Batman Returns (1992) Retrospective / Review
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Batman Returns (1992) Retrospective / Review
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Get the BATMAN Anthology boxset Blu-ray here goo.gl/QxKkix
Get the soundtrack to Batman Returns here goo.gl/RPBAhk
@Oliver Harper I know you posted this a long time ago. It really bothers me that everyone assumes that the cats "revive her". Does no one consider that there were several canopies on her way down the window? It slower her down to the point that she was able to survive the fall. The intention of the cats was basically an influence that mirrored how Batman chose his persona. In her case, it was about being a survivor. Anyway that was my take about how she became Catwoman in this movie, but they did show how she survived the fall.
The way Ebert analyzed this movie showed that he didn't know that some films are character-driven with little to no story while others are story-driven with the characters just living in the story.
Things you may not have noticed in Batman Returns:
1. All 3 villains are different aspects of Bruce Wayne/Batman. Penguin is the orphan, Shreck is the businessman and Catwoman is the schizo, crazy side of the Batman. All are there for a reason.
2. There's plenty of well designed shots that pay tribute to classic filmmaking. Lots of German expressionism. Burton at his early best.
3. Catwoman's suit slowly becomes unraveled until it is in complete tatters at the end of the film. This shows Selina's mental state - someone slowly being 'pulled apart'
4. In the beginning of the movie Batman isn't really 'Batman'. Bruce lives in darkness and his reason for living is donning the cowl. He has no real purpose and is slipping into his own darkness. His character arc is simply to have a reason to live and see the good in others.
5. In the masked ball scene Bruce and Selina are the only ones without a mask. This shows that there real faces are masks.
Batman Returns is a brilliant film. This was a young Burton given alot of freedom to express himself as an artist. Yes it may not be the definitive Batman. But it's a great incarnation. A massively underrated film and my personal favorite movie ever. I saw it when I was six and it literally impacted on me the joy of watching a movie.
Interesting post! Essentially the story is Bruce's redemption or return to humanity.
My interpretation of the main characters is :
Penguin- Bruce's past (losing his parents, having his childhood cut short)
Catwoman- Bruce's present day (adopting an animalistic alterego to fight her enemies
Shreck- What Bruce may become(his ghost of Christmas future if you will) if he does not atone for his own diminishing sense of humanity (indicated by his reckless brutality towards the circus gang and general indifference to his public life) He does of course atone when he saves Gotham's first born sons and it's through his encounters with the above three characters that provide the catalyst for this character arc. I might add that it's no coincidence that Shreck's name has a connection with bats.
So what I'm saying with oversimplified and complete lack of subtlety is that Batman Returns is an adaptation of a Christmas Carol, but you'd need a million posts to convey all the intricacies and complexities woven throughout this movie
slimjimpui Holy Batflakes you're absolutely right! I can't believe this was so obvious and I missed it. It is a reworking of A Christmas Carol! Thanks for that bit of insight man XD
poontang3zizo No worries dude :) It certainly wouldn't have been as subtle if David S Goyer or Jonathan Nolan worked it into their screenplay xD
So what do you think of TMNT: The Movie ???
***** Never saw it. !!!
I like the dark/sad mood of this movie. It is so sad when the penguins drag the Penguin into the water after he dies.
+CampingMIG It's even sadder when the Ice Princess gets wasted and the only one who shows any concern, is the Catwoman.
+CampingMIG I would actually like that a little more if there was more sympathy for his character. I get that is what they were going for, but him acting all sexually towards women, and him stating. "I play this stinking city like a harp from hell." removes any sympathy, I'm suppose have for him.
maybe it's a matter of empathy, when you consider what he's gone through, being thrown away by his parents, used by the zoo, finally snapping and killing the zoo owners and starting his own game, he gets close to redemption, but has trouble leaving behind his past. I felt like if he had become mayor, he might have actually found redemption (the animated series eventually led him to being a mostly redeemed villain, who was constantly tempted by his past).
The fact that he never got the chance was very sad to me. Seeing him die at the end is very painful and tears at my heart.
Yes. I know.It's the darkest Batman movie ever made.
He killed god knows how many children with the red triangle gang. Children who were never found. Guys, Penguin was a sick evil bastard who deserved to die
This movie still has one my my favorite quotes: “No, I’m sorry. I mistook me for someone else.”
