Video Review: Batman Returns (1992) @ the agony booth : making fun of movies and TV since 2002

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Video Review: Batman Returns (1992)

Posted on Monday, December 26, 2011 by Michael A. Novelli

Join Mr. Mendo and special guest Sofie Liv of Red Suitcase Adventures as they take on Tim Burton's Batman Returns, starring Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman, Danny DeVito as the Penguin, Christopher Walken as Gotham City department store mogul Max Shreck, and Michael Keaton as Batman!

The two Joel Schumacher-directed Batman films have been thoroughly dissected on this website, but is it possible that Tim Burton's entries in the franchise were just as silly and nonsensical? Mendo and Sofie find out!

Special thanks to Nycea for providing artwork, and the Cheap-Arse Film Critic for providing his voice!

Sofie and Michael are wearing red ribbons as part of a month-long project by internet video reviewers to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS issues. Please visit Red Ribbon Reviewers and the official World AIDS Day website for more information!

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Scroll down to comment on this video!

Comments:

Rumpelstiskin

2/14/2012 3:48:33 PM

Apparently, both reviewrs fail to get that Batman Returns is really a grim, sad, and phatasmagoric fairy tale. The movie is profoundly dark, pessimistic, and highly stylized, and is actually my favourite Bat-movie, right after the inevitable Dark Knight. Also, I saw it at the age of 8, was scared shitless, but still keep very fond memories of it.

Sofie Liv Pedersen

2/18/2012 2:11:30 PM

I think the one superhero movie which stands out the most as actually being a fairytale that just happens to have a known comic book name smashed on it would be "Hell Boy II" .. which is a movie I really like.

I like the movie, I do. But I have to admit the plot is kind of all over the place and well, often stupid. I just think the atmosphere, directing, performance, music, style and so ford makes more than up for it and I am not ashamed to say I have seen this movie many-many times.

marvine

1/21/2012 7:04:45 PM

"The two Joel Schumacher-directed Batman films have been thoroughly dissected on this website, but is it possible that Tim Burton's entries in the franchise were just as silly and nonsensical?"

Oh, ya think?!?

Michael A. Novelli

1/22/2012 1:20:38 PM

Well, I will say that at the very least, the first one felt like a logical progression of events. Sure, it was a movie about a vigilante in a costume, but each scene still lead into the next one...

Sofie Liv Pedersen

1/23/2012 2:16:23 PM

I'll have to point out we are following a man whom by all means are very rich and can do what-ever he likes but because his parents died decides to dress up as a bat and fight petty crime plus a clown a man calling himself Riddler laying out riddles, am looking like a penguin a plant lady and what-ever else there is lurking in that seriously messed up city , then flirts around with a woman in cat suit, likes to stand around and look awesome with an alien from Krypton and all the while keeps on insisting on bruting because life is just that horrible to him for some reason.

Is this just in general a silly and nonsensical franchise? Really? You got to be kidding me! who knew?

Michael

1/25/2012 8:53:58 PM

The first film's major flaw, though, was Warner Bros.'s decree that Jack should be the star (since they knew there was no chance in hell that they'd get him to do something like that film again). As a result, Michael Keaton was overshadowed in a film in which he should have been center stage.
In contrast, "Superman" gave us an amusing villain in Hackman's Luthor but it was never at the expense of Christopher Reeve, who gave a great performance as the title character.

Michael A. Novelli

1/25/2012 11:15:29 PM

Well, to be fair, The Joker had much more of a character arc in that film than Batman did. Besides, I still kind of agree with the idea that Batman is more effective in small doses. Hell, we got inside his head in Batman Forever and look how that turned out...

Paul

1/30/2012 3:14:42 AM

But remove Jack from the first film & it's quite dull since so much of the screentime was devoted to him. The film has a protagonist that is underplayed & a leading lady that is so wimpy, she makes Willie Scott look like Xena

Michael A. Novelli

1/25/2012 11:18:05 PM

Tyrone L. Warbasse

1/6/2012 8:37:30 AM

My cable box's TV guide gives Batman Returns **, and Forever and & Robin *** each. Somebody smoking something at my cable company or what?

Michael A. Novelli

1/6/2012 10:29:29 AM

Maybe the reviewer in question was judging them comedically?

