"Holy known unknown flying objects!"
Oh dear. Only last episode I was rejoicing that, while this season is clearly under-budget and, on the whole, under par, it is nevertheless capable of reaching real heights. It is also, alas, capable of real lows, and this third-from-last episode is a real stinker. The sort of episode, in fact, which can tempt one to mention shark jumping. And this is the last episode of the Joker and, indeed, of any recurring villain.
Cesar Romero's Joker was never my favourite villain in Batman: Frank Gorshin's Riddler, Penguin and both Catwomans (Catwomen?) outshine him. And Romero, admittedly, is only my third favourite Joker. Fourth, if you count Conrad Veidt. But I liked him, and he deserves a much better swansong than this.
High concept episodes are fair enough, but this episode takes the theme of a silly flying saucer hoax and does absolutely nothing interesting with it. There's no wit or metatextual fun to speak of, just broad attempts at humour, although admittedly the Joker asuming Alfred must be a "mad scientist" is quite funny. Not even stock footage of the Batcopter can save this cheap, tawdry and funny episode.
Showing posts with label Byron Keith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Byron Keith. Show all posts
Wednesday, 12 August 2020
Tuesday, 28 July 2020
Batman: Nora Clavicle and the Ladies’ Crime Club
“This is torture... at its most bizarre and terrible.
Oh dear. Oh dear oh dear. One must always be careful not to treat television programmes from fifty years ago in the same way as something made today; social mores have changed, and one must make allowances. But, having made said allowances... this is (mostly) unfunny sexist claptrap that is simply jaw-dropping to watch. Batman does second wave feminism. In 1968. And it’s every bit as squirmingly awful as you might fear.
Feminism can be the subject of humour, of course, like anything can. But here we have a feminist activist (later shown to have purely venal motives) who seems to fire all male police officers for no other reason but one-up(wo)manship. And their female replacements turn out to be rubbsh at their jobs because they're too busy doing lipstick, discussing recipes and shopping. Yes, really. And all this only happens because Mayor Linseed's wife forces his hand by refusing to cook or wash his clothes, which all of us real men routinely do for ourselves (and our wives). This is bad, cringeworthy and frankly alienating stuff. And it's a nasty, very lazy, knee jerk stye of "humour", weaponising the patriarchy to mock those who point at its existence.
It's a pity, as there are a couple of gloriously silly moments with the "Siamese human knot" and the slendidly absurd Pied Piper ending. But this doesn't wash away the nasty, punching down, sexism of the episode. Given how few episodes there are left of Batman, I suspect this will end up as my least favourite of the lot.
Oh dear. Oh dear oh dear. One must always be careful not to treat television programmes from fifty years ago in the same way as something made today; social mores have changed, and one must make allowances. But, having made said allowances... this is (mostly) unfunny sexist claptrap that is simply jaw-dropping to watch. Batman does second wave feminism. In 1968. And it’s every bit as squirmingly awful as you might fear.
Feminism can be the subject of humour, of course, like anything can. But here we have a feminist activist (later shown to have purely venal motives) who seems to fire all male police officers for no other reason but one-up(wo)manship. And their female replacements turn out to be rubbsh at their jobs because they're too busy doing lipstick, discussing recipes and shopping. Yes, really. And all this only happens because Mayor Linseed's wife forces his hand by refusing to cook or wash his clothes, which all of us real men routinely do for ourselves (and our wives). This is bad, cringeworthy and frankly alienating stuff. And it's a nasty, very lazy, knee jerk stye of "humour", weaponising the patriarchy to mock those who point at its existence.
It's a pity, as there are a couple of gloriously silly moments with the "Siamese human knot" and the slendidly absurd Pied Piper ending. But this doesn't wash away the nasty, punching down, sexism of the episode. Given how few episodes there are left of Batman, I suspect this will end up as my least favourite of the lot.
Thursday, 16 April 2020
Batman: Batman’s Anniversary & A Riddling Controversy
Batman’s Anniversary
“That enigmatic egotist, back to plague our fair city?"