"Don't you mean "mistook ME for someone else"?"
"That's what I said, didn't I?"
I Love Batman Returns The Darker the Better, Danny Elfman's score is so Amazing, well done to everyone involved making the film, and the first one.
my dad, my sisters and i showed up almost 45 mins before this movie started. it was the first screening they had that day and they let us wait in the theater before it started. i remember my 7 year old self thinking 45 mins was gonna be forever..
The red triangle circus gang always intrigued me. The poodle lady was a welcome detail to this fun ride of a movie. She was so serious lol
I think Batman Returns is an awesome Christmas movie.
Best Catwoman ever! period.
Sorry, I prefer Anne's complex, anti-heroine portrayl
I think Anne's Catwoman was irrelevant to the plot and that her performance was lackluster.
dnasty312 she was a female crook with nothing in common with cats more than her googles on her head and possibly some catlike reflexes. Its like saying you are 1 of chinas dynastys, just because your username spells almost like that doesnt make it so
It sure wasn't Halle Berry's Catwoman.
She was most like the 60s ones
Im totally cool with you liking Batman Returns. I'm glad you enjoyed the BATMAN retrospectives.
Childhood favorite. I was fucking OBSESSED with this movie as a child. My heart goes out to anyone else who grew up with this amazing film. But those fucking paranoid parents and moral guardians, man...If it weren't for them, we would've had the McDonald's toys!! Goddamn old fart prudes just don't understand that kids LIKE being scared! I love dark, fetishistic, fucked up movies and art to this day thanks to Tim Burton's films.
Sean W. Stewart me too! whats interesting is that i actually loved it so much because of the love story and the sadness and tragedy, loved the gothic themes and the burton atmosphere...
Michelle astonished me by her ability to play such a torn apart broken character...the way she acts is oscar deserved!!! crying and laughing in the same time...enjoying and suffering. so complex and emotional! alot like we feel as kids sometimes- in control but not in control...
I was 18yo at the time of this movie release. I actually remember seeing this in the theater. I enjoyed it, although it was a dark and somber movie. You are right about parents taking their young kids to see this, and being upset at the dark and serious tone of this movie. Batman Returns, wasn’t a movie meant for kids, but when you include a superhero, parents disregard the warnings and kids automatically want to go and see it. That’s why I think superhero movies today are a lot less dark. This happened again with the Toby Maguire Spider-Man movies. Parents thought that the tone and seriousness of those movies was way too dark. So Spider-Man movies that followed was a lot more upbeat and kid friendly. Batman Forever ended up being a lot less dark as a result of the backlash. I was disappointed with that movie.
Sean W i couldn't agree more man. It's the parents fault we ended up with shitty Batman Forever and Batman & Robin 1997 at the end
We could've had Billy Dee Two Face in another Burton flick. Uch those fucking parents...
Oliver, you are easily the best movie reviewer on TH-cam. No other reviews are as informative or entertaining as those in your videos. Your format is perfect. Great job, and keep it up!
I think Batman Returns is one of the most fascinatingly twisted and fucked up big budget, commercial, summer tentpole sequel movies ever made. Not only is it "not for kids" but it's this gothic art film heavy on nihilism, cynicism, REALLY bizarre overwritten dialogue, grizzly violence and anger. Yet it got packaged as this popcorn film. Even if the film hadn't been marketed to kids the way it was it would still have been sold as the big Warner Bros commercial picture of the summer. Burton's final cut power notwithstanding I still find it so amazing this film exists in the form that it does.
Completely agree, it is one of a kind, an "Expressionist Blockbuster".
That's a lot of words to say "dumpster fire"...
Beard Up Beer Down don’t be hating
@@matthewdamico9776 it's the worst Batman movie, even 66 was a better interpretation.
Beard Up Beer Down worse than Batman and robin?!?! Please do put the beer down 😂
Who else would see a Batman film set in 1939?
The Beast Rabban I definitely would.
Short purple gloves. Large, horned cowl. Cloth suit. Gun.
I'd DEFINITELY see a Bat-Man movie. Especially if they got the red roadster Batmobile right! :D
There's some interesting live-action serials here on you tube based off '39 Batman.
Out of all the Batman movies this was my FAV! Michelle Pfeiffer was awesome and beautiful in this movie.
