Brian Damage
07-20-2011, 11:09 PM
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As this year's Comic-Con gets under way in San Diego, there is much excitement surrounding the final film in Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy. His gothic, nihilistic movies have been a tremendous success. They are well-made and speak to an audience that thrills to what might be called suspenseful carnage. But without minimizing Nolan's accomplishment, I'd like to pay tribute those who still put their faith in the "Bright Knight" of the late 1960s. The 'Batman' movie and TV series of that era were brightly colored, not dark and violent, and expressed visions of a different kind of Gotham City. They were an extension of the safe and familiar comic books of that time. Zap! Pow! Baaaarrroooom! They were tongue-in-cheek, funny, over the top and perfectly in sync with the times. Think of the three B's of that period and their staying power in world culture: The Beatles, Bond and Batman. What darkness there was arrived well-dressed and furnished with a disarming wit.
Think of Batman's many great guest stars and the hilariously troubled villains they created: Julie Newmar as Catwoman, who promised to date a stimulated Batman when she got out of jail. Time off for good behavior? "Hey Diddle Riddle" and here comes the Riddler, Frank Gorshin, with another dazzlingly cornball conundrum that only he with his maniacal laugh could frame. Funny man. The Penguin possessed a playful mean streak that was as instantly identifiable as his elegant cigarette holder and shining glass monocle -- that was the late, great Burgess Meredith, just nailing it. Playing Batman and Bruce Wayne alongside those actors was nothing short of a delight.
http://blog.moviefone.com/2011/07/20/adam-west-comic-con-bright-knight/
As this year's Comic-Con gets under way in San Diego, there is much excitement surrounding the final film in Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy. His gothic, nihilistic movies have been a tremendous success. They are well-made and speak to an audience that thrills to what might be called suspenseful carnage. But without minimizing Nolan's accomplishment, I'd like to pay tribute those who still put their faith in the "Bright Knight" of the late 1960s. The 'Batman' movie and TV series of that era were brightly colored, not dark and violent, and expressed visions of a different kind of Gotham City. They were an extension of the safe and familiar comic books of that time. Zap! Pow! Baaaarrroooom! They were tongue-in-cheek, funny, over the top and perfectly in sync with the times. Think of the three B's of that period and their staying power in world culture: The Beatles, Bond and Batman. What darkness there was arrived well-dressed and furnished with a disarming wit.
Think of Batman's many great guest stars and the hilariously troubled villains they created: Julie Newmar as Catwoman, who promised to date a stimulated Batman when she got out of jail. Time off for good behavior? "Hey Diddle Riddle" and here comes the Riddler, Frank Gorshin, with another dazzlingly cornball conundrum that only he with his maniacal laugh could frame. Funny man. The Penguin possessed a playful mean streak that was as instantly identifiable as his elegant cigarette holder and shining glass monocle -- that was the late, great Burgess Meredith, just nailing it. Playing Batman and Bruce Wayne alongside those actors was nothing short of a delight.
http://blog.moviefone.com/2011/07/20/adam-west-comic-con-bright-knight/