Farewell Christopher Nolan

The debate over who is the greatest director to work on Batman is relative in fact there are many fans who prefer Tim Burton's take on the character than Nolan's. However, it is undoubtable that Christopher Nolan has made on of the most real world and serious superhero adaptions in the history of the comic book movie genre. To those comic book fans who continually jeer him for his departure from the comics please consider he is the only filmmaker who you could guess with a degree of accuracy as to where he gets the inspiration for his films. For example Batman Begins is inspired from Batman Year one, The Dark Knight is from The Long Halloween as well as The Killing Joke and The Dark Knight Rises is inspired by Knightfall, The Dark Knight Returns and No Man's Land. The fact that his movies are titled "The Dark Knight" is a nod to Frank Miller, Jeph Loeb and others who worked on Batman's story arc in the 80's and more importantly no director working on the character has given a complete as well as true adaption of what's in the comics. Being honest let us look back at the earlier adaptions of Batman on the big screen and correctly judge Nolan's work.

Batman(1966): This film directed by Leslie H. Martinson was light, campy, colorful and over the top it featured Batman's rogues' gallery from the TV show as well as a gaint mechanical shark. In Batman the Dynamic Duo must rescue Commissioner Gordon and save the world from the sinister United Underworld (The Joker, Penguin, Riddler and Catwoman). Though bad the film has a vintage cultural and aesthetic quality but it remains a long way off from where Nolan would take the caped crusader.

Batman(1989): Tim Burton's Batman returned the character back to his dark and gothic roots as well as set in motion a cultural phenomenon that 23 years later is still being felt today. In this amazing film Batman must take down the Joker portrayed wonderful by Jack Nicholson before he can poison all of Gotham and save his love interest Vicky Vale. The entire film is set in a gothic art deco world where the Joker murders Bruce Wayne's parents his goons seem more like a gang with black jackets and Joker patches rather than mobsters also he is more comical than a sinister fiend. While Burton is the only director to bring to life the Joker comic book origins it is Nolan who adapted the twisted black heart and soul of the character for the silver screen and he filled the character with a deeper sense of purpose.

Batman Returns(1992): The sequel to the wildly popular Batman is fondly remembered for the wonderful portrayal Michelle Phfeiffer gave in the role of Catwoman and Danny DeVito's Penguin. Batman must stop the Penguin from becoming mayor as well as keep him from destroying Gotham when his plans are foiled. This movie is a perfect illustration of the danger of what can happen when elements of fantasy is taken too far in Batman. There is mind controlled penguins, a woman who mysteriously survives or is resurrected after falling from a tower and a man who lives in the sewer for 33 years by eating raw fish.

Batman Forever(1995): Directed by Joel Schumacher this movie combines the dark elements as well as the aesthetics of Burtons films with some of the camp, colorfulness and over the top performances found in the 60's TV show. It is centered around the Dynamic Duo saving Gotham from the Riddler's insane plot to acquire all the knowledge in Gotham also they have to bring down Two-Facw who murdered Dick Grayson parents. Besides the flamboyant colorful villains who specifically in the Riddler's case at times exhibit homo erotic behavior there are some good moments in this film but not enough to overcome the camp and silliness found in the plot. This movie serves as a cautionary tale as to what can happen when Batman becomes too light and some of the silliness overwhelms the more serious elements of the adaption.

Batman & Robin(1997): What can be said about this film that has not been said by critics and Batman fans a thousand times already? Bat nipples, cock pieces and Bat butt.The plot is incoherent the dynamic duo argues most of the film and the villains are a shell of their comic book greatness with the notable exception of Poison Ivy who is the best character in the film. Batgirl background is changed in the movie and her appearance in the adaption is both unnecessary and forced what's worse is her character does not appear to have much direction. This movie is a monument to failure, a guide for what not to do in a comic book adaption.

Christopher Nolan was given the task to reboot the franchise and undo the damage caused by early adaptions of the character also he would have to build a new audience for the Batman franchise. In Batman Begins he laid the foundations for the transformation of the franchise also the success of this movie would resurrect it from the grave Joel Schumacher left it in. Nolan's Batman is a radical departure from the gothic art deco, the silliness as well as the camp found in many of the franchise earlier works. Bruce Wayne would exist in the real world his origin from a nine year old scarred by the death of his parents to the world greatest detective would be journeyed into. The next film in his series The Dark Knight would elevate the work he did in the previous film but ratchet up the scale of the destruction as well as the stakes also he would show that there are consequences to being a hero. What makes Nolan so great is that he is a wonderful story teller with an eye for what elements will work best in his film. In a week The Dark Knight Rises will complete the story told by him in 2005 and he will leave the franchise with a record of excellence that few filmmakers can match. It's unfortunate that he is denied the respect that he justly deserves because many persons cannot appreciate the significance and magnitude of what he accomplished. He proves that it is not what you are given that counts but what you leave behind for others and Nolan was given a lump of coal to start with, he now leaves behind a rare diamond for another man to shape.