It works perfectly for Batman '89, to the point where doing the colour & contrast in my TV is now my preferred way to watch. It hits film noir, classic cinema and Universal monster movie vibes throughout. I love it.
As it happens, I've completed a fan edit that does this exact idea. I'm calling it BATMAN: NOIR EDITION. Just need to figure out where to put it online without getting WB assassins after me, lol.
@@myless7387 Sorry for the late reply! Thanks for showing interest! I've not yet released it in full online, but I put a sample clip on my channel. Check it out!
I owned a black n white 12in tv, and when Batman came out on video tape i rented a vcr n this movie and man i was blown away, glad someone appreciates it in black and white like i did.
I've been watching this in black and white for years, it's an awesome experience. I watch Brandon Lee's the Crow in black and white.. another masterpiece better in black and white👍🏻💯 The Crow in black and white is really awesome..gave me the chills when I first watched it on a huge flat screen.
My friend I’ve couldn’t thank you enough for this fantastic idea. I’ve just watch my 4K Bluray Disc with cero color and adjust the brightness and contrast... Batman just looks absolutely beautiful as black and white. Now I’m experimenting with Dark City, The Crow, Bram Stokers Dracula, The Godfather and also The Untouchables on 4K as well. This is probably “THE BEST” advice to watch classic movies like never before. Cheers, you’re The Best!!!!
I am definitely turning the colors down next time I rewatch 1989 and Returns. It helps that Returns was already very black/grey/white with the Christmas stuff being the only colorful things in it.
In color, the 1940's styling of the cinematography was not evident. Seeing it in Black and White, many of the elements I had thought "cheesy" are now revealed as intentional throw-backs to 40's film-making. Wow. New appreciation for this film!
It's Batman Noir, I know its not the same effect but all you do is just turn off the color on your tv when you watch the movie. It would be awesome movie to release on the big screen in black and white.
Thanks for giving me another way to watch my favorite movie, I didn't know that taking away the color could enhance a product. Very interesting video and I am glad this movie is getting some praise finally.
I made a black and white version of The Crow. That worked great, just brought the color in for the moments when Erik is alive and when he re-units with his wife at the end.
I think Steven Soderburgh had a BW version of Raiders on his personal website a few years ago. I think Paramount finally got him to take it down though.
This looks amazing! I actually did the same color/brightness/contrast trick with The Shadow (1994) and was surprised how much it enhanced the overall mood, as well as the quality of FX. The only shot I dislike in Burton's 1989 film is Joker's falling scene; I wonder if that's "fixed" in B&W...?
Loving this series. There are a few films that I always watch in b&w: BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA, Oliver Stone's U-TURN, and the Coen Brothers' THE HUDSUCKER PROXY and MILLER'S CROSSING
Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull looks fantastic in black and white. I mean, all the Indy movies were shot to look like serials of the 40s, but I just appreciate Crystal Skull way more viewed in black and white. Give it a try!
Thank you for that interesting video. Batman 1989 was a big deal for me as a kid. I think it would be quite impressive to sit through the whole thing in black and white in a dark theatre on a big screen. I enjoy black and white manipulation in gaming too. It can make for an almost surreal experience. "Betrayer" on PC was specifically made for black and white. "Limbo" is also another natively black and white game. "L.A. Noir" has a black and white mode which I've played around with and its perfect for that kind of game. One of my favorites in recent years, "The Order:1886" has a black and white filter though I've never played the game through in that way though I think it would be quite spooky and cool in that game particularly because of the setting. I played around with a black and white sweetfx profile someone made for the game "The Bureau: XCOM Declassified". Being set in Cold War 1962 makes the look work quite well too. The game "Mad Max" has a video mode with different rendering filters that you can play with including black in white which looks quite good in that game's desert world. Black and White is a very interesting world of its own. Sometimes there's nothing more spookier or classier, depending on the movie, than it being in black and white. Thanks for sharing.
It looks great in black and white! I would even turn the brightness down even more and bring the contrast up so we get less greyscale, this will give it an amazing noir look!
Interesting choices! I will definately have to give Raiders of the Lost Ark a B&W play. I'm less convinced by Halloween, though, as the orange and blue compliment was so integral to the feel of that movie.
@@jonathonriddle9922 I almost started with that one myself, man. I'm glad it was awesome. It makes sense, since it's basically Night of the Living Dead with gang members instead of zombies.
Agree, it looks startling, but it was shot in color. This is why the contrast is so bland. Look at movies that revel in monochrome, ie: the original Jane Eyre. Lots of yellow filters to bring up the stark scenery of the landscape.
