Favorite Batman Film

[spidertour02]

I liked Val Kilmer as Batman and I think he did a very good job as Bruce Wayne. I simply prefer Keaton.

Oh, so do I. But after Keaton, I actually think Kilmer was the second-best Batman.

[Kevin Cushing]

Likewise I think George Clooney had the potential to possibly be the best Batman; it's unfortunate he was squandered in B&R...

I completely disagree with this. When I watched the movies again, it was the first time that I had seen Batman & Robin since its theatrical run (yes, as ashamed as I am to admit it, I saw Batman & Robin opening weekend). I was stunned by how awful Clooney was in the film. He played every single scene with a smirk on his face and a weird bobblehead tic, including scenes that were actually supposed to be serious, like the scene in which he informs Dick that Alfred is dying, or when he tells his girlfriend that he doesn't want to marry her. Seriously ...

Actually, even George Clooney has since said he was terribly miscast in the role. Though let's face it, neither Michael Keaton nor Christian Bale would have saved that movie anyway.

[Peter Palmer]

Likewise I think George Clooney had the potential to possibly be the best Batman; it's unfortunate he was squandered in B&R...

I completely disagree with this. When I watched the movies again, it was the first time that I had seen Batman & Robin since its theatrical run (yes, as ashamed as I am to admit it, I saw Batman & Robin opening weekend). I was stunned by how awful Clooney was in the film. He played every single scene with a smirk on his face and a weird bobblehead tic, including scenes that were actually supposed to be serious, like the scene in which he informs Dick that Alfred is dying, or when he tells his girlfriend that he doesn't want to marry her. Seriously ...
]

Yeah, I know, he sucked in "Batman & Robin"...that's why I said POTENTIAL. Of course he sucked in "Batman & Robin"... everything sucked in "Batman & Robin"!!! The script was terrible, the director was more concerned with camp and neon than making a good movie, and the studio just wanted to sell more Happy Meal toys. Clooney Signed to this pic without reading a script. After he did, he probably figured it was a list cause no matter what he did, and totally phoned in his performance. He knew that movie sucked, and he sucked in it; hence his "Mea Culpa" publicity tour not long after, apologizing to the fans for killing the franchise.

If you want to see him play a better Batman, watch Oceans 11, or hell, any other movie he's ever made. But that ship has sailed. Even if he did another Batman movie and was awesome in it, I doubt the audience would accept him after the Shitfest that was B&R...

[spidertour02]

Of course he sucked in "Batman & Robin"... everything sucked in "Batman & Robin"!!!

Actually, I love the score to that movie. It doesn't fit Batman at all, but as a separate entity it's a good listen.

[Peter Palmer]

Of course he sucked in "Batman & Robin"... everything sucked in "Batman & Robin"!!!

Actually, I love the score to that movie. It doesn't fit Batman at all, but as a separate entity it's a good listen.

Yeah, I have the bootleg. Of course I'm a bit of a score-geek.

[Donomark]

XD HAHAHAHAHA awesome

The only thing saving Batman and Robin is the fact that its so bad its good. The film sucks in every way, but at the same time it's a great comedy.

[Berserkfury819]

The only thing saving Batman and Robin is the fact that its so bad its good.

You have the right to remain silent. Everything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney, but good luck finding one who will defend that.

[Peter Palmer]

The only thing saving Batman and Robin is the fact that its so bad its good.

You have the right to remain silent. Everything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney, but good luck finding one who will defend that.

It's one of the funniest Rifftrax though...



An interesting thing about "Batman & Robin", it is much improved by watching it in black and white. Still not a good movie, but it's less of a searing eyesore, and almost feels like a late forties Universal horror film. Doesn't help the script though.

[Donomark]

[quote="Peter Palmer"]


quote]



Oh my God that was hilarious!

[Thrawn]

Spidertour02 wrote:

For one, everything with Jim Carrey in it. He was dramatically overacting, even by his standards. The scene where he kills his boss is excruciatingly bad, and everything with him as The Riddler was played too arch.

He's actually about my favorite part of the movie. The Riddler is my favorite Batman villain (followed closely by the Joker) and even though I prefer a more serious restrained Riddler, I thought Jim Carrey was awesome in the role. He was channeling the goofy Frank Gorshin from the 60s Batman show. I thought he did so to great effect and made the movie very fun, especially after the dark homicidal Joker and Penguin of the previous two entries.

Since he shared so much screen time with Two-Face, that turned Harvey into a cartoon as well.

Even though they weren't the best takes on the characters themselves, seeing Tommy Lee Jones and Jim Carrey together on screen hamming it up as super villains was still a treat for me.

There is also a point in the movie where Bruce gives up being Batman, and it makes absolutely no sense in context. It seems like that section of the film was missing a scene or two, because he went from dressing up as Batman to go nail Chase Meridian to giving up and retiring in the next scene. Say what? Bruce Wayne wouldn't give up his identity just to get a girl.

