1943 Batman Serial

IMDB

Batman is a 15-chapter serial, released in 1943 by Columbia Pictures. The serial starred Lewis Wilson as Batman and Douglas Croft as Robin. J. Carrol Naish played the villain, an original character named Dr. Daka. Rounding out the cast were Shirley Patterson as Linda Page (Bruce Wayne's love interest), and William Austin as Alfred the butler. The plot involved Batman—as a U.S. government agent—attempting to defeat the Japanese agent Dr. Daka, at the height of World War II.

The film is notable for being the first filmed appearance of Batman, and for debuting story details that became permanent parts of the Batmanmythos. It introduced "The Bat's Cave", and its secret entrance through agrandfather clock inside Wayne Manor. Both departures subsequently appeared in the comics. The serial also changed the course of how Alfred Pennyworth's physical appearance would be depicted in later Batmanworks. At the time it was released in theaters, Alfred was overweight in Batman comics. After William Austin's portrayal in these chapter plays, subsequent issues of the comics portrayed him as Austin had: trim, and sporting a thin mustache. The serial was commercially successful, and spawned another, Batman and Robin, in 1949. It was re-released in 1965. The re-released version, called An Evening with Batman and Robin, proved very popular, and its success inspired the intentionally campy Batmantelevision series (and its 1966 theatrical feature film spin-off) starring Adam West and Burt Ward.

Plot

Batman and Robin struggle against Dr. Daka, a Japanese scientist and agent of Hirohito who has invented a device that turns people into pseudo-zombies, and has a base in a Funhouse of horrors, in a Japanese area of the city. Daka makes several attempts to defeat the Dynamic Duo before finally falling to his death when Robin hits the wrong switch, opening a trapdoor to a pit of crocodiles.

Cast

• Lewis Wilson as Batman/Bruce Wayne
• Douglas Croft as Robin/Richard 'Dick' Grayson
• J. Carrol Naish as Dr. Tito Daka/Prince Daka
• Shirley Patterson as Linda Page
• William Austin as Alfred Pennyworth
• Robert Fiske as Foster

Superman Vs The Elite Review and Video Preview

                                                      Superman vs. The Elite

Superman vs. The Elite

I am not too sure about this one. It may be my least favorite of the DC Universe Animated offerings. The Elite is a band of young - yet very powerful - superheroes that are a little reckless for Superman's style. Maybe because they're British?

I think this would have been a great 22-minute episode for a TV series. OR The arc for a season. I think many times a feature length movie based on a literary source, even a graphic novel or comic book, often lacks from trying to adopt numerous sub plots into a 80-120 minute feature. A 22-minute short can focus on the main points, removing sub plots in favor of a primary set up and ultimate battle sequence. A mini series, or even better the new 6-12 episode arc of Cable TV shows (And a few networks falling in line) can deal with each of the minor characters.

I feel like the feature introduced a lot. International Politics, Role of Superheroes today, Blurred Lines of Justice, and so much more... Perhaps too much.  

Give this subject s 6 60-minute arc on cable TV OR a Full season on Cartoon Network etc and you could flesh out the characters. Otherwise, it almost feels like one of those movies that ran out of money, and had to wrap up big ideas to quickly. 

The other problem, I think it becomes very hard to like Manchester Black. We love anti heroes and villains like Walter White and Tony Soprano. I think if you make Black more likable - OR Love to hate - this would have worked better. There is a quick moment where you get why he is so hard around the edges, but the character voice acting and animation does not draw you in like so many have done so much better before...

KIDS SIZE - NOT FOR ME

FROM WIKI

Superman vs. The Elite is an animated superhero film based on "What's So Funny About Truth, Justice & the American Way?," the story published in thecomic book Action Comics #775 (March 2001). The movie was adapted and written by Joe Kelly, who wrote the comic it was based on, and is directed by Michael Chang. It was released on June 12, 2012.^[1] The film also featured the return of George Newbern as Superman, and David Kaufman as Jimmy Olsen, reprising their roles from the DC animated universe.^[2] It is the 14th film in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies line.

Additional video fan put together to show off Superman's power. But maybe you can see why I don't like this one... The whole Superman Character is just a little off...