lowly tech guru to one of the acting heads of Wayne Enterprises.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">There's also the malice and charm of Liam Neeson which,
like Ian McKellen, instantly brings a quality to the picture. Neeson's great in everything he does and here it's only more of the same. How can you top that?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Even lower-tier
characters are filled with incredibly talented actors, including Linus Roache, Rutger Hauer and Rade Sherbedgia.<br />
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However, the cast does have one weak link. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;">I'm sure you all knew where this was going.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rachel Dawes (Wayne’s inevitable love interest) is portrayed in the film by Katie Holmes.
She looks great but, like Elle MacPherson in "Batman & Robin," that's not enough.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">While I DO love the change in pace by having her be a childhood friend of Bruce's rather than a love interest that conveniently rolls into Gotham as the story gets going, I just can't bring myself to buy her as a character with authority, which doesn't help her being positioned in a role of public service and law. Believing her to be a mature assistant D.A. with presence and conviction is about as easy as
believing Alicia Silverstone is a computer genius capable of discovering Batman
and Robin’s identities (ZING!). Seriously, I couldn’t help but laugh as
Rachel was barking orders at Crane in one scene; it’s like everyone in the cast
is a mature adult and Holmes is the obnoxious kid playing dress up to pretend
to be an adult. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Why is she out and about at night anyway? It’s way past her
bedtime.</span></span><br />
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"Batman Begins" is rightfully grim like Burton's but decides to take a more practical approach to
explaining Batman’s world. It’s not glossy and perfect with heaps of polish
like “Batman Forever” or “Batman & Robin.”<br />
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The Batsuit is imperfect, Batman's technology and secrets are exposed and
explained, the Batmobile is ugly and efficient, and the Batcave doesn’t look
like a man made underground army base. This time around it was originally part
of the Underground Railroad used by slavery abolitionists (including Wayne’s
great great grandfather) from 1810 to 1850 and doesn't have any gadgets or
special super-duper display cases for the suits. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I understand and appreciate
the use of the trophy room in the comics and I love the costume vault, but
encasing the Batsuit in a special shiny glass container when no one was
supposed to even see it except Bruce and Alfred got to become excessive in
Schumacher’s films. But then again, EVERYTHING got excessive in Schumacher’s
films.<br />
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What I also liked was the artistic front of the cinematography, art direction
and production. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">All three function with outstanding results in capturing
the seedy and murky atmosphere of corruption and menace that is Gotham City.
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This towering Gotham suited that of the creature of the night with its dimly
lit streets and throbbing shadows creating such uneasy intensity that it works. The city here actually has breadth and scope and scale in a way we hadn't seen before in live action and that's to be VERY much commended.
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Narrows are almost otherworldly in the sense of mood and atmosphere, yet you instantly can identify with it and
its hyper-representation of slums and urban projects. Nathan Crowley did such
an incredible job portraying Gotham as a dense urban wasteland that Batman can
weed through undetected as he lashes out against the likes of Falcone and
Scarecrow. From hanging electrical cables and clothes lines to piles of trash on the street corners.</span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And when you throw in the graphic texturization of the rain?</span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Breathtaking. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Other standout sets and locations include the League of Shadows compound on the
Himalayas; erected out of rich woods in a gorgeous design that doesn't clash with the terrain of its surroundings. There's also the Gotham Monorail System, which plays as an extension of the Narrows aesthetic. </span></span></span><br />
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<br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And of course you have Arkham Asylum. While I stand
by my belief that Barbara Ling’s depiction of Arkham in the Schumacher films is
superior in terms of tone and atmosphere and scale, I'll say that this Arkham plays its part on the front of being a more medical facility-based appearance. Like a dingy rat-trap with steel and glass doors and grated fenced security measures, it fits the bill of a demented site for clinical treatment and psychological torment.</span></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <br />
<br />
Not since the work of Stefan Czapsky has a “Batman” film’s cinematography struck so
harshly right with the use of swooping shadows and stark edgy lighting. Overseen by Academy Award winner Wally Pfister, The
shadows of Gotham, like the bats in the film, consume and swipe across shots and scenes
giving us a dark atmosphere where the light of Batman’s crusade can shine like
a beacon of hope to stir the city’s populace.</span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The color work is also a point of interest that would come to be synonymous with the film for its amber hues; that decision makes it look and feel an awful lot like "Year One" to me, personally.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As for score, I’m just gonna come out with it right now; when it comes to
Batman Music, NO one will top Danny Elfman for me. That theme is just so
unbelievably perfect there’s no reason to try and match it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So I highly commend Zimmer and Howard for not trying to
duplicate it. The material here isn’t nearly as theatrical as Elfman’s, but
like “Begins” the over the top operatic nature isn’t the mood they’re going
for. It’s gritty, it’s ugly and that’s what makes it beautiful. The “Begins
Theme” is thematic and heroic enough that it acts like a springboard for the
character.</span></span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The plot structure of “Batman Begins” is beautifully conceived, albeit
potentially clunky here and there.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The architecture of the first two acts is expertly
crafted, taking us on a sprawling journey alongside Wayne as we shift back and
forth between his past and present in a way that’s easy to follow and, by
extension, isn’t muddled simply because the timeline isn’t linear. When we’re
in need of information, emotional context and touchstone, Nolan makes sure to
put us where we need to be and when.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ultimately "Batman Begins" is to Burton's "Batman" what
Burton's "Batman" was to the Adam West version. It's dark, it's
surprising and it re-invents the character for a new generation of fans and
audiences. Sure, there's action. But because the characters are given depth, we
actually care about them. It’s a practice most contemporary and jaded
filmmakers could learn a thing or two from. The film pulls off getting
everything it needs right, bringing up the slack of those moments when it
doesn't quite succeed.<br />
<br />
But all nitpicks aside Nolan did successfully reboot a series that was all too
quickly falling into the camp buffoonery of the Sixties TV show (nothing wrong
with that for its time but by the late 90s, attitudes had changed) that Tim
Burton had previously departed from. It will be interesting, not to mention
utterly exciting, to see how long the darkness can be sustained before it
shifts again but I have a feeling that won't happen any time soon.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br /></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Even when we change to another filmmaker, I’m sure the
tone will be kept intact purposefully longer.<br />
<br />
And it does very well to lay the foundation for future films, with obviously
brilliant results.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Batman Begins” is a breathtaking piece and the rightful
instigator of an astounding cinematic resurrection for Batman.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Like “Mask of the Phantasm” before it, the movie chose to
use the villains to enrich the story rather than consume it and, in the end, we’re
given a wonderful film about the one character it should’ve been about all
along.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wayne is a fascinating figure and “Begins” knows it,
thankfully.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We empathize with the young boy who’s become suspect to
tragedy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And we cheer on the man he’s become in tempering
unbridled discipline to atone for and honor the legacy of his name, albeit in a
un-conventional way.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Batman Begins” proved that a character could survive his
own history to be resurrected into something amazing again.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p></o:p></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong>“If you make yourself more than just a man, if you devote yourself to an ideal and if they can't stop you...then you become something else entirely."</strong></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong>"Which is?"<br /><br />"Legend, Mr. Wayne." </strong></span></span><br />
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Chas Blankenshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09152498045221353190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5986956018362546175.post-48478629807983181222012-04-22T20:12:00.001-07:002012-04-22T20:12:44.823-07:00Fan Film Theatre - Feature Presentations: "Batman: City of Scars" (Aaron Schoenke, 2010)<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Directed
by Aaron Schoenke<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Written
by Aaron Schoenke and Sean Schoenke<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Based
on the DC Comic Characters Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Produced
by Sean Schoenke and Aaron Schoenke<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Cinematography
by Aaron Schoenke<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Make
Up Effects by Jeff West, Anthony Grow, Paul Molnar and Aaron Schoenke<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Costume
Design by Mekhell Cassagnol<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Visual
Effects by Chase Langely and Brian Ramirez<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Editing
by Aaron Schoenke<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Sound
Design by Sean Schoenke<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Original
Songs written by Sean Schoenke<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Original
Motion Picture Score composed by Sean Schoenke<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Kevin
Porter ... Bruce Wayne/Batman<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Paul
Molnar ... The Joker<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Madelynn
Rae ... Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Jay
Caputo ... Arnold Wesker/The Ventriloquist/Scarface (Voice)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Katie
Joy Horwitch ... Detective Renee Montoya<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Christopher
Parker ... Detective Crispus Allen<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Dylan
Voorhees and Hunter Gordon ... Johnson Boy<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Guy
Grundy ... Victor Zsasz<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Tess
Kielhamer ... Dinah Lance/Black Canary<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Carlos
Baca ... Arkham Guard<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Nicole
Klepper ... Arkham Nurse Rebecca White<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Jason
Koesema ... Arkham Doctor<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">George
Meyers ... Gotham Police Officer<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">A.C.
