Comparing the Original Superman Film Series to the Original Batman Film Series

[Rorschach2012]

The neon is unique and visually interesting imo.

 

[The Joker]

Yeah, that was overkill, even if the guns weren't insanely neon lit.

It was all overkill. Even the science lab in a JUNGLE in SOUTH AMERICA where Bane and Ivy were created was a neon fest lol;

 

[Rorschach2012]

It looked awesome. I love the motorcycle race in B&R too! I love how colorful that movie was

 

[Spider-Aziz]

It was all overkill. Even the science lab in a JUNGLE in SOUTH AMERICA where Bane and Ivy were created was a neon fest lol;

Spoiler

All that was lacking is for the villain costumes to be neon lit in those movies.

 

[The Joker]

All that was lacking is for the villain costumes to be neon lit in those movies.

 

[Rorschach2012]

I don't care, the campiness in Batman Forever completely worked for me. They jumped the shark with Batman & Robin for sure, but if they would've continued with the Batman Forever tone, I bet the franchise would've survived and we would've gotten Batman Triumphant with Scarecrow and Harley. Wasn't it going to be Nic Cage and Courtney Love as Crane and Quinzel? I honestly don't think that would've been so bad

 

[Spider-Aziz]

The theme below represents my reaction.

Spoiler

I forgot this nonsense, and fairly recently I did my Batman movie marathon.

 

[OutOfBoose]

Burton's Gotham and Batman Begins - optimal stuff for me. I like when Gotham looks like an old city, with architecture inspired by early xxth century or movies like Metropolis. A bit creepy, a bit outlandish. Without too much of sparkling glass-and-steel new skyscrapers. In TDK and TDKR Gotham looked a bit character-less.

That jacket was awesome. I believe this thing alone inspired the entire aesthetic of Arkham games from Rocksteady.

 

[The Joker]

I don't care, the campiness in Batman Forever completely worked for me.

Good god, you don't have to keep following every post we make by repeating over and over that you loved the neon fest in those movies. We heard you the first 3 times.

The theme below represents my reaction.

Spoiler

I forgot this nonsense, and fairly recently I did my Batman movie marathon.

It's probably because there's worse nonsense in the movies than the eyesore neon.

I believe this thing alone inspired the entire aesthetic of Arkham games from Rocksteady.

It didn't. I have the making of the Arkham games books, and there's not a mention of the Schumacher movies anywhere in it.

They don't even include any alternate costumes from those movies in their games. You can get a bunch of the comic book costumes, Burton, Nolan, BTAS, and Adam West costumes. But none from Schumacher. Also the Batmobile race tracks in AK have levels based on Burton, Nolan, BvS, and the 60's TV show. But none from Schumacher's movies. Ditto for the Batmobiles. You can drive the Batmobiles from all of them except Schumacher's.

They gave those movies a wide berth.

 

[OutOfBoose]

It's only a speculation, but it's not the first time creators don't mention real sources of inspiration. Take The Matrix and comic book Invisibles. Too many similarities.

Either way, neon-lit question marks plastered all over their games remind me of his jacket. Maybe it's accidental. And overall, of all Batman movies Schumacher films are closest to Arkham games visually, except for Origins.

 

[The Joker]

It's only a speculation, but it's not the first time creators don't mention real sources of inspiration. Take The Matrix and comic book Invisibles. Too many similarities.

A neon lit question mark is not too many similarities. Lighting up the question marks in neon so the players can see Riddler's puzzles clearly as they move through the game's massive levels is common sense, not a Schumacher inspiration.

Either way, neon-lit question marks plastered all over their games remind me of his jacket. Maybe it's accidental.

It's accidental.

And overall, of all Batman movies Schumacher films are closest to Arkham games visually, except for Origins.

No, they're really not. Not even remotely. If they did it would be a common place observation. But most people tend to liken it to BTAS Gotham. I have never in all my years seen anyone say they feel like they are playing in Schumacher's Gotham when they play these games. The games would be chastised if that's the atmosphere they gave off.

