The Official Batman Returns Thread

[K.B.]

Awesome pics

 

[Rac]

I think it's an amazing movie, and vastly superior to Batman '89.

Seconded.

Batman Returns was brilliant IMO. While not completely accurate to the source material( i mean since when does Batman kill people, let alone seem to enjoy doing it) it was a really dark and disturbing Bat-film. Exactly how Bat-films should be. While the Penguin was radically changed I think it was necesary to make the character compelling and worthy of a serious threat to Gotham. Catwoman was perfect, even though her origin was a bit messed up, I found it suited the films dark tone perfectly. Michelle Phfifer was perfect as Selina and Catwoman. "Lifes a B!7ch, now so am I!!" classic line. And Penguin and Catwomans interaction was spot on. Penguin leering after her, Catwoman leading him on to a extent so she could get her own way. Who can forget the scene where she plucks Oswalds sweet little birdy from the cage and puts it in her mouth making orgasmic noises as he grabs her precious "Ms Kitty" and threatens to skewer it! Classic Bat-villain interaction if you ask me.

Seconded, as well. And about Batman killing, I know he isn't supposed to do it, but I just freaking loved it how Batman killed some of the Penguin's henchmen.

 

[eledoremassis02]

Some more merchandise

 

[K.B.]

I think 89 and Returns had the best merch of any Batman movie

 

[The Joker]

I still have that Sega Genesis game. I really love it. Still play it now and again. Can't beat the old school games.

 

[boog_spin]

yeh i remember being sick and my mom buying it for me when i was home from school...freakin awesome

 

[Homer J. Fong]

Ah, Batman Returns. This is pretty much the movie that defined Batman for me. I was born in May of '89, so I was obviously too young to be aware of the first movie, so for me this movie is among the most important cinematic experiences of my life. I don't think I saw it in the theater (I certainly hope not), but I remember having both Burton movies when they ran on HBO later - and having the trading cards, and Golden Book adaptation, and comic adaptation, and die-cast toys, and on and on, it was great.

The movie itself is still one I can go back to and never tire of and always find new things in (just watched it on Blu-ray on Friday, in fact). I'll just go through some of the elements that stand out the most to me:

-The relationship between Batman/Catwoman and Bruce/Selina is where the movie is at its most electrifying. As Burton said, with Keaton and then Pfeiffer, you've got four great eyes right there, and those two have that great talent of saying a ton with very little. My very favorite moments in the movie are: Bruce and Selina finding each other's scars, Catwoman straddling Batman on the rooftop (love Keaton licking his lips there), and discovering their true identities under the mistletoe ("Does this mean we have to start fighting?"). And the very last scene with Bruce just missing her in the alley and Catwoman showing herself as the Batsignal shines, the weight of everything that's gone on up to this point just sort of hits you, and it's a very understated but emotional moment.

-Danny Elfman's score is my second favorite film score to date (first is John Williams' Star Wars). I'm so sick of describing this movie or any parts of it as operatic, but it really is appropriate; almost the entire thing is set to music of some sort, and a lot of it flat-out eliminates need for dialogue! (Great example is the scene with The Penguin at his parents' graves.) It's haunting, it's cartoonish, it's exhilarating, it's great.

-Danny DeVito's Penguin. Like I said, this movie defined Batman for me, or at least a lot of his world, and this Penguin was my first exposure to the character, but that's not why I find him so compelling. To me, the heart of the character, the desire for more respect and a better life for himself no matter what he has to do to get it, is here, whether or not the character has flippers or not. DeVito makes a meal of the scenery alright, but he's very effective.

-The costume design. Michelle Pfeiffer, in that stitched, shiny black rubber suit? Thank you, Bob Ringwood & Mary Vogt.

-The German expressionistic (or pseudo-German expressionistic) approach. Only Tim Burton would even try to go this route, and I'm so glad he did.

-The big moment in Batman that says to me and probably most of us "That IS Batman" is the last shot, silhoutted on that rooftop, just waiting, as he always will be. The equivalent to that scene here is the one with the Batmobile roaring down the snowy streets with The Dark Knight on patrol ("I think he knows who his parents are. There's something else.")

So I'm probably just repeating a ton of stuff that's already been said; it's hard to find new things to say about a movie that's been talked about so much. But you know what, last summer I heard a lot of talk that The Dark Knight transcended the "comic book movie" to become real art. BR is pretty open to interpretation and has its enthusiastic lovers, its venomous haters, and some in between; to me, that is art.

 

[Pfeiffer-Pfan]

^^^

Oh My God... Bravo!!!

words... out of... my mouth!

 

[Jack O Lantern]

This Batman Returns game is for the Snes. I played and played that ****

 

[union_jak]

Ah, Batman Returns. This is pretty much the movie that defined Batman for me. I was born in May of '89, so I was obviously too young to be aware of the first movie, so for me this movie is among the most important cinematic experiences of my life. I don't think I saw it in the theater (I certainly hope not), but I remember having both Burton movies when they ran on HBO later - and having the trading cards, and Golden Book adaptation, and comic adaptation, and die-cast toys, and on and on, it was great.