Carter ... Ferris Wheel Henchman<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Joe
Allen Price ... Councilman Johnson<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">David
Chan ... Drug Hustler<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Nathan
Lee ... Drug Hustler’s Friend<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Cody
Cloe ... Frozen Guy<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Sayo
Haraiski ... Dancer Lisa<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Anne
McDaniels ... Dancer Candy<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Laurie
Ann Young ... Dancer Angel<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Ashley
Semerc ... Dancer Raven<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Jessica
Mayorga ... Dancer Rose<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Kassandra
Grace ... Dancer Sage<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Cassie
Wanda ... Dancer Cherry<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Kellie
Christensen ... Dancer Houston<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Mary
Zenani ... Dancer Krystal<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Xango
Henry ... Club Brawler<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">After
the Joker escapes from Arkham Asylum yet again, Batman is posed a question both
by society and his own internal demons; how much longer will the people of
Gotham suffer for his decision not to kill the Clown Prince of Crime? Racing to
save a young boy from the Joker’s scheme of destruction, Batman is also faced
with the reality of his impact, both positively and negatively, on Gotham and
her people.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">---------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Gotham
City is more than streets and skyscrapers.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">For
Batman and his roster of adversaries, it’s a physical manifestation of the
stakes of their conflict.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">A
metaphor for soul, for morality; for humanity and hope.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">And
their confrontations are born not of fists or firearms or batarangs but of
philosophies and ideals.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetuT1WvDN4Mxtr1xczBzwLCJO7pgkNzgfpMFKzst5E9Le1N7tpYn4M6BBPDES9w85CAdY7syojQ4X1NwTKPpKsPEIVhTZ7CrvWHikuWzgOhB2fXGqgMJZDSEBSXDEIJnc1dcZtPuDLCty/s1600/Photo+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetuT1WvDN4Mxtr1xczBzwLCJO7pgkNzgfpMFKzst5E9Le1N7tpYn4M6BBPDES9w85CAdY7syojQ4X1NwTKPpKsPEIVhTZ7CrvWHikuWzgOhB2fXGqgMJZDSEBSXDEIJnc1dcZtPuDLCty/s400/Photo+11.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The
city becomes battleground, giving way to a war zone where average citizens must
suffer the spoils of the violent debate raging between these psychotics in the
fight for supremacy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">And
with such psychology engrained in the mythology, the truth becomes clear.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Gotham
City could be the inner workings of Bruce Wayne’s own fractured mind. His
rogues are his internal demons, his allies are his will and perseverance
incarnate and Batman himself is the figment of the imagination of a perpetually
8 year old boy frozen in a moment of violent tragedy.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">It
becomes an easy trap for a fan filmmaker to spend so much time developing and
emphasizing their angle on the villains of their piece. You can’t blame the
move; Batman’s rogues could and are easily counted among the most fascinating
fictional characters ever created. However as a result, there are few “Batman”
films, fan-made or otherwise, that are widely recognized for being about Batman
himself and that’s a real shame.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Wayne
is as much a complex and enriched character and I’d argue even more so on the
principle that it’s his tragedy, his vow and his life-changing decision that
acts as catalyst to everything else that transpires after the fact.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Bearing
this idea in mind, 2010’s “City of Scars” seeks to honor the man himself with a
look into his psychological hang-ups and Gotham’s own beliefs on their proposed
hero.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOrwYj3Zja9KiGOZri6JblY-aFEwvZVBhedc0Z1Iev9043DQz6LDoq-xu_ADw0kohBiFdQr4pdNH6A-T3r3E47tSZOxKpFW3Os8eFk1zRiQEzwB3VUw141T7bggM34I1QsoATJddGzZZhO/s1600/Photo+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOrwYj3Zja9KiGOZri6JblY-aFEwvZVBhedc0Z1Iev9043DQz6LDoq-xu_ADw0kohBiFdQr4pdNH6A-T3r3E47tSZOxKpFW3Os8eFk1zRiQEzwB3VUw141T7bggM34I1QsoATJddGzZZhO/s400/Photo+2.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">After
years of conflict and crime fighting, the dark knight (Kevin Porter) finds
himself in a reflective state as word spreads of the Joker (Paul Molnar) making
yet another escape from Arkham Asylum. This breakout, along with the poisoning
of and newly arrived nurse, symbolizes to Batman the back-and-forth he and his
most dangerous foe partake in continuously with no end in sight.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">As
the police question Batman’s choice not to put to stop to the Joker once and
for all by killing him, Batman himself begins to have doubts about his morality
and its ability to allow such suffering to continue.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">And
what begins as just one of several encounters they’ve had before becomes a test
of Batman’s character and a testament to his refusal to compromise.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The
very definition of why he’s endured for decades.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">“City
of Scars,” in terms of a straight-forward narrative, is Aaron Schoenke’s best Batman
film to date. I say straight-forward because should we allow for the bending of
rules, “Patient J” owns the day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">But
as far as a three-act adventure that places focus on Batman himself, this is as
good as it gets.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_VtLqbDQI9qUcBD8fpRnYOGBvDJ9yjcNTpte1ct_qLm8oFy42O4EuQOtkwy4RmpUe4XFGlmVaPia3xiIqKdZAoafC-MG8vcZrcR9hY8pHNvTgAb4uQdvP6VlMHH2uwBEIiIoC4Vzl26U/s1600/Photo+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_VtLqbDQI9qUcBD8fpRnYOGBvDJ9yjcNTpte1ct_qLm8oFy42O4EuQOtkwy4RmpUe4XFGlmVaPia3xiIqKdZAoafC-MG8vcZrcR9hY8pHNvTgAb4uQdvP6VlMHH2uwBEIiIoC4Vzl26U/s400/Photo+6.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The
story is well paced, although slightly redundant for those who’ve seen things
like the “I Am the Night” episode of the Animated Series. Conceptually, putting
Batman into a personal crisis of doubt provides a wrinkle of difference among
stories that mostly cast the character in a light of unshakeable resolve and
confidence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Of
course the pitfall comes when one realizes that Batman is a character that, in
spite of being presented with opportunities to change or give up or end his
crusade, never steps over that narrative line and compromises.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Because
of that, one has to wonder if there’s any point to having Batman question
himself at all if all he’s going to do is go right back to square one.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Is
that really character development?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">I
suppose that in the end, it’s less about seeking to contort the character and
more about celebrating the character’s refusal to be bent or broken.
Personally, I’d like to see the former happen in a future story of this type
but until then, I can celebrate as much as anyone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpBgzxhleQgRmWSL4O-lheEw2hKzKfN9KOX5hgfj-YHTEuEcrEPQPIkZA2UTMWXsAzGgDcOU38XvNMQP39m6hrsyiMKJOAOVn7BC3CNBybLLnjIBDfcJ-iJFOs2lDZCHIx1nexq2tVkr4/s1600/Photo+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpBgzxhleQgRmWSL4O-lheEw2hKzKfN9KOX5hgfj-YHTEuEcrEPQPIkZA2UTMWXsAzGgDcOU38XvNMQP39m6hrsyiMKJOAOVn7BC3CNBybLLnjIBDfcJ-iJFOs2lDZCHIx1nexq2tVkr4/s400/Photo+10.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">We
live in a world built upon compromise and settlement. To see someone, fictional
or not, that can stake their claim in live and feel completely fulfilled in
their identity and purpose is something to look up to and aspire to. Batman’s
just one of those characters whom change must elude, for the sake of Gotham’s
safety.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Batman
is fleshed out to best of ability and Porter’s grounded, authoritative
portrayal in the piece commands attention even when coupled with Molnar’s Joker.
