The Official Batman Returns Thread

[SHADOWBAT69]

The original Batman Returns trailer (not the one that's in the extras of the DVD or the blu ray) is probably the most epic Batman movie trailer ever made. Especially that shot of the emblem in the middle of a blizzard.

epic

 

[ShaneHelms]

Thanks goes to Reeves for these incredible images from the merchandising campaign.

 

[Ponyboy]

 

[Ponyboy]

 

[Sharkboy]

I still remember seeing the TV spot when i was a kid, then once I got it on vhs, i watched it over and over (as kids do) till the tape just broke down. Still my second fave batman film even after TDK came out.

 

[Doctor Jones]

Keaton is a playa.

 

[DaRkVeNgeanCe]

Awesome promo art, I remember having that one piece of grahic art on a tshirt as a kid, I wish I still had all my 89 and BR shirts.

 

[RedSkull]

Hey guys, new member here and I just wanted to chime in say that I've really enjoyed paging through this thread and I wish I could go back and reply to everything.

Batman Returns is not only my favorite Batman film, but one of my favorite films in general. I think it has received a lot of harsh and undeserving criticism over the years due to people saying it's not a "batman" film but I positively love it. I'm looking forward to discussing it further in depth with you all.

I'd also like to add that I consider myself something of an expert on the film having written literally essays on the subject...so if anyone has any particular questions on Batman returns I'd love to go over it.

 

[Genosha]

Huge X-Men fan first and foremost, so I hardly come to the Batman area. But I have to say, Batman Returns is one of my favorite films of all time.

It helps that it's Tim Burton (my favorite director), but I was just mesmerized by this film when it came out in '92. There is something so hypnotic about it. I got the VHS for Christmas that year and I've must've watched it a whole bunch of times since. I still get the chills when I throw the DVD in.

A beautiful, beautiful film and it's great to see there are still fans of this out there.

 

[Genosha]

One more thing:

Do people remember the gigantic backlash this film got for being "too dark" or "too much a Burton film"?

It's kind of amusing to me because the film has aged so well (so epic) and I still consider one of the best in it's genre.

 

[Hellion]

Huge X-Men fan first and foremost, so I hardly come to the Batman area. But I have to say, Batman Returns is one of my favorite films of all time.

Me too, and Batman Returns is the only comic films I'll say I enjoy more than the X-Films...

BR is still my favorite of the Bat-Films, the first Bat-Film I saw in theaters, and for years from the time it came out on VHS till maybe 5-6 years ago till I lost it in an unfortunate VCR accident...I would watch it.

 

[Mister Meddle]

You gotta admit, Keaton can definitely get the ladies. He even went out with Michelle Pfeiffer. Yeah that's right, the real Michelle Pfeiffer! t:

 

[Ponyboy]

Yeah that's right, the real Michelle Pfeiffer! t:

Is there another one?

 

[Mister Meddle]

Is there another one?

Often imitated but never duplicated.

 

[JohnnyGobbs]

Hey guys, new member here and I just wanted to chime in say that I've really enjoyed paging through this thread and I wish I could go back and reply to everything.

Batman Returns is not only my favorite Batman film, but one of my favorite films in general. I think it has received a lot of harsh and undeserving criticism over the years due to people saying it's not a "batman" film but I positively love it. I'm looking forward to discussing it further in depth with you all.

I'd also like to add that I consider myself something of an expert on the film having written literally essays on the subject...so if anyone has any particular questions on Batman returns I'd love to go over it.

Welcome to the boards RedSkull!

I'd be really interested in reading any of your essays on Batman Returns if that's possible. I'm particularly interested in reading any type of discussion about the film's themes, characters, and also how they all tie into the film's visual motifs.

Also, do you have any little-known behind-the-scenes at all?

Thanks in advance!

 

[RedSkull]

sure I've done some write ups on it. PM me if you care to read one of them which is far too long to post here.

as far as behind the scenes stuff. I did a lot of reading up on the penguin make up and the prosthetics process...there were some cine-fx magazines published back when returns came out which I was able to track down and pick up actually the day I visited the hall of records set (currently still located on the backlot in Burbank). Devito actually shaved his head (despite being already bald) in anticipation of the role, which was half his creation and half burtons. Burton told the make up designers that he wanted the Penguin to be the one character in Batman returns that had the "traditional" burton look with the dark circles around the eyes and the pale skin, which was totally intentional and he was modeled around the character types make up wise for beetlejucie and edward scissorhands. Around the mid 90's the "burton archetype" with the dark eyes and pale skin sort of faded until sweeney todd but you can still see traces of it in his current films.

The returns set was a giant sound stage including a pool filled with water and some real penguins and some animatronic penguins. To keep the temperatures right for the animals, it was frigid the entire time they were filming the sewer sequences and the production ran way over schedule.

I know plenty of tid bits about behind the scenes stuff if you had particular questions.

 

[Ponyboy]

Often imitated but never duplicated.

I'm surprised Pfeiffer took the role... what with the fact that she had dated Keaton before (and obviously they were no longer together). So, I guess their break up was amicable?

 

[Smalley]

I'm surprised Pfeiffer took the role... what with the fact that she had dated Keaton before (and obviously they were no longer together). So, I guess their break up was amicable?

Possibly.

 

[RedSkull]

I think they wanted to take someone sane as opposed to Sean Young who auditioned for the role in full costume and wanted it very badly (she also tried out for Vales role in 89).

 

[Smalley]

I'm just glad Annette Benning dropped out; no way she would've been able to have the same intensity!!!

 

[The Joker]

You say that but she may have surprised you. Pfeiffer's movie history prior to Returns never really suggested she could play a psychotic dual conflicted character like Burton's Catwoman. DeVito was primarily a comedy actor.

 

[Smalley]

You say that but she may have surprised you. Pfeiffer's movie history prior to Returns never really suggested she could play a psychotic dual conflicted character like Burton's Catwoman.

She got pretty intense in her last scene in Scarface!

 

[Ponyboy]

I'm just glad Annette Benning dropped out; no way she would've been able to have the same intensity!!!

Hard to say. She was officially cast, wasn't she? So obviously they liked what they saw her do in terms of the audition.

 

[Smalley]

Hard to say. She was officially cast, wasn't she? So obviously they liked what they saw her do in terms of the audition.

I'm sure; just saying, compared to Michelle's final performance, which is one of my favorites ever, I doubt Annette could have pulled off the same intensity.

 

[The Joker]

You can't judge based on a performance you've never seen. Bening was nominated for an Oscar prior to Returns. She's a terrific actress. There's really nothing to suggest she couldn't have been as good as Pfeiffer.