Angelbest27

1/6/2012 12:24:11 PM

All 3 deserve *

Sofie Liv Pedersen

1/10/2012 9:22:43 AM

That's because all the reviewers with any real talent and or knowledge are now doing their thing on the net! making shitty internet videos!

Michael A. Novelli

1/10/2012 1:17:55 PM

Word.

Michael A. Novelli

1/1/2012 9:36:39 PM

Stick around after the show for my special New Year's message!

Michael

12/31/2011 8:28:36 PM

The Penguin being a mutant freak in this film was as bad a decision as Rob Zombie making Michael Myers white trash

Clockworkcanary

1/1/2012 3:02:45 AM

Agreed. Interesting how, in this film the Penguin is a really a mix between Killer Croc and The Penguin ...and Batman Forever has the Riddler as more of a mix between the Riddler and the Mad Hatter. IMO Penguin is one of the weaker villains in Batman's Rogue's gallery and they shouldn't even have used him unless he was portrayed as a mob boss.

Michael A. Novelli

1/5/2012 1:36:11 PM

I have to respect The Penguin, as he's one of the few Batman villains who isn't legally insane. It's a refreshing change of pace to see a villain in the series who can't automatically be undone by their obsessions. You gotta shake things up, sometimes...

Jm_james

12/31/2011 5:49:01 AM

Did you folks just revue this movie because it takes place at Christmas time? You both make good points. Although I most remember this as the last movie I saw at a theater that isn't around anymore. Love you Liv and Mendo, you're pretty cool. I really like how you play off each other in this review.

Michael A. Novelli

1/1/2012 1:52:23 AM

Yeah, sometimes it all just kinda comes together, doesn't it?

Kais Slim Saidi

12/30/2011 6:28:52 PM

Dude , I'll always love this movie. The DeVito Penguin is my inspiration whenever I draw the character, it has Keaton Batman & the soundtrack is beautiful. Besides Perfection was never from this world so I love seeing the glass half full...
Batman KILLED in the 40's, the Burton version was mostly an update of the Bob Kane /Bill Finger Batman who did OFF the baddies. Even though I have no problem with that , my favourite Batman is the TAS one...

Sarah Mitchell

12/30/2011 6:48:02 AM

Very good review. I enjoyed having people with opposing views of the film talking about it. Gave the review a nice balance, I thought. ^_^ With this in mind, I may have to go rewatch it...

Michael A. Novelli

1/1/2012 3:37:01 AM

So, how did it work out? I'm curious...

Gasmaskangel

12/29/2011 5:19:11 PM

Am I the only one who gets turned on every time he hears "German expressionism"?

Good episode guys, although I still like the film silliness and all.

Michael A. Novelli

12/29/2011 6:08:35 PM

Ah, Scratch, old boy, I was wondering when you'd turn up.

And yes, German Expressionism does make one all gooey...

Sofie Liv Pedersen

12/29/2011 9:10:09 PM

No.... I gotta watch Golem again soon..
I freaking love when newer movies looks like something out of the German Expressionism as well! That is at least one great thing Burton brought with him to hollywood no one can take away from him!

Well, I do to. as stated in the review :)

Monterey Jack

12/29/2011 4:10:13 PM

I love this film, just for the haunting MOOD of the whole thing. The plot is tissue-thin, but as a psychological dissection of the Batman character (with each villain representing a different "chamber" of Batman's mind), it's endlessly fascinating. And it's visually GORGEOUS.

Michael A. Novelli

12/29/2011 4:43:13 PM

Yep, it certainly has its good points...

Sofie Liv Pedersen

12/29/2011 6:40:44 PM

As I said!

Michael A. Novelli

12/29/2011 7:02:17 PM

Indeed you did, so we agree!

Glad we got that settled... :D

StevePotter

12/29/2011 1:06:22 AM

I hate this movie too! It's always nice to know that you're not the only one. I just hate how dark, ugly and somber the movie was, and the they decided, "Penguins with rockets!" At least the Schumacher films were pretty light-hearted, so the stupid stuff didn't clash with the tone. (Plus, I liked how they explained why he no longer killed people in "Batman Forever." Val Kilmer really doesn't get enough credit for his work as Batman.)

Michael A. Novelli

12/29/2011 3:31:42 PM

As cliche as it might sound, I have to agree with the general sentiment that while Burton's off-kilter brand of wackiness worked for the first film (it did have The Joker in it, after all), with this one he went too far...

