Batman Rises (2007)
Director: Robert Rodriguez
Producer: Robert Rodriquez, Frank Miller
Writer: Frank Miller (credit) Screenplay by David Hayter
Staring:
Ron Perlman as Batman/Bruce Wayne
Nicholas Cage as The Joker
Ellen Page as Carrie Kelly
Christopher Lee as Alfred Pennyworth
Morgan Freeman as Commissioner Gordon
Sam Worthington as the Mutant Leader
Carrie-Anne Moss as Ellen Yindel
Shortly after the release of Superman:Returns (1) WB decided to move forward on adapting its other major DC hero, Batman. From nearly the onset Director Robert Rodriguez was attached to the film which was intended to be a darker more grounded take on the hero. Rodriquez also lobbied hard to have the film be an adaption of Frank Miller's work with the character, given their history after working together on Sin City. Originally plans were to adapt the Year One story to tie in with the new young Superman film. However plans were later changed to take on the more recognizable story The Dark Knight Returns. David Hayter was also attached to the project in order to adapt the screenplay after his success in bringing a more realistic X-Men to screen.
Efforts were made to separate this project from the previous adaptations by having Batman be portrayed as an older man, retired from his life of crime fighting only to be drawn back in, thus many of the characters were deliberately depicted as much older than the traditional view. Ron Perlman was cast as the lead hero, both due to the actor's physical size matching Miller's interpretation and to make Batman seem gruffer and more cynical(2). Christopher Lee fresh off his role as Saurman in the widely successful Lord of the Rings was given the role as Alfred Pennyworth. Lastly Morgan Freeman was chosen to portray Batman's traditional ally in the Police Force as Commissioner Gordon, a choice that sparked off a minor controversy as Gordon is Caucasian in the comics (3 ). In order to play Batman's arch foe, The Joker, Nicholas Cage was picked due to the actor's impressive audition and helped to give the Joker a manic energy that had shades of Jack Nicholson's take on the character in the 1989 film (4).
Several new characters were also being depicted for the first time on the big screen. Carrie Kelly, the new Robin, was shopped around to many young actresses before going to Juno star Ellen Page. The Mutant Leader whose actions drive Batman out of his retirement was given to young Sam Worthington on the condition he gain 20 pounds of muscle in order to better fit the massive character (5). Carrie-Anne Moss of Matrix fame was later cast as the no nonsense assistant commissioner Ellen Yindel.
The film's plot was largely an direct adaption of the Graphic Novel, with several changes made to save on time or in order to allow for possible sequels. The story opens on Bruce Wayne, older and retired dealing with an increasing distaste for the state of Gotham after he stopped acting as its protector. A new gang has taken power in the city, ruled by the charismatic leader. After seeing a news broadcast about a botched Mutant kidnapping that lead to the deaths of a young boy, combined with the late movie being Mask of Zorro (6), Batman returns to his suit and takes to the night (7). Batman's actions attract the attention of the Mutant Leader who has his gang take over the airways in order to issue an open challenge to Batman. Batman is able to easily defeat the Mutants but is nearly overcome by the Mutant Leader, and must be saved by Carrie Kelly. After returning to the cave Batman realizes his error in trying to fight the Mutant Leader one on one. Meanwhile Commissioner Gordon is being challenged by his inability to handle the Mutant Leader, and faces pressure to step down due to his closeness to Batman.
Knowing that he'd never truly break the Mutants if the Leader can claim to have beaten Batman, Bruce tricks the gang into having a meet-up where he manages to break out the Leader and using his superior training Batman is able to publicly cripple him. This however is the final straw for the Commissioner who is made to step down in favor of Yindel, who promises to take Batman in no matter what (8). The news that Batman is back in Gotham also reaches Arkham Asylum, and the Joker, who'd been unresponsive once he realized Batman had retired. With renewed energy Joker is able to trick his doctors into believing he is sane, and even talks them into letting him on a talk show. Once on the show Joker reveals his true nature and attacks the audience, using a special gas he had former henchmen hide in the vents (9). Batman hurries to the scene but misses the Joker, and has to fight his way free of the SWAT team that had just arrived, unfortunately he is wounded in the process. Tracking the Joker down to an amusement park he finds the Joker handing out poisoned cotton candy with several of his henchmen. While he chases the Joker, Carrie is left to fight Joker's gang (10). Finally finding the Joker in the Tunnel of Love the two engage in what could be their final battle. At first the Joker seems to be gaining the upper-hand, but Batman reveals that he's been holding back all this time out of fear of killing someone. A fear he no longer has with the Joker. Knocking him to the ground he begins to savagely beat his foe, until the police arrive driving him off. The Joker is found alive, but in bad shape (11) (12).
Batman now an outlaw returns to his cave with Carrie to contemplate the future. The scene cuts to several days later where Batman is brooding on a rooftop over looking the alley where his parents were killed when a shadow falls over his face. Batman says "[he] knew you'd come" when a voice response that "they need to talk." and the camera pans to show Brandon Routh as Superman (13 )
Notes:
(1) this timeline is based on the idea that Superman Returns is a much larger success which WB intends to take advantage of.
(2) Perlman will joke that they didn't want anyone pretty this time.
(3 ) Freeman will write an editorial about the controversy talking about letting skill not race determine who should play what role. The whole thing dies down after the movie comes out.
(4) Cage will also take great delight in acting this way when the cameras stop rolling causing several crew to publicly voice concerns over the actor's mental wellness.
(5) He'd end up over shooting by about 10 pounds.
(6) inter spaced were flashbacks to a nearly soundless retelling of Batman's parents' deaths. Rodriguez would later state on the commentary that he didn't really think people needed to be told all this due to the character's popularity in the public eye, stating it'd be like "showing Superman was from space all the time. People should know this already"
(7) The following montage of Batman fighting criminals as well as Ellen Page's first appearance would draw great praise mainly due to the tight editing and the sense of weight to Batman's actions.
(8) Unknown to her much of the pressure comes from fears about Batman turning his attention to the corruption in the city's government.
(9) The Dollmaker from the comic is largely replaced by generic henchmen to save time and to keep the story more grounded.
(10) Page was really excited about the fight scene as she hadn't done an action scene before. The fighting style focused more on the use of weight and leverage over the more common acrobatic style many female action stars use.
(11) Plans were to originally have the Joker die like in the comic, but WB changed them to allow the Joker to be used for other projects. It also kept the movie from getting an R rating.
(12) Cage was originally meant to have lines, but the make up for his swollen face and missing teeth limited his ablity to talk. Instead he resorted to laughing, which was considered one of the more chilling moments.
(13 ) yes WB and DC get a slight jump on the shared universe before Marvel but only barely as Iron Man 1 would come out and hint at the Avengers films later the next year. DC would still have the first official team up movie with World's Finest in 2009, as well as the first female lead superhero movie with Wonder Woman in 2011. The full Justice League film however wouldn't hit until the summer after the Avengers team up.