So, very late in the second season, with an ongoing impasse concerning the availability of Frank Gorshin, the Riddler- unquestionably the premier villain of the first season but not seen since the movie, and the Puzzler was rubbish- is back. But Gorshin, alas, is not- instead, as a substitute, we have the portly and moustachioed figure of John Astin, well known at the time as Gomez Addams. He does his best, and you can't fault the man. He actually is quite good. But you simply can't replace Frank Gorshin. It's a poisoned chalice, and he falls inevitable short.
Which is a pity. The Riddler is written absolutely no differently, and you can imagine Gorshin saying every line- with his signature hint of menace behind the playful wit. And, moreover, the script is magnificent, perhaps the finest to feature the character. There's something very Alanis Morissette ironic about that.
The anniversary stuff gives us a fun and silly beginning, the puzzles are solidly thought out, and the Riddler has a clear aim throughout- to steal $3 million so he can buy a MacGuffin with which he can ransom the entire city. The obligatory fight takes place, superbly, in a flooded bank vault with the Caped Crusaders wearing ventilators, and the slow-motion scrap gets suitably aquatic onomatopoeic words. And the trap at the end comes as a genuinely surprising twist.
A Riddling Controversy
"Let go of me, you blue footed baboon!"
Quicksand won't make you drown, whatever TV and cinema may say. You won't sink further than your waist, and it's possible to escape by slowly moving to a lying down position, although if you can't do that you're trapped and will eventually die of dehydration without help. But you're not really in much danger if your predicament occurs in the streets of a busy street and not, say, a deserted swamp.
Still, those bat rockets are cool. And so is this episode, complete with its Che Guevara lookalike in a puzzle cage and MacGuffin that can theoretically be defeated by, er, switching off the plug. The conclusion is epic and dramatic, so much so that the stock footage of the Bat-copter is wheeled out yet again.
I enjoyed this superbly crafted two parter, a lot. And John Astin is good, and unfortunate in following someone who couldn't possibly have been topped. Give it a chance, and you'll find it's something really rather special.
“That enigmatic egotist, back to plague our fair city?"
So, very late in the second season, with an ongoing impasse concerning the availability of Frank Gorshin, the Riddler- unquestionably the premier villain of the first season but not seen since the movie, and the Puzzler was rubbish- is back. But Gorshin, alas, is not- instead, as a substitute, we have the portly and moustachioed figure of John Astin, well known at the time as Gomez Addams. He does his best, and you can't fault the man. He actually is quite good. But you simply can't replace Frank Gorshin. It's a poisoned chalice, and he falls inevitable short.
Which is a pity. The Riddler is written absolutely no differently, and you can imagine Gorshin saying every line- with his signature hint of menace behind the playful wit. And, moreover, the script is magnificent, perhaps the finest to feature the character. There's something very Alanis Morissette ironic about that.
The anniversary stuff gives us a fun and silly beginning, the puzzles are solidly thought out, and the Riddler has a clear aim throughout- to steal $3 million so he can buy a MacGuffin with which he can ransom the entire city. The obligatory fight takes place, superbly, in a flooded bank vault with the Caped Crusaders wearing ventilators, and the slow-motion scrap gets suitably aquatic onomatopoeic words. And the trap at the end comes as a genuinely surprising twist.
A Riddling Controversy
"Let go of me, you blue footed baboon!"
Quicksand won't make you drown, whatever TV and cinema may say. You won't sink further than your waist, and it's possible to escape by slowly moving to a lying down position, although if you can't do that you're trapped and will eventually die of dehydration without help. But you're not really in much danger if your predicament occurs in the streets of a busy street and not, say, a deserted swamp.
Still, those bat rockets are cool. And so is this episode, complete with its Che Guevara lookalike in a puzzle cage and MacGuffin that can theoretically be defeated by, er, switching off the plug. The conclusion is epic and dramatic, so much so that the stock footage of the Bat-copter is wheeled out yet again.