StevePotter

12/29/2011 10:34:28 PM

The first one was ok. The Joker was entertaining, but I think that by making Batman a legend (ie, explaining nothing) made him impossible to identify with and all the action lost its suspense. The original movies always kind of bored me, even as a kid, because I just didn't care. Jack Nicholson as the Joker was still amusing though.

Sofie Liv Pedersen

12/30/2011 12:33:48 AM

I would even have to say. Batman, despite being awesome obviously, is a very hard hero to do and make interesting.. hard to make humanly conflicted. He's actually very straight minded, the super hero without any compromises. Which makes interesting portrayals hard. Even in Batman Tas, the show recognised for being one of the greats, Batman is mostly merely a side-kick character in his own show, by all mean it should have been called. "Gotham." and not. "Batman."
Rarely is there any Batman centred episodes, and they are never as good as the usual villains episode.
In Nolans films, it's not even Batman himself as a character that's that particularly interesting, but more the world around him and the over all plot. Funny how the second one in that franchise (The Dark knight.) is also a movie where it feels like Batman has been demoted to secondary character in his own film.

The one thing I can think of where they really tried to make Batman a more conflicted character is in the show. "The Batman." from 2005, and well. I like that show, but most people don't.

So well, the history shows.. Batman really is a difficult character to write and the world around him plus the villains is actually the more interesting bit, so why not focus on that? Batman Tas got away with that just fine. All though again, usually their plots actually made more sense than this movie :/

StevePotter

12/30/2011 5:47:11 AM

I've been meaning to watch The Animated Series (can you believe it's not streaming on Netflix?!) And while I agree that Batman was made a secondary character in The Dark Knight, I felt that he had a lot of internal conflict, specifically how he could deal with the Joker. Batman Begins seemed like a character study (which is a very good thing). I think one of the problems that arises when Batman starts killing people is that it takes away a LOT of potential drama.

Sofie Liv Pedersen

12/30/2011 4:24:32 PM

Netflix isn't even available in my country, so I am surprisingly indifferent to it thus far.
But for Batman tas, I feel very safe to just recommend for you to just go and buy it on DVD, there's a box set for each season out there, should be a decent price at Amazon. If you are interested in Batman in any way. It's just a must. If you are into cartoon tely shows, it's also a must. So many standards and new examples were set by it, it really were a game changer and no show has never been able to reach its level of gothic artistry and complex themes.
I just can't recommend it enough.

Michael A. Novelli

12/30/2011 4:40:31 PM

Nor can I! Batman: The Animated Series DVDs for everybody!

StevePotter

12/30/2011 5:47:27 PM

Good to know!

Cristiona

12/28/2011 8:40:19 AM

Nice nod to Crazy Steve, heh. Also, Sofie's footage seems oddly interlaced at times.

Also also, that Citizen Cane scene -has- been well used before: Sledge Hammer trashing Trunk's office when he learns he's been fatally poisoned.

Michael A. Novelli

12/28/2011 3:23:38 PM

What can I say? The kids love that Crazy Steve...

Sofie Liv Pedersen

12/28/2011 5:47:00 PM

I can't tell why that happened.. it hasn't happened before have it?

Well, as I myself am a long time Linkara fan I felt very satisfied doing it!

I think almost every single big joke and reference in the book has been used by at least some-one on the net around now -_-;
We'll try to find new material, really! but when big prof comedians even have a hard time being original how can we? at least all the time..

Arcadiassx999

12/28/2011 5:01:13 AM

Hey guys, fun review. Just a heads up. The scene where The Penguin is addressing all his henchmen penguins in the sewer is almost a shot for shot rip off of the opening of an animated film from the early 80's titled "Twice Upon a Time" a beautifully produced quirky "cut out style" animated feature directed by John Korty. Give it a look see, its bizarre and wonderful to watch.

Michael A. Novelli

12/28/2011 5:12:23 AM

Your revelation of an animated film I've never seen intrigues me. Do go on...

Matthew Blanchette

12/28/2011 3:45:49 AM

Is it just me, or is Sofie's diction improving? I was able to understand her here a bit more than in the Antichrist and Tangled reviews... and I think I appreciated her all the better for it. :-)

Michael A. Novelli

12/28/2011 4:04:59 AM

I imagine it's all the practice she's getting...