One of my favorites. I love the Tim Burton Batman flicks.
I really like your reviews. Don't agree with you on this one, though, but everything is just a matter of taste. For me this one is the best of all the Batman movies.
Johan Gustafsson Yeah I completely agree, don't agree with his review here at all.
Johan Gustafsson My personal fave - wonderful script, art design, characters; and that Tim Burton vibe; the perfect Batman film.
Why can't I downvote people's comments on youtube?
***** No, you actually can't. That's just a little visual cue on your end. Nothing actually happens when you downvote, you don't get the satisfaction of the other person knowing your disapproval.
I'm giving myself upvotes, see if you can do anything about it.
Johan Gustafsson the only thing is, it's really the Catwoman movie! Batman is second fiddle.
My favorite Christmas and Batman movie. The score is phenomenal
The interesting about Max is that he was originally to be portrayed by David Bowie, who also was originally going to play another character named Max (Zorin) but he turned the role down and Christopher Walken got that role. Also in one of the original scripts Max was supposedly Penguin's brother.
One thing I love about batman is that him & his enemies can be interpreted in different ways as long as they keep the same basic character structure , personally this was my favorite portrayal of the penguin
Michael Keaton is the best batman
i argee
agreed
The best live action Batman anyway. Kevin Conroy stands above everyone else if you include animated roles.
By far the best. Christian Bale was certainly good, but the voice just ruined it.
Good Batman. Horrible Bruce Wayne.
I find this film very underrated. I love it. The perfect film to watch on Christmas
Batman Returns is my favorite Batman movie of all time, I don't care what anybody says.
Yea mine to with the the first tim burton batman movie being my second favorite. Even though its my favorite this is one of those movies where I can understand why some people don't like it.
I loved Batman Returns it was my favorite as well out of them all
Harri927 it just needed more batman and less catwoman/penguin. It was a little unfocused. Great movie though
I agree with you on that.
I like it also but I like Batman slightly better. The Joker is just that cool.
Honey I'm home! oh yeah I forgot, I'm not married.
"Sorry Max a die for a die"!!😆
"It's going be a hot time in old town tonight". 😆
This is my favorite of all the batmans. I am glad that it was dark and the way it ended. Most movies end on a happy note well people the world is not all flowers and sunshine. Great Review
True however I disagree plenty of movies end on sad notes or at least notes that aren't happy
Depending on how well you can tolerate the Penguin, this is the best of the 90s Batman series
The darkest, bleakest, greatest Christmas movie ever!
I love Returns. I really like the downbeat tone this gave off. It was a tragic film. I would have loved to have seen what Burton and Co would have done with the 3rd in the series. But alas.
I really like this film so much very underrated
Batman Returns is still one of my favorites!
Cracking review. This film will always my favourite, it's not just the best Batman film but it's got that lovely dark Tim Burton and Danny Elfman Christmasy feel to it, I love it so much, everything about it.
I think we should all just appreciate that Tim Burton was able to go outside the traditional blockbuster formula and create his own unique film. Not a common occurance with superhero films.
LOVE Batman and Batman Returns! This Catwoman and Penguin never bothered me back then and bother me less now! As a life long Batman comics collector and fan I feel these Michael Keaton Batmans capture who Batman is either just as good or better than the Nolan ones, plus Jacks Joker was more in character than Heaths, no matter how great it was.
Great videos! Watched the Batmans and Dune one! Thanks for making them!!
Batman Returns is my favorite Batman movie. Part of the reason is that Tim Burton had free hands to craft his own vision of the characters. It's also one of my favorite Christmas movies.
All the characters in Tim Burtons Batman 1 and 2 are so memorable. They dont have any traces of cheese in there performances, the villains in particular are really psychotic and evil and you could see that the actors where working there craft well.
People complaining about Batman returns being too dark = Batman forever and.. argh... Batman and Robin...
Because Batman Forever is the Batman audience deserves...not the one it needs
Which led to a Batman break only to then return with Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises. Even further leading to Man of Steel, going to BvS, and now Zack Snyder’s Justice League
Good question. With all my end montages i often use original music from the film to create a sort of modern trailer or just have some exciting edits to get the viewer pumped as it were, but with all my BATMAN reviews i decided to use Zimmer to see at first if it worked and i felt it did so continued using his music for the following videos.
burton's catwoman just reminds me how bad nolan's catwoman was..
