Batman '89 The Official Batman (1989) Thread - Part 6

[B]

Mark Chilcott "Knight"

This is epic.

 

[Pfeiffer-Pfan]

While we're on the subject, does anyone have any clue as to what WB's reaction was when Burton cast Keaton? People always mention the vitriol and anger that fans spewed when they learned of the casting, but I've never heard any talk about what Burton must have done to convince WB that Michael Keaton was the correct call.

It's never before occurred to me, but I just find it bizarre that WB risked the entirety of this venture on the casting of someone who was best known for being a light comedy entertainer. Was is just that he was flavour of the month, what with Beetlejuice and Clean & Sober getting such positive evaluations?

Once cast WB would never hint at any doubt. It's bad for business. All we've had over the years are a few comments/rumours:

- They wanted to keep Burton happy and he was totally against casting your regular square jaw type.
- Keaton was on a winning streak at the time and was an interesting, quirky choice (Remember almost all press is good press).
- They were desperate for Nicholson to sign on, and apparently, the only reason he showed any interest at all was because of Burton and Keaton's involvement, which he found unusual.
- Burton sweet talked the producers and once they saw the costume designs they realised it was more about presence and performance than it was physicality and star-power. The suit would do most of the work (Especially if they got Nicholson and his star power).

The rest is history.

 

[Kane52630]

I'm glad I waited for this set.

 

[The Shape]

Looks awesome.

 

[antsman41]

I need HQ posters of this inner designs of both Keaton profiles.

 

[theMan-Bat]

I agree. Keaton's Wayne had a deceptively bumbling 'everyman' charm that instantly made him lovable whilst still not taking away any of the edge. My one real criticism is that we didn't see enough of it. We mostly see Wayne when he's deep in thought and ruminating on his tragic past.

We would have seen more of Keaton's Bruce Wayne if Warners co-chairman Terry Semel and Bob Daly hadn't decided Tim Burton was too dark for Batman and too scary for kids.

Sam Hamm's script says, "BRUCE WAYNE enters from the kitchen. He's a rich, smart guy with a thousand things on his mind. But when you think he's not paying attention -- you're dead wrong. He doesn't miss a thing."

I've been watching The Aviator and Howard Hughes was like a real life Keaton Bruce Wayne in many ways, I'm not saying Keaton's Bruce has OCD, but Howard Hughes' fathers estate left him wealthy, and he became an eccentric recluse billionaire, just like Keaton's Bruce Wayne, and Howard Hughes also had a public reputation as playboy, due to his relationship involvements, including dysfunctional relationships with beautiful, talented and fascinating women, such as Katharine Hepburn in the '30s and Ava Gardner. I can see Keaton's Bruce Wayne having a public reputation as a partying socialite, for having a gambling casino in the Wayne Mansion, with his fundraising charity balls. And Keaton's Bruce Wayne also having a reputation as a playboy, due to his relationship involvements, including dysfunctional relationships with beautiful, talented and fascinating women, such as Vicki Vale and Selina Kyle.

While we're on the subject, does anyone have any clue as to what WB's reaction was when Burton cast Keaton? People always mention the vitriol and anger that fans spewed when they learned of the casting, but I've never heard any talk about what Burton must have done to convince WB that Michael Keaton was the correct call.

It's never before occurred to me, but I just find it bizarre that WB risked the entirety of this venture on the casting of someone who was best known for being a light comedy entertainer. Was is just that he was flavour of the month, what with Beetlejuice and Clean & Sober getting such positive evaluations?

From what I've read it was Keaton's range in the films Beetlejuice and Clean and Sober that convinced them. Also I learned that casting Keaton wasn't originally Tim Burton's idea, Pierce Brosnan was, but Brosnan couldn't take Batman seriously. Tim Burton explained, "Getting Michael [Keaton] wasn't my idea. One of the producers, Peter Guber, I think, said to me, 'What about Michael Keaton?' I said, 'Whooaaa.' I actually had to think about it. The more I did, the more it made sense. I met some very good 'square-jawed' actors, but I had real trouble seeing them put on the outfit [with unintentional laughs]. Michael [Keaton] has an incredible temper, and I thought that was important for Batman. He's very subtle and intense. And he's one of the few comedic actors who can make the leap to drama. Comedy really does come from anger. Michael [Keaton] has this explosive side. I thought a lot about the character. Loneliness is a big part of it. The kid's 10 years old and he sees something very bad happen, and he shuts down. He becomes a very lonely, a very isolated person. He's concocted a very weird way of dealing with trauma."