It’s one thing to set out and make a focal point out of Batman but the actor in
the role needs to do his part to assure that the audience will take the journey
with them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">For
a fan production and, in my opinion, Porter pulls it off with genuine presence
that can’t be shortchanged in skill. It’s pretty remarkable to look through a
laundry list of the fan actors who’ve portrayed the character and to find one
amongst them that can arguably stand beside the likes of Keaton and Bale.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">In
a more developed piece, Porter may reach that level. But even in this, he proves
himself capable.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_XhCOy17jJVIOA0uPJyl7qsn5yXJVUwBmB21J5NGkPOvAjTZ0P4XYW3Etjy02uHAZzb0OV4c0gKddeWEZJJ_GG2Cergax1JZEqD4qt_1iiMctptIKeKIT9pF6FsYloidPUwWRRch-1rQ/s1600/Photo+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_XhCOy17jJVIOA0uPJyl7qsn5yXJVUwBmB21J5NGkPOvAjTZ0P4XYW3Etjy02uHAZzb0OV4c0gKddeWEZJJ_GG2Cergax1JZEqD4qt_1iiMctptIKeKIT9pF6FsYloidPUwWRRch-1rQ/s1600/Photo+3.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Paul’s
turn as the Joker isn’t as psychologically clever as “Patient J,” but that’s
just a matter of him not being the central figure as he was in that film. The
menace is still there, the threat is still there. His best moment is also his
debut, speaking to himself in maddened mumbling as he constructs his bomb and
gets himself ready for the show he’s planned for Batman.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The
production is as tremendous as it’s ever been in a ‘Bat in the Sun’ project.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The
carnival is the biggest set piece of the film and rightfully so; the project was
budgeted at $27,000 dollars and it shows. The location is used to great effect and
provides some true scope to this depiction of Gotham City, which finally looks
like a city rather than a small patch of alleyway in a suburb (guilty as
charged on my part).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">And
Schoenke even gives us a taste of another aspect to the mythology often
overlooked in fan films due to limitations; he gives Batman one of his
vehicles, this time in the form of a supped-up Batcycle, which is a treat to
see.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">“City
of Scars” also doesn’t skimp on its sense of action.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The
night club royale is a great sequence as Batman takes on everyone from numbskull
brawlers to Victor Zsasz to a refreshing appearance by none other than the Ventriloquist
and Scarface, who make their live action debut in the film. How Schoenke shoots
and edits the fight sequences are very well crafted in combining Batman’s
prowess and discipline with his speed and reflex.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEuW9UTChM3QKb0MVafDMnNIYZLuk_tF7A_2HvoDKPsYS1T1ZA60giV49EIcrtm6LytJ6boaHFQhnLcJmx_h8ibrxQVe_p60S1QBc70DtPFW2qVCUJkxnFJp_T_6jLvVGw_Gp_Iyl_EAEp/s1600/Photo+14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEuW9UTChM3QKb0MVafDMnNIYZLuk_tF7A_2HvoDKPsYS1T1ZA60giV49EIcrtm6LytJ6boaHFQhnLcJmx_h8ibrxQVe_p60S1QBc70DtPFW2qVCUJkxnFJp_T_6jLvVGw_Gp_Iyl_EAEp/s400/Photo+14.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Arnold
Wesker is just a joy to see in this movie. The presence of he and Scarface in the
film reminds us that there are still so many great villains that haven’t seen a
silver screen and I loved Jay Caputo’s performance, especially as Wesker when
he’s in hysterics over Batman threatening his wooden companion.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">We’re
also given a more emotionally raw depiction of Harley Quinn; her zany screwball
antics toned down in favor of the exhaustive anguish and fracture that must
come with being aware that you’re in love with a murdering sociopath.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">The
film also renders wonderful moments of introspective characterization for
Batman.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3zdQmVe5AbQp_s-_VYb8iBR71J3Y4y-J_bW2YSxn3JpdUR2_oyBk_0eXsUN5-8p7Z9M51w3erKNcRDMGIDocNUquzebdThav3bF0xYzE_CimigTWSGa1iHUBzhSR8OLzvMtn4LHQMOH4-/s1600/Photo+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3zdQmVe5AbQp_s-_VYb8iBR71J3Y4y-J_bW2YSxn3JpdUR2_oyBk_0eXsUN5-8p7Z9M51w3erKNcRDMGIDocNUquzebdThav3bF0xYzE_CimigTWSGa1iHUBzhSR8OLzvMtn4LHQMOH4-/s400/Photo+12.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">One
of my favorite moments is when Batman is confronted with the young son of
Councilman Johnson. The boy asks Batman why he didn’t save his parents, who
were murdered by the Joker.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">On
the surface, it contributes to Batman’s personal dilemma.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Dig
deeper and it becomes a tragic parallel between the boy’s loss and Wayne’s when
he was the child’s age.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Go
even further, and it becomes a metaphysical confrontation within Wayne’s own
mind between young Bruce Wayne, the boy who never grew up beyond that night,
and the Batman persona that resided within him in dormancy until it was
triggered by the murders.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">It
can be interpreted as young Bruce asking the creation of ‘Batman’ why he wasn’t
strong enough to manifest at the critical point where he could’ve made a
difference in saving Thomas and Martha Wayne.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">VERY
clever and intriguing stuff!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">“City
of Scars” is an A+ in all other points of production, from Batman’s
impressively crafted Batsuit to the cinematography in the Joker’s lair and
Arkham Asylum to the editing of the night club brawl and when Batman makes the
attempt to save the carnival patrons from a bomb.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
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<br /></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/sDrEuWAnnXM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">It’s
all capped by a wonderfully poignant title song performed by Ms. Harley Quinn
herself, Madelynn Rae. Her tender vocals provide the gravitas the song requires
and it’s a great fit into the tone of the film.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">In
a sea of lesser attempts, the film is the culmination of what someone with
weight to their body of work can do when given resource. Schoenke’s talent has
come into its own with “City of Scars” and it’s great to see him give back to
his passion for the character with a film that put the villains aside long
enough to concentrate on the hero.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjrm8oDPqsf9HEHqDRKam2Q8bDqjS1z1t6t1ki_YKTxWvepVrTVSUO-cTWPZWNt6IFAHbsGelPDAtpImV0dKT0CyBIaVpJnl0xJW0QBTWOm9xvv6VropbVaBa7vp0uIkKEcn-XkNSiy5u_/s1600/Photo+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjrm8oDPqsf9HEHqDRKam2Q8bDqjS1z1t6t1ki_YKTxWvepVrTVSUO-cTWPZWNt6IFAHbsGelPDAtpImV0dKT0CyBIaVpJnl0xJW0QBTWOm9xvv6VropbVaBa7vp0uIkKEcn-XkNSiy5u_/s1600/Photo+5.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">--------------------------------------------------------------------------</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/0nCcdec8WdM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div>Chas Blankenshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09152498045221353190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5986956018362546175.post-7342824782147804292012-04-22T10:04:00.001-07:002012-04-22T10:04:54.428-07:00The Road to Resurrection: Proposed Batman Film/TV Projects<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMhf1myh1qIDWbkninKWrBwfdpgmGUJCInQ0O3fhTUiVYltfjceaDEWgIoKwNi0keOzDTZBMFQarRS_nERsOSnzcyiJOfvdXARj1HXT-RFWdZWACWhvEBi6OOXgnt8uHW5OrYSfc8dODWl/s1600/hollywood_walk_of_fame_batman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMhf1myh1qIDWbkninKWrBwfdpgmGUJCInQ0O3fhTUiVYltfjceaDEWgIoKwNi0keOzDTZBMFQarRS_nERsOSnzcyiJOfvdXARj1HXT-RFWdZWACWhvEBi6OOXgnt8uHW5OrYSfc8dODWl/s640/hollywood_walk_of_fame_batman.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hollywood is a wasteland in some regards.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">What once burned bright, esteemed in widespread popularity can
end up languishing in purgatory, where studio executives hold the reigns and
projects are caught in a perpetual development hell.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As a movie property, Batman was too lucrative a lightning
rod to stay dead after 1997’s “Batman & Robin.” Even despite the backlash,
that film did incredible business, especially overseas in the Asian markets.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Built on a foundation of business and profit, Warner
Brothers knew that an audience for Batman still existed for filling seats and,
more importantly, filling box office. And for years, they weighed their options
on a number of ways to bring their caped crusading cash cow back into the
forefront of cinema.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here are a few of the avenues Warners sought to take both in
film and on television in order to return Batman to his former glory:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">----------<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>“Batman Triumphant”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnibPjaXmMDdkq1UMvlCCEFX343tYJPgDIEV8uaWhgErIb-RBZlAMwxR53gQ-sFqGZyh29oPtmHoWIKgcta4Oia85RmsVbH_aHyoZ6B1T9LjygwZS3JWPFDgVTnyduO69QGWUq_qNEStbZ/s1600/batmantriumphantdvdcopy1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnibPjaXmMDdkq1UMvlCCEFX343tYJPgDIEV8uaWhgErIb-RBZlAMwxR53gQ-sFqGZyh29oPtmHoWIKgcta4Oia85RmsVbH_aHyoZ6B1T9LjygwZS3JWPFDgVTnyduO69QGWUq_qNEStbZ/s1600/batmantriumphantdvdcopy1.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;"> <span id="goog_1920723890"></span><span id="goog_1920723891"></span></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Meant to be the 5<sup>th</sup> film in the existing Tim
Burton-enacted franchise, “Batman: Triumphant” was the proposed title for what
would’ve been “Batman Forever” and “Batman & Robin” director Joel
Schumacher’s 3<sup>rd</sup> journey into Gotham City. Returning to the batcave,
George Clooney, Chris O’Donnell and Alicia Silverstone would once again don
their capes and cowls to battle the master of fear himself, the Scarecrow;
rumor speculated that “Leaving Las Vegas” star Nicolas Cage met with Joel to
discuss the possibility of portraying Jonathan Crane in the film and Jeff Goldblum was also a proposed candidate. "Triumphant" would’ve
also brought back both Michael Gough and Pat Hingle into the mix yet again.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ultimately, Schumacher bowed out of the project and the
franchise as overseen by both him and Burton was declared officially dead. Some
tethers were left intact via the animated Batman of the day and the live action
“Birds of Prey” television series before finally being put out to pastor. If
anything, that shows you how much of an impression the franchise Burton laid
