ComicBookMovie.com has an interview up with Adam West, who played the lead character in the Batman television series of the 1960s. He is asked his opinion of the current Batman movie franchise. Not surprisingly, West finds it too grim and gritty for his taste."It was silly and funny. With the villains, especially, it was almost Shakespearian because of the bizarre costuming and makeup," West recalls. "In those days we didn't rely on special effects as much so everyone was challenged to use their imaginations," he goes on to reflect.
The article is patronizing and condescending towards the actor (particularly the first sentence). It reads, "Awwww. Is the da poor widdle pwincess fwightened?"
But, West is used to a different type of Batman so the current, darker one probably seems alien to him. However, he's more responsible for making Batman a household name than the movies ever were.
Even Bob Kane, the creator of the character, didn't like the dark, gritty comic The Dark Knight Returns from which the movie franchise is loosely based. I prefer to enjoy both versions of the caped crusader for what they are: different interpretations of the same character.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-23-2008 @ 10:13AM
Tom said...
What an offensive article. Adam West is totally entitled to his opinion.
When I was young, Batman to me was either the Superfriends incarnation or Mister West's -- clever, campy, and still able to save the day. His 'Batman' reflected exactly what the character was like in the comics at that time.
It wasn't until years later -- with Frank Miller's Dark Knight and the subsequent darker tone of the comics, that I came to appreciate the grim nature of the hero.
The writer of the interview, Roger Doran, should have shown a little more class.
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6-23-2008 @ 11:26AM
moreartplease said...
I grew up with Adam West's Batman, and love both his interpretation and the post Frank Miller, gritty version. (Miller's "Dark Knight" is still on my top shelf, and is opened at least once a year.)
But hey, retro-themed people, how about mentioning the element of Batman that was most interesting at the time it aired? The original show was on more than once in the same week, so you really could tune in tomorrow to catch the second half of the cliff hanger. Cool. HBO wasn't the first to try crazy scheduling stunts.
PS I didn't realize that bizarre costuming and make-up make something Shakespearean. I though it was words or assonance or something. My bad.
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