The movie itself is still one I can go back to and never tire of and always find new things in (just watched it on Blu-ray on Friday, in fact). I'll just go through some of the elements that stand out the most to me:

-The relationship between Batman/Catwoman and Bruce/Selina is where the movie is at its most electrifying. As Burton said, with Keaton and then Pfeiffer, you've got four great eyes right there, and those two have that great talent of saying a ton with very little. My very favorite moments in the movie are: Bruce and Selina finding each other's scars, Catwoman straddling Batman on the rooftop (love Keaton licking his lips there), and discovering their true identities under the mistletoe ("Does this mean we have to start fighting?"). And the very last scene with Bruce just missing her in the alley and Catwoman showing herself as the Batsignal shines, the weight of everything that's gone on up to this point just sort of hits you, and it's a very understated but emotional moment.

-Danny Elfman's score is my second favorite film score to date (first is John Williams' Star Wars). I'm so sick of describing this movie or any parts of it as operatic, but it really is appropriate; almost the entire thing is set to music of some sort, and a lot of it flat-out eliminates need for dialogue! (Great example is the scene with The Penguin at his parents' graves.) It's haunting, it's cartoonish, it's exhilarating, it's great.

-Danny DeVito's Penguin. Like I said, this movie defined Batman for me, or at least a lot of his world, and this Penguin was my first exposure to the character, but that's not why I find him so compelling. To me, the heart of the character, the desire for more respect and a better life for himself no matter what he has to do to get it, is here, whether or not the character has flippers or not. DeVito makes a meal of the scenery alright, but he's very effective.

-The costume design. Michelle Pfeiffer, in that stitched, shiny black rubber suit? Thank you, Bob Ringwood & Mary Vogt.

-The German expressionistic (or pseudo-German expressionistic) approach. Only Tim Burton would even try to go this route, and I'm so glad he did.

-The big moment in Batman that says to me and probably most of us "That IS Batman" is the last shot, silhoutted on that rooftop, just waiting, as he always will be. The equivalent to that scene here is the one with the Batmobile roaring down the snowy streets with The Dark Knight on patrol ("I think he knows who his parents are. There's something else.")

So I'm probably just repeating a ton of stuff that's already been said; it's hard to find new things to say about a movie that's been talked about so much. But you know what, last summer I heard a lot of talk that The Dark Knight transcended the "comic book movie" to become real art. BR is pretty open to interpretation and has its enthusiastic lovers, its venomous haters, and some in between; to me, that is art.

Agree on all accounts

 

[webhead731]

Batman and Batman Returns are the BEST Batman movies to me. I know everyone is all "omg teh drk nite!" but really, I love these much more. They feel like comic books, they feel dark and grim, but they're not plagued by all that realism BS. Joker is like the Joker. He's scary, threatening, and funny.
Penguin is one of the best sympathetic villains I know of. I felt for him. The character development in both films is interesting and done well.

Batman Returns is just underrated beyond belief.

 

[Ibn]

Batman and Batman Returns are the BEST Batman movies to me. I know everyone is all "omg teh drk nite!" but really, I love these much more. They feel like comic books, they feel dark and grim, but they're not plagued by all that realism BS. Joker is like the Joker. He's scary, threatening, and funny.
Penguin is one of the best sympathetic villains I know of. I felt for him. The character development in both films is interesting and done well.

Batman Returns is just underrated beyond belief.

 

[Pfeiffer-Pfan]

Batman Returns is just underrated beyond belief.

I think what is great about Batman Returns is that it challenges people. It's not your typical movie and its certainly not your typical comic book movie.

Many will worship the DVD it is burned onto and others will claim it's nothing more than a spit in the face to the Batman legacy.

You either love it or hate it... and that makes it an interesting classic and legendary movie... for whatever the reasons.

 

[union_jak]

CFE has done a great review for this movie in his 100 Comic Book Movie Countdown.

 

[Sawyer]

I think 89 and Returns had the best merch of any Batman movie

And unfortunately, I was too young to remember any of it.

 

[Milu]

I was a little disappointed that Batman had its Diet Coke commerical on VHS just before the movie, but Returns didn't .

 

[Sawyer]

Some more merchandise

That's a helluva collection. I think I still have that Bruce Wayne figure.

 

[McGraw]

Changed this to my second favourite movie over '89 after another rewatch, Returns & '89 are like a yoyo on my favourite movies list.

 

[Doctor Jones]

Still have the VHS version of B89. Love that Diet Coke commercial. It even had a black cape.

"No, this black car will be rather late."

 

[Matt.S99]

I remember I used to have thosr wallstickers from BR I miss them...

 

[Panthro]

Some more merchandise

I had at least one of those cups, used to play frisby with the lid, and the official BR comic book. I still have the SNES Nintendo Batman Returns & play it from time to time.

 

[TruerToTheCore]

Panthro

Clark Kent is the real person, Superman is the disguise. Get over it, Silver Age fans.

That's my old sig, bizarro-ized

Yet history, Siegel, the Golden, Silver and Bronze Ages are on my side.

 

[theMan-Bat]

That's my old sig, bizarro-ized

Yet history, Siegel, the Golden, Silver and Bronze Ages are on my side.

Both Daily Planet Clark and Superman are a bit of an act. The Clark Kent glasses are a disguise, Superman is another disguise in a way, he can't be completely honest with everyone around him. The Smallville Clark (I don't mean the TV show) is who he really is. The only time he can be completely honest is on the farm in Smallville. The "real" Clark is when he is at Smallville.

 

[TruerToTheCore]

this is NOT the Superman board

 

[Panthro]

I actually just put Core boy on my ignore list. Just sayin'.

So, how about that Batman Returns? Gotta love Michelle Pfeiffer in leather.