Batman (1966)

Batman 1966 Movie Poster

Catwoman, The Joker, Riddler, and The Penguin combine forces to take over the world with the power of the Super Dehydrator.  The Super Dehydrator extracts all the moisture from a living being reducing them to dust in a matter of seconds!  The four villains attempt to break into the United World building to use the device on the Security Council members.  Can the dynamic duo save the council and the world?

Premiering during the height of the Batman craze in the 60′s, this movie stars Adam West (Batman), Burt Ward (Robin), Lee Meriwether (Catwoman), Cesar Romero (The Joker), Burgess Meredith (The Penguin), Frank Gorshin (Riddler), and Alan Napier (Alfred Pennyworth).

Batman (1989)

Batman 1989 Movie Poster

Gotham City has become a dangerous place.  Boss Carl Grissom has declared war on the city, but when Grissom double crosses his main lieutenant Jack Napier, he creates something even more vile and evil than he could have imagined – The Joker.  The savior of the city comes in the form of Batman!  Can Batman stop the insidious plans of The Joker and stop his insane plans to destroy the city?

Batman (1989) could be considered the start of the modern day comic book movie craze.  Batman (1989) stars Michael Keaton (Batman), Jack Nicholson (The Joker), Kim Basinger (Vicki Vale), Pat Hingle (Commissioner Gordon), and Michael Gough as (Alfred Pennyworth).

Batman Returns

Batman Returns Movie Poster

Batman returns in this sequel to the hugely popular Batman (1989) movie.  In this movie Batman faces not one, but two villains.  The Penguin and Catwoman team-up to take down Gotham City and its protector Batman.  Can Batman pull off the unthinkable and take down two costume criminals to save his beloved city once more?

Batman Returns stars Michael Keaton (Batman), Danny DeVito (The Penguin), Michelle Pfeiffer (Catwoman), Christopher Walken (Max Shreck), Michael Gough (Alfred Pennyworth), and Pat Hingle (Commissioner Gordon).

Batman Forever

Batman Forever Movie Poster

Batman is a sequel to Batman Returns and introduces Robin, but is led by new Director Joel Schumacher.  Batman takes on the evil of both Two-Face and Riddler in this movie.  Two-Face is out to create chaos in Gotham City while Riddler has found a way to read the minds of all of Gotham’s citizens revealing the secret identity of Batman.  Can Robin assist Batman in defeating the evil of these two villains in time to save Gotham City?

Batman Forever stars Val Kilmer (Batman), Tommy Lee Jones (Two-Face), Jim Carey (Riddler), Nicole Kidman (Chase Meridian), Chris O’Donnell (Robin), Michael Gough (Alfred Pennyworth), and Pat Hingle (Commissioner Gordon).

Batman and Robin

Batman and Robin Movie Poster

The fourth and final installment in the original Batman film franchise.  Batman and Robin spawned major hype and fans waited eagerly to see this film.  To everyone’s surprise the film performed horribly and killed Batman in film for ten years.  In this movie Batman teams up with Robin and Batgirl to take down the evil machinations of Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy, and Bane.  Joel Schumacher killed the franchise with his campy take on the Dynamic Duo.

Batman and Robin stars George Clooney (Batman), Arnold Schwarzenegger (Mr. Freeze), Chris O’Donnell (Robin), Uma Thurman (Poison Ivy), Alicia Silverstone (Batgirl), Michael Gough (Alfred Pennyworth), Pat Hingle (Commissioner Gordon), and Jeep Swenson (Bane).

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm Movie Poster

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is the first animated movie for the caped crusader.  Mask of the Phantasm had a theatrical release in 1993 based on the highly popular Batman: The Animated Series on Fox television network.  Batman is wrongly implicated in a series of murders of mob bosses across Gotham City.  Batman must root out the source of these crimes and clear his name in the process.

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm stars Kevin Conroy (Batman), Dana Delany (Andrea Beaumont), Stacy Keach (Phantasm), Efrem Zimbalist Jr. (Alfred Pennyworth), Bob Hastings (Commissioner Gordon), Robert Costanzo (Detective Bullock), and Mark Hamill (The Joker).

Batman Begins

Batman Begins Movie Poster

Batman Begins kicks off a new darker direction for the caped crusader.  After the dismal performance of Batman and Robin, Batman Begins arrived on the scene in a somewhat “under the radar” type move.  Everyone knew a new Batman movie was coming, but fans still had a bad taste in their mouth from the previous film.

