So, are these critics just trying to have their voices stand out from the crowd, or do they have valid arguments that most people have ignored because of Heath Ledger's apparently bravura performance? Well, I'll be seeing the film tomorrow, so watch out for my review this Thursday/Friday.
But whatever happens, the studio are definitely going to start talks about another sequel over the summer. That much is obvious from the amount of money and kudos being showered on the movie. I suspect that Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale will be back to tie-up their Batman involvement with a trilogy-capping third outing. After that, who knows. There are certainly plenty of villains in the Batman mythology, which is part of the franchise's huge appeal. Compare and contrast with Superman, who only has Lex Luthor in the public consciousness as an adversary.
Who will Batman face next time, then? Writer David Goyer has revealed that The Penguin and Catwoman won't appear in future sequels, but I have a tough time believing him. Catwoman is a particularly easy fit for Nolan's "reality-based" take on Batman, because she's a cat burglar that can be written supernaturally, or otherwise. Angelina Jolie's representatives have apparently taken steps to ensure the studio know she'd like that role -- a choice '60s-era Catwoman Julie Newmar would be happy with:
"Angelina would own the part. My industry friends tell me [she] has made inquiries about the role. I can understand how it would pique her interest. Catwoman is Batman's one true love. She's tremendously popular with women because she's both a heroine and a villainess."
I can see Christian Bale and Angelina Jolie together, engaged in a complex love-story. I know Batman Returns got there first with Michael Keaton/Michelle Pfeiffer, but I'm sure Christopher Nolan can find a slightly different, more intriguing way to tackle a romance where both parties have secret identities.
And what about The Penguin? Is he really that difficult to transplant into Nolan's Batverse? How about a disfigured mob boss whose features have given him the nickname of "The Penguin"? It seems achievable to me. The Riddler would also slot in very well, although his character's slightly too close to The Joker, really. Mr. Freeze? Poison Ivy? Both could be brought down-to-earth rather nicely, if audiences can wipe the memory of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Uma Thuman from their minds.
There are also lots of Batman villains the general public aren't aware of (i.e, they never turned up in the '60s series with Adam West). Tackling a little-known villain worked brilliantly in Batman Begins, with Ra's al Ghul. So how about Ventriloquist, who has multiple personality disorder and controls a dummy gangster called Scarface? Or Black Mask, whose main gripe is actually with Bruce Wayne, not Batman? That would be an interesting twist on the hero/villain dynamic. Maybe Deacon Blackfire could show up, a man who builds an army made of Gotham's homeless in the sewers? His story might tie in with The Penguin quite nicely...
Just, please: no Robin or Batgirl. For the love of god...
