60s Batman show rights issues resolved!

[Gov Kodos]

Of the Burton Batman movies, Batman Forever, is my favorite.

I wouldn't count that as a "Burton" film. It was directed by Joel Shumacher and feels very different than the films Burton actually directed.

And, yeah, it's not the completely unwatchable disaster the fourth film was . . . .

I know Joel Shumacher directed the last two movies in that series. But the last time I mentioned that to Dream in this thread he responded with this:

Schumacher? What are you talking about.

Schumacher NEVER did any Batman movies. It was always Burton and then we had Nolan doing them.

So I was trying to making him happy by not mentioning Schumacher.

I liked 'Batman Forever' and even enjoyed a lot about 'Batman and Robin' even with the cringe worthy batcredit cards and such silliness. I prefer them to Nolan's films, but that may be in part my enjoyment of the camp Adam West show to the modern serious Batman. What can I say, I also enjoy 'Howard the Duck'.

 

[N-121973]

Also why the HELL were Green Hornet and Kato even on the show? They aren't even DC Comic characters are they?

Remember, the Batman sitcom was long, long before all DC film and TV rights were consolidated under Warner Bros. or DC Entertainment. The show was produced by 20th Century Fox Television and Greenway Productions, under license from what was then called National Comics Publications. Fox and Greenway also produced a Green Hornet show, so they had the rights to use both of them on TV. It's the same reason IDW Comics is able to publish the just-started Star Trek/Doctor Who crossover miniseries; the two franchises are from different owners, but IDW has the license to publish comics for both of them.

The crossovers between Batman and The Green Hornet were complicated and mindbending from a continuity standpoint. First off, the window cameo in which Batman and Robin recognized the Hornet and Kato as crimefighters was ignored by the later full crossover episode in which the Dynamic Duo believed them to be criminals, which was their cover in their own show. For another thing, TGH was a far more serious and naturalistic show than Batman; the Hornet had futuristic gadgets, but operated in a world that was basically realistic by '60s action-show standards. Moreover, Batman actually existed as a television show within the world of TGH, and we saw people watching it on more than one occasion in the show. So the Hornet was real in Batman's universe, but Batman was fictional in the Hornet's universe.

Actually there is continuity-twisting reference to TGH on Batman between their two onscreen appearences on the show which suggests that TGH existed as a TV-show in the Dozierverse Batman.
I can't remember the exact episode but Batman and Robin are called into action by Commissioner Gordon and Dick laments the fact that they were just going to sit down and watch the Green Hornet on TV. Sorry I can't remember which Batman episode it was.

 

[inflatabledalek]

One thing that puzzles my (not even remotely legal) mind. The article claims that Warner's have previously been able to do merchendise to the show, just not anything featuring the likeness of the actors (just logo bases stuff and the Batmobile). So is this the result of a new deal with Fox, or is it the case Warner's could have always done this but have only recently done deals with the actors and their estates?

After all, they already own the look of Batman and can seemingly use the logo so if they do a separate one on one deal with, say, Adam West to use his face on a Batman toy in a box with the 60's logo on it would they even need to consult Fox to do it?

 

[Gojira]

Well, Burton did produce Batman Forever, at least, so it's kind of a transitional piece.

ComicsAlliance did a great series of reviews of the Batman movies, often offering some surprising perspectives, and they argued pretty effectively that Batman & Robin was actually the most cohesive of the four Burton/Schumacher movies, the one that has the clearest sense of what kind of movie it is (a goofy, ridiculous one), what story it wants to tell, and what the characters' motivations are. (Although they hated Silverstone's Batgirl.) Here's the review (Part One, Part Two), and links to their reviews of the previous three films are at the end of Part Two. (They also went on to review Catwoman, the '66 Batman feature, Mask of the Phantasm, and the Nolan films, then did the Blade trilogy, and they've just finished working through the Reeve Superman films and Supergirl. They'll be starting in on Superman Returns this Monday, unless they've managed to obtain a copy of Steel in the interim.)