Enter Christopher Nolan.  Nolan went back to the roots of the character and created what possibly could be the definitive movie origin for Batman.  In this film we see a young Bruce Wayne transform into the Batman we know today while taking on the likes of Scarecrow and Ra’s al Ghul.

Batman Begins stars Christian Bale (Batman), Michael Caine (Alfred Pennyworth), Liam Neeson (Ra’s al Ghul), Katie Holmes (Rachel Dawes), Morgan Freeman (Lucius Fox), Gary Oldman (Jim Gordon), and Cillian Murphy (Scarecrow).

The Dark Knight

The Dark Knight Movie Poster

With the success of Batman’s re-entry into the film world (Batman Begins), Christopher Nolan now had the trust of Batman fans to create something truly magnificent.  Nolan decided to introduce chaos into his universe by bringing in The Joker.  In what is thought to be one of the most well crafted storylines in Batman-movie history (if not movie history), Nolan brings a real since of threat, conspiracy, and anarchy to Gotham City.  Can Batman save the day and put Batman behind him forever?

The Dark Knight stars Christian Bale (Batman), Michael Caine (Alfred Pennyworth), Heath Ledger (The Joker), Aaron Eckhart (Two-Face), Maggie Gyllenhaal (Rachel Dawes), Gary Oldman (Commissioner Gordon), Morgan Freeman (Lucius Fox), and Cillian Murphy (Scarecrow).

With all of these great and not-so great entries into Batman’s film life, which one do you think is the best film?  Vote in our poll below.

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In Superman vs. The Elite, Superman’s effectiveness as a super hero comes into question when a new group of super powerful crusaders, known as “The Elite,” appear on the scene. As super heroes, the Elite know no bounds, and are more than willing to kill, even on a massive scale, to stop villainy — putting them on a collision course with the ever-ethical, yet preferably non-lethal Man of Steel.

George Newbern (Father of the Bride) reprises his Justice League animated television role as Superman, and primetime television star Pauley Perrette (NCIS) provides the voice of Lois Lane. Downes steps in as Manchester Black, leader of The Elite. David Kaufman (Justice League: Doom) also reprises his Justice League TV series role as Jimmy Olsen.

The film is directed by Michael Chang (Batman: Brave and the Bold). Bruce Timm (Batman: Year One) is executive producer, and Alan Burnett (Green Lantern: Emerald Knights) is producer.

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The Dark Knight Rises hits theaters July 20th 2012 and stars Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Michael Caine as Alfred Pennyworth, Gary Oldman as Jim Gordon, Tom Hardy as Bane, Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle, Joseph Gordon-Levitt as John Blake and Marion Cotillard as Miranda Tate.

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Brad Peyton, who helmed the global hit Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, has just been set by Warner Bros to rewrite and direct Lobo, the live-action film based on the DC Comics franchise.  Joel Silver and Akiva Goldsman are producing.

Now we can only hope that it doesn’t bomb…

Source: Deadline

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He then asked for questions from the audience, and immediately the subject turned to his experiences making 1995′s Batman Forever. “The cast was pretty amazing, and we spent a lot of time hanging out,” Kilmer recalled. “So I got to know some pretty interesting people. It was sad, though, because Jim Carrey had just lost his father and I lost my father right before I did Tombstone. So we talked quite a bit.”

Kilmer also offered up his thoughts on his Batman costume. “The suit takes an hour to get into, and you can’t do it by yourself, and then you can’t hear because there are really no earholes in it. Also you can’t turn your head and you can’t go to the bathroom by yourself. Plus, you fall over quite easily. It was like wearing a wetsuit that was several times tighter than one anyone else would wear, and then when you add the cape it’s almost psychedelic. Then I realized one day what wearing that suit was like. It was, ‘Oh! This is what being old feels like,’” the actor joked. “No one really listens to you any more. You can’t really talk or hear. You’re always falling over and someone has to help you go to the bathroom and get dressed.”

Later a fan asked for his thoughts on director Christopher Nolan’s Batman films. “They are doing what I hoped we would do, but didn’t do,” the actor replied to much laughter and applause. “Directors like Spielberg and George Lucas don’t wonder what kids think. They go ask them. That was my suggestion: ‘Why don’t we talk to the people who really love Batman?’ I had my own childhood memories of Batman, and when you think of what Bob Kane dreamt up, which led to so many stories and is still entertaining us decades later, you realize a billion dollar business has sprung up from that one idea he had. It’s really phenomenal.

