MovieChat Forums > Batman Returns (1992) Discussion > This did not age well…

This did not age well…

posted 3 years ago by SteveG (1370)
19 replies | jump to latest

Its hard to believe there was a time when I gave this a 7/10. I must have been taking as many drugs as Tim Burton. This is unwatchable for me now. The very few scenes of bat action are ruined by the knowledge that MK could barely move in that suit and it really shows. Tim Burton was given way too much creative control on this one. Its so far over the top and its way beyond the camp of the first one. This clearly was not a representation of the comic book Batman but of the tv series. Even the catwoman origin was wtf. Im so glad Chris Nolan got to reboot it and put a more serious edge on it. I’m also looking forward to Matt Reeves version.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

Catwoman in this is definitely too sexual for modern audiences.

[–] GetWokeGoBroke (803) 3 years ago

Then modern audiences need to grow up.

[–] HedleyLamarr (404) 3 years ago

I wonder how they'd feel about Julie Newmar in her cat-suit.

[–] GetWokeGoBroke (803) 3 years ago

The movie has aged just fine, it's the world/society that hasn't aged well.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

I agree with both of your comments.

[–] pioneergrrrl (2412) 3 years ago

I agree completely

Sexual harassment
Disability issues
Computer/technology hacking
Corporate greed and political corruption

aside from a few tweaks it could be written/filmed and produced today.

[–] TandyMan (11352) 3 years ago

" it's the world/society that hasn't aged well."

brilliant. that's it exactly. i'm gonna start telling people that every time I hear that hasn't aged well nonsense.

[–] Otter (24464) 3 years ago

This move may not be your cup of tea, but that's a different thing than aging well or not. If you just don't like it, like a film you watch instead, it's that simple.

I still love the movie, it's fantastical and slightly camp, with the heightened emotions appropriate to a camp-tinged fantasy film. The performances are slightly over the top but just enough to heighten the emotional tension, the film is gorgeous, Michelle Pfeiffer is magnetic, and her stuntwoman does a fine job. I mean you try doing gymnastics in 5" heels, it should be impossible, but the stuntwoman made it look effortless!

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

On the contrary I think it's aged brilliantly. Beautiful gothic Gotham sets, compare that to the CGI bonanzas we have these days.

I greatly prefer this film over Christopher Nolan's attempts. For my money this is the best superhero film of all time. So much more style and flair compared to the modern Marvel and DC films. The Marvel films are so generic and vanilla, I'd happily take the crazed world of Tim Burton in it's place.

Also Michelle Pfeiffer is dynamite. Seeing the new so called 'catwoman' that they're going for in 2022 makes me laugh. No competition.

[–] SteveG (1370) 3 years ago

Have to agree to disagree.

[–] R_Kane (15828) 3 years ago

Feel free to be wrong, Steve.

[–] FootOfDavros (8712) 3 years ago

I agree.

Re-watched this recently and it's still a beautiful film to watch. The Gothic styling was / still is superb in this film - and very much in line with the Legends of the Dark Knight comic run which I think had begun maybe a year or two before.

Incredibly lucky that they got Burton to make this, at this particular time, just before the CGI era went full swing. Otherwise - a year or two later - we would have got something which when looked at now would have very dated, bad early CGI rather than the timeless classic we have with it's scaled models and matte painting backdrops.

It's darkness and mature themes are the complete antithesis of today's MCU productions.

This and the original Superman still stand as the twin pillars of the superhero genre.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

We were excited to see this when it came out... but my friends and I didn't like it. I've revisited it a few times over the decades but it's not my thing. It still has a lot of fans and its unique. It's just uninteresting to me.

[–] SteveG (1370) 3 years ago

Its very bad and I hated the first one too. I almost walked out on the first one even though I was so excited for it I was there on the first showing on Saturday of the opening weekend. I will admit the first one has grown on me a little over the many years but I still find it ridiculous. Shoehorning in the Prince music, the ridiculous reveal of Batman to Vicky Vale etc. I never wanted the Adam West spirit of Batman brought to the big screen. That series was trash unless you were an 8 year old. Tim Burton was an absolute horrible choice of a director. But its all good, I saw what I consider to be the appropriate characterization of Batman in Christopher Nolans The Dark Knight, an amazing film.

[–] Lord Rake (4536) 3 years ago

Nolan's batman was more James Bond than anything else and not even realistic by his own standards. In 20 years people will remember Batman 89, Nolan's Batman will drift into the haze of obscurity because it really is not that iconic or accurate.

I do agree Burton was given a little too much creative control in Returns, the same happened with Nolan after Begins. Both their versions were better when working within the confines of the actual source material. Cat woman is great the way Burton did her but the penguins with rockets "too much Burton style" and Penguin himself would have been better if he was kept closer to the comics. But it is what it is, I would say a 7/10 is accurate. It's not like things didn't make sense or were jumbled, it just failed to match the first film.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

I'm going to fully agree with your view on catwoman and the penguin. I really love burton's early work. The penguins were really weak to me.

Nolan's first Batman was great in my opinion. I didn't like the second movie outside of Ledger's performance. Those films are most likely going to get buried because they redo Batman nearly every 5 years. People love Batman. I'm a bigger fan of the animated series. It had a good mesh of the comics and characters.

[–] scannerdarkly (1400) 3 years ago

I was surprised and delighted to see that the 90's animated Batman series still holds up today! Very well made and the perfect balance of maturity to the stories. It doesnt feel juvenile to watch it.

[–] scannerdarkly (1400) 3 years ago

I've watched this many times as a child. So many Sundays where I popped this VHS Tape into the VCR and jumped into the realm of Gotham. I rated it highly too, but as time goes on I have access to many more movies. The desire to see this film has dwindled for me. Maybe one day I will make it a point to watch this movie again.

My point is: When you rate it alone, you'll rate it higher. But nowadays with so much more access to superhero movies, its hard not to compare it to newer films. Meaning you will inevitably rate it lower, and lose interest.

For me, The Dark Knight brought an end to my interest in ever watching the first Keaton Batman movie. Heath Ledgers' Joker surpassed Nicholson in every way for me. As For Batman Returns though, Michelle Pfeiffer is still the best Catwoman and Danny Devito is still the best Penguin. But the film has aged and it only sticks with me for my love of Danny Devito.

The Penguin on the show Gotham is excellent as well, and it was one heck of an entertaining show that is new with a neat perspective being mostly from Gordon before Gotham had a Batman.

Gotham: https://youtu.be/0d1zpt6k5OI

[–] SteveG (1370) 3 years ago

Very cogent and well made points, I commend your mature reflection. That being said and while I agree with what you said I still assert this film is complete trash with regard to Batman canon. Just because something came first and had an absence of comparison at the time does not make it good. None of the characterizations are good or authentic. Not Catwoman, not Penguin, not Batman etc. Its all subverted by the limitations of Tim Burtons desire to be over the top outrageous and his lack of creativity. Hes fine in small doses I.E. Edward Scissorhands, Beetlejuice etc. But just look at what he did with Planet of the Apes for reference. He has no business touching anything with an established history/legacy. Even his best work is mediocre and forgettable. Think Big Fish.