Schumacher didn't invent the concept of neon. Neon has been in Gotham pre Schumcher in the movies, BTAS, and the comics;

If they ever start painting the walls in neon graffiti, dressing the street thugs in neon, putting neon in the machine guns etc, then you can make a plausible argument for it feeling like Schumacher's.

 

[STARMAN]

I'll give the edge to Superman. Two films to one. I consider Superman I and II good. I only consider the first Batman film watchable.

 

[Rorschach2012]

The Schumacher movies earned their place in Batman history for sure. Even if not everyone likes them

And it's good to see I'm not the only one that prefers a more outlandish looking Gotham

It all comes down to taste! Those Schumacher movies are completely valid, I sort of see them as updated versions of the 60s series

 

[The Joker]

Earned their place as what? The movies that killed the Batman franchise for years? The movies Joel Schumacher apologized for? The movies Bruce Timm hates, and even took a funny dig at in one of his BTAS episodes?

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Anyone can like those movies as much as they want. That's their own opinion. Even I find B&R hilarious to watch, and more fun to sit through than BvS. Superman 3 and 4 have fans, too. But Schumacher's movies have not earned their place as anything except maybe on the worst CBM lists they are frequently listed on.

 

[Rorschach2012]

Batman Forever didn't kill the franchise, B&R did. BF was a big success. The two just get lumped in together.

You may not like them, but they're an important part of Batman's history. I'm glad we got a more serious take after the Schumacher films, but there's still room for a more lighthearted adaptation that doesn't take itself that seriously. It's just as valid. The Schumacher films were an homage to the 60s series. Batman doesn't need to be serious and dark all the time. Things like Lego Batman, '66 Batman, Brave and the Bold and the Schumacher films are fun and still very much Batman.

I prefer a more serious tone, but the campiness and goofiness works for me and it's still true to the character.

 

[The Joker]

Batman Forever didn't kill the franchise, B&R did. BF was a big success. The two just get lumped in together.

BF was the first nail in the coffin. Because it made money WB felt vindicated in their campy "Toyetic Batman" approach, as in a franchise designed to sell toys. So because of that they went even camper in B&R.

You may not like them, but they're an important part of Batman's history.

Important in what way? What did they contribute that was so important to Batman?

I'm glad we got a more serious take after the Schumacher films, but there's still room for a more lighthearted adaptation that doesn't take itself that seriously. It's just as valid. The Schumacher films were an homage to the 60s series. Batman doesn't need to be serious and dark all the time. Things like Lego Batman, '66 Batman, Brave and the Bold and the Schumacher films are fun and still very much Batman.

I prefer a more serious tone, but the campiness and goofiness works for me and it's still true to the character.

I absolutely LOVE a campy version of Batman if it's good. I am probably one of the biggest fans of Adam West's Batman show. I cannot say enough good things about it. I own all the episodes on blu-ray, as well as the spin off movie.

But the difference between the 60's show and Schumacher's movies is that Schumacher's movies were made to sell toys. The show had it's tongue firmly in cheek while telling fun well written stories that was meant to entertain both kids and adults alike. You don't see anyone affiliated with that show apologizing for it do you? You don't see that being ignored by the Arkham games. BTAS hired Adam West to do a role as the Gray Ghost. They recently made an animated movie based on the 60's show, bringing back Adam West, Burt Ward, and Julie Newmar to play their original roles, and it was beloved by the fans.

I can list reasons why the 60's show was important and earned it's place in Batman's history. It made Batman a cultural icon and had a massive cultural impact. How many times have we seen it referenced over the years in everything from movies, to TV shows, to commercials. It turned the Riddler into an A-list villain. It made Joker, Penguin, Catwoman and Riddler household names. The performances of Julie Newmar, Burgess Meredith, and Frank Gorshin helped define those characters for decades. It made Batgirl a prominent character. It brought Mr. Freeze back as a prominent Batman villain. It made the Batmobile one of the coolest and most iconic cars in the world.

This link lists it all; http://www.geekscape.net/how-the-1960s-batman-television-series-helped-save-batman

Can you say the same for Schumacher's movies?

 

[Fincher]

To be clear, Schumacher apologized for Batman & Robin, not Batman Forever.

