I was proven right this weekend. Captain America took top spot this weekend. Mind you it was Harry Potter's sophomore weekend, but still, a comic book movie is in a #1 spot for its opening weekend. So, how was I right? I said DC needs my help more than Marvel does. And I don't think they have even made a Disney backed movie yet.

And to see if I can be right again, I am saying it here, The Dark Knight Rises
will not do as good as The Dark Knight. It will do good and will be a great movie, it's just that I am sure a large number of peeps went to see The Dark Knight
because of Heath's passing. Which is somewhat morbid, but helped the industry I guess. (side note, girlfriend made a good point, it's too bad he didn't get to see just how big it was). But, I could be wrong. And perhaps a lot of people will go see how Anne Hathaway compares to Michelle Pfieffer, both performance wise and well I am sure a lot enjoyed Batman Returns
because of the vinyl aha

Speaking of The Dark Knight Rises, it is apparently going to be the final time Chris Nolan directs, and Christian Bale is Batman. Which is both good and bad. Bad because they could try and continue on with the current storyline, and end up like the previous Batman movie franchise where we saw 3 different men as Bruce Wayne/Batman, a slide from dark into almost campy like the 60's television show, and other things. Now, despite this, there is some good reasons for Nolan and Bale leaving. They could end it, and then re-launch, which is ok. I got my trilogy. Oh, and also Chris Nolan apparently said that as long as he's at the helm, there will never be another appearance by The Joker.......um....ok, bye-bye then, thanks for the great Batman films, please take the helm of other comic book films, I will watch your other movies cause you really are very talented (The Prestige?
Inception? Greatness), but no disrespect to Ledger, the Clown Prince of Crime shouldn't die with him, he simply set a new standard for the character, and damn high one, but nothing more.

I would almost dare say that the movies would need The Joker. To show I am not being bias, Mr. J is the top villain or most known of Batman's Rogue Gallery, like it or not. So, you could use his "star power" to draw people in and then present the audience with other villains. Either to "test" the character on the big screen or to lead into the next film, that may need a little extra help connecting the dots or keep the audience wanting to watch the next film because they are intrigued by the medium-small glimpse at this character. It's risky to throw out just any character on their own, and Batman only has so many top villains, and since they seem to double them up except for Joker's appearances, they need to at least test the waters with them, not just cameos with no real story behind them.

Here is a list of villains who have made it into the 8 movies that made it to the big screen.

1. The Joker (3x)
   
2. Catwoman (3x,4 if you count Halle's)
   
3. The Penguin (2x)
   
4. The Riddler (2x)
   
5. Two-Face (2x, 3 if you count Dee Williams appearance in 89's)
   
6. Bane (2x)
   
7. Poison Ivy (1x)
   
8. Scarecrow (2x)
   
9. Ra's al Ghul (2x)
   
10. Mr. Zsasz (1x-cameo)
    
11. Mr. Freeze (1x-almost forgot Arnold aha)
    

Now, for 3 film franchises (is that even the right word? I am sure you get me), there shouldn't be doubles or triple appearances, with cameos and giant goose eggs for many other good to great Bat-Villains. True, Nolan and Bale could be replaced by adequate people, and the current franchise roles on. But one flop and I am sure they will pull the plug, and it is back to the repackaging stage.

So, let's imagine it's re-launched. I always say plan and film it like they did Lord Of The Rings, straight through, but I can see why that's hard to do. Either way, write a larger story and break it down into parts. Obviously use the mainstream villains to put butts in the seats, but again use some screen time to show Gotham City's other villains. Test the audience with lesser known, or ones your unsure could carry a film on their own. Eventually people will almost know what to expect using the same names every time a title is revamped. That will lead to radical writings and stories so far from the genre of Batman that could be just horrible. One of the things I liked about Nolan's films, was Scarecrow showing up in The Dark Knight, and Ra's al Ghul is somehow tied into The Dark Knight Rises. Two characters that in my opinion could not carry a whole movie alone, were put together at a time when the focus was really more on Batman's story then who he was facing, but were then used in smaller roles in later films. I would have liked to see Zsasz make another appearance.

