Batman: Caped Crusader (HBOMax Animated Series) (Abrams and Reeves)

[Ajc228]

Kinda shocked how warm people are on this adaptation. From a visual standpoint, the show is pretty lackluster. The designs make the character faces overly detailed and the bodies pretty simplified-often making characters look like caricatures as opposed fully cohesive designs. The animation is flat and sterile with pretty boring shot composition. It also feels pretty stiff during dialogue scenes with lips just flapping without any character acting to speak of. Lots of medium shots and a strange aversion to the 3/4 model view. The direction is workman like to be generous. Never do I watch an episode of this show and think to myself how cinematic it is. The story is boiler plate Batman stories with a lack of pathos or tragedy that made the original BTAS so special. The more years pass by, the more it becomes apparent that directors like Kevin Altieri and writers like Paul Dini had more to do with the original shows success than solely Bruce Timm.

[Chedwiggen]

Originally Posted by Batmon77

If this is early Batman, and they already showed the 3 possible sidekicks, I dont think they are going to make Barbara a Batgirl, especially with her working with her father all the time.
She would have to be that 60's librarian Barbara who led a separate life to be able to sneak out the house, without Jim knowing.

And it seems they're keeping close to the original mythos.
Batwoman is totally different from Barbara, and her side kick was Batgirl who was paired w/ Dick Grayson. Weve never seen the OG Bat-Girl in a TV show.

I dont think he should have sidekicks or spin-off inspired heroes until a little later.

Barbara is already being portrayed as a "Bat-Girl" with her actions, without wearing a costume. I hope that dont try to mimic BTAS.

That's the Batwoman I was thinking of. But yeah, I don't want them to bring in the sidekicks either but I feel they probably will.

[Sawasdee1983]

I just finished Season 1:

I really enjoyed it and looking forward for season 2. The Atmosphere was great and Batman himself was very cool. The Voice Actor did a great job.
Story wise it is nothing new. Many Episodes felt like recycelt Storyline from the Animated Series with a new look.
The Race Swaps felt very natural and I liked the new Version of Barbara Gordon.
The only thing I didn't like was this Version of Harley Quinn. She was way to serious for me.
But over all a great show.

[Karate_Bullfrog]

I’ve seen half of it, and story wise the show feels like it’s taking what BTAS did, and reversing it. The villains aren’t really tragic figures anymore, and whatever tragedy there is, the show will immediately criticize their actions. Clayface’s episode is a good example of this. There is no secondary villain who caused this to make Batman go after, it’s Clayface’s selfishness that is ultimately the cause. The original WB revival was actually going for something like this, even making previous sympathetic villains into unsympathetic, like Mr. Freeze. Probably done to make them more useable in future installments.

Batman himself is a lot closer to Timm’s New Batman Adventures take on the character, and that being a very cold character whose flesh is the costume, and not the skin underneath. But this might be the most scariest version of him as he doesn’t seem to care for anybody except the childlike pledge he made to himself of stopping people that might take lives in the pursuit of wealth. That seems on the surface no different to other depictions, but Timm seems like he’s avoiding showing Wayne acting like a genuine human, and would rather keep him as an emotionless sociopath.

The animation criticisms are just, and I don’t know if that’s completely blamable on the budget. Half the choices are probably Bruce Timm. Bruce Timm’s stuff has been pretty bad since the Killing Joke DTV, and then you had that Harley Quinn DTV. Also Timm has been a director that has strived to streamline his work ever since Superman, and New Batman. He has never been afraid to “Hanna-Barbera” his work to get it made given the limitations of the budget. Speaking of Hanna-Barbera, those running animations to avoid showing the legs, are right out of that era of TV animation.

[joshsquash729]

Haven't gotten around to watching anymore episodes, but regarding the "tragic villain" thing, I'm kinda okay with it. Not every villain needs to be sympathetic or needs some big dramatic backstory. Sometimes folks just are selfish or evil, and it's fun to see that. Especially given the reception and legacy of BTAS, if they aren't careful, it may just feel like they're treading familiar territory if they skew too close to that. There's still plenty of villains left that haven't been introduced, that could be redone in a more sympathetic or tragic light. Not every BTAS villain was portrayed as a tragic figure, I think it's just that the handful that were were so good and memorable that it made it seem like a lot more of them were. Which isn't to say that I think they don't need humanizing aspects- that always helps a villain feel memorable, but sometimes it's the small details that I like just as much or more as the big dramatic origin.

I'm sure we'll get more sympathetic villains. Whenever they get around to Freeze, I'm sure they'll treat him with respect. You could easily make villains like Scarecrow, Mad Hatter, Killer Croc, Poison Ivy, etc. sympathetic as well. Part of what people love about Batman's rogues are that they're all pretty human to begin with.

[drb999]

I enjoyed the first two episodes. I hope to watch more tonight.

[Karate_Bullfrog]

I think the last two episodes are easily the best.

[Show spoiler] They positioned Harvey Dent’s transformation, and revenge as Two Face to be a turning point in Batman’s career like in Nolan’s movie. The difference though is that this story gave a reason for Batman to focus on stopping corruption within the city, and team up with Gordon. Rather than become public enemy #1.

Overall I was okay with this. It’s a little too dark even for a throwback Batman. Looks like it will be the case for next season after hearing

[Show spoiler]The Joker’s voice. Probably the spin here is that he can’t laugh, but his chemicals will make his victims laugh(to death).