the seeds for had made.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">----------<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>“WAYNE”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLQ89tN0GVSu8zmJUAaqbiwg8Y-um4VTsNo1GtQtGbfd9945sKfjskeQYRm33Smsez9069Qs0WJcTbnnJAHJ2lHTM5YOjMEz6Frp7z0GZfebL8lSRJGa1FjKdET11VjnxAtYK9AnPEEE7e/s1600/chuchinli.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLQ89tN0GVSu8zmJUAaqbiwg8Y-um4VTsNo1GtQtGbfd9945sKfjskeQYRm33Smsez9069Qs0WJcTbnnJAHJ2lHTM5YOjMEz6Frp7z0GZfebL8lSRJGa1FjKdET11VjnxAtYK9AnPEEE7e/s1600/chuchinli.JPG" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Following the success of Al Gough and Miles Millar’s
reinterpretation of Superman with “Smallville,” Warners considered the
potential of capitalizing on the show’s audience and appeal by putting Batman
through a similar treatment on the small screen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Under the proposed and admittedly logical title, “Wayne”
would tell an episodic account of young Bruce’s departure from Gotham City and time
abroad following the murders of his parents, following him on weekly travels
around the globe to train with and learn from sensei’s, detectives, scholars,
ninjas and even criminals in his quest to hone his mind and body for the war on
crime that loomed on the horizon.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The concept is a great one on paper but in hindsight, Batman
isn’t Superman. Without that costume, Clark Kent can still do all the
incredible and fantastic things he’s known for and that can be enough. While passionate
fans know Bruce is the same way, general audiences might not have found a ‘Batman’
TV series without the cape and cowl nearly as satisfying. One could also argue
that budgeting for the numerous locations and accompanying casting might’ve ran
steep.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In an interesting tidbit, proposed casting for the show
included a fresh-faced actress from the WB’s popular “Dawson’s Creek”
television show named Katie Holmes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">----------<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>“Batm</strong></span></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>an Beyond”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ts4WlxsXuN7bi2ZLYdafPdpN8FZjfAjjyxQ8rOGNVbQTsmvw-61B1steUsuSdznEqfUpnMEWRmKc4-lquvXQvrRmF_kvnzeClPkJxj7a75U2JN8jKD4DepNKhl8sAxisLuZEAsxFxeB2/s1600/batman-beyond.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ts4WlxsXuN7bi2ZLYdafPdpN8FZjfAjjyxQ8rOGNVbQTsmvw-61B1steUsuSdznEqfUpnMEWRmKc4-lquvXQvrRmF_kvnzeClPkJxj7a75U2JN8jKD4DepNKhl8sAxisLuZEAsxFxeB2/s1600/batman-beyond.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">With its rise in popularity on Kid’s WB, Warners thought it’d
be a better idea to capitalizing on the animated “Batman Beyond” television
series with its very own live action film.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Show runners Alan Burnett and Paul Dini were tapped to pen
the script, which would’ve adapted their animated pilot to tell the story of
Neo-Gotham punk Terry McGinnis and his ascension to the mantle of Batman under the
watchful eye of an elderly Bruce Wayne.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Many fans speculated that the film could’ve harkened back to
the original 1989 piece by casting Michael Keaton in the Bruce Wayne role once
more; others saw it as a tremendous opportunity to bring in a fantastic older
actor like Charleston Heston or fan favorite Clint Eastwood to take on the
legendary character. Meanwhile, everyone from “X-Men”/”Superman Returns” star
James Marsden to Wes Bently was considered for McGinnis.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In retrospect, this could’ve been a great project and still
might be. In spite of how the franchise has transpired since, fans still have
interest in seeing the world of “Beyond” be translated to the live action
forum, with its “Blade Runner” inspired setting and techno-visual aesthetics.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Who knows; maybe the future crusade of Terry McGinnis will
get its live action due someday.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">----------<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>“Batman vs. Superman”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNvKFJJd5-A6DS72AkUllpYhtnUgG_5YGTm_nu1LBp0tIVhkgdapJidBaPdnnswtBRa3DqGmbDDHehHTmWVz03ivpSCTS7RLGg_HfZeAdMCIV9YBJk78rG0YgDVA6zNFsoUNLeu8eT9lIJ/s1600/422793-Batman_Superman_AlexRoss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNvKFJJd5-A6DS72AkUllpYhtnUgG_5YGTm_nu1LBp0tIVhkgdapJidBaPdnnswtBRa3DqGmbDDHehHTmWVz03ivpSCTS7RLGg_HfZeAdMCIV9YBJk78rG0YgDVA6zNFsoUNLeu8eT9lIJ/s400/422793-Batman_Superman_AlexRoss.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This one was a long time coming for comic book fans.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">For decades and through multiple stories, the dark knight
and the man of steel had been interpreted as everything from best of friends to
bitter rivals. Their partnership is the stuff of legend and given the burn out
of the “Superman” movie franchise in 1987, Warners might’ve seen this as a
means of killing two birds with a huge fanboy-dream boulder.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The project got so far that a director was attached as
Warners brought Wolfgang Peterson on board to helm the piece, which mutated
into everything from a ‘buddy-cop’ mentality to a bizarre plot that saw Bruce
Wayne married only to have his bride supposedly ‘killed’ by Superman, leading
into Batman’s lust for vengeance against the Kryptonian.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Much like “Batman Beyond,” a “World’s Finest” movie
involving Batman and Superman DOES have an incredible amount of potential in
its conceptualization and, truth be told, several fans would be thrilled to see
the movie lift off the ground.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The studio even poked fun at the turbulent development
history of the project in their Will Smith vehicle “I am Legend,” which
depicted a post-apocalyptic New York city that included a Times Square
billboard for the film’s ‘marketing campaign.’ <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Perhaps one of these days, Bats and Supes will share the
silver screen together.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">----------<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>“Batman: Year One”<o:p></o:p></strong></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9mwDu2qoY-CKwoGJugaHs8ilov3-J9_NiiRwMF09sVfJaeDKslQpI7ZuQsDHQyIzxhRU-2FfUfDCaBiwsNIhLo3NNtzm-LT19NAnoJMskXcTE2wE22IE3SieYOHKL0nCjC8jUDf9ZgZpk/s1600/2230351-batman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9mwDu2qoY-CKwoGJugaHs8ilov3-J9_NiiRwMF09sVfJaeDKslQpI7ZuQsDHQyIzxhRU-2FfUfDCaBiwsNIhLo3NNtzm-LT19NAnoJMskXcTE2wE22IE3SieYOHKL0nCjC8jUDf9ZgZpk/s1600/2230351-batman.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Eventually, Warner Brothers decided on what one can see now
as a no-brainer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rather than propel the legend of Batman into the future with
a project like “Batman Beyond,” why not take the dark knight back into the
past; a past where Batman was a young man, Jim Gordon hadn’t yet earned the
role of Police Commissioner and Gotham City was worse off than it had ever been
shown before.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">For the decision, they turned to Frank Miller’s popular
graphic novel “Year One” to act as a near page-for-page translation that would
achieve the elements they wanted to incorporate. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Miller himself was brought in to adapt the book into a
screenplay. Of course the problem in doing so is that we’re talking about a
Frank Miller that’s separate from the Frank Miller who wrote the book back in
1986.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Inspired by his own recent affinity for defying convention
and ignoring the pressures of commercial expectation, Miller sought to make
changes to the Batman mythology that didn’t sit well with either the fans or
the studio.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Case in point; the “Year One” movie would’ve abandoned Bruce
Wayne’s trusted English butler Alfred Pennyworth. In his place would’ve been a
big, burly, jive-talking black auto mechanic named ‘Big Al’ (short for Alfred)
who operates in the Gotham slums, making equipment for Batman.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">While the framework for the book was the way they wanted to
go, Warners had no intentions of succumbing to Miller’s changes and,
eventually, he bowed out of the process.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">----------<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">When it comes to chaotic production histories, Batman has
his fair share of attempts to get his film franchise back off the ground, all
of which were viable in their own right at the time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">For eight years, the caped crusader was stuck in the rut.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And after several attempts, endless amounts of scripts and a
number of directors, Warner Brothers thought that perhaps the end had been
reached for Batman.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But as with all legends, they’re never truly dead.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">With no hope in sight, the studio was caught off guard as a
filmmaker entered into their graces...with a proposal for how the character
might be remade and revitalized on film.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was a sight to behold.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">For as one chapter on the cinematic legacy of Batman was
coming to an end, another was about...<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">To Begin.</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkMz9lvovW3hYdC1bMVNtTWUByixO7C3g_I1qB7MMbqhpsz8zzOfpb2oS2an_z74J4iLowEElrU8AoO3JWrOx96YX23LATml2M59yKrSLu_D3r_rnWLL0NW9B1HdHPPtQuvCcu18BMy9Qp/s1600/6a00d8341c630a53ef01310f86abfd970c-320wi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkMz9lvovW3hYdC1bMVNtTWUByixO7C3g_I1qB7MMbqhpsz8zzOfpb2oS2an_z74J4iLowEElrU8AoO3JWrOx96YX23LATml2M59yKrSLu_D3r_rnWLL0NW9B1HdHPPtQuvCcu18BMy9Qp/s1600/6a00d8341c630a53ef01310f86abfd970c-320wi.jpg" /></a></div>
</div>Chas Blankenshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09152498045221353190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5986956018362546175.post-8190743901953577522012-04-21T05:16:00.000-07:002012-04-21T05:50:29.534-07:00Fan Film Theatre - Feature Presentations: "Batman: Dark Tomorrow" (Matt Hamilton, 2008)<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZkQRQZ724onJwW2jENFidPJC8QPsOgPXo68_nSfIMMKwhsXa41YHnBTUGgkAFeIwhY-e851PIyZklTenArLkhQNR0izSUD5EWImOjOVvgqaw0d8Y2Xw7eoKvAR6IH5MgQwUjJjyU1hHB/s1600/Batman+Dark+Tomorrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZkQRQZ724onJwW2jENFidPJC8QPsOgPXo68_nSfIMMKwhsXa41YHnBTUGgkAFeIwhY-e851PIyZklTenArLkhQNR0izSUD5EWImOjOVvgqaw0d8Y2Xw7eoKvAR6IH5MgQwUjJjyU1hHB/s640/Batman+Dark+Tomorrow.jpg" width="461" /></a></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/-vE6Ippi2PQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">Directed by Matt Hamilton<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: white;">Written by Matt Hamilton and Thomas Parker<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: white;">Based on the DC Comics Characters created by Bob Kane and Bill