I enjoyed this superbly crafted two parter, a lot. And John Astin is good, and unfortunate in following someone who couldn't possibly have been topped. Give it a chance, and you'll find it's something really rather special.
Thursday, 19 March 2020
Batman: Green Ice & Deep Freeze
Green Ice
"A reporter's lot is not easy-making exciting stories out of plain, everyday people like Robin and me..."
Mr Freeze is back, but this time he's been not only re-cast (as respected director Otto Preminger, none of whose films I've yet blogged, shamefully) but re-designed with a costume which more echoes the 1959 comic boom version as Mr Zero. And he's kidnapped Miss Iceland, naturally, from that not-so-feminist institution of a beauty contest. He then puts her in a cell and tells her she will learn to love him. Brr. Creepy.
It's a great episode for exciting set pieces, with the Commissioner and O'Hara frozen almost to death in Gordon's office. There's also yet another campaign to smear Batman, and yet another hostile female journalist. But the recycled plot threads are at least done with panache. And the cliffhanger- turning our heroes into frosty freezies (pineapple and lime) is splendidly absurd.
Deep Freeze
"Boo, Batman!"
The cliffhanger resolution is certainly a deliberate climax- our heroes find a tap inside! The smear campaign continues, and Mr Freeze's plan is revealed: to demand $1 billion (the biggest ransom demanded by any villain so far) or he'll freeze the whole city. This is proper sci-fi.
The resolution echoes that of Mr Freeze's previous story, but it's all entertaining enough. And Batman regains the faith of a contrite Commissioner Gordon who, it's fair to say, holds a bit of a candle for him. I wonder- is there any TV themes Batman/Commissioner Gordon filthy fanfic? I dare not look...
A fairly so-so two-parter, then, by Batman standards. But this is still both enormous fun and very watchable stuff. And next week we have the Joker- illustrated by a photograph which really accentuates Cesar Romero's moustache...
"A reporter's lot is not easy-making exciting stories out of plain, everyday people like Robin and me..."
Mr Freeze is back, but this time he's been not only re-cast (as respected director Otto Preminger, none of whose films I've yet blogged, shamefully) but re-designed with a costume which more echoes the 1959 comic boom version as Mr Zero. And he's kidnapped Miss Iceland, naturally, from that not-so-feminist institution of a beauty contest. He then puts her in a cell and tells her she will learn to love him. Brr. Creepy.
It's a great episode for exciting set pieces, with the Commissioner and O'Hara frozen almost to death in Gordon's office. There's also yet another campaign to smear Batman, and yet another hostile female journalist. But the recycled plot threads are at least done with panache. And the cliffhanger- turning our heroes into frosty freezies (pineapple and lime) is splendidly absurd.
Deep Freeze
"Boo, Batman!"
The cliffhanger resolution is certainly a deliberate climax- our heroes find a tap inside! The smear campaign continues, and Mr Freeze's plan is revealed: to demand $1 billion (the biggest ransom demanded by any villain so far) or he'll freeze the whole city. This is proper sci-fi.
The resolution echoes that of Mr Freeze's previous story, but it's all entertaining enough. And Batman regains the faith of a contrite Commissioner Gordon who, it's fair to say, holds a bit of a candle for him. I wonder- is there any TV themes Batman/Commissioner Gordon filthy fanfic? I dare not look...
A fairly so-so two-parter, then, by Batman standards. But this is still both enormous fun and very watchable stuff. And next week we have the Joker- illustrated by a photograph which really accentuates Cesar Romero's moustache...
Wednesday, 18 March 2020
Batman: Hizzonner the Penguin & Dizzoner the Penguin
Hizzonner the Penguin
"No Robin, I want to conduct a campaign that deals with the issues. I'm convinced the American electorate is too mature to be taken in by cheap, vaudeville trickery. After all, if our national leaders were elected on the basis of tricky slogans, brass bands and pretty girls, our country would be in a terrible mess, wouldn't it?"