Sofie Liv Pedersen

12/28/2011 8:08:58 AM

Well, when I get multiple complaints about people not being able to hear what I am saying.. i will try to fix it.. some-how. So well, the chance just is that I am that much more aware of the trouble and am trying to be better. I'm glad you're able to hear a difference at all!

Matthew Blanchette

12/28/2011 5:36:53 PM

I'm glad, too; "de GOT-DAMMED BATMAN!" had me howling. :-D

Sofie Liv Pedersen

12/28/2011 9:26:02 PM

I'm able to go pretty darn deep in my tone of voice X)

Matthew Blanchette

12/29/2011 12:56:11 AM

Where exactly did the "crazy hobo wearing Batman's costume" joke come from, anyway? :-P

Michael A. Novelli

12/29/2011 1:14:15 AM

Way back in the early days of Atop The Fourth Wall, Linkara made a joke that the Batman from All Star Batman and Robin couldn't possibly be the real Batman (as Batman doesn't kill people or get upset that little kids don't think he's cool), so he suggested that this was actually a homeless man, named Crazy Steve, who had somehow stolen Batman's costume and gone on a rampage. The evidence seems to bear that out...

Michael A. Novelli

12/28/2011 2:50:49 AM

I would like to add that by associating the aforementioned scene from Citizen Kane with the music from the corresponding scene in Batman Returns has filled me with a burning desire to never watch Citizen Kane again. Not that I needed an excuse, I'm just glad to have one...

Matthew Blanchette

12/28/2011 3:44:15 AM

Seriously? Just watch the scene without the music. How can you HATE Citizen Kane; that's insane!

Michael A. Novelli

12/28/2011 4:04:29 AM

As I've said many times before, I don't hate Citizen Kane. I dislike the fact that many trends in films can be traced back to it (the room-trashing scene, for instance), but my only beef with Citizen Kane is that it does nothing for me. I choose not to watch it simply because I don't get anything out of it...

Sofie Liv Pedersen

12/28/2011 8:13:11 AM

I actually think Citizien Kane is highly overrated. Best movie ever? oh come on, prettiest movie for it's time? erh.. :/
I mean, it looks nice and all, but that it's praised so much for "New uses as cinematography." when the same things had been done years and years earlier in such movies as "Cabinet of Doctor Caligary." "Frankenstein." and "Jekyll and Hyde." it just annoys me, and they were done very well in those movies! the effects there maybe even be better than Citizen kane! But you know, because Kane is a "serious" movie and the rest is "Just" fantasy, kane gets all the praise... okay I am done.

fearfanforever

12/28/2011 2:17:58 PM

Wow, I'm actually impressed that you used three horror movies to point out Citizen Kane's predecessors.
Bravo.

Michael A. Novelli

12/28/2011 3:22:38 PM

Truly our collective knowledge of cinema is unparalleled here!

Sofie Liv Pedersen

12/29/2011 8:35:28 AM

Hehe, I'm a very big fan of the old movies and particularly what I like to call "Fairy tale horror." which would be many of the old universal movies. I am a James Whales fan. But also am a sucker for early German expressionism, Douglas Fairbanks. The old time comedians such as Chaplin and the Marx Brothers.. I really am a nerd..
And I've seen Citizien Kane, of cause I have, but as far as I am concerned it's merely "Okay." and even kind of dull at times.
Then Metropolis or most Georges Melies shorts were more visually impressive.
But I chose those three movies, because they use many of the exact same camera technicians that Kane were so praised for inventing!

Matthew Blanchette

12/28/2011 5:39:26 PM

Hey, I love the '31 Jekyll and Hyde, too (I think it's an underrated masterpiece with towering performances from the two leads), but Kane blew me away the first time I saw it.

You kind of have to look beyond the story to see the genius of it; it's wonderfully psychological... even though, yes, the random dance hall scene comes out of nowhere.

Dwlow812003

12/28/2011 2:07:27 AM

By the way, Mr. Mendo, Zaroz is winging its way to you as we speak :)

Dwlow812003

12/28/2011 2:07:57 AM

i of course mean Zardoz, lol:)

Michael A. Novelli

12/28/2011 2:46:02 AM

Capital!

Dwlow812003

12/29/2011 6:47:31 AM

glad to help anyway I can:)

Michael A. Novelli

1/1/2012 1:45:32 AM

And it has arrived, sir!