Yes omg the absolute worst casting decision ever....she is soo bland and 1000 miles away from being any kind of action character, out of shape, unsexy, awkward....horrible choice to choose her.
I liked this one more than the first. More subversive, dark, and weird - less of a generic Hollywood blockbuster and more of a Tim Burton flick.
The fight with the circus freaks in front of the toy store is my favorite action scene in all of the films.
Oh gosh, the climax of this one is my favorite part. It's no really an action scene, it's just this dark gothic ironic tragedy where all the villains die.
This film works better as like, a gloomy fairy tale. Its world doesn't really operate on realism or logic, it operates on theme and symbolism. It's honestly pretty surreal. I really dig that, it has a much stronger artistic vision than basically any other live action Batman movie. It's my favorite one.
Agreed Operatic Tragedy
Tim Burton said that he did shoot a scene of Batman with the black paint around his eyes after Michael Keaton removes the mask, but Tim Burton decided to re-shoot it because Michael Keaton was looking too similar to Bettlejuice and it looked too comical and distracting for the important emotional scene.
Eat floor, High Fiber.
Alfred Valrie I don't understand why people hate on this movie's dialogue so much, it's amazing!
Oswald's Depression youre so right!! no other Batman film has this kind of smart, hillarious and witty dialogue!!
Ha! I love that line also “Meow” 😚
"YOU'LL BE EATING PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY FOREVAAAARRRRGHHH!!!!!!!" - The Dark Knight
The dialogue in this movie is some of the best I have ever heard in any movie. So people that don't see the brilliance are just lazy and stupid. Literally, lazy and stupid.
I have been watching your videos for a while. you are terrific, please continue with the good work
The story isn't the best but the idea was mind blowing! Michelle is hands down my favorite Catwoman ever
Also DeVito's Penguin
I think Tim Burton's Batman films are the best :) loved Jack Nicholson as the Joker in the first one. Loved Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman in Batman Returns.
Love Your Reviews Oliver !!
+Anthony Haro Thanks Anthony!
Danny DeVito, I actually liked him better than the original Penguin, I thought he was more interesting. One change to the Batman mythos I DID hate, was turning the Joker into an idealism terrorist in make-up, with scars instead of a permanent smile!
Well Danny Devito was the perfect Penguin but look at what was done with the character, he was a sewer urchin with a gang of clowns from a circus. And seriously he was raised by penguins? What kind of crap is that? How is it that the Joker having scares bothers you but this completely stupid story line sits well with you? The Penguin wasn't even the main bad guy, some guy named Max Shrek was. Who the hell is Max Shrek? In the Dark Knight the main bad guy was the Joker, you know a guy who was actually in the Batman comics.
Roger Rabbit Holy shit I love this comment
rangers94ism the penguin was not raised by penguins he was found in the sewers by the red triangle circus and raised in as a circus performer.
TDK Joker and Burton Joker both have face scars
@@rangers94ism Dumb response.
I saw this at the theatre back in '92. To me it is 'darker' than the original. Rewatching it as an adult I appreciate it more.
Hey Oliver! Thanks for being the only reviewer on TH-cam whose videos I like even if not agreeing with You on some, sometimes crucial, points! You're great, man
Thanks Vlad!
Love your film reviews man...Dam, come addicted to themht it for all your great detail. over last 4 nights, can't stop watching them...I just think you repeat yourself a fair bit, a little too much and they go a bit too long, but then again it's worth it for all the great detail you put in to these. Thanks so much for spending your time on them ;-)
A lot of people complained that this movie was too dark, but I loved it like that. Loved Michelle as Catwoman, the Penguin was one twisted fuck, the Batman was the Batman as always, and it introduced me to Christopher Walken. It's in my Top 20 favorite movies.
Right ... why being a bit dark should be a bad thing?
Batman & Batman Returns will always be my favorites.
Great review as usual! This is one I've been waiting for. And again you used the Hans Zimmer score and it just works. I can't explain it. I guess the appeal of the scores lend itself to be shown in other Batman clips. I love it! Cheers, mate!
I wish Burton had directed more Batman movies. Returns is my favourite of the franchise, it's so dark and disturbing!
best batman movie in terms of villains ,score, mood and costumes!
