Category Archives: Batman
Playing with Batman Action Figures
Have you ever heard of Hot Toys? Apparently they’re this ultra elite toy-making company that designs realistic, super amazing action figures! They use the movies as references, and then sculpt figures to match the actors. Very lifelike – and very expensive. Hence why I don’t own any. But these guys do!
Fantastic work! Stop motion animation action figure work is a favorite of mine, and I wish I could make one of my own. I’ve got the figurines, just none of the movie-making skill. It shouldn’t be too hard though.
I remember back in my freshman year of college, my floormates and I on Brew 5 made a stop motion movie right there in the hallway outside our study carrels. My roommate was the director, because I think he had the camera and the computer programs to make it work. I supplied the action figures, because my collection was growing even back then. I would love to share that video, but I don’ t have a copy anymore. It died when the computer I owned freshman year died, lost forever to a dead hard drive.
Still, that thing was awesome! We did very good work for a bunch of amateurs in a hallway.
6 Lamest Batman Villains
I said last week that Batman had the best Rogues Gallery in comics, and I stand by that claim! But even Batman has some stinkers in the bunch. Well, OK, he has more than a few stinkers. The guy has been in comics since 1939, and he can’t fight the Joker all the time. Batman has fought a lot of stupid bad guys, some who last only one issue and some who faded into obscurity years ago. But there are a special few losers who seem to stick around, who manage to claw back into the comics every now and again to remind us just how lame they really are.
Beware the Condiment King!
Don’t get me wrong, this is by no means a complete list. Batman and Robin have fought a lot of bozos over the years. These are just my pick for the 6 lamest Batman bad guys ever! And there are some ground rules. Guys like the Condiment King are purposefully lame. But this list is of legitimate villains who are just super lame. And I’d love to hear your suggestions in the comments!
What’s Next for Batman?
So what the heck should they do for the next Batman movie?
Christopher Nolan has just wrapped up arguably the greatest superhero trilogy of all time, and he did so in spectacular style. His three films – Batman Begins, The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises – are all fantastic! Not a stinker in the bunch! And they’re not just good superhero films, they’re a cinematic masterpiece! A trilogy that’s greater than its individual parts.
They were awesome movies, is what I’m trying to say. But both Christopher Nolan and lead actor Christian Bale have repeatedly said that they’re done with the series. It’s over. They’re moving on. And Nolan, especially, was the creative driving force behind those films.
So Warner Bros. has now got to decide what to do with the Batman movie franchise without Nolan.
The previous time the franchise was without Nolan…
The way I see it, they’ve got three choices: keep going with a new director, total reboot, or the third option, which I think is the best option:
Wait until the Justice League movie.
Join me after the jump for an explanation. And there will definitely be SPOILERS for The Dark Knight Rises.
Review: The Dark Knight Rises
Everybody who knows me will know that The Dark Knight Rises truly came together in that one short scene at the very end. It didn’t have to be there, but in doing so, director Christopher Nolan has totally redeemed himself in my eyes, and I left the theater a giddy fanboy. I’ll spoil that scene after the jump, along with the rest of the movie, but it’s enough now to say it was my favorite part of an already awesome film. The Dark Knight Rises is a very good flick, and a satisfying conclusion to Nolan’s trilogy. It ends with an absolutely spectacular climax that is both exciting and larger than life. A fitting end to this Batman story.
Unfortunately, this isn’t a perfect film, and it’s not the best of the trilogy. The first 2/3rds of the film are rather slow and dull, in my opinion, throwing a lot of ideas and plot at the audience, which I don’t think come together all that well in the end.
Movie rating: 4/5: Good!
But the pacing, along with a few odd plot choices, are the only negative things I can say about The Dark Knight Rises. I loved all of the characters, I loved Batman’s personal story and I loved the ending. It’s a very good film. I especially liked the new antagonists, Bane and Catwoman. They’re no Heath Ledger’s Joker, but they’re still fantastic. Especially Anne Hathaway as Catwoman. I expected great things from her, and I was not disappointed. She’s witty, wicked and very badass. Tom Hardy’s Bane, likewise, kicks a lot of ass, often literally. He’s as physically imposing and oddly charismatic as one might hope.
But not all of the movie works. The new love interest, Miranda Tate, is kind of confusing at many parts of the film, not to mention painfully predictable. Alfred is a bit of a disappointment. And the overall threat kind of comes out of nowhere. I don’t remember it from the two previous films, but everyone seems to act like it’s been a big deal all along.
Still, despite is flaws, The Dark Knight Rises adds up to an awesome film. I highly enjoyed it. Join me after the jump for a full review and definitely some SPOILERS!
Dark Knight Rises Review Coming Tomorrow
In case you’re chomping at the bit to read my Dark Knight Rises review, I want you all to know that it’s coming tomorrow. I saw the film this afternoon, loved it, have various thoughts on it, and now I need to collect them all into my usual rambling review. Until then, enjoy this delightful cartoon that kind of sums up my thoughts on the movie pretty nicely, actually!
Henchman-4-Hire 