Finger<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: white;">Executive Produced by Scott Hamilton<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Stunt
Rigging by Chad Angell<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Cinematography
by Travis Martin and Casey Young<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Make
Up Design by Madeline Lechuga<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Visual
Effects by Scott Hamilton, David Lackey and Chase Langley<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Editing
by Matt Hamilton<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Music
Composed by Hans Zimmer, James Newton Howard and Graeme Revell<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">Thomas Parker ... Bruce Wayne/<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Batman</span> <br />Scott Hamilton ... <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Jack Napier/The
Joker</span> <br />Nolen Smith ... Commissioner James <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Gordon</span>
<br />Lynnlee Stewart ... <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Leslie Madison</span>
<br />Kimberly Dagdag ... Renee <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Montoya</span>
<br />Jay Burnam ... Harvey <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Bullock</span> <br />Ryan Sabine ... <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Jones</span> <br />Chase Nordquist ... <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Vince<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="color: white;">Madeline Lechuga ... Gotham Channel 6 Reporter<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">
Matt Hamilton ... Jonathan Crane</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Cody Canafax ... Thomas Wayne</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Bryan Parker ... Young Bruce Wayne</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Drew Bernard ... Officer Curry</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Brad Borton ... Officer Tim</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Ryan Thomas ... Arkham Security Officer Miller</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Michael Mowrey ... Arkham Security Officer Frank</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Mark Hamilton ... Flashback Officer #1</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Jason Byas ... Flashback Officer #2</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Matt Hamilton/Molen Smith (voice) ... Alfred Pennyworth</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">David Hamilton ... Gotham SWAT #1</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">
</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="color: white;">Ben Prater ... Gotham SWAT #2<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="color: white;">Josh Whittiker ... Gotham SWAT #3<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="color: white;">Brandon Seay ... Gotham SWAT #4<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="color: white;">Cody Dearmond ... Gotham SWAT #5<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="color: white;">Maxx Dagdag ... Gotham SWAT #6<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="color: white;">Devin ‘Killers’ Flores ... Gotham SWAT
#7<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="color: white;">Braden Mummert ... Gotham SWAT #8<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="color: white;">Kyle Andrews ... Joker Goon #1<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="color: white;">Wesley Holster ... Joker Goon #2<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="color: white;">Zac Best ... Joker Goon #3<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="color: white;">Eric Hennington ... Joker Goon #4<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="color: white;">Josh Thornton ... Joker Goon #5<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="color: white;">Seth Dickerson ... Joker Goon #6<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="color: white;">Cody Parker ... Joker Goon #7<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">As the Gotham Police Department
squeezes Jim Gordon to pursue the mysterious Batman, a tragic figure from the
dark knight’s past called the Joker returns with a plan to ignite urban warfare
and chaos, starting with a siege on Arkham Asylum.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">---------------<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Walking the wet, desolate streets of Gotham City at night is an
act that can very nearly get you killed. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">But wading through the darkness on blackened wing is a single man.
A lone warrior, beating the heart of an angel while bearing the appearance of a
demon. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">He is Batman; waging a one man war on the criminal underworld of a
hopeless urban warzone and in terms of Save The Empire Productions’ 2008 fan
feature "Batman: Dark Tomorrow," a war was surely waged. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbgzewHBv0QUU75GyBrVP8SNSvLXYmbnulY2YCJAp8uAy9X7YlLadsKht2fhi2fulZRofeb1miHdm36zk3sjcpxc8l0blJQT10p9dggI4zTmg4U2vei4KrGUWjzhNEKzWlkHt9aSeExuU/s1600/Photo+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbgzewHBv0QUU75GyBrVP8SNSvLXYmbnulY2YCJAp8uAy9X7YlLadsKht2fhi2fulZRofeb1miHdm36zk3sjcpxc8l0blJQT10p9dggI4zTmg4U2vei4KrGUWjzhNEKzWlkHt9aSeExuU/s400/Photo+7.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">"Dark Tomorrow" is a tour de force; not just of fan
filmmaking, but guerrilla filmmaking. When one takes into account the
limitations of the production, you can’t help but cheer how much they manage to
pull off with what they have to work with. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">I think seeing the film in a theatre with an audience played a
pivotal role in my liking it more than a lot of the online viewers and that’s
just as well. It was an incredible experience, one that seeded a friendship
with the filmmakers that has endured since. Rest assured said friendship didn’t
factor into the review, or any of them for that matter; I’m friends with a lot
of the fan filmmakers, being a member of that community for so many years.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">I know the cast is young, I know it’s obvious that the acting is a
bit of a barrier that they just can’t seem to break through. But a huge part of
fan film, unless you have the budget and resource to back it up, is that it’s
just something fun to do. The cast takes the project as seriously as its
hardworking crew, and it shows in some of the most emoting performances given
in a Fan Film of this novelty to date.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Thomas Parker has presence as Batman, but what’s ironic is that
said presence works to its fullest advantage when Batman is being portrayed as
more of an apparition; a moving shadow, a figure in the dark. If he’s on-screen
for too long and exposed by light, the seams begin to unravel. Fortunately, it
doesn’t happen that often.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio7J1PbnbmA-wJZq-vxNb0iUKLCPfvjuopljFiweVTfr4tigsGWS2oCOeGdddk6DiGFYo9Pp8RDzxmcpyATV5MeX-HRo4FVgOdxFVaFJYzHr0QmLBVfinprMRrjdwXlqDbmE5uhpjfGnYV/s1600/Photo+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio7J1PbnbmA-wJZq-vxNb0iUKLCPfvjuopljFiweVTfr4tigsGWS2oCOeGdddk6DiGFYo9Pp8RDzxmcpyATV5MeX-HRo4FVgOdxFVaFJYzHr0QmLBVfinprMRrjdwXlqDbmE5uhpjfGnYV/s400/Photo+1.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">Nods definitely go to the Joker’s troops during the Arkham
confrontation and to both Nolen Smith as Gordon and Mr. Scott Hamilton himself
as the Joker, specifically in the latter part of the film. Joker isn’t played
up like his useful self throughout the majority of the piece but the scene
where Batman and Joker finally get physical sent chills down my spine as he
shows there’s something brewing just underneath. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">Most fan films attempt 1 of two things:<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">Either they attempt to have a cohesive plot, without enough plot
in the first place making for a calamity of a short film that tries to go in
several directions without getting anywhere. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">Or they make a flat-out short, leaving plot and caution of
narrative integrity to the wind. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji28srKifWKvMPl6bgqS3ubJKoPMfXn3T459u8-FFYVmKyAkyYOxsQLeQo6cG1vm6XzNaLnbttDbdkU4DLaMj-tGNqf1F8lWBvi9JvevPEAHfuZ_GaprCj3DwDe70ysJ-QZsSq2xLHCyCq/s1600/Photo+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji28srKifWKvMPl6bgqS3ubJKoPMfXn3T459u8-FFYVmKyAkyYOxsQLeQo6cG1vm6XzNaLnbttDbdkU4DLaMj-tGNqf1F8lWBvi9JvevPEAHfuZ_GaprCj3DwDe70ysJ-QZsSq2xLHCyCq/s400/Photo+2.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">"Dark Tomorrow" is the first Batman Fan Film that has
ever, to me, felt like a "MOVIE" (“The Joker Blogs” and the “City of
Scars”/ “Seeds of Arkham” storyline are the only other examples that have come
the closest since). <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">“Dark Tomorrow” had a plot, despite a lack of true story (what I'm
really saying here is really an echo from previous reviews about there not really
being a contribution of anything NEW to the mythos of the property) and it has a solid
'Three Act' pattern that you can follow. Just when you think the action can't
get any bolder and brassier, it does. It SO does. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">While films like "Dark Justice" and "Patient
J" are VERY good they, in the end, are only confined to one primary
location. "Dark Tomorrow" has several set pieces ranging from Arkham
Asylum to Wayne Manor, and every seedy back alley and parking garage in
between. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">The camera composition, editing and visual effects are the true
stars of the piece. <br />
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_pIjojaKS-zxSR-yXWX3CfjIG4MFHAw2DmwLmw3MB-5MXOzgbODW3jj6oIEaeIygbxhBPLVJTFc1RAqawKZDPaliIg4IKXUxb0LWvNs2rmMCBlU0o8DSbfClYle_07Rajw5hMpByUNVv9/s1600/Photo+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_pIjojaKS-zxSR-yXWX3CfjIG4MFHAw2DmwLmw3MB-5MXOzgbODW3jj6oIEaeIygbxhBPLVJTFc1RAqawKZDPaliIg4IKXUxb0LWvNs2rmMCBlU0o8DSbfClYle_07Rajw5hMpByUNVv9/s400/Photo+5.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"> <br />
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">There are a number of great camera moves and in-camera tricks that are wildly
ambitious for such a small production and they pull it off nearly effortlessly.