But in its own right, this film is visually stunning with strong performances. Pfieffer and DeVito give brilliant performances in this movie and I still think it's Danny's best role. As a kid I was always heartbroken when the Penguin died and his penguin family pulled his body (??) into the water. Walken is also a great scene stealer. Alex Ross said it best "that's what you get for putting Walken in a role" lol Great review as always! I hope we see one for "Forever".
I love your reviews and think that you are very underrated as far as your popularity and the amout of views you get.. your awesome, Mr. Harper
This movie is ridiculous. How does Selena Kile survive that fall and then magically know martial arts without any prior training? Is that the power of going nuts??
Your intros and outdoes are the best Harper!
Love the intros!
I couldn't disagree more with Ebert and Siskel and Oliver. Shrek was a Catalyst and the contemporary villain. Some sort of catalyst was necessary otherwise you end up linking two supervillains that no commonality in backstory together in the same film. No it was not too many villains. It was a love interest with a main bad guy and the bad guy behind the supervillain. Really it's the same thing as the first. If a movie can't handle 3 main characters it's a failure of the story teller and these characters were not underdeveloped like Robin, batgirl poison Ivy and Iceman to the point of cliche. This is the first review I've taken exception through. (Yes there were campy moments, yet the breaking down the batmobile was unlikely, that does not drown the film.)
One of your best openings with the “Birth of the Penguin” into “Batman March”! Love your edits
My top 4 live action batman films would be
1.Batman 1989
2.The Dark Knight 2008
3.Batman Begins 2005
4.Batman Returns 1992
Thanks for subbing!. It was McDonalds who took part in the Batman Returns advertising campaign but i think they withdrew their promotion due to the complaints the film received for its darker tone.
I like the Dark Knight music over the Returns clips at the end. Great match. Nice review. Keep up the good work.
Batman Returns is my favorite Batman movie for a few reasons. One of them is the way that it marries the dark and gritty with the fun and campy versions of Batman. Most Batman adaptations end up on one end of the scale or the other. But Batman Returns is the happy medium between Adam West Batman and Nolan Batman. It's simultaneously ridiculous and disturbing and I love it because of that.
In my opinion one of the best Batman films.I love Burton's Batman films,they (unlike the Nolan movies) have a brilliant sense of escapism and really feel like comic book films.They are both gothic masterpieces.
I love Batman but hate Batman Returns
+dvon1097 I also prefer Batman but I still like Batman Returns. Why do you hate Batman Returns?
+Humpty Dumpty because Burton took too many liberties.
You are correct sir!. It is the dog chasing cars track.
Hi Oliver! Great review, again.
Sorry Oliver Harper, Batman is a tale of sadness and tragedy. Each character in the comic has some personal tragedy. This film, albeit short, condenses this theme while exploring it for the audience to see that everyone is driven by personal experience. This, to me, is why this was the best of the first two Batman films.
I love the Nolan Batmans, but Nolan never quite expresses the true sadness or tragedy that drives the villain forward, or at least, enough.
I could be completely wrong, but I thought I would share this. Good job on the channel nonetheless.
+Le Spiff Nah, you're right, it's a tragic movie. Nobody in this movie had a happy ending. The Batman/Catwoman romance here is infinitely more tragic than the whole Rachel thing. Penguin's backstory is just sad. He just didn't want to seen as a freak, even though he's something much worse. Batman doesn't care if he's a freak, he knows he can't fit in with society. With Catwoman, their broken pieces fit, and it's probably the only time he's felt a connection with anyone.
+Radb707 thank you for sharing the same opinion :)
+Radb707
In what universe is the Catwoman relationship more tragic?
Batman knew Selina before she had her mental breakdown and didn't really respect or care about her. He's only attracted to her after she gets brain damage and turns super slutty.
With Rachel on the other hand, we're talking about a woman that helped shape Bruce into who he truly is. She's the one he's been pining for all these years, and he's forced to make the horrible choice between her life or the fate of Gotham. He chooses Gotham, but that decision blows up in his face... and Harvey's too.
One of them is the love of his life... and the other is an emotional wreck that he thinks he can nail if she's drunk enough. I think you're just biased because of how ridiculously hot Michelle Pfieffer is compared to pugface.
