Rebooting Batman – Hypothetical Casting

There are going to be more Batman films; that’s a given. While it seems weird bringing up the subject so soon after the conclusion of Christopher Nolan’s stunning trilogy, in a year, maybe two, audiences are going to be hankering for some serious Bat-action. If the release of The Amazing Spider-Man and next year’s Man of Steel tell us anything, it’s that the masses don’t care about reboots. They want superheroes on-screen as long as filmmakers can offer the goods. But, where do we go from here? The answer: anywhere.

Gotham’s Finest: Best Bat-Casting

Actors have been taking shots at Bat characters for nearly fifty years now, longer if you count the serials. Below is the list of the ten greatest cast actors and the characters they played.

“OMG, Heath Ledger so better be number one or I’m going to lay a smack down.” – The Internet

Heath Ledger isn’t on this list. Frankly, I’m tired of talking about how great he was as the Joker. We all know and we all agree, it’s inspired. He won the Oscar.

Bat Out of Development Hell – Part 4: Batman Beyond an R-rating

The Batman films have been titans in theaters for more than twenty years. Yes, even Batman & Robin made a lot money. The presence of these films, however, tends to overshadow Batman ventures in other mediums, mainly television. In 1992 kids watched as Batman: The Animated Series created a new Bat mythos different from the films or the long-standing comic series. Anyone part of the generation that was exposed to this version of Batman cites it as the foundation of their passion for the bat.

Bat Out of Development Hell – Part 3: Requiem for a Bat

In 2000, the frenzy that followed the release of X-Men had studios buying up any comic book property they could get their hands on and putting those titles into production before the ink was dry. And the heads at Warner Brothers did something a bit unfounded; they would develop multiple story ideas, which would eventually lead to the rebirth of the prized Batman franchise. They could have continued to build upon the previous films. A script was already ordered for Batman Triumphant (aka Batman 5) and George Clooney was contracted to play Bruce Wayne again. Or, they could go in a new direction, a vastly different direction.

Bat Out of Development Hell – Part 2: Nicholson Returns?

“Let me be the way I’m not in interviews. I’m furious. I’m furious. They never asked me about a sequel with the Joker. I know how to do that! Nobody ever asked me.” — Jack Nicholson to MTV in 2007

During the above interview, Jack Nicholson was 70-years-old. It had been almost twenty years since the first Batman film. Obviously, this is an aging movie legend ranting about something that would never happen. Even Adam West got bent out of shape when he found out that he wasn’t considered for Burton’s 1989 reboot. To that I say: not true. A second appearance of Jack’s Joker could have very easily happened. Let me tell you why.

Bat Out of Development Hell – Part 1: Batman vs. Superman

The quest to bring Batman to the screen began in the late 70s. Superman was a hit, so why not try other superheroes? Film development being the hellish process it is, it took nearly ten years to get 1989′s Batman. Not bad considering Tim Burton and screenwriter Sam Hamm were literally creating the empirical baseline on which all Bat movies would be based. The various sequels would either be a little darker and sinister, a little goofier, and finally downright retarded. By 1997, the series seemed finished but was strangely saved a few years later by a band of mutants. X-Men brought back super hero movies like a phoenix (pun intended) and suddenly Batman had another shot. But what’s almost more interesting than Batman’s return to the big screen is the story of the various attempts to get him there.

The Trouble with Quibbles: Prometheus

Prometheus is a science fiction horror show directed by Ridley Scott from a script by Jon Spaihts and Damon Lindelof. When a team of archeologists uncover what they believe to be an ancient invitation from outer space, pointing to a far off galaxy, they join the crew of the Prometheus to investigate the possible extraterrestrial origins of humanity. Prometheus is also a prequel to Alien… not really… kinda… it wants to be… almost as much as it doesn’t… but it is… ish…

Earth’s Mightiest Decade – Part 5: Hypothetical Casting

I think we can all agree that there will be big summer super hero movies for a good long while. There will be an Avengers sequel. There will be yet another Spider-Man. Another era of Batman is around the corner. With so many properties on the horizon, we can’t help but play our favorite game Cast That Hero! In a perfect world, we would see these actors suiting up in the future. We also take a moment to mourn great casting that could have been.

The Trouble with Quibbles: The Avengers

[Editor's note: Unlike Nate & Rosko, I have yet so see The Avengers. As such, in an effort to avoid ginormous spoilers, they've used the codename "Swayze" to refer to major plot point without actually giving it away. Beyond that, I would hardly call anything in this Quibble an actual spoiler, but they have highlighted a couple of points where they feel some might complain.]

As we wrap up our Earth’s Mightiest Decade series, Rosko and I finally sit down to discuss what we see as ten years worth of work.  Is The Avengers truly the culmination of everything that has come before it? In the film, Nick Fury finally gathers earth’s mightiest heroes together to form the Avengers and fight Loki’s army. Is it the apex of an era or the next stage in the evolution of comic book adaptation? Rosko and I will try to breakdown the future of Joss Whedon, Walt Disney Pictures, and the ending that will have every geek talking for the next two years

Earth’s Mightiest Decade – Part 3: Biggest Disappointments

There’s been a lot of trial and error in the last ten years. In the race to make the biggest superhero blockbusters, Hollywood has also made some real shit. Hollywood has been making westerns for decades, same with comedies and dramas. Comparatively, superheroes are new territory. The following is a list of the greatest disappointments from the decade when superheroes were king.

Earth’s Mightiest Decade – Part 2: Best Casting

Finding actors to play superheroes is one very interesting process. Many of these characters have been around for over half a century and they are iconic images in American culture: Peter Parker’s disheveled nerdiness, Steve Roger’s physique and golden hair, Elektra’s accent. Well, they can’t all be home-runs. Over the last ten years, there have been almost as many missteps as there are triumphs in finding just the right person to embody characters that sometimes defy reality. These are the ten best cast actors and the characters they brought to life.

What the Fourth Means to Me

The Fourth of July is more than an American holiday. Traditionally, it also coincides with the release of Hollywood’s big-budget blockbusters, the studios’ tent-pole movies. Sadly, this year the Hollywood studios seem to be pitching their tents for the sole benefit of 15-year-olds. [Editor's note: It's just like in Jaws, with Hollywood in the place of the town of Amity. Hollywood is a summer town, they need summer dollars. But, they would never act out of foolhardy desperation in attempt to make more money. Surely, they learned the lesson about the price of greed espoused in the original summer blockbuster...]

An Open Letter to the Movie Studios

Hi, it’s me, Nathan Ayling. You don’t know me, which is probably a good thing because if I met any of you, I’d probably rip off my Empire Strikes Back t-shirt and stuff it down your delusional fucking throats. You’re having a bad summer, eh? No shit. I could have told you that. I could have told you that a year ago. “What’s wrong,” you ask. Well, here is the hard truth: I, Nathan Ayling, have seen three new movies this year, and when Nathan Ayling doesn’t go to the movies it’s a bad, bad thing.