DisneyBoy
08-17-2005, 04:40 PM
This is something that's been going through my head for quite some time now. What would I have done differently to the various Batman movies if I could? I'm sure I'm not the only one who has some ideas, so let's share.
Batman
This one would stay pretty much as it is, with one exception. I would have used Christopher Walken in the role of Harvey Dent instead of Billy Dee. Of course, this change only makes sense in hindsight, but hey that's the idea here :D I'm not entirely a fan of Vicki Vale, but she's used well enough in this film and I can't think of someone better suited to be the audience POV in the picture. Alicia has the beginnings of a great Harley Quinn, so maybe I'd change the name there to Harleen, keeping her character basically the same, except played by Mia Sara (from Birds of Prey). I love how Harley is in animation, but there's something about the switch from silent to sinister, lovely to laughing that could have worked here, again in hindsight.
Batman Returns
I love the picture exactly how it is, especially Shrek, but for the sake of the next movie, I would love to see Harvey Dent in his place, still played by Walken. Instead of bitterness between Wayne and Dent, there would be a mounting tension as Bruce realizes his friend is in cahoots with Cobblepot and seems to be losing his marbles a bit. Say, we could even make that moment between Selina and Dent a really interesting one. Big Bad Harv could be the one closing in on her, about her kill her, when suddenly Harvey takes control, bringing about the moment of nervous laughter. Then BBH comes back, turns and pushes her. There would be no need for the Chip character here though, and Dent would survive his scarring encounter with Catwoman to end up in the hospital.
Batman Forever
Here's where things get drastic :evil: Keep Burton on board as director, Walken as Two-Face and Keaton as Batman (again, I'm imagining here!) Replace the Chase Meridian character with Leslie Thompkins, and lose the romance angle entirely (obviously). The plot would go as follows, with Two-Face suddenly emerging and escaping from custody. The big question here is whether or not he remembers that the man behind the mask is also his former best friend. While he uses his knowledge of past court trials and such to seize control of the city's gangs, Bruce revists his childhood friend Dr Thompkins hoping that she might be able to provide some insight. Armed with understanding, Batman tracks down the in-hiding Two-Face, and lets his guard down, thinking he'll come quietly. Instead, T-F tricks him, gets away and a peeved Bruce attends the Circus benefit, only to bear witness to the slaughter of the Graysons. Dick (still Chris, whom I thought was quite good) gets taken in by Bruce and watched over by Leslie, while Batman's guilt for not having stopped T-F at any cost haunts him. Dick wants Dent dead, and learning about Bruce's secrets only pushes a wedge between the two. When Harvey finally makes the connection between Bruce and Batman, it all hits the fan. Robin is born, Leslie learns the truth, Alfred and she get chummy, and Harvey is spared a bloody end, instead getting locked up in Arkham.
So, yah, no Riddler. I liked Carry, but he stole away too much attention from the more thematically empowered characters.
Batman and Robin
Still Burton, Keaton and O'Donnell here, with Uma as Ivy, and Patrick Stewart as Freeze. The story begins with a flashback to the solo Batman days, when Batman's interference with the Ferris Boyle/Victor showdown in a lab ends with the whole thing going up in smoke. Opening credits and flash forward later, Dick is at University, where he meet Babs Gordon (Dina Meyer) and the two get under each other's skin very quickly. Batman and Robin encounter Mister Freeze for the first time (the plot here would be similar to Heart of Ice, in terms of Freeze's goals and what he's stealing) and Batman discovers Victor blames him considerably for his loss. Isley meanwhile is a botany teacher at the University whose studies are certainly less than conventional. After taking a liking to her in class, Robin pays her a visit, and she kisses him. At a major event (like the party in the original flick) Ivy makes a grand entrance, using her phermones to charm Bruce, Dick and the Commish. All this seriously freaks out Babs. Ivy goes straight to Freeze, offering up Batman in exchange for ending his attacks on Gotham so that she can purify it. They quickly realize they can't trust one another, though. Bruce and Dick bicker over Ivy (as in the movie - I liked that part, because it showed how different they were as men).
Okay this is getting long-winded :o Basically, Babs becomes Batgirl and saves her father from dying at Ivy's hands, she then helps Batman figure out a cure for Ivy's kiss, which frees him, but not Robin, who has fallen for Ivy big time. The Trio take down Ms Isley, just as Freeze is busting up Boyle, who it turns out, managed to recover Nora from the blast. Freeze kills Boyle, takes out Batgirl and Robin and uses his cannon on the city. Batman takes out the cannon, the cops arrive on the scene, and Batman offers to try and cure Nora. Freeze goes willingly to prison, while Ivy ends up in Arkham, and Dick and Babs hook up. Batman is redeemed in his own eyes for having failed Victor, Dick and Dent, who emerges cured from the Asylum (Walken in a cameo). In the final scene, Batman's path is crossed by Catwoman. The two kiss, and he's called away by the signal.