Here's a list of characters that I would use in small roles in a re-launch, but a re-launch that keeps close to Nolan's "realness". Some I will give my take on how I would, others I'll leave to the pros or think they are fine as is aha

• Arkham Asylum. I know it's not a character and made appearances in Batman Forever and Batman Begins, but this could be used for so many things Batman is trying to figure out (go read The Long Halloween by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale, and see how they used Calendar Man). It is an opportunity to show different sides of characters, not too different, but people, crazy or not, act different when they are "contained". Plus, villains have ego's, and it can't be easy watching someone else doing what you couldn't. They could have some villains go in only slightly insane, and come out with the level of insanity needed to intrigue us aha As for the "who" turns them that way is open too, an inmate manipulating a warden or doctor, Scarecrow before being caught, Hugo Strange? They could definitely test the market, with Batman walking down the hallways with as many inmates they want standing there, then ask later online who the audience liked seeing the most, then plan to implement them later. I could go on aha
  
• Man-Bat. Ok, how do I keep it realistic with him? Well, he doesn't last long I can tell you that ahaha I would perhaps have Dr. Kirk Langstrom take his formula, while competing for a contract against another scientist. Langstrom is so confident that his formula will work that he tests it on himself, and it almost works, mutating him into something that resembles Man-Bat, only to then fail and Langstrom dies mutated on the floor. He's found by co-workers and the person offering the contract, which leads to the next character.
  
• Killer Croc. Waylon Jones suffers from Epidermolytic Hyperkeratosis as usual, but he looks more human like in the graphic novel Joker by Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo. He starts smaller as a test subject of the Venom formula (which is later used on Bane), which causes him to enhance in size and muscle mass slightly. Unprepared for the results, the scientist lose control of Jones who breaks out.
  
• Mr. Zsasz. Not changing much, 'cause he's already pretty "real". A serial killer. But I would make him a more prominent member of Gotham City's High Society. Perhaps give him a more "typical" serial killer upbringing. Perhaps have him accused, or responsible for some of the murders at the hands of Hush (Dr. Thomas Elliot).
  
• Hush
  
• Black Mask
  
• Firefly. I would have him burn at some point from one his fires while trying to escape Batman. His survival only enhances his pyromania.
  
• Killer Moth. Perhaps a Buffalo Bill from Silent of The Lambs remake? Moth in their throats, human suit for his "rebirth", etc.
  
• The Ventriloquist and Scarface. I know your thinking, a man and a toy? Personally I think if you make him really dark, perhaps twisted in a Jigsaw from Saw type way, it could work.
  
• The Mad Hatter. His small stature is a must. Perhaps Seth Green could pull this off. I would also team him with Tweedledee and Tweedledum, who are obviously his muscle. I would also consider him having a hand in the creation of Poison Ivy. Taking place, none other than in the botanical gardens ahaha
  
• Poison Ivy. Thurman was a rare good thing about Batman & Robin, but Ivy needs a redo on the big screen. For starters a natural red haired actress. One with a nice auburn coloured red mane. To keep her "real", not so much controlling of the plant world, and she uses the toxins plants can produce as her weapons in a different manner (poison darts, spike drinks, etc).
  
• Harley Quinn. Perhaps similar to Ledger's Joker. The late Brittany Murphy would have been a perfect casting in my opinion.
  

Of course many others could be used, but the point is made I think. And your own opinions also prove these characters need some spotlight even if just a little bit.

And with Batman's large list of Villains, along with his pretty big list of local allies, a serious live action television show could work wonderfully. Especially if it's all shot in the same style as Sin City. Picture it. Go ahead take a moment. Awesome isn't it? And if Batman is to be older (since Sin City is from Frank Miller, who gave us The Dark Knight Returns, among others), have Ray Stevenson (Punisher: War Zone) play the Caped Crusader.