I liked 'Batman Forever' and even enjoyed a lot about 'Batman and Robin' even with the cringe worthy batcredit cards and such silliness. I prefer them to Nolan's films, but that may be in part my enjoyment of the camp Adam West show to the modern serious Batman. What can I say, I also enjoy 'Howard the Duck'.

I actually like Schumacher films more than the Burton films. I cut my teeth on the Adam West version and I see the Schumacher films as an homage to the 60s series.

I actually watched Batman & Robin last night and while it is silly and over the top and campy there is a good story in there along with some good character development.

I think comic book movies should have an element of fun to them. I do like Nolan's take on Batman and am enjoying the series but The Dark Knight, while a well made movie went on too long was too complicated and in the end a joyless movie that I don't re-watch too often.

I would rather watch the Adam West or Schumacher Batman because they're fun!

 

[inflatabledalek]

Batman and Robin is a great movie for small kids, big bright and like having a mouthful of blue smarties. My little cousin loves it and she and I will often throw random Arnie quotes at each other. Unlike the West show it doesn't have that adult crossover appeal (what makes it work is everyone in the West series plays it straight- most could have done the roles in a "Serious" Batman show- whilst in And Robin they're all winking at the camera and trying too hard to be knowingly camp) but I think it's a testament to the character he can do the high camp of West and Shumacher and the dark and gritty Nolan films and do both well.

I can't really imagine a Superman film working in either style, Bats is just more versatile for whatever reason.

 

[Admiral James Kirk]

That's unfair. Batman Forever was a solid movie.

This is a Recap of Batman Forever that ALL Batman fans should read. More people need to realize how awful the whole thing was.

http://www.agonybooth.com/recaps/Batman_Forever_1995.aspx

No, my brain is still functioning. I don't need other people to tell me what I should and should not be enjoying. Thanks for your concern.

 

[Dream]

http://www.agonybooth.com/recaps/Batman_Forever_1995.aspx

No, my brain is still functioning. I don't need other people to tell me what I should and should not be enjoying. Thanks for your concern.

The point of that Recap is not to get you to hate the Batman Forever, but to point out how stupid the writing is. It is also there to provide some humor. I certainly enjoyed reading it.

 

[RandyS]

For me the world is big enough for all flavors of Batman, from the comics to Adam West, Burton, Schumacher and Nolan. It's all fun for me.

Schumacher? What are you talking about.

Schumacher NEVER did any Batman movies. It was always Burton and then we had Nolan doing them.

That's unfair. Batman Forever was a solid movie. It's no Batman Begins but it was at least as good as Batman Returns.

I hate that Batman Forever gets tarred and feathered just because it's the older, wiser brother of the mentally retarded Batman & Robin.

Actually, it's better than Batman Returns. I've always thought it ironic how Tim Burton is respected, and Joel Shumaker hated, when they did the exact same thing. They both made excellent first Batman films, and shitty second ones.

What's even more ironic, is that Nolan also did this. But since he's making a third one, I'm looking forward to seeing if the pattern is broken.

 

[JD]

I just watched Batman Forever while it was briefly streaming on Netflix, and I really enjoyed it. I just thought it was alot of fun. I've never bothered with B&R, but after seeing that there are some people on here that do like it, I might have to move it up in my netflix disc queue.

 

[Gojira]

I just watched Batman Forever while it was briefly streaming on Netflix, and I really enjoyed it. I just thought it was alot of fun. I've never bothered with B&R, but after seeing that there are some people on here that do like it, I might have to move it up in my netflix disc queue.

I watched Batman and Robin last night. It is a lot fun. They did intensify the camp aspect of it and there are a lot of corny one liners but all in all it is a lot of fun. Great visuals too. A real comic book come to life.

 

[Trekker4747]

Batman and Robin is a great movie ...

