Top 5 Batman Films

I had an idea to do a top 5 a while ago as I haven’t done one since my Romantic Comedies Top 5 in February and then decided that since I thoroughly enjoyed The Dark Knight Rises and have been unable to stop talking about it since viewing it opening night that it would be a great idea for a top 5 list. I have always loved Batman as a child and can vividly remember reading the children’s series of books and watching Batman Returns on repeat many a Friday night. The idea of a man who is a billionaire and putting the money towards saving the world fighting bad guys and the various gadgets that he has is a genius concept. As Christopher Nolan has recently rebooted the franchise, it has set my heart alight and allowed me to rekindle my love with the Caped Crusader. 

Screen Gal’s top five Batman films:

1. The Dark Knight Rises 
2. The Dark Knight
3. Batman Returns
4. Batman (1989)
5. Batman Begins

 

1. The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Wow...in what way could I possibly begin talking about this film? In my opinion this is a perfect piece of filmmaking. I have been so excited about seeing the final ending of the trilogy and after the endless teaser trailers and posters bearing the words ‘The Legend Ends’ the wait was finally over and I seen the film on opening night on Friday 20^th July. Naturally, I had really high expectations about this film and I can say without hesitation that I was not in any way disappointed. 

The Dark Knight Rises takes place eight years after The Dark Knight as Batman’s reputation is tarnished after he took the blame for Harvey Dent’s crimes. Bruce Wayne is living in exile with only Alfred for company. A new enemy emerges in the form of ‘Bane’ and threatens to destroy Gotham with his faithful army of mercenaries.  Batman must once again don his cape and return to defeat Bane as he is the true saviour of Gotham. 

This is without a doubt THE best Batman film ever made, it is visually stunning, the acting is incredible, the plot is explosive and it is just a perfect film.  The cast could not have been more perfect and all the actors looked as though they were born to play the parts, Christian Bale especially as Bruce Wayne delivered yet again another fantastic performance and I also enjoyed Anne Hathaway as Catwoman. I am not normally a fan of her work and Michelle Pfeiffer will always be Catwoman to me but I liked her take on the character. However, the best performance for me was Tom Hardy as Bane. I had no problems understanding his dialogue and found him terrifying at times. This is definitely a film to see and one which will leave you wanting to see it over and over again.

2. The Dark Knight (2008)

The Dark Knight was one of my favourite films of 2008, and looking back I can remember feeling the exact same way I did about this film as the way I feel now about its follow up. If I cast my mind back to 2008 and all the hype that surrounded this film, I was particularly excited but also saddened as Heath Ledger tragically died from a drug overdose and this was to be his shining moment. The Joker has always been my favourite Batman villain since I was a child so when I knew that he was going to be the main focus of The Dark Knight I was very excited to see what was coming our way. 

The Dark Knight takes place after the events of Batman Begins, where Batman is continuing to raise the stakes on his war with crime. Together with Lieutenant Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, the three successfully begin to round up the criminals that plague Gotham City until a mysterious character known as The Joker wreaks havoc on the citizens of Gotham and throws Batman between the lines of Hero and Vigilante. Meanwhile Bruce must look within himself and see his life more personally as Rachel Dawes is in danger and love triangle with Harvey Dent. 

The Dark Knight is a fantastic film and at times quite harrowing to watch. Heath Ledger delivers the performance of his career and one which he will be remembered for. He is sadistic and psychotic and I love the little tics and twitches that he brings to the character. The opening is fantastic, with a bank robbery taking place where all the robbers are wearing clown masks and talking about the man who hired them for the job, as the audience we know who they are referring to. The film does not lack on action or suspense and the climax chase between The Joker and Batman certainly delivers and gives the audience the Batman picture that they had been waiting for.

3. Batman Returns (1992)

As I stated above, Batman Returns was always my favourite Batman film as a child and one which I most vividly remember. Michael Keaton was a particularly favourite actor of mine, after seeing him in Beetlejuice many times and I thought that he was a good choice to play Batman. 