Another batman movie that would look good in Black and White would be Batman Returns. Stefan Czapsky who served as the cinematographer on two other Burton films, Edward Scissorhands and Ed wood (the latter literally being in Black and White) not only continued what Pratt did but improved it. Also another movie from Warner Bros I highly recommend looking at in black and white is Joe Dante's Gremlins.
I've always liked black & white films, my TV has a greyscale filter option that I've used to watch Fight Club & Chinatown in. Chinatown especially looks fantastic in B&W.
Although I hadn't considered watching this movie in black and white, I'm not at all suprised by the effect. The entire cathedral sequence looks heavily inspired by what I suspect must be one of Burton's favorite movies: Frankenstein.
Personally, while I appreciate black and white cinema I don't feel the same about this movie in black and white. I think the movie still looks better to me in color, as it was shot with the colors in mind and I think it adds to some of the darker visuals the movie adds. With the black and white I think it draws away from some of the darker visuals. That's just me personally though
The Shadow with Alec Baldwin is another film that is better in Black and White. In color it seemed to hammy, but in Black and White the dialogue and sets make it all feel more appropriate. Dick Tracy looks good that way too.
One thing i hate about the 4K version of the 1989 movie is the overused blue tinted filter they out over. Many people say they prefer that look because "It looks closer to the original 35mm of the film." But the original DVD releases already look phenomenal with the grey colors. I always felt that Burton love B&W films and the movie is almost colorless. So adding a bunch of bright blues and original skins tones ruined the nior look and feels like if Zack Snyder took over.
the only thing thats out of place is batman himself.. this whole movie looks great and old timey in black and white but the batman himself looks futuristic like he was photoshopped in later.. but still its undeniable that the majority of the movie and these spectacular shots and cinematography are made for black and white.. this should be a study.. this movie in black and white is the best noire movie ever..
It works perfectly for Batman '89, to the point where doing the colour & contrast in my TV is now my preferred way to watch. It hits film noir, classic cinema and Universal monster movie vibes throughout. I love it.
Awesome!
As it happens, I've completed a fan edit that does this exact idea. I'm calling it BATMAN: NOIR EDITION. Just need to figure out where to put it online without getting WB assassins after me, lol.
Let me know when you’ve done it. Would love to see it
Update?
@@myless7387 Sorry for the late reply! Thanks for showing interest! I've not yet released it in full online, but I put a sample clip on my channel. Check it out!
I'd watch it
@James Walker Here’s a Batman 89 motion comic that you might like th-cam.com/video/-ZZXsss9_JQ/w-d-xo.html
I owned a black n white 12in tv, and when Batman came out on video tape i rented a vcr n this movie and man i was blown away, glad someone appreciates it in black and white like i did.
Awesome! The first time I saw The Shining was in my room on a tiny black and white tv
i NEED a black and white cut of the 1989 Batman
I've been watching this in black and white for years, it's an awesome experience. I watch Brandon Lee's the Crow in black and white.. another masterpiece better in black and white👍🏻💯 The Crow in black and white is really awesome..gave me the chills when I first watched it on a huge flat screen.
Seeing the Joker in black and white harkens back to the film that inspired him: The Man Who Laughs.
Agree!
on the internet archive someone remade batman as a silent movie, would recommend
In B&W this movie is award winning personified. Yes? No? HELL YA!!
exactly!
My friend I’ve couldn’t thank you enough for this fantastic idea. I’ve just watch my 4K Bluray Disc with cero color and adjust the brightness and contrast... Batman just looks absolutely beautiful as black and white. Now I’m experimenting with Dark City, The Crow, Bram Stokers Dracula, The Godfather and also The Untouchables on 4K as well. This is probably “THE BEST” advice to watch classic movies like never before. Cheers, you’re The Best!!!!
Oh man thank you so much! Taking a bit of a break on that series to work on some different projects but hope to get back to them later this year.
They should rerelease this film in Black & White in theatres. 😎
i think so
I am definitely turning the colors down next time I rewatch 1989 and Returns.
It helps that Returns was already very black/grey/white with the Christmas stuff being the only colorful things in it.
Also, this might be the closest thing we’ll get to that Batman movie Orson Welles may or may not have been working on in the 40’s.
In color, the 1940's styling of the cinematography was not evident. Seeing it in Black and White, many of the elements I had thought "cheesy" are now revealed as intentional throw-backs to 40's film-making. Wow. New appreciation for this film!
Excellent!
I used to watch this movie in B/W all the time on vhs.