As far as I need to read.

 

[Brikar99]

While far from my preferred interpretation of the character, the Adam West Batman is a ton of fun. I will eagerly revisit this series if it comes to DVD.

 

[the G-man]

Schumacher? What are you talking about.

Schumacher NEVER did any Batman movies. It was always Burton and then we had Nolan doing them.

That's unfair. Batman Forever was a solid movie. It's no Batman Begins but it was at least as good as Batman Returns.

I hate that Batman Forever gets tarred and feathered just because it's the older, wiser brother of the mentally retarded Batman & Robin.

Actually, it's better than Batman Returns.....

Yes.

Batman Returns had as much camp, if not more, than Batman Forever: Penguin for Mayor (a plot lifted from the 60s TV show), the giant ducky boat, the circus of crime, the army of Penguins with rocket launchers, Selina being brough to life after being bitten by (apparently magic) alley cats, most of the scenes with Max, etc.

Forever had better action scenes.

And compare the two different reasons in the two different films why Bruce revealed--or tried to reveal--his ID to the villains. In Forever, he tried to reveal his ID to Harvey to save people's lives. In Returns it revealed it to Selina, the Penguin and Max to try and get laid.

I'm not saying Forever isn't a flawed film. But it's better than Returns.

 

[Dream]

Batman and Robin is a great movie ...

As far as I need to read.

Yeah, I'm not even going to bother to argue anymore.

If they think the Batmobile driving up the side of a building, nipples on the batsuit and big neon signs in Gotham is a great thing... good for them.

 

[Admiral James Kirk]

Batman and Robin is a great movie ...

As far as I need to read.

Yeah, I'm not even going to bother to argue anymore.

If they think the Batmobile driving up the side of a building, nipples on the batsuit and big neon signs in Gotham is a great thing... good for them.

I don't think anybody believes nipples on the batsuit are a good thing.

Neon signs in Gotham are a stylistic choice that I don't like but don't dislike enough ruin Forever for me.

As for the Batmobile riding a line up the side of a building...

Well shit... Did the rooftop Tumbler chase ruin Batman Begins for you?

 

[Gojira]

Batman and Robin is a great movie ...

As far as I need to read.

Yeah, I'm not even going to bother to argue anymore.

If they think the Batmobile driving up the side of a building, nipples on the batsuit and big neon signs in Gotham is a great thing... good for them.

There is nothing to ever argue about to begin with. People have different tastes. Certainly you are not insinuating that your opinion on Batman & Robin is superior to those that liked the movie are you?

 

[Dream]

There is nothing to ever argue about to begin with. People have different tastes. Certainly you are not insinuating that your opinion on Batman & Robin is superior to those that liked the movie are you?

It's fine that a few people here love Batman Forever and Batman and Robin, doesn't mean I have to ever agree with them! They'll never change my mind.

I get a little defensive whenever someone badmouths Batman Returns though. I really love that movie even with its faults.

 

[Admiral James Kirk]

I love Batman Returns. It's my favorite of the Burmacher series. However, favorably comparing Forever to Returns is not badmouthing Returns. It's complimenting Forever.

 

[Gojira]

There is nothing to ever argue about to begin with. People have different tastes. Certainly you are not insinuating that your opinion on Batman & Robin is superior to those that liked the movie are you?

It's fine that a few people here love Batman Forever and Batman and Robin, doesn't mean I have to ever agree with them! They'll never change my mind.

I get a little defensive whenever someone badmouths Batman Returns though. I really love that movie even with its faults.

I do understand. I like all 4 from that series some more than other. For me each of those movies have thier good and bad points.

 

[RandyS]

I love Batman Returns. It's my favorite of the Burmacher series. However, favorably comparing Forever to Returns is not badmouthing Returns. It's complimenting Forever.

It's also just expressing an opinion.

I think we forget that fact sometimes, no matter what the discussion is.