| Batman: Revenge | |
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Promotional Film Poster |
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| Directed by | Jonathan Markiewitz |
| Distributed by | Markiewitz Film |
| Release date(s) | 12.12.2003 |
| Running time | 6 min |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Batman: Revenge (The Batman LEGO Film) is a 2003, non-commercial, independent stop motion brickfilm created by director and animator Jonathan Markiewitz. The film has been credited by BatmanFanFilms.Com[1] and TheForce.Net[2] among many spotlight web sources as the production which brought Batman fan films into the art of stop-motion animation and sparked a Batman LEGO MOC (My Own Creation) phenomenon.[1] It is notable for being the first Batman LEGO fan film in history and one of the earliest fan films to use the building bricks as its creative medium, retaining an extensive fan-base and popularity. In 2005, Infuze Magazine[3] stated "It might just be the ultimate fan made film!" Within its "opening weekend" on the Internet, the download number spiked to the multiple thousands with a SuperheroHypeDotCom[4] member poll rating the film a 4.5/5 stars, and BatmanFanFilms.Com[1] giving it 4 stars. Recently, the film was featured in the September 2008 issue (#145) of Total Film Magazine,[5][6] ranking at #3 in the publication's "50 Coolest YouTube Moments".
Contents |
The Riddler escapes from Arkham Asylum with the sole purpose of exacting revenge on the Dark Knight, doing so by placing one of Batman's closest allies, Commissioner Gordon, in jeopardy. With the use of the Batmobile and the Batplane (Batwing), the Caped Crusader must again defend the people of Gotham City against the question-marked villain and his gang of henchmen.
The film's neo-gothic tone is largely reminiscent of Batman and Batman Returns, ranging from the design of the inner-city skyscrapers to the gritty alleyways to the look of the Batmobile, the Batwing, and the Batsuit. The newspapers in the film read "The Gotham Globe", which is the newspaper seen most often in Batman and Batman Returns. Another example of how Batman: Revenge uses the Tim Burton style include the use of the Batman and Batman Returns music score by Danny Elfman, accompanied by a very dark tone both visually and creatively.
Viewers will notice while watching the film that the Riddler leaves no riddles, nor does he act as his "typical" character. The director has stated that the Riddler in "Batman: Revenge" purposely acts much more classically psychotic than witty in response to the character's mental breakdown and demise during the closing sequences of the third Batman film to hit the silver screen, Batman Forever. Batman: Revenge however, was designed to visually and artistically resemble the Tim Burton Batman films and not the Batman films made by director Joel Schumacher. Although the film is not intended to act as a complete sequel to Batman Forever, it does use the character's ending in the film as a springboard for his actions, therefore simply as a continuation, though with elements of the first two films. Another noteworthy element of its relation is the use of the character, Doctor Burton, the psychiatrist seen in the close of Batman Forever. Though the LEGO version of the character seen in Batman: Revenge looks different than the character played by Rene Auberjonois, the director had titled the character this name.[7]
The design of Riddler minifig in Batman: Revenge seems to draw from several aspects of the character's long history in comics, radio, film, and print media, although the use of the top hat is a personal touch by Markiewitz to add one more variant to the character. It was reported in an interview that the director gave the Riddler a top hat because no other LEGO appliance seemed to work, and the top hat gave a classical style to the character. The typical apparel worn by the citizens of Gotham City in the film include a full suit with a top hat.
The film was rated "E for Everyone" by BatmanFanFilms.Com,[1] the equivalent of the MPAA rating system's "G". The director stated in an interview with Brick Journal Magazine,[8] "Many parents have told me they appreciate having a film they can watch with their children, and I love hearing things like that."[8]
Although there was an approximate one-year gap between the public release of Batman: Revenge and following Batman LEGO films, it is apparent that Batman: Revenge set an obvious trend and tone for Batman LEGO fan-filmmakers who wanted to similarly create large sets without the cost associated with the traditional production. Such similarities between recent Batman LEGO fan films that seem to reference the original Batman: Revenge LEGO film include choice of intro music, the inclusion of the Kenner Batman Returns Wayne Manor playset, cinematography direction, and similarities in plot. Most notably, however, may be the fact that Batman: Revenge seemed to standardize the introductory credits in Batman LEGO fan films, as well as earning director Jonathan Markiewitz an "inspired by" credit at the beginning of several fan films.[1]
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