“I think because of Tim Burton’s success on the first film and Nicholson being so amazing that they kind of got carried away with the idea of the bad guy being immune to rules somehow,” Kilmer continued. “In the original film the Joker gets the hell kicked out of him and thrown off the bell tower. He suffers, and that sort of went away. Things became cute. It’s entertaining, but I think what they’re doing with the Batman films now is more in the original spirit of the character.”

The current Batman films are partly inspired by Michael Mann’s epic Los Angeles crime film Heat, which Kilmer co-starred in with Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro. When a fan told Kilmer that it was one of his favorite films, the actor thanked him and then revealed that his agent told him not to do it.

“I said, ‘Why not?’ And he said that I had just done Batman, so why play the third lead? I said, ‘You don’t think I should be in the poster in between DeNiro and Pacino?’ Kilmer joked, “My agent said, ‘No. Why?’”

Source: Spinoff

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Novelist Greg Cox is no stranger to Batman or the DC Comics Universe, having written the official novelizations for such major comic book storylines as Infinite Crisis (2006), 52 (2007), Countdown (2009), and Final Crisis (2010). He has produced numerous bestselling adaptations and original novels based on Star Trek, Underworld, Warehouse 13, and other popular properties. His original novel Terminator Salvation: Cold Warwon the 2010 Scribe Award for tie-in fiction, and CSI: Headhunter took the award in 2009.

“Batman is one of the most iconic characters of popular culture,” Titan Publisher Nick Landau said. “We’re tremendously excited to work with Warner Bros. on the novelization of ‘The Dark Knight Rises,’ especially since it is the culmination of everything Christopher Nolan has done with his amazing trilogy. This is a part of motion picture history.”

The publishing of Titan Books’ The Dark Knight Rises is timed to reach consumers worldwide on the same day as the Warner Bros. Pictures release. “The Dark Knight Rises” opens in theatres on Friday, July 24, 2012.

About “The Dark Knight Rises”
Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ “The Dark Knight Rises” is the epic conclusion to filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy.

Leading an all-star international cast, Oscar® winner Christian Bale (“The Fighter”) again plays the dual role of Bruce Wayne/Batman. The film also stars Anne Hathaway, as Selina Kyle; Tom Hardy, as Bane; Oscar® winner Marion Cotillard (“La Vie en Rose”), as Miranda Tate; and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, as John Blake.

Returning to the main cast, Oscar® winner Michael Caine (“The Cider House Rules”) plays Alfred; Gary Oldman is Commissioner Gordon; and Oscar® winner Morgan Freeman (“Million Dollar Baby”) reprises the role of Lucius Fox.

The screenplay is written by Christopher Nolan and Jonathan Nolan, story by Christopher Nolan & David S. Goyer.  The film is produced by Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan and Charles Roven, who previously teamed on “Batman Begins” and the record-breaking blockbuster “The Dark Knight.”  The executive producers are Benjamin Melniker, Michael E. Uslan, Kevin De La Noy and Thomas Tull, with Jordan Goldberg serving as co-producer. The film is based upon characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics.  Batman was created by Bob Kane.

“The Dark Knight Rises” is a presentation of Warner Bros. Pictures, in association with Legendary Pictures.  Slated for release on July 24, 2012, the film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

About Titan Publishing Group
Titan Publishing Group is an independently owned publishing company, established in 1981, comprising three divisions: Titan Books, Titan Magazines/Comics and Titan Merchandise. Titan Books’ rapidly growing fiction list encompasses original fiction and reissues, primarily in the areas of science fiction, fantasy, horror, steampunk and crime. Titan Books also has an extensive line of media and pop culture-related non-fiction, graphic novels, art and music books. The company is based at offices in London, but operates worldwide, with sales and distribution in the US & Canada being handled by Random House.

About Warner Bros. Consumer Products
Warner Bros. Consumer Products, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.