 

[Sawyer]

DC has solicited and then dropped a few collections in recent days, so I'm immensely happy to see that this is a real tangible thing.

 

[I Am The Knight]

Oh, I need that.

 

[antsman41]

I still have my OG edition, as well as the four-pack collection of all four films in comic form.

 

[Sawyer]

I remember the collection of four, but it's literally been like 20 years since I last saw it in a bookstore.

 

[DaRkVeNgeanCe]

I hate that they changed the font and didn't use the original classic logo. That font sucks.

 

[The Shape]

The Weeknd dressed up in a pretty awesome Joker costume for Halloween.

 

[chintai80]

lol with the right amount of prosthetic, anyone can look like jack nicholson.

thinking about getting the 4k blu-ray for this - the movie might be dated now, but it was VERY awesome for its time and i still enjoy it to this day.

i also enjoy michael keaton's performance even more in hindsight.

 

[The Shape]

Batman 89 in 4K is a MUST-HAVE for any fan of the film. Beyond worth it.

 

[Kane52630]

All 4 are must haves.

IF you're a real Batman fan, that is.

 

[DaRkVeNgeanCe]

They are, just try to ignore the fact that WB bastardized both included sound mixes on 89 with the revisionist audio. Someday, I hope all of my efforts speaking to WB will eventually lead to an edition being released with the option of the original sound mix with the original classic sound effects.


One can only hope.

 

[Kane52630]

Exclusive: Matt Ferguson's NYCC 'Batman' Poster Cleans Out Axis Chemicals with a Bang

 

[chintai80]

Exclusive: Matt Ferguson's NYCC 'Batman' Poster Cleans Out Axis Chemicals with a Bang

into the air, junior birdman! missed me!

jebus, this is beautiful.

 

[Holiday]

LEGO unveils massive Batmobile set based on Tim Burton's 1989 Batman, available on Black Friday [News] | The Brothers Brick

$250 but I'll admit I'm very tempted, especially to buy it to get that other smaller Batmobile as well.

 

[Mani-Man]

LEGO unveils massive Batmobile set based on Tim Burton's 1989 Batman, available on Black Friday [News] | The Brothers Brick

$250 but I'll admit I'm very tempted, especially to buy it to get that other smaller Batmobile as well.

Urgh, thats way too expensive...but god i want it.
They should do it like with the lego batman movie batmobile, has a nice size thats not too big or small, with 26€(here in germany) a fair price.
I would love to have all the batmobiles of the movies and so in lego form.

I will wait and see if i can find this to a more "reasonable" price later, for now 250 is way too much...but its incredible good looking.

 

[chintai80]

LEGO unveils massive Batmobile set based on Tim Burton's 1989 Batman, available on Black Friday [News] | The Brothers Brick

$250 but I'll admit I'm very tempted, especially to buy it to get that other smaller Batmobile as well.

i want. i think $250 is a decent price for a set like this (it is lego after all).
but i dont know where i can put it at my place.

and my son might just end up smashing it up. lol
it does look sweet af.
1989 batmobile is prolly the best live action batmobile of all time.
them anton furst designs are the bomb.

 

[TheGuy]

 

[TheGuy]

 

[Holiday]

Urgh, thats way too expensive...but god i want it.
They should do it like with the lego batman movie batmobile, has a nice size thats not too big or small, with 26€(here in germany) a fair price.
I would love to have all the batmobiles of the movies and so in lego form.

I will wait and see if i can find this to a more "reasonable" price later, for now 250 is way too much...but its incredible good looking.

There's a fair bit of Batmobile custom builds in that Minifigure scale that you may like to build. Some have instructions, you'll just have to order the parts separately.

i want. i think $250 is a decent price for a set like this (it is lego after all).
but i dont know where i can put it at my place.

and my son might just end up smashing it up. lol
it does look sweet af.
1989 batmobile is prolly the best live action batmobile of all time.
them anton furst designs are the bomb.

@ your son smashing one up lol

I just wonder how long those figures will stay exclusive to the set, the new cape + cowl mold especially, because I could see it going up in value very quickly.

 

[Sawyer]

Just got the hardcover of the comic adaptation, and admittedly I'm a little irked by the B&W page, color page, B&W page, color page, B&W page, color page format.

Although at least I know this story like the back of my hand, so it's not like I have to worry about it killing the pacing for me. I'm still thrilled to finally have it.