Batman Returns (Page 1 of 2)

For the first time ever, I listened to a DiF episode and disagreed with the entire panel on a point they agreed on, namely that Clooney was their favorite actor to play Batman out of the collection from this era. And I audibly said, "Oh come on guys, you're fucking *nuts*."

For my money, if you want to separate the Nolan series from the collection, Keaton cleans the clock of everyone else to wear the suit for one simple reason: He was the only actor that understood the fact that any man that would go through with the elaborate costumes and technology to spend his nights fighting crime must be clinically insane. And there's a lot of his performance that seems to have that in mind.

DISCUSS!

Adam West FTW!

"Life is about movies; anything else is a bonus!"- Me   

Mask Of The Phantasm is the best pre-Nolan Batman film. You can't prove me wrong.

Heh... I was focusing on the films instead of casting the net that wide, but yeah, if you want to include every incarnation of Batman from a performing standpoint, Kevin Conroy absolutely needs to be near the top (or arguably at the top) of the list, even if his performance doesn't share the elements that I lauded with Keaton's performance.

I think there's something about the live action films that requires a bit more justification to be communicated on the part of the actor to explain just what causes this guy to do what he does, even in a universe that accepts The Penguin, or, god help me, Mr. Freeze, as entities that jibe with reality. The cartoon DC universe is much more forgiving in that regard and accepts Batman for what he is without wanting to immediately do psych profiles on the guy, so Kevin's performance is much more straightforward and badass.

Excuse me, I suddenly have the urge to find Joel Schumacher and punch him in the face.

Last edited by ChrisHanel (2012-02-14 02:49:08)

*chin pokes eyes out*

*runs around blind*

"Life is about movies; anything else is a bonus!"- Me   

It's a social experiment, I wanna see where he's going with this.

This, this, a million times this. Although if we are talking only live action then Clooney was ok, he was just stuck with a shite script with crappy puns. He deserved better but Keaton was my Batman growing up.

And I don't want to. Can't prove something wrong that is 100% right Dorkman, you really should watch it, especially if you're a fan of the animated series. Speaking of which, I have some episodes on dvd and that show really holds up. It's awesome.

PRE-Nolan?

Mask of the Phantasm is the best (animated) Batman film.

I think there's way more going on in this flick than the guys gave it credit for.   I also think it's ironic that a familiar criticism is that it's not really about Batman... when I think it is pretty much ALL about Batman.

We have a guy who has pretty much given up being Bruce Wayne. He sits alone in a giant house in the dark just waiting for be Batman again. He only seems feel "normal" when dressed up as a fuckin Bat. 

Then the movie throws out as bunch of characters that show him what he could very easily become.
In fact almost all the main characters in the flick are just fractured pieces of Batman's psyche. Distorted versions of what he could easily be if he carries on as is.

The Penguin being the most obvious. Angry and hostile at the real world. (as he fucking should be) Left without parents and taking revenge on what he sees as the same people that put him there. Gotham's upper crust. (which is pretty much a direct mirror to what Batman spends his nights doing).

But then you have Catwoman. She is Batman unleashed Getting off on the sheer mayhem that you can cause as a nutcase in a mask. She spends most of her time just blowing shit up and breaking stuff.

Shit. Even SHRECK is just a dark mirror image of another splinter of Batman's psyche. A Gotham billionaire businessman who wishes to exploit rather than help the city. He is the evil Bruce Wayne.

I dunno. It's far from perfect. I just think there's some cool stuff in that script.