LADIES: Win A Date With Bruce Wayne!

Yesterday I arrived at home to see that the internet had been buzzing with Batman news. It seems that director Christopher Nolan has been on the hunt for two female actors to be in his next Batman sequel, The Dark Knight Rises. The luckily ladies will play opposite Christian Bale, supposedly one as a love interest, and the other a villain. Possible names of actresses have been swirling for over 24-hours now. But I see no point in looking at actresses until we know the villains or characters. Several femme fe' tales that have been rumored like Catwoman, Talia Al Ghul, and Poison Ivy. While I feel the first two would be a decent fit I also feel that a woman who controls plants is a little farfetched for Nolan’s realistic franchise. The Riddler has already been ruled out as villian so after minimal thinking here are villains I’m rooting for to be in The Dark Knight Rises.

3) Catwoman

Maybe it’s because I loved Michelle Pfeiffer’s performance so much in Batman Returns that I can’t think of anyone who can play Selina Kyle better. Catwoman was a sexual fantasy before I even knew what was sex was. In the comic books Batman and Catwoman have had a torrid romace for decades that has more issues than Buffy and Angel. Selina’s idealism makes her believe she is doing good by stealing from the rich and using the money for good, but not in Batman’s eyes. There is no grey area with The Dark Knight and although he admires Catwoman’s intentions he can’t allow to hurt people in the process. But why does she have to look so irresistible while committing a crime?

Catwoman would be a great villain for the next Batman film mainly because of the morality story. Bruce Wayne has just lost the love of his live, Rachel Dawes, but now is attracted to this woman who he also wants to put behind bars. That can lead to a lot of mixed emotions and character development. While I in no way believe Angelina Jolie should be even considered for this role I do think we need an actress who is little bit of a bitch, and can seduce men just with a suggestive look, but to whom that actress will be is beyond me.

2) Ra’s Al Ghul

Yes we saw Liam Neeson’s character go down with the train in Batman Begins, but any true Batman fan knows Ra’s Al Ghul doesn’t die so easily. In the comics Ra’s has lived for hundreds of years with the help of The Lazarus Pit, a bubbling fountain of youth. Every once a while Ra’s much bathe in the pit to stay somewhat young. Though the side effects are moments of brief insanity after being submerged from the pit I’d say Ra’s plans for world destruction means the insanity last a little longer. Plus I would love to see Liam Neeson come back and expand on this great character we've only scratched the surface of.

Ra’s Al Ghul has had many children, but they’ve all been daughters. He believes it is a curse of The Lazarus Pit, but when he finds Bruce Wayne he sees the son he never had. Bruce is a man Ra’s finds worthy to carry on his work and lead The League of Assassins. His defeat of Ra’s in Batman Begins would only strengthen his belief that Bruce is the one man worthy to succeed him. And his daughter Talia Al Ghul, is madly in love with Batman, and he hopes that the two would rule The League of Assassins together. Of course Bruce refuses both, even though he is somewhat attracted to Talia. Of course that attraction leads to a whole new story I don’t think the general audience is ready for yet.

1)The Ventriloquist

Arnold Wesker developed a multiple personality disorder when his parents were murdered by the mob. Now as an adult he runs the mob through a 1920’s gangster puppet on his hand called Scarface. Wesker seems like the meek and timid one, and let’s Scarface do all the bad things he’s not capable of doing himself.

Before Batman Begins hardly anyone outside of Batman fans had heard of Ra’s Al Ghul or Scarecrow. So let’s leave the villains that have already been done by Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher alone and show the world something new. The Ventriloquist is a great villain for Nolan’s world of Batman. He doesn’t control plants or have a freeze ray, he is just mentally ill. The plays on psycho analysis would be fun to explore. Bring in the dummy!