MovieChat Forums > Batman (1989) Discussion > Batman vs Batman Returns - Face Off

Batman vs Batman Returns - Face Off

posted 2 years ago by TMC-4 (20181)
15 replies | jump to latest

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rn4qFASsscE

Nowadays, it seems that superhero movies are being released faster than you can say “Holy... whatever Batman!” It's hard to believe that superheroes weren't a big deal back in the ‘80s. Richard Donner's Superman made people believe a man could fly, but it didn’t exactly set off an explosion of superhero fever that we're feeling now.

After Supes, the next big hero to tackle the cinemas came in 1989 with Tim Burton's BATMAN starring Michael Keaton in the titular role. Batman was a certified success with audiences, complete with its own hit album written and performed by the legendary Prince. Of course, that meant that a follow-up was inevitably going to happen. After proving such a big box office draw, Warner Brothers gave Burton the green light to do anything he wanted. What he turned in was BATMAN RETURNS. A worthy sequel that brought back Keaton alongside Michelle Pfeiffer as Selina Kyle/Catwoman and Danny DeVito as Oswald Cobblepot/The Penguin. But which of these caped crusader’s outings truly deserves the Face Off mantle? Let’s fire up the Batmobile and find out!

[–] BOandBarbecue (2264) 2 years ago

there is no comparison.

batman 1989 is masterpeace of comic genres.

batman return is weird tim burton film like all his other weird film.

in 1989 burton work for studio which is why he produce good film as they keep him on leash. by 92 he become too powerful and have too much control and he turn his film into shit burton film.

[–] LogicalLeftist (869) 2 years ago

YA but... pfeiffer catwoman and deviates penguin. Idk if I could put one over the other.

[–] BOandBarbecue (2264) 2 years ago

yes good actor cant save shit story/script. and sharon stone should have be cast as catwoman.

there is no actions in this film! did anyone notice? a summer blockbuster with no action set piece hahahahah.

[–] LogicalLeftist (869) 2 years ago

it literally opens with the penguins minions causing shit in the street and batman saving pfieffer...

also that pretty controversial as despite how people feel about the movie, pfieffers acting is universally loved and praised in this

[–] BOandBarbecue (2264) 2 years ago

yes the opening action was to fool audience and burtons boss into thinking film would be like original. after that i cant remember much actions, just disgusting danny daveto character hogging up film. why make him so disgusting? his grotesque ruin film!

also, villain in this should be riddler (not play by jim carey).

if i remember correct, sharon stones was one of first choice for catwomen. she is very good at playing duel evil/good people, or people who hide someting. she is also closer in hotness to kim baysinger than pfeiffer.

but yes pfeiffer was good in this film, she date michael keaton before film so chemistry is good.

[–] TMC-4 (20181) 2 years ago

Annette Bening was the first choice for Catwoman before Michelle Pfeiffer, but she had to drop out after she became pregnant.

[–] DoctorThirteen (14202) 2 years ago

Batman Returns, easily. It ties with The Dark Knight as my #1 Batman film.

[–] bozo_500 (13151) 2 years ago

Batman Returns for christmas

Batman 89 for rest of the year

[–] Stratego (30581) 2 years ago

Batman Returns. Michelle Pfeiffer alone elevates the movie.

[–] fawltybasil (249) 2 years ago

Batman (1989) which I think still remains the best one. I like Returns, in particular the snowy Christmas setting, but once Penguin goes back to his old life in the sewer, it starts to get a bit boring, and even for Tim Burton the penguin army was ridiculous.

[–] majaplaya (922) 2 years ago

Yeah the penguin army was a bit much. 😂

[–] [deleted] 2 years ago

Returns for me, but it would have been better with a sole villain. Ditch the penguin storyline and beef up catwoman’s and it could have been Burton’s Godfather 2.

[–] HarveyManFredSin (4877) 2 years ago

Interesting.

Since Selina isn't genuinely evil, and is more of an anti-hero than a true villain, how would that have worked?

[–] majaplaya (922) 2 years ago

Good point. She occupied the space between the villain and hero, almost like a dark reflection of Batman.

[–] HarveyManFredSin (4877) 2 years ago

I suppose if they made Shreck the main villain and entirely ditched The Penguin, it might have worked, with the focus still being on Catwoman (who Batman initially believes to be 'bad'). In that case, I'd have made Shreck 'Rupert Thorne', so that the main villain was clearly a character straight out of the comics, and apart from Shreck being a lot thinner than Thorne is usually portrayed, they're essentially the same characters.

The whole narrative could be about Catwoman having to convince Batman that Shreck/Thorne is truly evil, and them eventually working together to bring him down (except Batman still wants to hand him to the police, whereas Catwoman has something more fatal in mind).