I agree. Especially the part I underlined, as it was my biggest sticking point in a mostly awesome Dark Knight. That plot point could have been executed better, but his attempt to retire in Forever makes more sense to me than the one in Dark Knight. I would prefer if any Batman movie just never attempted to tackle that ever again. Although it still remains a real crowd pleaser when Bruce again suits up to go stop Riddler and Two Face.

Robin is also a big problem. All he does here is whine. Then, as the final act of the film is about to begin, he becomes Robin -- and Batman accepts him as a partner. The hell? Batman is able to function as Batman because he has extensive training in hand-to-hand combat, strategy, and the use of his various gadgets and equipment. Allowing Robin -- who, by the way, is only on a selfish quest for revenge -- to join him is almost as irresponsible as quitting.

I agree. I always wanted Batman to punch him in the face.

There are other nagging problems, but I think this covers the big ones.

I think so. Good reasons. I agree with most of them, but in my case they don't really hamper my enjoyment of Batman Forever. Again, it was aimed at younger audiences so I'm more inclined to forgive it's weak points.

yes, as ashamed as I am to admit it, I saw Batman & Robin opening weekend)

So did I. I'm not ashamed to admit it though. I do remember that being the first time I saw a movie in theaters being very aware that I was disappointed.

Peter Palmer wrote:

Likewise I think George Clooney had the potential to possibly be the best Batman

Not even close. Kilmer and Keaton have played some very serious roles and turned in some very dramatic performances. Clooney isn't in their league in my opinion. I disagree completely. My opinion of course.

Spidertour02 wrote:

Actually, I love the score to that movie. It doesn't fit Batman at all, but as a separate entity it's a good listen.

The score to both Batman Forever and Batman and Robin are pretty decent. However neither of them, including Batman Begins and Dark Knight, compare to the dark majesty of the Batman Returns score in my opinion. That may be my favorite movie score of all time. It's so dark and melancholy with just the right amount of whimsy. I don't know. It just perfectly embodies Batman and his dark crazy world to me.



As an added bonus it has this killer song too.



I still love the scene where Keaton and Pfeiffer are dancing in each others arms at the masquerade ball with this playing in the background.

[Aziz]

I watched those scenes of George shaking and looking down, I can't stop thinking how funny they are

[iron_patriot]

Thanks to Thrawn for pointing me here.


My top three Batman films are all animated, and feature the Joker.
1. Mask of the Phantasm- The Joker at his absolute BEST. The rooftop chase was exhilarating. The scene with Bruce at his parents' graves, always punches me right in the gut. So does Mr. Beaumont's death. As well as Batman's first appearance, brilliantly punctuated by Alfred's,"My God." And then, there's Andrea's line,"Look what they did to us! What we could have had! They HAD to pay, Bruce!" Or how about Andrea's conversation with the guy at the boat,"You want to be alone?" "I am." Then, there's this:

2. Return of the Joker- Flashback scene was AWESOME. Some of Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill's best work! Will Freidle's BEST voice acting. The Batman Joker fight at the end. Man, I can watch it and rewatch it, again and again.

3. Under the Red Hood- Had some grating dialogue. However, props to Judd Winick for condensing the story in 70 minutes.

The rest of my list, goes like this:

4.Dark Knight-This, along with Iron Man, got me into comics, back when I was twelve.
5. '89-This is Batman, to me.
6. Forever-Gasp! Blasphemy! Forever over Begins? Well, this is a Favorite list, not the Best. Forever is the only one I could watch when I was a kid, since the Joker, Catwoman, the Penguin , and Batman and Robin terrified me as a kid.
7. Begins- Solid origin story. The game was the closest to being Batman, until Arkham Asylum.
8. Sub-Zero- Everything was just too coincidental to buy into. So, the scientists just happened across his Arctic home, and Barbara Gordon just happened to be the only one with the rare blood type?
9. Mystery of the Batwoman- Meh.
10. Returns-This was less a Batman film, and more an adaptation of those Prestige Format books in the late 80s and 90s, that were written by Grant Morrison, JM Dematteis.
11.Batman and Robin- I don't have any distinct memories of watching this as a kid, and I'm glad I had good taste back then.

*'67 Batman film- Haven't seen the DVD anywhere.

[FSUSpiderFan]

4.Dark Knight-This, along with Iron Man, got me into comics, back when I was twelve.

There you go trying to make us all feel older than dirt again...

[iron_patriot]

There you go trying to make us all feel older than dirt again...

Well, that's my shtick.

If I want to get a few laughs, I'll just mention my age, and let the discussion go from there!

How fun! Everyone always said I should be a comic! Or, dare I say...Joker?


Apologies to the actual Clown Prince of Crime. Please don't kill me.

[Aziz]

4.Dark Knight-This, along with Iron Man, got me into comics, back when I was twelve.

There you go trying to make us all feel older than dirt again...

It makes me feel he's a kid