205 replies to this topic

[Harmsway]

[quote name='Mister Asterix' date='12 April 2005 - 08:37'][mra]Favourite Batman movie: Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (not listed in poll)

Favourite Batman: Clark Bartram from Batman: Dead End and the World

[Mister Asterix]

After watching it again recently, I've come to the conclusion that Mask of the Phantasm is the finest superhero movie yet produced. It's Batman through and through. Watching that then B89 makes me cringe (I think B89 is horrendously overrated). Follow MOTP, only Returns makes a decent effort, and that has its problems. Here's hoping Begins nails it.

[mra]Yeah, MOTP has long been a favourite of mine since I saw it when they released in the theatre. It just gets everything right. I loved when Siskel & Ebert apologised for not reviewing in it

[Harmsway]

Keaton is certainly better in Returns than he was in his first film. And the whole take on Catwoman was wonderful. But the film just completely missed with the Penguin for me.

The Penguin is the single greatest problem with that film - he's just TOO dark. You want to make him deformed, fine. It spices up the character (who's terribly boring in the comics). But don't make him some total freak raised by penguins in the sewer, who spits up black bile and eats raw fish. The most he should be deformed is his nose and hands (not the whole body). He should also be rather refined, having a taste for excellent food and clothes.

I always thought the Penguin should have been re-invented as the anti-Bruce Wayne. He could have been born slightly deformed, he was rejected by his parents until they were killed in an accident. He would then be played in some Dickensian orphanage, where he would waste away. He finally comes back to reclaim the wealth that should have been his through an underworld gang, in which he's the equivalent of a kingpin.

[Scottlee]

The Batman films have just got progressively worse over the years.

Batman (1989 version)
The one truly classic Batman movie. Riveting villain, great action, and a stylish ending. Utterly brilliant

Batman Returns
Not a bad film at all, but suffers slightly because of the crap sets (It feels like you're in a studio and not Gotham City). Decent performances from the leads.

Batman Forever
I saw this in the cinema and was greatly disappointed with it. The Riddler was my favourite of the 60's villains, but he's just plain irritating when played by Jim Carrey, who has been far better in other films. Don't care much for Tommy Lee Jones' villain either. Val Kilmer was dreary (Why wasn't Keaton kept on?), and Nicole Kidman annoying. The whole film just smacked of lazy. After the slightly disappointing Batman Returns, this entry really did make me tune out.

Batman and Robin
Saw this on T.V a while back. Utter utter utter utter rubbish. Truly dispicable piece of film-making. It's just utter garbage.

Batman Begins
It's not on my 'must-see' calender, but it must at least be better than the last film. Seriously, the only way is up after that.

[Qwerty]

Batman Returns
Not a bad film at all, but suffers slightly because of the crap sets (It feels like you're in a studio and not Gotham City). Decent performances from the leads.

Which sets did you think were below par?

[Prav_007]

The Batman films have just got progressively worse over the years.

Batman (1989 version)
The one truly classic Batman movie. Riveting villain, great action, and a stylish ending. Utterly brilliant

Batman Returns
Not a bad film at all, but suffers slightly because of the crap sets (It feels like you're in a studio and not Gotham City). Decent performances from the leads.

Batman Forever
I saw this in the cinema and was greatly disappointed with it. The Riddler was my favourite of the 60's villains, but he's just plain irritating when played by Jim Carrey, who has been far better in other films. Don't care much for Tommy Lee Jones' villain either. Val Kilmer was dreary (Why wasn't Keaton kept on?), and Nicole Kidman annoying. The whole film just smacked of lazy. After the slightly disappointing Batman Returns, this entry really did make me tune out.

Batman and Robin
Saw this on T.V a while back. Utter utter utter utter rubbish. Truly dispicable piece of film-making. It's just utter garbage.

Batman Begins
It's not on my 'must-see' calender, but it must at least be better than the last film. Seriously, the only way is up after that.

The sequels get worst, hmm so that must mean the prequel is the best one of all .

[Scottlee]

Batman Returns
Not a bad film at all, but suffers slightly because of the crap sets (It feels like you're in a studio and not Gotham City). Decent performances from the leads.

Which sets did you think were below par?

Anywhere in the film outdoors. Cheapest outside sets I've ever seen.

[Qwerty]

Fair enough.

[The Dove]

Hmm lets see... Here would be my ranking of the Batman movies (and I'm not including the old TV show movie Batman with Adam West, as I consider that to be in a class of its own), from my most favorite to least.

