The Official Batman Returns Thread - Part 3

[The Shape]

No... The mob makes fun of the 'cheap purple suit' and Joker mocks Maroni about them paying for it.

Right, he was joking/mocking them because he had just stolen a ton of their money...

 

[DACrowe]

Belatedly on the whole Catwoman thing.

I prefer the characterization of Catwoman in Rises. Just as the Joker wearing make-up and not having smilex didn't bug me, neither did the lack of whip or claws for Catwoman. I thought Hathaway nailed the post-crisis character perfectly and that Nolan's use of potential romance and a time jump was a clever way to have his cake and eat it too for narrative purposes.

With that said, I cannot deny that the Returns costume is much better, simply because I will always prefer the Pfeiffer design to the Julie Newmar suit (which is basically what Hathaway wears). Also, Pfeiffer and Keaton have a much better developed and tangible romance in their film, making their ending more tragic (and also strongly feminist from Selina's POV). However, Nolan I do not think was looking for that kind of romance.

 

[Pfeiffer-Pfan]

Hathaway did, however, have much more chemistry with Bale than I thought possible.

He's a bit of a wet fish when it comes to female co stars, so I give her credit for bringing something out of him.

 

[BatLobster]

Between TDKR and American Hustle, I'm starting to think that's either a myth or he's getting better at that. I think the fact that he's played a lot of cold characters might've had something to do with it in the past though.

 

[DACrowe]

Hathaway did, however, have much more chemistry with Bale than I thought possible.

He's a bit of a wet fish when it comes to female co stars, so I give her credit for bringing something out of him.

Yes. I mean, he does have chemistry with certain leading ladies as eel (like The Flowers of War and American Hustle). But compared to Gyllenhaal and Holmes? It was night and day, how much he lit up around her. Another aspect that made Talia feel a bit awkward in her inclusion, as there was no chemistry there.

I think Nolan got exactly what he was going for, which was not a straight romance. But he could have gotten one between those two.

 

[Travesty]

It's because Hathaway has his mom's pearls. He warms up to anybody who likes his mom's pearls.

 

[Kane52630]

http://kane52630.tumblr.com/post/77993473968/why-are-you-dressed-up-like-batman-max

 

[Two-Face]

Ahhh... My favourite scene in the film.

 

[Pfeiffer-Pfan]

 

[DaRkVeNgeanCe]

I've never seen the bottom pic before I wish I could see it in hi-res.

 

[Stu]

​

 

[regwec]

Catwoman alone has the ability to make me really want to be thrashed.

 

[Human Torch]

Declining to use the name "Catwoman" would have been fine if it was inferred that "Catwoman" otherwise existed as a dual identity. Coupled with the (in my opinion, ghastly) decision to have the "cattish" elements of her costume be incidental, it led to the impression that Catwoman was not really an entity at all, but rather Selina Kyle in her work clothes.

That is not an entirely invalid approach, but it isn't one that interests me very much. I much prefer Catwoman to be a contrasting counterpoint to Batman; her thrill-seeking wish fulfillment vs his stoic dutifulness. For that to work, it is important that "Catwoman" exists as an empowering device for Selina.

I do, however, think I would have enjoyed Nolan's "Selina" more had she been played by a more compelling actress.

 

[Human Torch]

It's chilly in here!

There's no such thing as seeing too much Pfeiffer as Catwoman.

 

[Stu]

Irrefutable Proof That Michelle Pfeiffer Is The Greatest Catwoman Ever

 

[shauner111]

Going by your examples, Licking yourself doesn't make you the greatest Catwoman.

I never found her attractive when she was in the suit. As Selina Kyle, absolutely.

 

[Marx]

There is a reason why other Catwomen (Berry and Hathaway) are compared to Pfeiffer and it's because Pfeiffer is the gold standard. Sure, the characterization might not appeal to everyone but Pfeiffer's entire performance couldn't have been any better.

 

[The Joker]

Or it could be because Pfeiffer was the first of those three movie Catwomen.

 

[Marx]

Berry was horrible and while Anne was good, she wasn't as good as Pfeiffer.

 

[regwec]

Halle Berry was wasted in a horrible movie, to be fair. I think that, even now, she could play the role pretty well.

I agree that Pfeiffer is, and is likely to remain, the gold standard.

 

[Human Torch]

One of the things that I love most about Pfeiffer's Catwoman that rarely gets mentioned is her voice/line delivery.I don't think anybody will ever match it.

 

[Two-Face]

Declining to use the name "Catwoman" would have been fine if it was inferred that "Catwoman" otherwise existed as a dual identity. Coupled with the (in my opinion, ghastly) decision to have the "cattish" elements of her costume be incidental, it led to the impression that Catwoman was not really an entity at all, but rather Selina Kyle in her work clothes.

That is not an entirely invalid approach, but it isn't one that interests me very much. I much prefer Catwoman to be a contrasting counterpoint to Batman; her thrill-seeking wish fulfillment vs his stoic dutifulness. For that to work, it is important that "Catwoman" exists as an empowering device for Selina.

I do, however, think I would have enjoyed Nolan's "Selina" more had she been played by a more compelling actress.

I agree with that last part but Anne Hathaway was good and she did her best I enjoyed her scenes I just think she should been given more to do like Blake.

 

[CountOrlok]

I compare Pfeiffer/Hathaway/Berry with the 60s Catwoman in terms of how I rank them:

Pfeiffer = Newmar
Hathaway = Meriweather
Berry = Kitt

Berry/Kitt are my least favourite.

 

[Elevator Man]

I agree with that last part but Anne Hathaway was good and she did her best I enjoyed her scenes I just think she should been given more to do like Blake.

I honestly think Catwoman shouldn't had been included in TDKR.

 

[Human Torch]

I compare Pfeiffer/Hathaway/Berry with the 60s Catwoman in terms of how I rank them:

Pfeiffer = Newmar
Hathaway = Meriweather
Berry = Kitt

Berry/Kitt are my least favourite.

I'd agree with that.