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1992: Batman Returns

Posted: May 21, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Monumental Movies | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment
Cover of "Batman Returns (Two-Disc Specia...

Cover via Amazon

In 1992, director, Tim Burton, directed Batman Returns. Michael Keaton reprises his role as Batman, also playing Bruce Wayne, this time, battling the crazily eccentric Penguin (Danny DeVito). However, the Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer) also decides to join in, stirring things up between Batman and the Penguin, whilst trying to achieve her own goals.

The movie sees Batman trying to clear his name of a negative image from the population of Gotham City, due to the Penguin, and business man, Max Shreck (Christopher Walken) trying to give the image of Batman being a bad person. Whilst trying to overcome this problem, and bring down Penguin and Shreck, Batman must also decide what is to become of Catwoman, who, as seductive as she may be, causes havoc for Batman. The movie ends with Penguin dying, whilst attempting to kill Batman, and Catwoman/Selina Kyle electrocuting Shreck, who tried to kill her, before making a quick escape, although the movie ends showing the audience that Catwoman still roams the city of Gotham.

Although this one, like all of the older Batman movies, was quite comically driven, in terms of its humourous aspect, costume design and so on, Tim Burton still managed to do a good job of it, and the Batmobile, as usual, was awesome, with the driving action sequences being great and thoroughly enjoyable. As mentioned, although comically driven, this movie is still quite dark in many aspects, in comparison to the rest of the Pre-Nolan Batman flicks, which is definitely a good thing for the Batman movies. It’s also one of the Batman movies which doesn’t feature the character of Robin, which can only be a positive aspect…

Batman Returns is definitely one of the better movies of the old set of Batman movies, and a thoroughly enjoyable and developed one, in terms of the characters and storyline, so watch it – it’s Bat-tastic.

By Manpreet Singh

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1989: Batman

Posted: April 30, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Monumental Movies | Tags: , , , , , , , | 1 Comment
Michael Keaton as Batman Batman (Michael Keaton)

Image via Wikipedia

In the year 1989, the very first Batman movie was released. Directed by Tim Burton, this memorable portrayal of Bruce Wayne/Batman by Michael Keaton shows the Dark Knight’s battle against the corruption of Gotham City, and the clown prince of crime himself, The Joker (Jack Nicholson). Jack Napier, a small-time crook, falls into a vat of chemical acid, and ultimately end up becoming the feared Joker.

Later on in the movie, Batman soon finds out that the man who killed his parents was indeed the Joker, before he became the Joker – Jack Napier. In the end, the Joker attempts to flee the Batman, but the Joker falls to his death from the top of a building, becoming loose from Batman’s grapple which he shot at the Joker to stop his escape.

This movie is the first proper cinematic adaptation of the Batman, apart from the 1960’s movie featuring Adam West. It’s a great portrayal of the comics, and although comical in many ways, such as the portrayal of the Joker seeming to be quite a humourous one, the general feel of the movie still feels quite dark, in the portrayal of Batman, and generally throughout the movie. I think this is definitely a good thing, as Batman was always meant to be a dark and secretive character, unlike the portrayals in the follow of movies, Batman Forever, and Batman & Robin.

I also think the Batman costume and Batmobile were definitely one of the better ones out of the movies, with their cool, sleek, and dark style, representing the character of Batman well. Jack Nicholson’s portrayal of the Joker was also a great one, mimicking that of the comics to a great degree. Both characters appeared to be portrayed very suitably, helping with the general atmosphere of the movie, making it as successful as it was. The action scenes in the movie were also great, as were the dialogue scenes, unlike those seen in the later Batman movies (particularly Batman & Robin), which were just awful.

Overall, this movie is an iconic one, highlighting the official cinematic birth of Batman onto the big screens, and it does it in a very cool and fashionable way, with the great performances, particularly from Jack Nicholson, being one of the main selling points of the movie, along with the combination of other great aspects.

By Manpreet Singh

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