Batman (1989)- What do I have to say? Jack Nicholson was by far the best villian in the modern movies. Michael Keaton was great as Bruce Wayne/Batman. I could do without Kim Basinger, but other than that, this film was perfect.

Batman Forever (1995)- Jim Carrey perfect as The Riddler and Tommy Lee Jones was great as Two-Face. Only downsides to this: Val Kilmer, by far the worst Batman and Nicole Kidman cannot do a decent American accent to save her life. Chris O'Donnell was pretty good as Robin. Not quite as wimpy as the Robin that Burt Ward played in the TV show.

Batman and Robin (1997)- I am one of the few people who actually like this one. Yes, call me crazy! I did think George Clooney was a lot better than Val Kilmer but definitely not on par with Michael Keaton. Arnold Schwarzenegger I though did a decent job as Mr. Freeze and Uma Thruman was perfect for Poison Ivy. Okay I admit that Alicia Silverstone did get on my nerves, but other than that I did enjoy this one.

Batman Returns (1992)- Sad to say this is my absolute worst Batman film, which is such a shame since Michael Keaton was in it. The sets were quite a let down after the first film. Now instead of looking like a real city, Gotham in Batman returns looked too much like models and studio sets. Also I thought Christopher Walken was just not good in this film (a shame since I've come to love him as Max Zorin). Danny DeVito was one of few bright spots as Penguin. Michelle Pfeiffer did pretty well as Catwomen, not my favorite but I'll take her over Hallie Berry's Catwoman anyday!!

[Xenia_Onatopp]

Michael Keaton played the best Batman in the movie version. I picked Batman Returns because Michelle Pfeiffer was hot in it. I used to watch the Batman series with Adam West, so I can't count him out altogether. Val Kilmer's lips, though, come close to second with Michael's.

What I'm really excited about is Batman Begins with Christian Bale.
1. Because I like Batman.
2. Because I like Christian Bale.

Here's the link to the movie site:

Batman Begins

[Harmsway]

Batman and Robin (1997)- I am one of the few people who actually like this one. Yes, call me crazy!

I'll call you crazy. One of the biggest pieces of big budget cinematic trash, ever, especially because of how much it betrays the spirit of its excellent source material and the films before it. It's just a cheese-fest from beginning to end, coming across as a live-action adaptation of the Adam West series without the WHAM! animations, which was not the goal of the production.

Arnold positively BUTCHERS the role of Mr. Freeze - who is supposed to be an intelligent, brooding character who does NOT wear polar bear bathrobes or have a gang full of skate-wearing goons. He is pensive, near emotionless. The only thing that gives him any level of emotion is his wife. Here, he's spouting comic lines here and there like an idiot, and comes across as a buffoon. There's no real menace here.

Clooney just isn't dark enough to play Batman - his "Hi Freeze, I'm Batman!" is cringe inducing to the point of near-death. I mean, Batman is supposed to have 2 personalities - Bruce Wayne and Batman. For Clooney, they're one and the same. There's no dark, brutal side to Batman here - and Batman, by all means, is dark and brutal. Val Kilmer may have been wooden, but at least he couldn't be described as "goofy". Not to mention Clooney looks positively ridiculous in costume.

Chris O'Donnell, who was at least decent in Forever (even though Robin is supposed to be a KID when he starts out, darn it!), is given no help here with his dialogue, and Alicia Silverstone is atrocious as Batgirl in a totally unnecessary role that gives her character little motivation or impact.

The production design is horrid, with large naked men dotting the landscape, decorated in neon colors. Ugh. That scene with the motorbikes is definitely NOT Batman.

The ONLY, and I mean ONLY, thing that's decent about this film is the casting of Uma Thurman, and even then, she has some of the worst dialogue ever to deliver.

[SPECTRE ASSASSIN]

I have to agree with Harmsway, BATMAN AND ROBIN was a revolting film from start to finish.

The first "Batman" movie was the best, though the Caped Crusader was obviously overshadowed by the presence by Jack Nicholson's Joker, which is sad. Still, Michael Keaton is fine as Batman (who is easily the best Batman), Nicholson is dynamic (his lines are fantastic!), and the score by Elfman is riveting.

[Righty007]

I really like the scene in Vicky Vale's apartment in Batman when Bruce Wayne says this to the Joker:

"You wanna get crazy? Let's get crazy!"

Any of you like that scene/line?

[Qwerty]

I really like the scene in Vicky Vale's apartment in Batman when Bruce Wayne says this to the Joker:

"You wanna get crazy? Let's get crazy!"