This episode may, after a few episodes fiddling with the standard formula, start in what by now is the traditional way, It may even, in its opening scene, be uncomfortable close to the plot of "The Penguin Goes Straight/Not Yet He Ain't". But none of that does matter. What does is that this is one of the finest pieces of political satire that I've ever seen, pitting Batman against the Penguin for the position of Gotham City mayor- and therefore issues vs. razzmatazz.
The Penguin's campaign is populist, one would almost be tempted to say Trumpian except that Penguin is merely corrupt rather than malevolent, with free champagne, copious baby kissing, lots of cheerful fun, and massive rallies with free champagne. He even has the real Paul Revere and the Raiders as his official band.Batman, meanwhile, speaks to tiny audiences droning on and on, offending voters by his refusal to kiss babies. Everything drips with gleeful satirical wit, and I love it. As Penguin says, "I can use all my slipperiest tricks, and now they're legal."
Dizzoner the Penguin
"I'm flattered, gentlemen, But I thought your party had a candidate for 1968?"
The cliffhanger resolution, following one of the coolest deathtraps ever, is a bit of a cheat: the Dynamic Duo have acid-proof costumes. Also a massive cheat, and enormous fun, is Penguin's splendidly devious behaviour during the television debate although, of course, he's not a patch on Trump. And, if Penguin wins, he plans to appoint the Riddler as commissioner and the Joker as police chief...
Fortunately, Batman is right not to trust the polls, is elected mayor (he quickly hands over to Mayor Linseed, surely a bit dishonest?) and after the usual fight manages to defeat Penguin: we end with what again looks like a normal episode. But then we get the priceless ending, very topical, as both parties ask Batman to be their candidate for president- and the episode brilliantly predicts that a Vietnam-worn Lyndon Johnson will not be seeking re-election in 1968. Surely this is a contender, with its real satirical bite, for best two-parter ever.
"No Robin, I want to conduct a campaign that deals with the issues. I'm convinced the American electorate is too mature to be taken in by cheap, vaudeville trickery. After all, if our national leaders were elected on the basis of tricky slogans, brass bands and pretty girls, our country would be in a terrible mess, wouldn't it?"
This episode may, after a few episodes fiddling with the standard formula, start in what by now is the traditional way, It may even, in its opening scene, be uncomfortable close to the plot of "The Penguin Goes Straight/Not Yet He Ain't". But none of that does matter. What does is that this is one of the finest pieces of political satire that I've ever seen, pitting Batman against the Penguin for the position of Gotham City mayor- and therefore issues vs. razzmatazz.
The Penguin's campaign is populist, one would almost be tempted to say Trumpian except that Penguin is merely corrupt rather than malevolent, with free champagne, copious baby kissing, lots of cheerful fun, and massive rallies with free champagne. He even has the real Paul Revere and the Raiders as his official band.Batman, meanwhile, speaks to tiny audiences droning on and on, offending voters by his refusal to kiss babies. Everything drips with gleeful satirical wit, and I love it. As Penguin says, "I can use all my slipperiest tricks, and now they're legal."
Dizzoner the Penguin
"I'm flattered, gentlemen, But I thought your party had a candidate for 1968?"
The cliffhanger resolution, following one of the coolest deathtraps ever, is a bit of a cheat: the Dynamic Duo have acid-proof costumes. Also a massive cheat, and enormous fun, is Penguin's splendidly devious behaviour during the television debate although, of course, he's not a patch on Trump. And, if Penguin wins, he plans to appoint the Riddler as commissioner and the Joker as police chief...
Fortunately, Batman is right not to trust the polls, is elected mayor (he quickly hands over to Mayor Linseed, surely a bit dishonest?) and after the usual fight manages to defeat Penguin: we end with what again looks like a normal episode. But then we get the priceless ending, very topical, as both parties ask Batman to be their candidate for president- and the episode brilliantly predicts that a Vietnam-worn Lyndon Johnson will not be seeking re-election in 1968. Surely this is a contender, with its real satirical bite, for best two-parter ever.
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