Three Reasons for Robin

[Sovvolf]

the storyline they've been paralleling so far with the movies is the Year One/Long Halloween/Dark Victory, which basically form an unofficial origin trinity in the comics, and stand as the current cannon. the main thrust, which Nolan has been adhering to, is the introduction of Batman into the corruption of Gotham City resulting in a power-shift from the old guard of the Mob to the "Freaks" of the Batman rogue's gallery. at this point, the Mob is pretty much done, and between whatever Arkham inmates are still running loose from BB and Joker's shenanigans in TDK, Nolan's in a position to open the floodgates and use multiple lower-tier villains rather than one show-stopper. for a primary, you've got Black Mask(an excellent transition from mob to freak), with guys like Mad Hatter, Penguin(arms dealer/information broker), or the Riddler as secondaries. and both Scarecrow and Joker are available to re-use.

and whilst i would prefer Robin, Catwoman/Selina would be a functional alternative to Robin in terms of bringing Bruce back from the brink without fundamentally altering the current tone.

I know which storyline they are paralleling, I even mentioned this in an early post on this thread. Which is my reason as to why I think Robin would probably fit in with the trilogy. Penguin and Mad Hatter I doubt would be done. I think Nolan as already mentioned not doing Penguin and I don't think Mad Hatter would be able to hold up a movie as the main antagonist, maybe as a sub-antagonist... though I think Mad Hatter would feel a little off in this Batman trilogy. Black Mask is a good one, though I feel (because the next movie is also the last movie in Nolans take) that it would be too late to add him into the series, I could be wrong. Joker is out of the picture without Heath being alive, maybe a cameo using trick photography but not as a full villain. As for the Riddiller, well I think he'd be too close to what the last Joker was only much tamer.

 

[thedrunkardbeleal]

I'll I have to say is robin the boy wonder series by Frank Miller and Jim Lee. If that doesn't fit into the Nolan universe I don't know what does.

 

[Stabby Joe]

Ok, this is just plain weird:

Since you don't get much darker than that without sending Batman off to fight that guy from The Human Centipede, is it fair to wonder if TDK is the peak for grim, pitch-dark superheroes?

In the morning I read an article about zero star reviews by Roger Ebert, "The Human Centipede" being in the list but not for being a bad film. All I thought was "never heard of that film but an odd reason to have zero stars".

Moving on, but then I later watch a missed episode of Charlie Brooker's UK quiz show "You've Been Watching" where he plays the trailer then asks some comical questions. I thought the trailer was weird and having read more on Wikipedia it's just messed up and I don't normally care about film content.

AND NOW it's in this article? That's three references to a little known film in a half a day of just hearing about it for the first time...

...I think the universe is telling me to watch it... I don't want to though...

HAHA good times.

 

[ioudas omnis]

My issue with Robin, at his core, is that was brought in solely to give the children a character to identify with in the comic books. He serves no purpose, initially other than that. Eventually he turned into something more interesting, but that was also after there were rampant accusations that Batman and Robin was some kind of gay pedophile book-- which is WHY Batgirl and Batwoman showed up in the first place. Give them interests to divert the attention away.

Tim Drake, as it's been said, is probably the best Robin. And his suit before he became Red Robin would be a good one to use in a possible future movie.

 

[WanderingBiscuits]

Never been a fan of robin. I get that movie bob is saying its like holmes without watson ,but watson was useful you see. Robin was always just a filler character in my view who served no real purpose.

Now harley quinn on the other hand....Deserves to be in the next movie!

 

[Styphax]

Ok, beyond the fact that stirring up conversation seems to be Bob's entire goal let's see a couple of the arguments made.

1. Robin wouldn't work in the Nolanverse: Why not? I would be willing to admit that not the campiest Robin, nor the 10 year old version (Though there are shaolin fighters who start younger than that). But someone or something to bring Bats out of the brink could be a good thing. Nolan could easily keep the dark version of batman, and introduce a very tragic Robin without sacrificing seriousness or much realism; supposing that he played Batman as the father figure, while Bruce was sort of incapable of filling the hole in Robin's life with money, or whatever.

2. Batman is always dark and gritty: No, no he's not. This is one thing I agree wholeheartedly with Grant Morrison on, Batman has gone through many phases in his life, and they're all relevant. The dark Batman from the beginning and 80s are just as much apart of the Batman mythos as the Adam West batman style from the TV show, and comics from the 50s and 60s. Even in the comics there has always been a separation. Batman's main title has usually been about any Batman story someone wants to tell; he can team up with superman, go into space, or hang out in Gotham. Detective comics has been the gritty noir crime stories traditionally.

3. Batman is a loner: Since we're talking about the Nolan movies I'll stick to that version. Bruce/Batman was constantly trying to let people into his life. Especially initially he's much more trusting than he usually is in the comics. He uses Lucius Fox, Rachel, and Alfred. And in Regards to Rachel he works on letting her into both aspects of his life, and he suffers for it. It might be an interesting dynamic to have Robin involved with Batman only, and then eventually he's let into Bruce's life once he's able to defend himself or something like that.

For the record, I do like this thread, and there are plenty of reasons to keep Robin out of the movies, not the least of which: It's quite easy to screw up. But overall I am very for Robin being in the movies. If you want to see camp taken seriously then read the last year of the Batman and Robin title. Sure it's not Bruce under the Cowl, but it's still Batman.

