LogFAQs > #910076455

For this list, I'll be running through all of these movies in chronological order, so we start today with...

Batman (1966)
Nominated by: Karo

Batman is an oddity in the superhero film genre in that it is not a standalone comic book movie but rather a continuation of the extremely popular three-year television series that aired on ABC. The film is fondly regarded - as is the show - by a bygone generation that embraced the campy appeal of the series. Instead of attempting to rework this film from scratch, there are a lot of pieces in place that can't be changed. The casting needs to remain the same, the tone of the show has to remain the same... ultimately, this needs to be an extension of what was already popular in its time.

While I'm not personally a big fan of the show itself, I do enjoy a lot of what made it tick. Performers like Frank Gorshin in particular really embodied the role they played. Meredith and Romero were also essential to the success of the original Batman show, so carrying them over to the movie only made sense. In fact, the idea of highlighting a group of villains working together was exactly what was necessary for this film - the show's greatest strength was playing up the goofy but entertaining guest baddies. And while I can't say the writing was the best in the world, it still held true to the show that came before it.

I think, in order to make this movie become a little more timeless, ABC and FOX would need to bring in a ringer writer and/or director and hand them a larger budget. For the era, someone along the lines of a Norman Lear would probably be a great choice. A better use of camerawork to make this feel less like a multi-cam sitcom would also be appreciated. If Batman is given the vibe of the show with the feel of a true movie, the stakes would feel more raised and the must-see quality of the movie would have some urgency. But the pieces and components are already there. Big names appearing as surprise cameos, for example, are certainly welcome. Even Sammy Davis, Jr.'s brief how-do-you-do is delightful in its own way. What I'm thinking is that Batman would be best served with just a little bit of that 21 Jump Street magic, not in terms of rauchiness, but in terms of unpredictability. If a larger budget had been given, we could have more absurd Bat-devices, for example. Better turns for the villains with sets that feel more akin to each character.

Ultimately, though, I think snappier dialogue with some nods to the fourth wall would be most welcome here. The show always embraced the camp, and the movie is best served by embracing the embrace of the camp. If it was a little more self-aware with more back-and-forth between characters, Batman would certainly be fondly remembered as a best episode of a series on steroids.

So while this isn't a movie you can really remake or even play with too much, you could definitely enhance the quality of the film with a couple million extra bucks and an outside eye.
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"It is too easy being monsters. Let us try to be human." ~Victor Frankenstein, Penny Dreadful