Batman Returns is the second Tim Burton Batman feature film, where after defeating the Joker he must now face a new villain - the Penguin.  Together with Max Scheck, a crooked businessman with a plan to destroy Gotham, the two men attempt to expose Batman in a different light. As Penguin runs for Mayor, desperate to become accepted into society after being abandoned and living in the sewers for years, Max has his own problems to deal with after he wrongs his secretary, Selina Kyle. Selina is thrown from a building and transformed into Catwoman, who has her own agenda with Gotham and Batman. 

I am a huge fan of Tim Burton films and am quite glad that he chose to do a sequel to Batman (1989). It is clear from the outset that he had more creative control in this film, as from the opening credits it is clear that it is a Burton film that we are watching. This film is very clever and very creative; my favourite character of course has to be Catwoman. Michelle Pfieffer is phenomenal as Catwoman and has such dominance about her that every scene she appears in she steals it. Selina radiates sexuality and is quite a match for Batman. Credit it also due to Danny DeVito and I thought he was absolutely perfect for the role of The Penguin. 

4. Batman (1989)

I actually only seen this film around a month ago when my better half and I done a countdown on the lead up to The Dark Knight Roses. I had heard so much about this film and seen various clips of Jack Nicholson’s characterisation of The Joker.  I was really excited to see this film, being a huge fan of Tim Burton’s work and hearing all the hype that surrounded this film being ‘the original’ Batman flick. 

The story begins with a child, Bruce Wayne, who after seeing his parents murdered decides that he will avenge their deaths in a battle with crime as the costumed superhero Batman. Gotham City is controlled by Carl Grissom and his sadistic second in command Jack Napier, who plans to replace him as the head of the crime syndicate. However, Jack becomes horribly disfigured after an incident in a chemical factory and adopts the alter ego of The Joker. It is then up to Batman, along with help from Vicki Vale, a photo journalist to help save Gotham before The Joker takes control and it’s too late to save the city.

I really liked Michael Keaton as Batman and felt that he was quite suited to the character. In this film there a lot of depth to Bruce and he is more socially awkward, often hiding in the shadows. Another member of the cast who I of course have to mention is Jack Nicolson, who gave a fantastic performance as the Joker, and looked quite scary when he had no make – up on and his scars were very visible. This was the first Batman film after the 1960’s Adam West camp fest and was actually taken quite seriously at the time, with one critic claiming that it was ‘too dark’.  Burton has created a memorable, entertaining superhero film which many fans still hold dear in their hearts. 

5. Batman Begins (2005)

 

I had heard numerous reports at the time of this film’s release that it was a big disappointment and it should be avoided at all costs so I admit that on first viewing I was rather sceptical about Batman being brought back. I thought that Chris Nolan successfully explored the origins of Batman and felt Liam Neeson had a great part to play. Batman Begins reboots the Batman films and explores Bruce’s fear of bats and having to cope with losing his parents. 

As a young child, Bruce Wayne is playing with his childhood friend Rachel Dawes when he falls into a well which is filled with bats, causing him to develop a deep phobia. Soon afterwards he witnesses his parents’ murder and so has to be cared for by the family butler Alfred Pennyworth.  Bruce then travels the world seeking the means to fight injustice, mentored by Ra’s Al Ghul he learns how to fight evil and trains as a ninja.  Bruce returns home and finds that Gotham has become overrun with crime and corruption and decides to face his fears and tackle crime under the ego of Batman. With a strong team around him, including Lucius Fox, Alfred and Lieutenant Jim Gordon, he soon undertakes his secret identity and fights the criminals who plague Gotham’s streets. 

I thought that this was a fantastic film with great depth and emotion. Michael Caine is absolutely perfect as Alfred and I honestly cannot think of a better actor to play him. Another character who I really loved is Dr Jonathan Crane aka Scarecrow, however I would have liked to have seen a lot more of him. I also liked how this film did not wholly focus on action; instead it gave the audience a background as to who this person is behind the mask and why he is important. A solid beginning for a fantastic trilogy. 

That's my top five Batman films folks, please feel free to comment or add your own top five! I will be reviewing another film before I jet off on holiday next week so save my blog in your favourites as you don't want to miss out! Thanks for all the views guys and to keep up to date with the latest news please follow me @Screen_Gal on Twitter!