Any of you like that scene/line?

Excellent scene in my opinion. Love the exchanges between Keaton and Nicholson.

[Righty007]

Qwerty, have you ever danced with the devil by the pale moonlight?

[Qwerty]

[00-FAN008]

Batman Forever for now; Batman Begins will most likely become my favourite.

I remember seeing Batman Forever in theatres back when I was five years old, and I remember how much I enjoyed it. It was one of the first films I ever saw in theatres, and also the least disturbing for me at the time. I also enjoyed Batman & Robin when I was eight, but well... I was eight.

Hey, I liked Robin's motorcycle!!!

[00-FAN008]

What I'm really excited about is Batman Begins with Christian Bale. 
1. Because I like Batman.
2. Because I like Christian Bale.

Hmm...

Why I'm excited about Batman Begins:
1. I like Batman
2. I like Cillian Murphy
3. Christopher Nolan kicks some serious, hardcore when it comes to directing. He's probably on my list of best directors next to Danny Boyle.

[SPECTRE ASSASSIN]

I still remembered watching "Batman Forever" was I was 8 years old. I had so much angst when I saw that flick in the summer of 1995. Ah, the memories of being a kid and never giving a crap how inferior it is now...

...then I saw "Batman & Robin" two years later at the cinemas. Such naivety in me for liking that mess.

[Qwerty]

Hmm...

Why I'm excited about Batman Begins:
1. I like Batman
2. I like Cillian Murphy
3. Christopher Nolan kicks some serious, hardcore when it comes to directing. He's probably on my list of best directors next to Danny Boyle.

4. Clooney isn't in it.
5. Hell, it can't possibly be worse than 'Batman and Robin'.

[Tanger]

BATMAN (1989) is my fav but that will probably be replaced by Begins when I see it.

[Agent 76]

from IMDB Trivia page for Batman (1989)

"Alec Baldwin, Charlie Sheen, and Pierce Brosnan were considered for the role of Bruce Wayne/Batman."

[Righty007]

from IMDB Trivia page for Batman (1989)

"Alec Baldwin, Charlie Sheen, and Pierce Brosnan were considered for the role of Bruce Wayne/Batman."

Remington Steele should have got the part.

[SPECTRE ASSASSIN]

Alec Baldwin would have been great as Batman. He worked with Tim Burton before in "Beetlejuice", and strange enough, never worked with him after that.

[Righty007]

I just bought Batman and Robin (1949). It is a serial with fifteen episodes. I watched the first episode tonight and I really like it. It's like the 1960s series minus the camp. I recommend it to all Batman fans especially since the 1960s series isn't on DVD yet.

[SeanValen00V]

Batman Begins the first true batman film of the comics, and he doesn't kill the villans all the time like burton and schumacher did, batman has compassion, plus it's about batman and not the villians.

great story, great acting, just brilliant, easily the best.

[tdalton]

Sadly, I have yet to see Batman Begins, and I'm sure that it'll be my favorite once I see it, but of the other 4, Batman is my favorite. My favorite Batman actor, however, is George Clooney. I thought he gave a great performance as Bruce Wayne/Batman and if he had had a decent supporting cast and a serious script, I think he would have been more well liked than he is.

Batman Returns
Not a bad film at all, but suffers slightly because of the crap sets (It feels like you're in a studio and not Gotham City). Decent performances from the leads.

Which sets did you think were below par?

Anywhere in the film outdoors. Cheapest outside sets I've ever seen.

I agree with that. Batman Returns feels like it was shot inside a shoe box. Every scene seems contained to the same areas, or areas that are so similar its hard to tell if the scenes have moved to another locale.

Edited by tdalton, 23 June 2005 - 02:29 PM.

[Sam Fisher]

Batman 1989.

The stars were lined during that year it seems. lol. Michael Keaton is the best Batman but it was Jack Nicholson who steals the show as The Joker. Tim Burton had a flair to take Bob Kane's character and give Batman a new spin and twist.

[Righty007]

I added a new poll.

Also, answer this question:

Who is your favorite actor to play Batman?

Lewis Wilson
Robert Lowery
Adam West
Michael Keaton
Val Kilmer
George Clooney
Christian Bale

[Harmsway]

Begins wins with no competition. The character development, acting, action and overall quality of Begins trumps anything the previous Batman movies have to offer (and every superhero movie release thus far).

And Christian Bale is my favorite actor. He actually physically fits the role, and gives an excellently layered performance. I was extremely impressed.