 

[Whispering Death]

Batman doesn't need to be cheerful and happy. We have enough "light-hearted" superhero movies. Despite what hollywood things, not every movie needs to be a carbon-copy of another. Batman is different, it's darker, and when all is said and done it's well on its way to being the best superhero trilogy of all time. That's the way it should be.

 

[TJF588]

Well, now that I know yet another spoiler for TDK (love interest death, and perhaps the clean-*-cut "bad guy wins" thing), I'm still not sure what I thought for Nolan Batman 3 before. All I had in mind was the suggestion of The Riddler being the bad guy, but otherwise... Gah, can't remember.

If anything, I just hope they don't get campy.

 

[Joe Matsuda]

Robin can work very well in the next Nolan Batman film

they just have to do it right...which they are perfectly capable of

and by that, I mean not cast Shia LaBeouf.

 

[Cody211282]

Robin is like Batman Cancer, hell people reading the comics even voted to kill him off, I'm just glad that both Nolan an Bale have both said that if Robin is added into the cast they quite.

 

[VanillaBean]

Well MovieBob you convinced me. I used to agree with the Robin haters, but looking at it from this point of view does make me realize that Robin is what this series needs.

 

[thedrunkardbeleal]

Robin is like Batman Cancer, hell people reading the comics even voted to kill him off, I'm just glad that both Nolan an Bale have both said that if Robin is added into the cast they quite.

Voted to kill off Jason Todd who was a douche anyway (and the vote was close). You can't base robin on that character because Jason can straight suck it. If they did a good Dick Grayson it could work. Like I said in boy wonder he's awesome, end of the run he beats GL almost to death.

 

[AWDMANOUT]

???

My friends and I were just talking about the Human Centipede the other day!
Is this movie new, or what? It's Indy.
And pretty gross-looking.

Edit: Oh, and: "Part of what made The Dark Knight such a great work was that it was willing to go all the way..."

^ That's what she said.

 

[MDSnowman]

I'm not universally opposed to the concept of Robin appearing in the new Batman franchise. I've just never, ever, seen the teenage sidekick done well in a live action context. My first exposures to Robin, as a character, were the old Adam West Batman and then Chris O'Donnell.

If they have a way to do it right, introducing someone who can actually pass as a teenager, who is characterized as something other than a giant baby, then I'd love to see it. I'm just not convinced that Hollywood can wrap their heads around what's required.

As your review of Robin Hood showed, Hollywood has a magical ability to miss the point entirely.

 

[Escapefromwhatever]

Well, MovieBob, I want to start out saying that I agree with you- I would like to see Robin in the next Batman movie. In fact, if I remember correctly, I was one of the people who defended you in your The Losers review. However, I just want to clarify that Batman seems to be at his best when he is dark. Not overly dark, mind you, but dark in a film noir sort of way- philosophical and angsty, but not Leifeldian. I had a chance to speak with Michael Uslan, the man who got the ball rolling on the Batman film franchise, starting with Tim Burton's movie, recently, and one of his goals with that was to bring Batman back to his roots, which I believe he did well. The Tim Burton movie took Batman to too dark a place, in my belief, you know, what with the killing, but it did revive the character by respecting his origin. I don't necessarily think Batman is following a trend by being "grim and gritty." That's just who he is.

 

[RJ Dalton]

Three Reasons for Robin

Why MovieBob wants the Dynamic Duo reunited.

Read Full Article

Like all things, it would depend entirely on how they portray Robin. Christopher Nolan doesn't like the character and the only incarnation of Robin that I actually liked was from Batman TAS. Everything else just came off like an appendix - it may have served some point being there in the distant past, but it's atrophied to the extent that it serves no useful purpose. The 60s TV show, followed by the disastrous Batman Forever and even more disastrous Batman and Robin have ruined the image of what Robin is supposed to be and if we tried to force him into the new films (especially given Nolan's style of directing) it would totally ruin the franchise again.
That said, I can see Robin working if they hammered out his backstory to be solid enough and didn't make a whiny, emo-***** who complains every five seconds. He could potentially be an aspect of redemption for the Dark Knight. Too much time alone makes you loose your humanity and Robin could be the thing that keeps him from completely loosing himself now that Rachel is gone.

 

[BehattedWanderer]

I am...conflicted. I like the idea of Robin, but rarely the practice. It always falls short, when put into practice, to get Batman to appropriately act in regards to the transition to the father figure that he grows into the mentality of with Dick Grayson and Barbara Gordon. And getting someone like Bale to fill that role...I'm just not seeing it work well.

 

[viking97]

lol bat iphone

 

[Krantos]

I find myself in an uncomfortable position on this one. On one hand, I love Robin. The Robin comics (while they were still being drawn by W&W) were the only ones I read as a child. Tim Drake playing Robin in those days was really good at fusing the lives of a teenager and of a vigilante.

On the other hand, I don't think that the Batman movies are quite ready yet. It's not because of tone, because the Robin comics proved that Robin doesn't have to be light and quirky. No the reason I don't think Robin should be introduced at this point is Batman himself. The character of Bruce Wayne has not yet reached the point were he's ready for a sidekick. Bruce is still too caught up in his own anguish, his own rage. I know that's the same reason Movie Bob said Robin should be there, but stop for a minute and ask yourself if you can picture Bale's Batman accepting a sidekick right now. I can't. I can literally think of no situation in which Batman would ever agree to take Robin on. Maybe after the next movie the character will have matured enough, but at this point, no way.