George I disagree somewhat. When Joker told Batman the adresses, he clearly said he was going after Rachel. At that moment in time, he couldn't care less about Gotham because she was all he cared about then. So he chose her over Gotham and it did literally blow up in his and, well half, of Harvey's faces
I think when broken down to its core, Batman Returns is the MOST Batmany movie. It’s so overlooked as the bastard child of the franchise.
Tim Burton had WAY too much creative control in this. And it got too weird.
NorthPrime Production & Design Damn right
That's bullshit
In a world where no movie is perfect, there is nothing wrong with Batman Returns. It's a good followup.
I think this is BY FAR the best batman movie ever... but must agree the movie has no narrative like Ebert says.
Great review Ollyh!
haha yes i know its you. With all requests from viewers you can't ask for a review and expect me to do it the following week. I have many films to get through that i personally want to cover. I will review Turtles III but you have to be patient. :)
Dude the nolanverse sound track with the Batman Returns trailer is JUST AWESOME.
I saw this at the cinema as s kid and hated it. Over time I think it is great. Yes burton seems to be making this film with batman in it as oliver said but still a great film.
Same here.
I do agree that I don't think the Penguin's story is entirely realized well. I am also confused as to why Batman tells Selina not to kill Max Schrek when he had no problem killing a few of Penguin's henchmen.
Probable because Max hadn't signed that merger with Wayne Enterprise yet. :D
Yeah, like that was going to happen if Batman took him to the cops. Sometimes the different incarnations of Batman can be so blind to reality.
My interpretation was that he didn't want Selina to end up like living an empty life of vigilantism like him.
I'm a bit late, but here's the thing: Remember when in Batman Forever, Bruce puts out that monologue to Grayson about how he's life evolved to became Revenge, and he don't know why?
That was a nodes to Both "Batman" and "Batman Returns", but in a very little way. Here in the other hand, you can visually see that Bruce is trying to stop Selina to convert in the monster he already is.
When "Batman Returns" begins, you see Bruce sit on Wayne Manor, around the darkness. A lot of people just don't know it because reasons, but in my point of view, he's thinking about how killing The Joker (AKA: The Guy Who Killer His Parents) just ruined his life even more, making that Vicky Vale left him because his life just became revenge.
And like he said on "Batman Forever", the pain doesn't die with Napier, it just grows. And then he just waits in the darkness, waiting the people of Gotham call him, for meeting with another face (Penguin and Catwoman).
So, when he discovers that Shreck created Catwoman, and because he truly loves her, he wants stop her to make the same mistake he done with the guy who created him.
That's why he has no problems with killing people, but cares about Robin or Catwoman doing it: Because he just doesn't care about him anymore, but he don't want the people he love became like him.
But he fails. And Catwoman kills Shreck. And the Story happens again.
Now, The Concept himself nodes with Batman like the Ketchup nodes with The Hot Dogs. The problem is, Burton executed this idea decently. But Schumacher just fucking ruined it on Batman Forever (He Started good, but in the end, and showing how Batman Kills Two Face, just ruined all this shit).
I actually like this film over the 1989 Batman film. Maybe it's because it's almost always the one I manage to catch when they show it very late at night in our local TV (I probably saw it 5 times in my childhood, compared to the first Batman film which I saw only twice. We had a VHS of Batman Forever so I saw that one the most and is my favorite).
I liked Batman '89 well enough, but I was obsessed with Batman Returns. The early 90's was such a fun time for movies, it was an experience. Stand in line to buy tickets for over an hour and then turn around and stand in ticket holders line for another hour (with no smartphones or social media). The theater was packed and the audience was hyped to see the movie. Batman Returns was no exception. It was fun and magical, with great lines and great characters. Yes, it was dark but it was fantastical too, and just plain fun. Something superhero movies now-a-days should learn from. I still watch it every Christmas. "You women are always waiting for some Batman to come save you, well, I'm Cat Woman, hear me roar!" Back flip back flip back flip. I screamed at the screen, "She's fabulous!" She was!
Your my FAVORITE TH-camR of all time Oliver
Great movie dark and edgy.. Burton and Keaton at their best. Too bad Joel went the way he did.
But that wasn't Schumacher's fault. It was Warner Bros fault for wanting to tone down the darker elements for the sequel and make it super kid friendly at the time. The guy doesn't deserve all the negative back lash he's gotten over the years when he wasn't to blame. The film was just a job for him to do and he did what he was told. If you want to blame somebody for the disaster Batman and Robin blame Warner Bros for forcing him to do it.
