I guess I'm a little late in discovering this gem. Collora really took a leap forward by going back to the basics. Like many here I'm a comic fan that grew up with the various television shows and comic stories. Batman is a character that is constantly undergoing changes due to various writers, artists and medium representations (film, television, comics, books). Still I think Collora really focused on the basics. His Batman looks great in the old gray outfit, no body armor, or muscle padding. Personally I didn't have a problem with Bartram's acting. It wasn't like he was given a lot of dialog. He pulled the fight scenes off just fine.
That brings me to another point, Batman's fighting. As time has gone by Batman has become a great martial artists, the film BATMAN BEGINS does a good job of describing how he became such a skilled fighter. Still, in earlier versions Batman was more of a street fighter, less about martial art techniques and more about a hard hitting slugger. He had some training but wasn't the martial artist he is now ofter viewed as. I don't have a problem with Batman the martial artist, neither do I have a problem with Batman the street fighter. I think there is room for both representations. I don't know if this was Collora's intent or if he was just limited by time and money. Whatever the reason I like the way his Batman fought.
The story isn't well defined but it doesn't need to be. The idea of Batman taking of a classic villain like the Joker and then crossover characters like AVP was cool. I bet most viewers were caught off guard when the film suddenly ended, having forgot that they were only watching an eight minute film. We the viewers wanted more. BTW, I think Koenig did fine as the Joker. Perhaps, even if Collora doesn't get the nod for a Batman film, Koenig might find a place in the Nolan Batman films.
Obviously this film wasn't meant to have a beginning or an end, just a snippet of a story that makes the viewer wonder "What if?" With films often approaching or exceeding the 100 million dollar mark I often wonder where all the money goes. Collora made this film for a reported $30,000. If he were to have filmed a 2 hour film and kept the same level of effects, costumes and stage sets the cost would have been about $600,000. Now imagine if he were given $10 million to spend on sets and special effects, both CGI and traditional FX. My impression is that he could deliver a film that would appeal to many viewers and due to the low cost of production generate more money for the studios and DC than the Burton films, maybe even approaching the success of BATMAN BEGINS. It amazes me that studios give such men as David Goyer and Paul Anderson a shot at writing and directing while Collora has been passed over.
That brings me to another point, Batman's fighting. As time has gone by Batman has become a great martial artists, the film BATMAN BEGINS does a good job of describing how he became such a skilled fighter. Still, in earlier versions Batman was more of a street fighter, less about martial art techniques and more about a hard hitting slugger. He had some training but wasn't the martial artist he is now ofter viewed as. I don't have a problem with Batman the martial artist, neither do I have a problem with Batman the street fighter. I think there is room for both representations. I don't know if this was Collora's intent or if he was just limited by time and money. Whatever the reason I like the way his Batman fought.
The story isn't well defined but it doesn't need to be. The idea of Batman taking of a classic villain like the Joker and then crossover characters like AVP was cool. I bet most viewers were caught off guard when the film suddenly ended, having forgot that they were only watching an eight minute film. We the viewers wanted more. BTW, I think Koenig did fine as the Joker. Perhaps, even if Collora doesn't get the nod for a Batman film, Koenig might find a place in the Nolan Batman films.
Obviously this film wasn't meant to have a beginning or an end, just a snippet of a story that makes the viewer wonder "What if?" With films often approaching or exceeding the 100 million dollar mark I often wonder where all the money goes. Collora made this film for a reported $30,000. If he were to have filmed a 2 hour film and kept the same level of effects, costumes and stage sets the cost would have been about $600,000. Now imagine if he were given $10 million to spend on sets and special effects, both CGI and traditional FX. My impression is that he could deliver a film that would appeal to many viewers and due to the low cost of production generate more money for the studios and DC than the Burton films, maybe even approaching the success of BATMAN BEGINS. It amazes me that studios give such men as David Goyer and Paul Anderson a shot at writing and directing while Collora has been passed over.