About DC Entertainment
DC Entertainment, home to iconic brands DC Comics (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash), Vertigo (Sandman, Fables) and MAD, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating its content across Warner Bros. Entertainment and Time Warner.  DC Entertainment works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its stories and characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment and interactive games. Publishing thousands of comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Entertainment is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world.  In January 2012, DC Entertainment, in collaboration with Warner Bros. and Time Warner divisions, launched We Can Be Heroes—a giving campaign featuring the iconic Justice League super heroes—to raise awareness and funds to fight the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa.

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Enjoy!

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Award-winning comics writer Joe Kelly has crafted a taut, thrilling screenplay, adapted from the original 2001 DC Comics release, “What’s So Funny About Truth, Justice and the American Way? ,” by Kelly and Doug Mahnke with Lee Bermejo. The single-issue comic, Action Comics #775, was lauded by Wizard Magazine as the “Greatest Superman Story of All Time,” and ranked the epic tale at No. 21 on its list of the “Top 100 Comics of the last 30 years.”

In the film, Superman’s effectiveness as a super hero comes into question when a new group of super powerful crusaders, known as “The Elite,” appear on the scene. As super heroes, the Elite know no bounds, and are more than willing to kill, even on a massive scale, to stop villainy — putting them on a collision course with the ever-ethical and decidedly non-lethal Man of Steel.

George Newbern (Father of the Bride) reprises his Justice League animated role as Superman, and primetime television star Pauley Perrette (NCIS) provides the voice of Lois Lane. Versatile voice actor Robin Atkin Downes ( Babylon 5,Justice League: Doom) steps in as Manchester Black, leader of The Elite. David Kaufman (Justice League: Doom) also reprises his Justice League TV series role as Jimmy Olsen.

The film is directed by Michael Chang (Batman: The Brave and the Bold). Sam Register (Young Justice, Teen Titans, Ben 10) and Bruce Timm (Batman: Year One) are the executive producers. Alan Burnett is producer.

“Superman vs. The Elite adds to the rich legacy of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies series, spotlighting an important chapter in the annals of Man of Steel stories,” said Mary Ellen Thomas, Warner Home Video Vice President, Family & Animation and Partner Brands Marketing. “Bringing back George Newbern gives the film a nice touch of nostalgia for fans of the Justice League animated series, and Pauley Perrette gives Lois Lane altogether new dimensions with her performance.”

Superman vs. The Elite Blu-ray™ Combo Pack has 3 hours of exciting content, including:

· Standard and high definition versions of the feature film

· UltraViolet™ Digital Copy*

· Sneak Peak at Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1, the next DC Universe Animated Original Movie

· Featurette – “The Elite Unbound: No Rules, No Mercy” – A short documentary focused upon The Elite, and their arc of character throughout the comics. Even the anti-heroes have their own struggles … and triumphs. It’s all highlighted in this compelling film that begins with the inspiration of The Authority, and how The Elite became the answer to that book, and a fresh approach for DC Comics in the post 9/11 world. It was an unexpected twist to the pages of Action Comics, and this documentary summarizes the true potency of these Elite.

· Featurette – “Superman and the Moral Debate” – There’s a prevailing thought about ending terrorism and ridding our Earth of the maladjusted once and for all – by fighting fire with fire! This is the story of The Elite, a band of fringe Superheroes who were compelled to eradicate the Earth of its scum, its tyranny and evil once and for all, not with words, but with raw unadulterated action, designed to kill their opponents. This is their controversial story.

· Creative team audio commentary

· Two bonus episodes from Superman: The Animated Series handpicked by producer Alan Burnett: Brave New Metropolis andWarrior Queen.

Digital Comic — Action Comics #775 -”What’s So Funny About Truth, Justice & the American Way?”
· All-Star Superman revisited: sneak peak

· Batman/Superman: Public Enemies revisited: sneak peak

· Photo Gallery – The upcoming The Dark Knight Rises Theatrical Release

*Superman vs. The Elite UltraViolet Digital Copy is a limited time offer. Restrictions and limitations apply.

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Running Time: Unknown
Release Date: March 17 2012—WonderCon (USA)
MPAA Rating: PG 13
Voice Cast : George Newbern as Kal-El/Clark Kent/Superman, Pauley Perrette as Lois Lane, David Kaufman as Jimmy Olsen and Robin Atkins Downes as Manchester Black
Directed by: Michael Chang, Bruce Timm (Executive Producer)
Written by: Joe Kelly (story), Joe Kelly (script), Jerry Siegel (characters) and Joe Shuster (characters)

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