Batman’s disappearance as a thug pulls a gun on him during his rescue of Leslie
Madison is a tremendous example.<br />
<br />
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Explosions, gunfire, blood squibs, smoke bombs, CG Batarangs; everything is of
such quality and in a fan production that’s really saying something. <br />
<br />
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">A lot of what makes “Dark Tomorrow” work as well as it does stems from the
ingenuity of the filmmakers.<br />
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyKlouY6CbnQVrX3uplhUaWbUojkblgNGaiiVTTWtg36GkYxEWNnppcHu1HTLoNYrugTrYjfdQ6zF2PMk50VdaeTDQVzQOIqOjrRJeAX1AhDMMX2uZE1ChOZ7-Egu2WUhsl4q7IxXxMq6N/s1600/Photo+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyKlouY6CbnQVrX3uplhUaWbUojkblgNGaiiVTTWtg36GkYxEWNnppcHu1HTLoNYrugTrYjfdQ6zF2PMk50VdaeTDQVzQOIqOjrRJeAX1AhDMMX2uZE1ChOZ7-Egu2WUhsl4q7IxXxMq6N/s400/Photo+3.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"> <br />
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">The visceral nature is ever present; the action never takes a step out of pace.
It’s clear as the film rolls along that this is a Batman born out of a love of
police procedurals and 90s action fests. What the interpretation lacks in
narrative subtlety and compelling drama it more than makes up for in kinetics
and adrenaline.<br />
<br />
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">There’s a wonderfully orchestrated shootout in Arkham that, while obviously
more improvised than anything, manages to pull off a steady momentum that goes
down smooth without feeling too gratuitous, albeit perhaps one too many
slow-motion effects.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWkE1WEq2E4tzuoKZObRtB_YBvDftsDlUGoLuN5SeS_iI57IPuBMHGUluNIgkKj7wM372GhTV8NraKyxsNSdgepOl1Mveeo8iTndazQWb40FWw5vFL9VKqObOpjtLyDRc9z5qQFBcmvhbV/s1600/Photo+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWkE1WEq2E4tzuoKZObRtB_YBvDftsDlUGoLuN5SeS_iI57IPuBMHGUluNIgkKj7wM372GhTV8NraKyxsNSdgepOl1Mveeo8iTndazQWb40FWw5vFL9VKqObOpjtLyDRc9z5qQFBcmvhbV/s400/Photo+6.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Of course the Parking Garage fight and the resulting car chase are
the stand out set pieces, the latter of course reigning as a fan film first
(provided you don’t count the few seconds of Robin riding atop a van in the
“Batman: Legends” trailer).<br />
<br />
</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">There are even some genuinely grounded human-comedic elements thrown in for a
more well-rounded piece; I especially loved the tip of the hat to the buddy cop
ideal with the two officers that just happen to let the finale chase involving
Batman rocket past them unnoticed, to which one of them states “Slow night.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">And the nods, oh the nods! <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">From several obvious bow-downs to the 1987 Cyber-Punk classic
"Robocop" to an interesting gun fight involving Batman and the
Joker's thugs that seemed to have been inspired by "Equilibrium"s
technique of being solely lit my muzzle flashes, which was amazing. Don't know
if that was a happy accident or if they consciously did that, but it
really doesn't matter. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">I don't know HOW Matt, Scott, Thomas and the rest of the gang knew
"Robocop" and "Equilibrium" were personal favorites, but I
got a real kick out of it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;">All in all a terrific addition to the Fan Film collection; while I
CAN put the film into the good pile of Batman Fan Productions, "Batman:
Dark Tomorrow" is in a league of its own.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZ2BGusyF0G_V1dgZu7d3pREOhJ1j1YAFGWwjwqXpIj8sS5VF38fcSul2nw1fNJcrgDMkZg_neTAzAMa4OAzMfdAsQG1lFZWTFb7aNloE88GR7MSB9DpELJjiqhS_ClA5qGbA-kKhzQwQ/s1600/Photo+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZ2BGusyF0G_V1dgZu7d3pREOhJ1j1YAFGWwjwqXpIj8sS5VF38fcSul2nw1fNJcrgDMkZg_neTAzAMa4OAzMfdAsQG1lFZWTFb7aNloE88GR7MSB9DpELJjiqhS_ClA5qGbA-kKhzQwQ/s400/Photo+4.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;">---------------------------------------------------------------</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><a href="http://vimeo.com/1410258" target="_blank"><span style="color: white;">"Batman: Dark Tomorrow"</span> <span style="color: white;">(Matt Hamilton, 2008)</span></a></span></div>Chas Blankenshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09152498045221353190noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5986956018362546175.post-8584260171584550122012-04-21T05:13:00.000-07:002012-04-21T12:47:05.839-07:00Fan Film Theatre - Feature Presentations: "Batman: Dark Descent" (Eric Smigiel, 2006)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_e_nWKsMJRRi73neUj4em9l91E0TuTBtxNcH1JobdY88i0lcCBLDkHEydwyfw8NNNiPfegn6796x-r75thuimS5Q58wGaDJe93zbHtNML4rI8nrSnzgzxXjQvl8ueMlcfqpUXAsCJQlI/s1600/Batman+Dark+Descent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_e_nWKsMJRRi73neUj4em9l91E0TuTBtxNcH1JobdY88i0lcCBLDkHEydwyfw8NNNiPfegn6796x-r75thuimS5Q58wGaDJe93zbHtNML4rI8nrSnzgzxXjQvl8ueMlcfqpUXAsCJQlI/s1600/Batman+Dark+Descent.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Written
and Directed by Eric Smigiel<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Based
on the DC Comic Characters Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Executive
Produced by Ryan Sciarrotta<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Produced
by Eric Smigiel<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Cinematography
by Eric Smigiel, Ryan Sciarrotta, Jesse Bravo, Tori Sullivan, Troy Jones,
Brandi Reynolds, Marcos Doyon, Adam Yancey and Ruben Gaboldone<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Edited
by Eric Smigiel<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Graphic
Design by Stephen Garbesi and Bobby T.<br />
Visual Effects by Andrew Mitchell<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Music
by Hans Zimmer, James Newton Howard, Shirley Walker, Danny Elfman, Brad Fiedel,
Ehab Tawfik and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart<o:p></o:p></span></span><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">
</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Ryan
Sciarrotta ... <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Bruce Wayne/Batman</span>
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Adam
Yancey ... Police Commissioner <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">James
Gordon</span> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Matt
Livingston ... <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Harvey Dent/Two-Face</span>
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Eric
Smigiel ... <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">The Joker</span> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Isaac
Montoya ... <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Alfred Pennyworth</span> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Tori
Sullivan ... <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Rachel Dawes</span> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Marcos
Doyon ... Dr. <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow</span>
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Tom
Verkin ... <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Richard Lee Dent</span> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Mark Kruse</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> ... GNN Cameraman<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Dominic
Williams ... <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Lucius Fox/Commissioner
Gillian Loeb</span> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Troy
Jones ... <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Edward Nygma</span> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Diana
Delgado ... <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Veronica Vreeland</span> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Kylie
Upton ... <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Woman At Party</span> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Adam
Clark ... <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Police Officer</span> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Sam
Hobbs ... <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Man Running Across Street</span>
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Noel
Blair ... <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Woman Running Across Street<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Vicki Lewis ... Party Guest #1<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Aleita Kiwanuka ... Part Guest #2<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Rosie Aguirre ... Party Guest #3<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Emily Warn ... Party Guest #4<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Brandi Reynolds ... Party Guest #5<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">John Barnett ... Party Guest #6<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Matt Dyer ... Party Guest #7<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Amanda Gozur ... Party Guest #8<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Adam Clark ... Party Guest #9<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Adelle Lees ... Party Guest #10<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Justin Bridges ... Party Guest #11<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Junior Oyeyemi ... Party Guest #12<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Rachel Maestas ... Party Guest #13<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Krystal Jessen ... Party Guest #14<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Tim Coggins ... Party Guest #15<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Christie Johnson ... Party Guest #16<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Following the events of “Batman Begins,” Batman and
newly appointed Commissioner James Gordon decide to enlist Assistant District
Attorney Harvey Dent in their struggle against the escalating brutality of
Gotham’s mysterious ‘Joker Card Killer.’<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">-----------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">With the incredible success and popularity that
followed the release of 2005’s “Batman Begins,” several ambitious fans took it
upon themselves to imagine the continuation of the story in self-created fan
film sequels. The passion of such a gesture obviously reflects on how much of
an impact “Begins” made on people, to the point of making them so impatient
that they couldn’t stand by and simply wait on Warner Brothers to satisfy their
hunger.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Chief among those attempts, in my own opinion,
would be 2006's “Batman: Dark Descent,” written and directed by New Mexico native and
dear friend Eric Smigiel.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the time since its release, Smigiel has grown
into his own as a writer and a filmmaker, improving with every project.
