The long-awaited “The Dark Knight” comes out this weekend and I am pumped. I actually bought tickets for my wife and I last week (which probably means I’ll have a full review of “Mamma Mia” in the near future). I love everything Batman. When the original “Batman” movie came out back in 1989, my buddies and I waited around in a line around the building at the old 3-Plex in our town. We got there at 11 a.m. for the 12:15 show!
I also love the old campy TV show from the 60’s, especially the movie based on the show. You remember when Adam West and Burt Ward had to take on four super-villains after they kidnapped the U.N.? This one is an all-time guilty pleasure for me… one of those flicks that’s so cheesy, it’s hilarious. But looking back, the Batman TV show had some serious villain talent on it. Vincent Price, Art Carney, Roddy McDowell, Joan Collins, Shelly Winters, Tallulah Bankhead. Heck, even Liberace played himself and his evil twin! So with the rave reviews that the late Heath Ledger is getting for his version of the Joker, I thought it’d be fun to compare some of Batman’s arch rivals from the movies and how they stack up against the goons from the TV Show.
The Joker: Cesar Romero vs. Jack Nicholson vs. Heath Ledger
When I first saw it, I though Nicholson was awesome. Now? After seeing several more Nicholson movies, I realized he was playing a typical Nicholson role except he was wearing face paint. Cesar Romero, like Nicholson, played the role comically. He does get points for turning the Gotham water supply into strawberry jam , causing a nasty surprise in the shower for Chief O’Hara. With the Oscar-buzz that Heath Ledger is getting, he may become the definitive Joker. But for now, I’ll give the win (barely) to Nicholson… just because Jack is still the coolest guy alive and he made a reported $60 million dollars for the role by signing a deal that gave him a portion of the film’s gross.
The Penguin: Burgess Meredith vs. Danny DeVito
Both actors played this role differently. Meredith had the cool guy aristocrat persona –monocle, cigarette in the plastic holster, top-hat. It was as if the Monopoly guy turned evil and started making bird noises. DeVito played a much darker, evil version of the Penguin. It comes down to evil back-up crews. Devito was flanked by some flunkies and 1,000 animatronic penguins. One of Meredith’s main goons went on to play Peach Pit owner Nat on “Beverly Hills, 90210.” I ‘ll take the combination of Mega-Burgers and Mickey Goldmill.
The Catwoman: The Julie Newmar/Eartha Kitt/Lee Meriwether Extra Value Meal vs. Michelle Pfeiffer
There are a lot of things to consider with this one. Newmar was the first Catwoman, and even had a movie from the 90’s named after her (“To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything Julie Newmar”). Meriwether (from the TV movie)… well, she was Miss America. Enough said. Without a doubt, Kitt had the “purrrrrrr-fect” voice for the role. However, for giving the character depth, the sex appeal of the suit, and for frying Chris Walken by licking a stun gun, in my opinion, Michelle Pfeiffer was the ultimate Catwoman. She was easily the highlight of “Batman Returns.” For the record, if I made a list of top 10 Catwomen of all time, Halle Berry would definitely rank 203rd.
The Riddler: Frank Gorshin vs. Jim Carrey
Let’s face it folks… all you need to know about this one is in the absolute stinkfest that was “Batman Forever.” Jim Carrey was doing a poor imitation of Frank Gorshin. On the subject of “Batman Forever,” what was the deal with casting Tommy Lee Jones as “Two-Face?” The character of Harvey Dent was played by Billy Dee Williams in the first Batman, then morphed into Jones! Even the two Darrens from “Bewitched” didn’t require that big of a leap. The only thing Jones and Williams have in common is that they go by three names.
Well, there it is. Since there really is no way to compare the roles of Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy and the Scarecrow (which absolutely freaked me out with that sack on his head in “Batman Begins”), those are my thoughts on the series. So, now it’s your turn! Let me know about my comparisons, and about “The Dark Knight.”
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