:D
I always feel kind of silly detailing how my imagination would prefer existing episodes of shows or films ot be...but what can I say...it's fun!
Batman
This one would stay pretty much as it is, with one exception. I would have used Christopher Walken in the role of Harvey Dent instead of Billy Dee. Of course, this change only makes sense in hindsight, but hey that's the idea here :D I'm not entirely a fan of Vicki Vale, but she's used well enough in this film and I can't think of someone better suited to be the audience POV in the picture. Alicia has the beginnings of a great Harley Quinn, so maybe I'd change the name there to Harleen, keeping her character basically the same, except played by Mia Sara (from Birds of Prey). I love how Harley is in animation, but there's something about the switch from silent to sinister, lovely to laughing that could have worked here, again in hindsight.
Batman Returns
I love the picture exactly how it is, especially Shrek, but for the sake of the next movie, I would love to see Harvey Dent in his place, still played by Walken. Instead of bitterness between Wayne and Dent, there would be a mounting tension as Bruce realizes his friend is in cahoots with Cobblepot and seems to be losing his marbles a bit. Say, we could even make that moment between Selina and Dent a really interesting one. Big Bad Harv could be the one closing in on her, about her kill her, when suddenly Harvey takes control, bringing about the moment of nervous laughter. Then BBH comes back, turns and pushes her. There would be no need for the Chip character here though, and Dent would survive his scarring encounter with Catwoman to end up in the hospital.
Batman Forever
Here's where things get drastic :evil: Keep Burton on board as director, Walken as Two-Face and Keaton as Batman (again, I'm imagining here!) Replace the Chase Meridian character with Leslie Thompkins, and lose the romance angle entirely (obviously). The plot would go as follows, with Two-Face suddenly emerging and escaping from custody. The big question here is whether or not he remembers that the man behind the mask is also his former best friend. While he uses his knowledge of past court trials and such to seize control of the city's gangs, Bruce revists his childhood friend Dr Thompkins hoping that she might be able to provide some insight. Armed with understanding, Batman tracks down the in-hiding Two-Face, and lets his guard down, thinking he'll come quietly. Instead, T-F tricks him, gets away and a peeved Bruce attends the Circus benefit, only to bear witness to the slaughter of the Graysons. Dick (still Chris, whom I thought was quite good) gets taken in by Bruce and watched over by Leslie, while Batman's guilt for not having stopped T-F at any cost haunts him. Dick wants Dent dead, and learning about Bruce's secrets only pushes a wedge between the two. When Harvey finally makes the connection between Bruce and Batman, it all hits the fan. Robin is born, Leslie learns the truth, Alfred and she get chummy, and Harvey is spared a bloody end, instead getting locked up in Arkham.
So, yah, no Riddler. I liked Carry, but he stole away too much attention from the more thematically empowered characters.
Batman and Robin
Still Burton, Keaton and O'Donnell here, with Uma as Ivy, and Patrick Stewart as Freeze. The story begins with a flashback to the solo Batman days, when Batman's interference with the Ferris Boyle/Victor showdown in a lab ends with the whole thing going up in smoke. Opening credits and flash forward later, Dick is at University, where he meet Babs Gordon (Dina Meyer) and the two get under each other's skin very quickly. Batman and Robin encounter Mister Freeze for the first time (the plot here would be similar to Heart of Ice, in terms of Freeze's goals and what he's stealing) and Batman discovers Victor blames him considerably for his loss. Isley meanwhile is a botany teacher at the University whose studies are certainly less than conventional. After taking a liking to her in class, Robin pays her a visit, and she kisses him. At a major event (like the party in the original flick) Ivy makes a grand entrance, using her phermones to charm Bruce, Dick and the Commish. All this seriously freaks out Babs. Ivy goes straight to Freeze, offering up Batman in exchange for ending his attacks on Gotham so that she can purify it. They quickly realize they can't trust one another, though. Bruce and Dick bicker over Ivy (as in the movie - I liked that part, because it showed how different they were as men).
Okay this is getting long-winded :o Basically, Babs becomes Batgirl and saves her father from dying at Ivy's hands, she then helps Batman figure out a cure for Ivy's kiss, which frees him, but not Robin, who has fallen for Ivy big time. The Trio take down Ms Isley, just as Freeze is busting up Boyle, who it turns out, managed to recover Nora from the blast. Freeze kills Boyle, takes out Batgirl and Robin and uses his cannon on the city. Batman takes out the cannon, the cops arrive on the scene, and Batman offers to try and cure Nora. Freeze goes willingly to prison, while Ivy ends up in Arkham, and Dick and Babs hook up. Batman is redeemed in his own eyes for having failed Victor, Dick and Dent, who emerges cured from the Asylum (Walken in a cameo). In the final scene, Batman's path is crossed by Catwoman. The two kiss, and he's called away by the signal.
:D
I always feel kind of silly detailing how my imagination would prefer existing episodes of shows or films ot be...but what can I say...it's fun!