However, there are still elements to be found here and points of interest to discuss.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Initially conceived in the vein of “The Matrix:
Reloaded” and “The Matrix: Revolutions,” the film was originally split in two
in an attempt to act as the second and third installments of a fan-imposed
‘trilogy.’ This really strikes me; the fact that while Christopher Nolan has
worked to craft the official trilogy, a fan could be so enthralled and
dedicated that he wanted to create an UNofficial trilogy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: large;">What other character could afford such a thing
except for Batman?<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">The story is very straight forward given the
hindsight of “The Dark Knight” release.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: large;">Following his success over Ra's Al Ghul, Batman
continues to enact his war on crime by rectifying prior mistakes, starting
with the re-apprehension of Jonothan Crane aka the Scarecrow.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Even for being unofficial, the story depicted here hits a lot of the same
points that “The Dark Knight” would come to. To me, it’s the result of a
combination of coincidence and logic.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: large;">For example, it’s logical that Harvey Dent would be
brought into the narrative and, with the ending of “Begins,” the Joker for that
matter. It’s logical that the story would be established more so in Gotham City
and it would handle the criminal element, as depicted with Batman, Gordon and
Dent’s proposed assault on the Joker...while “The Dark Knight” focuses their
trio of efforts on the mob.<br />
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As far as serendipity is concerned, I think it most obviously lies in the fact
that Smigiel trusted instinct enough to make the Joker be the one responsible
for Dent’s transformation into Two-Face. At the time, prior to the release of
“The Dark Knight,” Eric could’ve easily just done the original comic book
origin with Sal ‘The Boss’ Maroni hurling acid in Harvey’s face. But instead he
chose to bring interconnectivity to the piece by placing blame on the Joker,
just as Nolan’s sequel would come to do.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">It’s clear that we’re not dealing with an
experienced cast here, however suspension of disbelief goes to some sort of
length to forgive it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: large;">The clearest stand out by far is Eric Smigiel
himself with his portrayal of the Joker. I suspect that given his heading of
the project and passion for the material, he was the only one that felt entirely
comfortable going for broke whereas others might have been more timid. After
all, asking high school kids to partake in an endeavor like this can be a tall
order if they aren’t comfortable with the idea of dressing up in a Batsuit or
having make-up on the side of their face while running around the suburbs at
night.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Eric’s Joker has the breadth, the voice, the attitude
and it shows. A lot of his mannerisms felt natural and in sync with the
character he was trying to create. I especially loved the bit at the end where
he frantically searches for a Joker card even as a bomb ticks down; there’s a
moment where Batman offers to save him and, in his overwhelming and frustrating
insanity, the Joker simply laughs and bangs his head against the ground,
suggesting that trying to reason with him is a hopeless cause.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Eric found clear homage the most in Mark Hamill’s
portrayal, specifically in “Mask of the Phantasm,” often recycling some of the
dialogue from that film as well as vocal influence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Ryan Sciarrotta has presence as Batman, but it’s
meager at best. The costume, unfortunately, seems to be wearing the man more
than the reverse. Anyone could’ve played this Batman given the material that
the character has to work with (focus, as with the majority of official Batman
films, is placed once more on the villains here rather than the title
character).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">One thing Ryan does have is the physicality of the
character; the scene in which Batman maneuvers across rooftops in his pursuit
of Two-Face is exceptionally thrilling as he fights to catch up. There’s a
moment here where Batman even hesitates in his path, choosing to double step and
fly off of another edge of a building, as if he’s trying to stage his entrance
to have as much effect as possible.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Now truth be told, we’re talking about a fan piece;
one crafted by a handful of kids in high school eager to take a stab at
filmmaking.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">The writing is crude, the performances are
certainly rough, production design is non-existent and the use of previously
scored Batman music is uninspired (though I’m not one to talk given my own
attempt at fan filmmaking). One thing I WILL credit the music for is the use of
Danny Elfman’s work on “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure” for the Joker. That fits VERY
well.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">There are several things that occur that are rather
tedious, such as Two-Face’s fight with Batman. Here we’ve got a moderate hand
to hand combatant (if that) besting a man trained in this continuity by the
League of Shadows, which seems highly unlikely.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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away character, reverting him nearly back to Pat Hingle benevolence. This
doesn’t feel like the Gordon that drove the Tumbler and played a vital role in
saving Gotham City. Now he’s been reduced to meeting Batman on rooftops with
information, even to the point of being verbally scared off by the Joker, which
Gary Oldman’s interpretation of the character would never have been.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Knight,” is Harvey Dent. However, there’s nothing at stake with his fall from
grace as there was in the Nolan film; even the personal attachment between him
and Bruce is a bit vague.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">But in spite of all that, what makes “Dark Descent”
stick out for me is its heart, which it wears on its sleeve. The intention and
passion exudes in what craftsmanship exists and if nothing else, it remains a
decent and wholehearted preview to the filmmaker Smigiel has become since and
will become in the future.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">His camera work here, given the circumstances and
limitations, is inventive and he has a great sense of pace both in his sequence
composition and editing. Clearly Eric has an interest and passion for movies;
for example, I love the fact that when it gets down to it, within the terms of
its own story, it’s really a battle between Joker and Two-Face with Batman
acting as a moderator trying to council both of them. That felt like a very
cinematic idea, at least where I was concerned.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">As a fan himself, Smigiel also makes a few nods to
the character and, more specifically, to how a fan would handle a film
involving their favorite character. The biggest is the fact that we, as fans,
love the idea of tipping the hat to the future and this film demonstrates that
with a nod to the Flying Graysons. Nolan hasn’t done anything of the sort and
he has his reasons, but Smigiel knows his audience and the things they’d look
for because he’s a participant himself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">All in all, “Batman: Dark Descent” is really just a
fun insight into the origins of a talented filmmaker working hard to improve
upon his own skills.</span></span></div>
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</span></div>Chas Blankenshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09152498045221353190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5986956018362546175.post-5134707729416198322012-04-21T05:10:00.000-07:002012-04-21T05:10:55.224-07:00Fan Film Theatre - Feature Presentations: "Patient J" (Aaron Schoenke, 2005)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4563YKYN3IO34nqcAMZp1W9m_nc6Mc3g15sv8ZT67RoYt8apguGpo73sFAGubMwqaKN6YpcsDd2wNMQdYNrDqDEU9vo24H1cZDr2X972XEGZWHWJcm0gsvW2FUZTg9YL3qkSWUXYS_90/s1600/Patient+J.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4563YKYN3IO34nqcAMZp1W9m_nc6Mc3g15sv8ZT67RoYt8apguGpo73sFAGubMwqaKN6YpcsDd2wNMQdYNrDqDEU9vo24H1cZDr2X972XEGZWHWJcm0gsvW2FUZTg9YL3qkSWUXYS_90/s1600/Patient+J.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Directed
by Aaron Schoenke<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Written
by David Hammond, Aaron Schoenke and Sean Schoenke<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Based
on the DC Comic Characters Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Produced
by Sean Schoenke and Aaron Schoenke<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Cinematography
by Aaron Schoenke<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Editing
by Aaron Schoenke<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Art
Direction by Ron Rogge<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Make-Up
Design by Jeff West<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Original
Motion Picture Score composed by Sean Schoenke<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Paul
Molnar … The Joker<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kurt
Carley … Henny Youngman; The Psychologist<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Robert
Tovani … Jason Todd/Robin<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rachel
Nicole … Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sean
Olney … Arkham Guard<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rusty
Locke … Red Hood Thug 1<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Vince