5:15 nothing else will give me black-and-white goosebumps after that. It's perfect. Aight, it's settled, I'm gonna watch this movie in black-and-white
It's Batman Noir, I know its not the same effect but all you do is just turn off the color on your tv when you watch the movie. It would be awesome movie to release on the big screen in black and white.
i just came to this conclusion myself....and then .....i discovered like all my thoughts somebody els thought it before me .....
Thanks for giving me another way to watch my favorite movie, I didn't know that taking away the color could enhance a product. Very interesting video and I am glad this movie is getting some praise finally.
You are so welcome!
I made a black and white version of The Crow. That worked great, just brought the color in for the moments when Erik is alive and when he re-units with his wife at the end.
This is a compelling argument for B/W. That's it, I'm subscribing.
Thanks for the add! We will be having a new season soon!
Raiders of the Lost Ark is another that deserves a black-and-white theatrical re-release.
I think Steven Soderburgh had a BW version of Raiders on his personal website a few years ago. I think Paramount finally got him to take it down though.
Always Better in Black in White when it Comes to Batman.
This looks amazing! I actually did the same color/brightness/contrast trick with The Shadow (1994) and was surprised how much it enhanced the overall mood, as well as the quality of FX. The only shot I dislike in Burton's 1989 film is Joker's falling scene; I wonder if that's "fixed" in B&W...?
Here’s a Batman 89 motion comic that you might like th-cam.com/video/-ZZXsss9_JQ/w-d-xo.html
This channel is so underrated
Loving this series. There are a few films that I always watch in b&w: BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA, Oliver Stone's U-TURN, and the Coen Brothers' THE HUDSUCKER PROXY and MILLER'S CROSSING
THANK YOU! Millers was def on my Season 3 wish list. Hadn't thought about U Turn or Hudsucker though!
I recently watched Rocky in black and White and it brings a whole new look and it's amazing
Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull looks fantastic in black and white. I mean, all the Indy movies were shot to look like serials of the 40s, but I just appreciate Crystal Skull way more viewed in black and white. Give it a try!
Ohhh I never thought about that one!
Fantastic analysis, and beautiful work on the B&W conversion for the clips. Looks great.
Watch the full screen open matte version on the old dvd like this. It works sooooo well
Thank you for that interesting video. Batman 1989 was a big deal for me as a kid. I think it would be quite impressive to sit through the whole thing in black and white in a dark theatre on a big screen. I enjoy black and white manipulation in gaming too. It can make for an almost surreal experience. "Betrayer" on PC was specifically made for black and white. "Limbo" is also another natively black and white game. "L.A. Noir" has a black and white mode which I've played around with and its perfect for that kind of game. One of my favorites in recent years, "The Order:1886" has a black and white filter though I've never played the game through in that way though I think it would be quite spooky and cool in that game particularly because of the setting. I played around with a black and white sweetfx profile someone made for the game "The Bureau: XCOM Declassified". Being set in Cold War 1962 makes the look work quite well too. The game "Mad Max" has a video mode with different rendering filters that you can play with including black in white which looks quite good in that game's desert world.
Black and White is a very interesting world of its own. Sometimes there's nothing more spookier or classier, depending on the movie, than it being in black and white. Thanks for sharing.
It looks great in black and white! I would even turn the brightness down even more and bring the contrast up so we get less greyscale, this will give it an amazing noir look!
Incredible video! I also think that matt reeves’ batman film would also be incredible with a black and white version!
Thank you so much! Agree!
A lot of the upsides of watching this film in b/w also apply to Mask of the Phantasm very recommended as well 👍🏻
stay tuned....
I love that! Try it with Miller's Crossing, I watched this once in B&W and it was awesome
I look forward to see where this channel goes.
we're working on episode 2 now!
Better in Black & White Nice.
Agreed. I watch a lot of movies in Black and white on my phone. Batman is great in black and white.
My new fav channel!
Thank you! Sorry we haven't posted in a while but expect a new season soon!
whoa it actually looks amazing like this
Great channel, man; just found it. Raiders would probably look amazing in B&W, Halloween, The Untouchables, Reanimator. So many...
Interesting choices! I will definately have to give Raiders of the Lost Ark a B&W play. I'm less convinced by Halloween, though, as the orange and blue compliment was so integral to the feel of that movie.
@@jonathonriddle9922 give it a try. I watched it last night and it looked amazing
@@billg3356 I'll give it a go. I tried it on Godzilla 1984 and loved the result!
@@billg3356 As a warm-up, I played Carpenter's earlier film Assualt on Precinct 13 in Black and White and that was fantastic!
@@jonathonriddle9922 I almost started with that one myself, man. I'm glad it was awesome. It makes sense, since it's basically Night of the Living Dead with gang members instead of zombies.