[Zechs Merquise]

Originally Posted by Ajc228

The more years pass by, the more it becomes apparent that directors like Kevin Altieri and writers like Paul Dini had more to do with the original shows success than solely Bruce Timm.

Well yes, TV Shows are collaborative mediums. We think of Bruce Timm as being the architect of the DCAU and, to a large extent, he was. But the success of those shows wasn't just him, it was Paul Dini and Alan Burnett, Dan Riba, Stan Berkowitz, Kevin Altieri, James Tucker, Boyd Kirkland, Rich Fogel, Dwayne McDuffie and so many more others who don't work on his more recent efforts.

[Batmon77]

Please get past BTAS and critique this on its own terms without carrying over baggage.

[jess1581]

On its own terms, I found the show to be a mixbag. Some good, some lame, and nothing in-between. I think the clayface episode is my personal favorite.

Overall, I don't think it's top tier.

[Chedwiggen]

Originally Posted by Batmon77

Please get past BTAS and critique this on its own terms without carrying over baggage.

That's like telling people to get past Christopher Reeve's Superman, not going to happen.

[drb999]

Unfortunately some people just can’t get that there can be different versions that can stand on their own. Not everything needs to be compared to the original.

[jess1581]

Originally Posted by drb999

Unfortunately some people just can’t get that there can be different versions that can stand on their own. Not everything needs to be compared to the original.

It's basically an echo of how the BTAS came to be. After Burton's films, the series shows up with a hint of inspiration even using Elfman's theme. This new show comes up, and it draws from The Batman 2022 which makes sense with Matt Reeves being part of the production.

[Karate_Bullfrog]

It’s extremely hard not to compare it to BTAS given who’s heading it, and the choice of art direction.

[Chedwiggen]

For me the show is somewhat different, somewhat familiar and all in all a very enjoyable show.

[Karate_Bullfrog]

It lacks a charm that other adaptations have, and at times can be dull.

[Warm Gun]

Lol, I go to YouTube, am recommended "Batman Caped Crusader is Fantastic," refresh YouTube, am recommended "batman the caped crusader is awful," both crappy, shallow videos, of course. Will be a while before I can find out where in the middle.

[matirocker]

Originally Posted by Warm Gun

Idea of white men opening up about their personal lives and psychological problems with an Asian female doctor in the 1940s is laughable.

Never once in the whole show it's said that this is the 1940s. No date on any newspaper, nothing. It's FICTION. This is a fictional universe where technology, cars, fashion, etc seems from the 40s but aspects of society such as racism are more akin to modern day. There's still some, but not enough to prevent non-white characters to be in positions of power, or having business tycoons doing therapy. Plus, I personally think it wouldn't be interesting to see a Batman show having to constantly deal with racist and sexist issues. It's not what I watch Batman for.

Originally Posted by Sawasdee1983

I definetly don't like this Version of Harley Quinn. I don't mind that she is asia, but the diffenrent costume and the serious way feels weird.

A lot of people here saying this. To me, it feels like a breath of fresh air. Other than Arleen Sorkin's Harley from BTAS, most if not all Harleys were quite annoying, specially their voices. I love the 180 they did with her, she's creppy, dead serious and her costume is *chef's kiss* . I do feel there's some motivation missing behind her villanous side though.

Originally Posted by Batmon77

If yall get to re-watch......try it in Black & White!!!!!! Go mess with your color levels.

I did this on some scenes and it looks so good! Maybe down the line they can release a black and white version of the show.

Originally Posted by Ajc228

The more years pass by, the more it becomes apparent that directors like Kevin Altieri and writers like Paul Dini had more to do with the original shows success than solely Bruce Timm.

Originally Posted by Zechs Merquise

Well yes, TV Shows are collaborative mediums. We think of Bruce Timm as being the architect of the DCAU and, to a large extent, he was. But the success of those shows wasn't just him, it was Paul Dini and Alan Burnett, Dan Riba, Stan Berkowitz, Kevin Altieri, James Tucker, Boyd Kirkland, Rich Fogel, Dwayne McDuffie and so many more others who don't work on his more recent efforts.

Exactly. And the same is to be said for Caped Crusader. It's not Bruce Timm's show. There's Matt Reeves, JJ Abrams, James Tucker and many other collaborators, so it's unfair to call Bruce Timm out on Caped Crusader if it's all HIS fault if the show's not good, but it's not HIS merit that BTAS was good? That sounds biased.

[Karate_Bullfrog]

Originally Posted by matirocker

Exactly. And the same is to be said for Caped Crusader. It's not Bruce Timm's show. There's Matt Reeves, JJ Abrams, James Tucker and many other collaborators, so it's unfair to call Bruce Timm out on Caped Crusader if it's all HIS fault if the show's not good, but it's not HIS merit that BTAS was good? That sounds biased.

Is Bruce Timm not the showrunner as it’s been listed on most websites?

[Batmon77]

Originally Posted by matirocker

A lot of people here saying this. To me, it feels like a breath of fresh air. Other than Arleen Sorkin's Harley from BTAS, most if not all Harleys were quite annoying, specially their voices. I love the 180 they did with her, she's creppy, dead serious and her costume is *chef's kiss* . I do feel there's some motivation missing behind her villanous side though.

Yeah....this is missing from her character.

With the OG Harley....was she "kinda" crazy already, but was driven over the edge by Joker?
Or was she a regular doctor who was made crazy by her constant interactions with The Joker?