Dwlow812003

1/1/2012 6:51:17 PM

awesome! glad it got there so quickly :)

dave

1/26/2012 7:51:06 PM

i look forward to hearing your thoughts on the "Gun is good, penis is evil" debate. a hot button political topic if there ever was one, lol;)

Mike

12/28/2011 8:34:37 AM

You magnificent bastard.
I salute you.
*weeps manly tears*

Dwlow812003

12/28/2011 6:53:28 PM

lol, thank you:)

Dwlow812003

12/28/2011 2:04:41 AM

I cant get over how absolutely freaking adorable Sofie is, lol:D

Sofie Liv Pedersen

12/28/2011 8:13:58 AM

:D

I'm adorable X)

dudelove

12/28/2011 1:17:39 AM

As far as I'm concerned every Batman film is silly and nonsensical. Including Nolan's. That being said, this will be the first movie Michael tackles that I actually care about. So I can't wait to check it out!

handsome pete

12/27/2011 8:25:33 PM

You can't just say it's camp therefore it's the same as Batman & Robin, QED, because there's a hell of a lot more wrong with Batman & Robin than just that. And this one's got Keaton, easily the best Batman. Plus, what's wrong with Batman killing people? He isn't like Superman that way.

Sofie Liv Pedersen

12/27/2011 8:39:08 PM

Erh... now here's where I have to put my food down and agree with Mr. Mendo.

Batman does not kill people! ever! he is not the punisher, he is not Rorschach, he is not a anti hero, he's a fully fledged hero.
I'll even go as far as to say that Batman is the most reliable hero out there, with superman the. "Do I use this gun which could hurt people or don't I" argument could easily come up, with Batman.. there's no argument. No gun. ever! Batmans biggest flaw probably is that he takes to much responsibility upon his shoulders. When some-thing tragic happens to the villain, Batman ones again feels sorry for him and takes responsibility. Out of all heroes, Batman just doesn't kill. It's against everything he is for.

Michael A. Novelli

12/27/2011 9:06:42 PM

Here, here!

handsome pete

12/28/2011 10:01:03 AM

Batman does hate guns, but I don't think he refuses to kill anyone ever. You always see him bringing people to justice, but that's probably just because he can. The police mostly don't like to kill either, but they don't have Batman's abilities, so too bad for them. And we are talking about an armed gang of lunatics trying to overpower the police, after all.

Sofie Liv Pedersen

12/29/2011 8:43:02 AM

Dude, watch some "Batman Tas." or some-thing. Batman goes out of his way to try and salvage the criminals rather than killing them. There's an entire episode where a mafia crime bots gets salvaged through his priest brother when Batman asks the priest for help. And by all means, that Mafia boss was a bad egg who had killed a lot people and deserved that bullet. Batman had the chance to kill the joker of plenty of times, and we all know Joker is never going to stop unless his dies, the Joker has even been taunting him about this on numerous occasions. And still each time, Batman merely ties the clown up and brings him back to Arkham, Knowing that the joker absolutely will escape again and kill more people. Bat's morale code is simply to strong to finish him off, even ones.
The reason that Bruce even is Batman is that he took responsibility for his parents murder, he shouldn't, it was not his fault, and still he took that responsibility.
Even in Batman Begins! there's the climax where Ras Al Ghul goes. "You can't can kill me! you are not able to kill any-one!" to which Batman even agrees, and the lenght of his compromise, the furthest we have ever seen Batman compromising. "But I don't have to safe you." And then left, which left to opportunity of Ras escaping, in spite of Ras having tried to kill the entire freaking city in one swoop and probably will try again ones he have regained a following. the logical thing would have been to kill him and be sure he was dead, but this is Batman, he doesn't do killing.

Tim Terrell

12/30/2011 5:50:25 AM

Batman refusing to kill villains like Joker and Ras Al Ghul doesn't make sense within the character's logic. Every time Batman captures the Joker, and puts him in Arkham Asylum, instead of the grave, he is responsible for the next set of deaths that Joker deals out after he escapes Arkham. Batman would have come to this conclusion a long time ago and killed the Joker and most of his Rogue's Gallery.