Very well done!!!! I love black and white, that's how I exspress myself because it gives so much more intensity and mood!!
Do you have recommended settings for the new grade? And do you apply it globally or grade shot by shot?
It kind of depends shot to shot but just push the contrast as much as you can without losing finer details.
Just watching Sam Rami's The Dark Man and it reminded me of this video. Wouldn't this make an amazing black and white film?
Great idea!
You know what I would be curious to see in black and white now back to the future.
Agree, it looks startling, but it was shot in color. This is why the contrast is so bland. Look at movies that revel in monochrome, ie: the original Jane Eyre. Lots of yellow filters to bring up the stark scenery of the landscape.
I thought as much
Another batman movie that would look good in Black and White would be Batman Returns. Stefan Czapsky who served as the cinematographer on two other Burton films, Edward Scissorhands and Ed wood (the latter literally being in Black and White) not only continued what Pratt did but improved it. Also another movie from Warner Bros I highly recommend looking at in black and white is Joe Dante's Gremlins.
I've always liked black & white films, my TV has a greyscale filter option that I've used to watch Fight Club & Chinatown in. Chinatown especially looks fantastic in B&W.
i totally want this movie in black and white...
I totally agree.. great video.
In high school I used to turn the color off on my tv and watch it like this.
Although I hadn't considered watching this movie in black and white, I'm not at all suprised by the effect. The entire cathedral sequence looks heavily inspired by what I suspect must be one of Burton's favorite movies: Frankenstein.
I would have enjoyed seeing batman 89 in black and white.
would be epic
Holy moly , Batman 89 and Batman Returns would be more horror like if they didn't have colour/color .
this is exactly what i was thinking the last time i watched this movie...
Have you seen that someone is actually making this, but removing some scenes the really make it their own?
I'd like to see Rob Zombie's The Munsters in black and white.
No one wants to see that
As cool as it looks in b/w the color version still looks better imo.
I love both
How about a Batman movie done in similar style to Sin City? In black and white, but with one color standing out per shot?
Could be great!
Personally, while I appreciate black and white cinema I don't feel the same about this movie in black and white. I think the movie still looks better to me in color, as it was shot with the colors in mind and I think it adds to some of the darker visuals the movie adds. With the black and white I think it draws away from some of the darker visuals. That's just me personally though
This is purely a "what if" scenario.
Oh shit. I need to watch this in black and white. And it makes me wonder what TMNT (1990) might look like. Time to do some exploring.
How about do Batman returns in black and white it has all of the film noir German expressionism there is in a black and white film
I would love to see both The Dark Knight and The Batman in Black and White. I know the lighting is very different but I’d still like the see it
This video makes me wish this was shot in Black n white instead of color!! It adds to that old fashion gothic art-deco!
Nah, it's great that it was shot in color so that we have the option to choose.
Here from TV Tropes.
The Shadow with Alec Baldwin is another film that is better in Black and White. In color it seemed to hammy, but in Black and White the dialogue and sets make it all feel more appropriate. Dick Tracy looks good that way too.
That is actually going to be an episode for season 2!
Can you please do The Batman next?
Awesome idea!
Fury Road and Logan in B&W seems like an absolute gimmick and pretentious at best. Batman was made for it, for several reasons.
List of films that work better in B&W:
Batman 89
Batman Returns
Batman Forever
Resident Evil (2002)
I need to rewatch Returns
do BLADE RUNNER
One thing i hate about the 4K version of the 1989 movie is the overused blue tinted filter they out over. Many people say they prefer that look because "It looks closer to the original 35mm of the film." But the original DVD releases already look phenomenal with the grey colors. I always felt that Burton love B&W films and the movie is almost colorless. So adding a bunch of bright blues and original skins tones ruined the nior look and feels like if Zack Snyder took over.
Not to come across as a complete lunatic but I think you should consider doing one of these with Barbie
im gonna take a hard pass on that one.
the only thing thats out of place is batman himself.. this whole movie looks great and old timey in black and white but the batman himself looks futuristic like he was photoshopped in later.. but still its undeniable that the majority of the movie and these spectacular shots and cinematography are made for black and white.. this should be a study.. this movie in black and white is the best noire movie ever..
Let’s not forget the Prince music. It’ll feel a bit weird hearing that in the background while watching a virtually 1940’s Film-Noir movie
I want to see tim burton react to this video
Now that would be fun
are you out of your mind?!
Wonder what it would be like to see Spider-Man in Black & White
Nope.... Not for this movie. Waste of time even discussing it.. BYE!!
Peace out