Studios just have a general idea of the direction they want to go in. The details are all left up to the director. So everything from Bat Nipples, to the horrendous dialogue to action scenes feeling like POW, ZAP and WHAM, lie at the feet of Joel. Yes WB wanted it more family oriented, but Joel went crazy going in the opposite direction of dark and edgy. Over the years he has tried, to downplay the idea he wanted it to be campy. He did. He is only responding to the negativity in retrospect..
Great review... Agreed 100%
Great review Olly. I'm a little behind watching these reviews (I just finished listening to your podcast and the Batman 1989 commentary, both entertaining and hilarious by the way!).
Yeah this film is full of issues and inaccuracies..(batman killing all the way through lol) but I saw this at a key point in my childhood and I really enjoy watching it when it's on.
I'm glad to see a lot of people in comment section love this movie. I honestly think it's a great movie and I think it doesn't get the respect it deserves.
I had always thought Catwoman was undead after the fall and transformation. Love your channel !
The first time I watched 'Batman Returns' was in an old movie theater in Mexico City, the "Cine Opera", which had a fantastic Art Deco design that seemed to be out from Tim Burton's Gotham City: it was a dark bulding made of black volcanic stone, impossibly tall, with 2 big statues above the marquee, one of The Comedy and the other was The Tragedy. It was wonderful to watch it there! The building still exists today, although it was abandoned in the mid 90's and it's been waiting for some renovation.
real nice edit at the end there along with the review what track was that at the end, like a dog chasing cars?
nice, well it works, and keep on making these awesome reviews!
In some ways this review is fair. It was more about Tim Burton indulging in his own visual fantasies in a number of respects and was more a depiction/story arc of unfortunate individuals residing in same city as Batman. It is interesting though how TB's influence has without question spanned across all main interpretations of Batman since, even into the Gotham series. You could argue he set the tone in styles of appearance perhaps. Once curious factor is not many picking up on why Penguin was ditched as a baby/1 year old. It wasn't because he was deformed, his parents did indeed keep him, it was because he was a sociopath type killer with no regard for life. He was caged it could be said for safety; though it is ambiguous if there is a sense of shame regarding his physical appearance too. The beginning of Penguin is key to understanding the reason for his downfall at the end. In the novelisation, the death of penguin's parents is left deliberately ambiguous in terms of them dying at same time. In the movie they had to get round this by having Batman say "I think he knows who his parents are, it's something else" On separate note, am curious myself now how Ben Affleck's appearance will go on to influence Batman's suit over other movies as it's the only accurate one departing from Burton's influence. Affleck's movie was only good visually and is far less redeemable than this one. Nolan though took Gotham back to New York for real, Affleck took the suit back to the comic book.
Honestly, prefer this one over 89. Something about this movie, just feels like a very good gothic Batman tale.
Thanks buddy!
When asked during a 2007 talk show appearance if she ever felt nostalgic and put on the cat suit to amuse her husband David E. Kelley, Michelle Pfeiffer stated that once filming was over, she never wanted to see the costume again for as long as she lived.
(at around 1h 6 mins) During one scene, Michelle Pfeiffer had to put a live bird in her mouth. They had bird puppets on-set, but Pfeiffer thought they all looked too fake.
This was the first of the live-action Batman films to use computer generated visual effects: the shield on the Batmobile, as opposed to the previous film, and the remote controlled Batarang.
Loved it as always, wish I had the toys back then but only my friends did, I remember not being able to see this too. I might invent myself with a Cat woman breakdown!
Another example of Siskel and Ebert not paying attention. Penguin was masterminding everything in order to facilitate his sadistic plan to murder the first born sons of Gotham. Shrek was HIS pawn. This is not a defense of the film but a frustration IO frequently have with career critics.
batman returns is the BEST batman film ever made!
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This one looked good, but was kind of convoluted. It's sort of the beginning of the trend of too many characters getting crammed into comic book movies.
Disagree
i wonder if this film would be more highly regarded if it came out first and batman (1989) came out second. I def agree with mr. harper here, act 3 of batman is vastly superior to the 3rd act of this movie.
a very thorough review