Tony Thurisaz

12/30/2011 8:12:47 PM

Batman's mission is not to destroy criminals, but to protect the innocent. To have him hunting down evildoers dramatically changes the whole integrity of the character. That's why having cops, for instence, bust down the door of a grow-op house isn't heroic when compared to stopping drugs from being peddled to kiddies on the playground. To have him kill makes him judge, jury, and executioner. That's why the ending to the '89 film annoys me so much. The Bat has the Clown plummet to his death and what do the Mayor, Commish, and D.A. do? They figuratively pat him on the back for it. Whereas in reality, anyone who does such a thing (especially if his identity, and therefore motive, is unknown) would be a wanted murderer. This is why it's so hilarious when in Batman Returns, Gothamites act so surprised when he appears to be suddenly gunning for the rest of them. How do they know he's not mentally ill (he does dress like a bat) and that he might snap and go crazy, or that he defines good and evil differently than most. What idiots. No wonder the dipshits need a man in a cape to rescue them. Gotham clearly puts that whole natural selection idea to rest.

The Nolan films perfectly exemplify why Batman doesn't kill. He's fighting a war and when battling an opponent, you always have to have the advantage, but if he goes through and kills, then he's blurring the most important line, a moral one. As stated, his compassion, even for monsters like the Joker, is what differentiates him from those he combats. The more horrible the villain, the more important it is for him to cling to it. There's always the possibility of redemption. Remember the ferry scene in The Dark Knight? The biggest, most badass looking thug tosses the detonator out the window so no one can blow up the boatload of innocents. As long as there's some shimmer of hope that the criminals Batman brings to justice can reform, then his stance on no killing would be worth it. One of the themes I like about the Nolan trilogy is that Gotham and its citizens are characters unto themselves. It's an arc that deals with its own redemption. That's why Batman turned and fought against Ra's al Ghul and the League of Shadows. He believes that Gotham isn't a city beyond salvation. That's the primary reason I can't wait for the third film. I actually care to see if Gotham will, well, rise above its turmoil.

Sofie Liv Pedersen

12/31/2011 11:43:56 AM

That's really also one thing Nolan brings up I applaud so much. That the city in itself is a character and react to the Batman, that it's actually people who reacts in the city. In all other movies they just kind of stands around in awe and then go home without doing stuff -_-;
There's so many examples of this, in the beginning of the Dark knight where a bunch of people decided to become Bat groupies dressing up as batmen and hunt down criminal with guns.. that's a direct consequence of Batmans actions, which makes sense.
By the very end of the movie where Batman takes on the blame for Dents actions. That has everything to do with the city, how the city as a group of people would otherwise have smashed all hope for good now will hate Batman instead of Dent.
Jokes Speech about how the only thing people love more than a rising hero is a falling hero (so true.)

Yeah, I am very exited for the new movie as well, and... I am actually one of the people believing bats is going to die in it.. it's so balsy, but it plays within the themes, a call back to the first movie and his speech that, to safe the city he needs to become more than a man, he needs to be a symbol.. and that would probably first happen after his death.
Yeah, I love how the people gotham plays a part, that's very intelligent and makes so much sense! it makes the point of Batmans works that much better.

handsome pete

1/6/2012 2:40:24 AM

I don't think Batman wants to kill anybody, otherwise he would carry weapons. And I figure he just hates guns because they killed his parents. My interpretation of Batman is that he's a guy fighting crime for totally personal reasons. So he avoids killing for the same reason that a policeman avoids killing, because it doesn't help fight crime. That's why the Joker likes Batman so much, because he sees someone very much like himself: a guy who dresses like a lunatic and acts like he's above the law (it's not legal to do what Batman does, after all). The only thing that separates them is a personal conviction.

Sofie Liv Pedersen

12/31/2011 11:36:52 AM

The matter of fact is that he didn't, he does not kill. It's a line Batman as a character would never cross. he would never use a gun, ever, he would not kill. There's no argument, no compromise.
This of cause is a flaw in on itself, which could be explored further, just no one has.. yet.. but it's also inspiring and is what difference Batman from the villians he fight. What would make him any better than the joker if he killed?
There's been people in the Gotham rouge gallery who had the same intentions as Batman but took it a step further such as. Batwoman nr 2, Lock up, the judge, the phantasm. And they all ended up going to far and needed to be stopped.
Rorschach may have his points, which are in their own right right, but he is still a psychopath and there was every reason to lock him up for life.
I like Rorschach as a character, he's ungodly cool, but he is out of control and him being locked up is only realistic.