Adams … Red Hood Thug 2<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Allen
Harris … Joker Thug<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Nicle
Klepper … Joker Victim<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sophia
Di Ferrigno … Joker’s Wife<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jessica
Butler … Barbara Gordon<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kevin
Porter … Batman<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Deep
in the basement of Arkham Asylum, a desperate psychologist has secretly set up
an interview with the mass-murdering Joker.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">-----------------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes,
the greatest Batman stories don’t focus on Batman at all, realizing that
surrounding the caped crusader is a laundry list of intriguing, psychologically
provocative characters rich with material to delve into.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">With
2005’s “Patient J,” the focus is placed once more upon the Clown Prince of
Crime himself and in the end, the film reminds us exactly why it is that, of
all Batman’s foes, the Joker forever remains his most potent.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Deep
within the cavernous under dwellings of Arkham Asylum, Psychologist Henny
Youngman (Kurt Carley) sets up an impromptu meeting with the Joker (Paul
Molnar) meant to fill the pages of a book the good doctor is currently penning.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">As
their discussion begins to descend into Joker’s history, his fixations with
Batman and their mutual bloodstained relationship it soon becomes clear that
tension is mounting.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
result is an extremely close and intriguing look at the off chance of what just
might be the motivating factor of the Joker’s actions over all these years; a
peek behind the veil as to what his madness entails.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLCqPgf_k5HaeaF43gMoRP4vE70Gpt-Knt3N9bIZPRkoJsm8H7WmwwXrz8fET3htDhcc_LOGarErNSmU5fYVfmBO20hkVGOTac1HTyKkJ25GVxVBW33ng8ItkH1uNRIc11nNPhv_cIlr5i/s1600/Photo+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLCqPgf_k5HaeaF43gMoRP4vE70Gpt-Knt3N9bIZPRkoJsm8H7WmwwXrz8fET3htDhcc_LOGarErNSmU5fYVfmBO20hkVGOTac1HTyKkJ25GVxVBW33ng8ItkH1uNRIc11nNPhv_cIlr5i/s400/Photo+1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Shot
for the most part in one lone location (the basement of a haunted house in
fact), “Patient J” is the perfect example of fans telling a story while knowing
full well their limitations.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">As
a result, we’re not given a mediocre attempt at some feature length, three act
narrative involving Batman battling his villains. No. Instead we’re given a
menacing and well executed analysis of Batman’s deadliest and most
unpredictable adversary. The film is about as moody as it gets, and it’s a
great place to start when it comes to taking a deeper, more psychologically
based look into Batman’s world through the Joker’s eyes. In many ways, the film
argues that Joker is actually a more interesting character than Batman himself
(I certainly don’t think a sit-down to delve into Wayne’s psyche would be
nearly as enthralling, perhaps) and hearing the speculative reasonings given by
screenwriter David Hammond and writer/director Aaron Schoenke to the Joker’s
intent in what he does is exceedingly fascinating.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
production, following a trajectory started by Bat in the Sun’s earlier work,
continues to improve as we’re given professionally executed costumes, cinematography,
set decoration and, most notably, performances.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Casting
is usually thrown to the winds for fan productions as the filmmakers generally
turn to friends and acquaintances in order to fill roles with bodies. Here it’s
no such thing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">I
just love the tense chemistry between Carley and Molnar. In many ways, given
that he IS the Joker after all, Paul gets an early start in taking the picture
for himself, but when the twist occurs, Kurt pulls the reigns just as
effectively. His ability to emote even in the earlier portions of the
conversation when it seems he’s not is so subtle and so good.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">For
Paul, it’s clear that he’s being inspired by previous incarnations of the
character, ranging most heavily from Mark Hamill’s turn in “Batman: The
Animated Series” to Alan Moore’s “Killing Joke” graphic novel. That being said,
it’s clear that it is inspiration and not downright plagiarism (like so many
Ledger-wannabes these days). Paul has a sense of unpredictability in his eyes almost
reminiscent of Michael Keaton as Batman that makes the film awfully tense. At
any moment, he could conceivably leap across that table and kill Youngman; at
least that’s the impression I got.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">On
the flipside, he has a crazy calm during the whole of the piece (thanks to his
being ‘behind the curtain’) that makes his Joker all the more of a curiosity until
he goes full blown with his punchline, giving us the menacing Joker we all know
and love.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Aside
from the discussion the two men are having, the film is bulked up with a trio
collection of nifty and beautiful vignettes highlighting key points in Batman
and Joker’s struggle with one another.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_EHTmv7bccBxwwCUhmWnCwCPY8-EBnvXj7mSxbWYHZZEhB2OettZfoTTdtp6t7avpSY9CUdT5sfoa5LGcpD9DuncZF0YeUrqY_qLMbwJp1zfpMhB-tZeiAx4NEH9VqCc4sYRfo9e0ZoS8/s1600/Photo+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_EHTmv7bccBxwwCUhmWnCwCPY8-EBnvXj7mSxbWYHZZEhB2OettZfoTTdtp6t7avpSY9CUdT5sfoa5LGcpD9DuncZF0YeUrqY_qLMbwJp1zfpMhB-tZeiAx4NEH9VqCc4sYRfo9e0ZoS8/s1600/Photo+7.jpg" /></a></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
first is staged, shot and produced in the same vein as the 40s film serials
(although much cooler) and actually features Batman in his original costume
from “Case of the Chemical Syndicate” (!) as it retells his encounter with the
Red Hood from “Killing Joke.” I just loved the editing style here, with the
quick single-frame cuts that seem lifted right out of the motion picture
serials. And of course that moment when the Joker emerges from his chemical
bath, complete with a mouth-full of foamy discharge (!) as his mind completely
goes. So awesome!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzPeyNkkjvFTHD67kVfI1AZ8EatJZReqeIjFKSrSJ6n0vTu18cVCcQ0pPlvIVV3mZ2x4Lc6cALSqKVi-k2NmlTyQLdI81GRrT3Dgc6KKbDhKhfjECNpjsg42QMAvbodAirkiWqDwDEM6d/s1600/Photo+2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnzPeyNkkjvFTHD67kVfI1AZ8EatJZReqeIjFKSrSJ6n0vTu18cVCcQ0pPlvIVV3mZ2x4Lc6cALSqKVi-k2NmlTyQLdI81GRrT3Dgc6KKbDhKhfjECNpjsg42QMAvbodAirkiWqDwDEM6d/s1600/Photo+2.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
second, beginning as a slight homage to the 1960’s television series features
Jason Todd as Robin the Boy Wonder and the dreaded account of the Joker beating
him to death and leaving him to be caught in an explosion as told in the mid
80s epic “A Death in the Family.” The only thing I wish this scene had done
more of is fill in on the fact that this took place in Ethiopia and not Gotham.
You wouldn’t know that just by watching it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">But
regardless, the scene is quite powerful; haunting really.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
moment where the Joker declares his wanting to be Robin’s best friend; I still
find that chilling. We also get a great Neal Adams/Jim Aparo approach to
Batman’s costume complete with the yellow-encircled Bat and the Blue/Gray color
scheme.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
final is a fantasy; a ‘what-if’ scenario crafted by the Joker of his last
conflict with Batman. It’s charming that it takes place in a theatre on a
stage, just as the Joker feels the world to be. How he presents the final
battle to an audience of empty seats (though to his twisted mind, perhaps they
aren’t empty) is rather clever. Here we’re given a Jim Lee approach to Batman
as well, lifted right out of the “HUSH” storyline.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
film’s score is pretty good, although it could’ve stood to be a bit more
original (the track for the ‘Birth of the Joker’ sequence came from Aaron’s
“Dark Justice” short film) but Sean did a wonderful job at presenting the
anguish and morbid whimsy of the Joker and Arkham Asylum as a location.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">I
also LOVE the use of Nat King Cole’s “Smile.” It’s lovely (even in the demented
context with which it’s used) and it’s a perfect fit for the Joker, as is Jim
Carrey’s cover of “I Am the Walrus” for the film’s end credits.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">In
the end, without spoiling the ending, the film is a fascinating probe into the
Joker’s conscious (and perhaps his subconscious). As I said before, it does
remind you why he remains the end all, be all of the caped crusader’s villains.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sort
of like Spielberg and Film. How part of you resents the exposure he gets but
when you stop to take a good look you realize that he’s so good at what he does
that it’s earned him his position in the ranks?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">That’s
what “Patient J” does for the Joker.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wonderfully
crafted, charmingly macabre, “Patient J” is a wonderful tribute to arguably the
single greatest villain in comic books.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now,
on with the show!</span></span></div>
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</div>Chas Blankenshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09152498045221353190noreply@blogger.com0