 

[Rorschach2012]

Cringe. I like all the Batman movies that have been made. I think they all have merit, and none of them are perfect. I'm not going to waste time trying to convince other people that the movie I like is good.

Does anyone else think that Arnold could've been an amazing Mister Freeze if he played it closer to Terminator?

I love fantasizing about what could've happened to the original Batman movie series if B&R wasn't such a failure. Jack Nicholson and all the previous villains were going to come back for the fifth one apparently. That would've been nice for the series to get some closure. B&R definitely didn't feel like the end of the series.

 

[Skrilla31]

I'll be honest my picture perfect Batman movie wouldn't be nearly as over the top and campy as Batman Forever, but it's still my favorite Batman movie.

It bothers me that so many fans insist we haven't gotten the perfect Batman yet because minus the nipples and the neon Power Ranger stuff, Val Kilmer in that movie is actually the closest thing we have gotten to TAS Batman on the big screen.

 

[Rorschach2012]

I'll be honest my picture perfect Batman movie wouldn't be nearly as over the top and campy as Batman Forever, but it's still my favorite Batman movie.

It bothers me that so many fans insist we haven't gotten the perfect Batman yet because minus the nipples and the neon Power Ranger stuff, Val Kilmer in that movie is actually the closest thing we have gotten to TAS Batman on the big screen.

Careful, someone's gonna come in with a wall of text and pictures and diagrams proving that BTAS Batman is nothing like BF Batman.

I think the closest we've gotten to TAS on the big screen was that Batman/Harley/Joker chase scene from Suicide Squad. That movie sucked, but that scene was amazing.

Batman Forever just might be my favorite Batman movie too. It's far from perfect, but it's so fun to watch, it's probably the one I've seen the most. It's probably because Dick Grayson is my favorite character! I think that interpretation of Robin was pretty ideal. It would've made more sense if he was a bit younger, but that's my only real gripe.

 

[The Joker]

Cringe.

What a mature response. Go to the top of the class.

I like all the Batman movies that have been made. I think they all have merit, and none of them are perfect. I'm not going to waste time trying to convince other people that the movie I like is good.

No, you just keep repeating over and over after every critical post about them how much you love them. Much better strategy.

Careful, someone's gonna come in with a wall of text and pictures and diagrams proving that BTAS Batman is nothing like BF Batman.

Don't need walls of text and diagrams to debunk that. If that was the closest we'd gotten to TAS Batman he'd be the fan favorite live action Batman.

He's not even a contender for that.

 

[Rorschach2012]

Do people really prefer Superman III to Batman Forever? I can't understand that, the villains in III are some of the very worst in the genre. The evil Superman stuff wasn't bad though, that was one of the only good scenes.

With some TINY changes, Superman III could've been great. The supercomputer obviously should've been Brainiac and evil Superman should've been Bizarro.

 

[Skrilla31]

Don't need walls of text and diagrams to debunk that. If that was the closest we'd gotten to TAS Batman he'd be the fan favorite live action Batman.

He's not even a contender for that.

How is Batman in Batman Forever not the ideal Batman? He is essentially the Bat-god of the comics right from the start with all the trimmings.

He's also the smartest and most clever of all the Batmans.

 

[Skrilla31]

#itscomicbookgotham



TDKT Gotham > Burton's Gotham, Schumacher's Gotham.



Your yearning for a more fantastical design on Gotham is not a flaw of the movies. That's a personal preference. That's a fact, not an opinion. Gotham City has a historical precedent of over five decades of being designed as a normal looking American City, often even looking like New York e.g.;

That image you posted has so much color though. If you strip the panel of that color and try to go for a more realistic vibe, it's a lot less interesting to look at.

A Batman movie should be visually interesting.

 

[Spider-Aziz]

Do people really prefer Superman III to Batman Forever?

Yes.

I can't understand that, the villains in III are some of the very worst in the genre. The evil Superman stuff wasn't bad though, that was one of the only good scenes.

I thought he was fine, better when compared to a Two-Face who chose to be a dancing hammy crook for unexplained reasons.