Michael

12/27/2011 10:12:08 PM

Keaton may have been the best Batman if TPTB hadn't given the bad guys so much damn screen time. I know villains are the best parts for actors but, in the case of the 1st 4 Bat-flicks, it was to the detriment of the title character. Hence, Jack is the star of the first film, even though he doesn't play the title role

Eldyran

12/27/2011 6:18:05 PM

Mr Mendo's Gals and Pals looks like some offbeat parody of a NBC Saturday Morning Kid's show.

I recognize FearFan, The Omega, Sofie, but who are the others?

Michael A. Novelli

12/27/2011 6:33:46 PM

Stan and Ryan, of course!

Sofie Liv Pedersen

12/27/2011 7:11:45 PM

I'm more recognisable than Stan or Ryan???

Damn oO;

Michael A. Novelli

12/27/2011 7:34:33 PM

Well, to be fair, Stan hasn't been around much, lately...

Matthew Blanchette

12/27/2011 11:29:39 PM

I really hope there's more eps of TMM planned.

Michael A. Novelli

12/28/2011 3:21:04 PM

There are as far as I know...

DrWheelz

12/27/2011 2:22:51 PM

Sorry to hear about your HIV, Mendo. Get well soon.

Michael A. Novelli

12/27/2011 2:39:46 PM

Walked right into that one, I guess...

Rocha674

12/27/2011 1:37:08 PM

You could argue that Batman killing random mooks is a serious contradiction of his M.O, but the rest of the film is in line with Burton's first Batman: a grimm tale of freaks that have no place in a world that is as twisted as they are, but fails to aknowledge that. Far from saying that Burton's Batman films are perfect, they are even goofy at times, but to say that they are as silly and nonsensical as the subsequent two, in my oppinion, is a grosse exageration.

Michael A. Novelli

12/27/2011 2:09:48 PM

This is why Sofie and I agreed that a debate was the best way to go; since I really hate this film and she really loves it, this was the best way for us to highlight both the good and bad of the film. You get to choose which of us you agree with. It's a very democratic kind of episode, since it is the holidays :-)...

Sofie Liv Pedersen

12/27/2011 2:49:24 PM

Well, I guess my reasons for liking it didn't come that well across, except for my own adlibbed ending (Mendo wrote the dialogue folks, I just brought up some ideas.) Because, I admit, the story and the script is not that great, it's very flawed. But, the performances, the settings, the art direction, the way some of the scene plays, the score is just outstanding in my own opinion. And well, in spite of a weak script all that other stuff just makes it worthwhile anyhow, I have seen this movie a good number of times and enjoyed it!

Concerned

12/27/2011 12:31:52 PM

Tim Burton making another silly and nonsensical movie? NOOOOO you don't say. Next you'll tell me that the sky is blue.

Sofie Liv Pedersen

12/27/2011 3:54:24 PM

They sky is blue!? really?

Relax, we are just trying to have a good time :)
So I suppose you don't want me to give Alice in Wonderland that huge beat down it oh so deserves?

Matthew Blanchette

12/27/2011 11:28:47 PM

Oh, please do; give Depp's dance at the end an especially good beating. ;-)

StevePotter

12/30/2011 5:49:42 AM

I'd rather you guys tear apart "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."

DoktorNo

12/27/2011 12:04:13 PM

Well, for sure "Batman Returns" wasn't a usual comic book hero adaptation... Its a bit weired, campy movie, but I have a feeling, that it is close to "Watchmen" it its realization how the concept of superhero is, well, insane. Hence the whole weired stuff going on.

Michael

12/27/2011 10:11:05 AM

"is it possible that Tim Burton's entries in the franchise were just as silly and nonsensical?"
Is Lincoln one of the presidents on Mt. Rushmore?

Kevin Hitch

12/28/2011 4:42:18 AM

And a Vampire Hunter?

Michael A. Novelli

12/28/2011 5:10:27 AM

And a time travelling super-villain?

Michael

12/29/2011 10:03:08 AM

and played by Daniel Day-Lewis?

Andrew Buckley

12/27/2011 8:27:14 AM

: /

fearfanforever

12/28/2011 2:14:09 PM

Why so serious?

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#tags:
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Latest Comments

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