The only (live-action) 'Batman' film I have never seen. Considering I haven't liked a pre-Nolan Caped Crusader flick yet, maybe I should've stayed away.
Starring: Michael Keaton, Christopher Walken, Danny DeVito
Directed by: Tim Burton
The Positives:
- If there was one thing I liked about Burton's take on the series, I'd have to say it was the gothic overtones. While it doesn't compare to the realistic theme of Nolan's films, it was much better than the campy takes that preceded and followed.
- The scenery, for the better part, is hauntingly beautiful.
- A Paul Reubens cameo!
- I loved that the boy playing Walken's son was pretty much doing his Walken impression. This might not be a positive comment however, because I loved it only because of it's absurdity.
- Danny Elfman's score is phenomenal.
- Damn. I love that Batmobile.
- I loved that the boy playing Walken's son was pretty much doing his Walken impression. This might not be a positive comment however, because I loved it only because of it's absurdity.
- Danny Elfman's score is phenomenal.
- Damn. I love that Batmobile.
- I love Michael Keaton. Not necessarily as Batman, but as a person in general.
- I may not love what they did to the Penguin's character (see below), but he was pretty entertaining.
- While her Selina Kyle leaves much to be desired, Michelle Pfeiffer played Catwoman with a certain sexy ease that was more than fitting.
- While her Selina Kyle leaves much to be desired, Michelle Pfeiffer played Catwoman with a certain sexy ease that was more than fitting.
- Ah. There it is. I wouldn't have been satisfied if there wasn't at least one "pussy" pun at Catwoman's expense.
The Negatives:
- The circus-esque henchmen, with oversized skull helmets and cold clown makeup feel a lot less Dark Knight and a lot more Tim Burton. I normally like it when Directors add their own little subtle touches to films, but in this case it just feels too theatrical.
- I am not a fan of the actors playing Alfred or Gordon. Their take on the characters less than please me.
- Christopher Walken's make-up disturbed me far more than Danny Devito's did.
- Within the fist thirty minutes of the film, Batman may have only received three minutes of screen time. I do not approve.
- During one of the fight scenes, Batman looks around from villain to villain to villain to... Poodle. Yes, a poodle. A poodle that plays catch with a batarang. I couldn't make this shit up.
The Negatives:
- The circus-esque henchmen, with oversized skull helmets and cold clown makeup feel a lot less Dark Knight and a lot more Tim Burton. I normally like it when Directors add their own little subtle touches to films, but in this case it just feels too theatrical.
- I am not a fan of the actors playing Alfred or Gordon. Their take on the characters less than please me.
- Christopher Walken's make-up disturbed me far more than Danny Devito's did.
- Within the fist thirty minutes of the film, Batman may have only received three minutes of screen time. I do not approve.
- During one of the fight scenes, Batman looks around from villain to villain to villain to... Poodle. Yes, a poodle. A poodle that plays catch with a batarang. I couldn't make this shit up.
- Listen, if the Dark Knight punches you, it's for a damn good reason. Batman. Doesn't. Apologize!
- Seriously? There's just open-topped trucks full of cat liter parked around Gotham?
- Okay. Catwoman's claws can pierce the batsuit but bullets can't? I call bullshit.
- The main reason I dislike Tim Burton's first 'Batman' flick is because I really HATED what they did to the Joker character. While I do love Jack Nicholson, and it was fun watching him perform, I cannot forgive what they did to the character's back story. It took all the mystery away from the Joker and kind of just made him a routine villain-of-the-week.
It looks as if the Penguin didn't suffer much better in this film. If I remember correctly, the Penguin was born into a wealthy family with an over protective mother. His general hatred of people was because he was picked on as a child. He surely wasn't abandoned in the sewers because he was deformed. He was aristocratic dammit! Not feral. Other directors can make excellent movies without trashing the source material. I mean god, it's not like Bryan Singer turned his back on the 90 years of Superman's backstory just because he could. Oh wait. He gave him a kid. Damn.
- I'm not familiar enough with Catwoman to argue against her film's origin story, but being magically revived by supernatural cats doesn't feel right. That seems much more akin to the 2004 travesty that was 'Catwoman' than it does to the comic series.
Grade: C
You could do worse, but there are far better Bat-flicks out there.
- The main reason I dislike Tim Burton's first 'Batman' flick is because I really HATED what they did to the Joker character. While I do love Jack Nicholson, and it was fun watching him perform, I cannot forgive what they did to the character's back story. It took all the mystery away from the Joker and kind of just made him a routine villain-of-the-week.
It looks as if the Penguin didn't suffer much better in this film. If I remember correctly, the Penguin was born into a wealthy family with an over protective mother. His general hatred of people was because he was picked on as a child. He surely wasn't abandoned in the sewers because he was deformed. He was aristocratic dammit! Not feral. Other directors can make excellent movies without trashing the source material. I mean god, it's not like Bryan Singer turned his back on the 90 years of Superman's backstory just because he could. Oh wait. He gave him a kid. Damn.
- I'm not familiar enough with Catwoman to argue against her film's origin story, but being magically revived by supernatural cats doesn't feel right. That seems much more akin to the 2004 travesty that was 'Catwoman' than it does to the comic series.
Grade: C
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