AT THE COMIC BOOK MOVIES: "ROBIN in the BATMAN Movies" Part 1
I'm going to get straight into it because this is one of those topics that do not need a big elaborate intro. The topic at hand of course is....."Should ROBIN show up in the new BATMAN movie franchise?" This has been a big subject since "BATMAN BEGINS" was released back in 2005. The internet and comic book communities are basically at a stalemate when it comes to this very touchy subject. There's a "Wayne Manor" full of people who absolutely feel ROBIN should not be included in this new Bat-Movie Universe, but there is also a "Bat-Cave" packed with people who want to see ROBIN.
There many issues with the ROBIN character in movies. I'm going to run down a few of the problems that come along with a live action ROBIN on film or in this new Bat-Movie franchise.
#1. AGE - Everyone knows it, as well as it being cemented in comic book continuity that ROBIN began his training and partnership with BATMAN as a small child.
So here's the problem: For ROBIN to truly make sense as a crime fighting partner to the BATMAN he would have to be an older person. Now don't go crazy over that comment!!! I don't mean BATMAN's age, but he would at least have to be 18 or over for BATMAN to realistically consider or allow such a partnership. Now the main problem with ROBIN being an older person is the lack of character development that will display itself when DICK GRAYSON debuts in the beginning of the movie and is ROBIN by the end. Where's the training? How did he get a suit so fast? Where's Dick Grayson's story? etc., etc. These are things that are lost when the character enters in the beginning of the movie as GRAYSON and transforms into ROBIN by the end. These are also things that fans will be complaining about. I'm sure as hard as you tried you haven't forgotten what was done with the character in "BATMAN FOREVER". Now what if you go the same route as the comic book? Here is what you get....... "A LITTLE KID AS A CRIME FIGHTER!!!" Now I'm not going to waste time and words explaining why this is a bad idea for a movie, especially in the new "Realism based universe" these new movies are in.
#2. COSTUME - ROBIN wears a bright colored suit.
So here's the problem: Naturally if ROBIN was included in a live action BATMAN movie he will not wear his traditional original costume. So we can all look forward to more-or-less a costume similar to NIGHTWING's or the current ROBIN suit. This is not the problem. The color of the suit is the problem! A red suit in the current movie universe will not be practical and will throw off the realism of the movie. A black suit like BATMAN's will make more sense for a crime fighter who uses the dark as a weapon or as an advantage. Now, we all know if that happened and ROBIN was given an all black suit like BATMAN the fans will never stop bitching!!!!
#3. TRAINING - DICK GRAYSON was trained as a child by BATMAN which explains ROBIN's abilities.
So here's the problem: If DICK GRAYSON was portrayed as an older person and became ROBIN within the same movie you lose the whole BATMAN trainer/mentor/father/son storyline. Therefore DICK GRAYSON would already have had some kind of training which would translate into him becoming ROBIN so quickly. How did he get that training?? You now have 3 options as a writer or director. (1) You avoid the explanation entirely ala "BATMAN FOREVER" (2) You weave in and out of whatever major story plot is happening to include ROBIN's training subplot, or (3) You explain all of it in one scene, flashback, or line of dialogue. No matter what option you choose in the end its bad storytelling. So, let's say they use the comic book story. At the end of the movie we still have an unrealistic child crime fighter.
There are many more problems but when it comes down to it the big problems are:
- Introducing DICK GRAYSON into a movie and the obsessive compulsive urge to have ROBIN in the same movie.
- Finding a middle ground between fans, film crew, the comic book's continuity, and what works in a Hollywood movie.
So what have we learned here kiddies???
Should ROBIN be in these new movies??
I feel ROBIN should be in these movies. ROBIN is too much of a big part of the BAT-WORLD not to be included. I do believe though it should and will only work if done right. Given the proper attention and taken with the same seriousness as BATMAN's origin in "BATMAN BEGINS" the ROBIN character could fly on film.