Rate the Batman Movies

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  • Golrush007Golrush007 South AfricaPosts: 3,421Quartermasters
    1. Batman Begins
    2. The Dark Knight
    3. Batman Returns
    4. Batman
    5. Batman Forever
    6. Batman & Robin (I've never even managed to finish it!)
  • TonyDPTonyDP Inside the MonolithPosts: 4,303MI6 Agent
    Mr Martini wrote:
    3.Batman Forever (especially with extended scenes)


    Extended scenes? What makes the movie better with these scenes?

    Batman Forever had a whole subplot, most of which was cut out of the movie, about how Bruce Wayne blamed himself for his parents death because he thought they had taken him to see a cartoon Bruce loved on that night. He had blocked out all memories of just what happened on the night his parents died and even hidden away his father's diary because he couldnt' bear to read what he wrote in it. In the film, after Two-Face and Riddler have trashed the Batcave, Bruce goes down into the lowest levels of the cave and finds the diary. In reading the last entry, he discovers that his family went out on that fateful night because his parents wanted to see a movie, not because of Bruce's desires. As such he comes to realize that he wasn't at fault for his parents' deaths. At that moment, he has a vision of a giant bat approaching him - its clearly his alter ego taking a physical form and as they stand face to face, Bruce must make a choice as to whether he wants to continue to be Batman or not, since the reason he had been Batman all this time is now moot. That is why, when he later defeats the Riddler, he tells him "now, I'm Batman because I choose to be". Without the deleted footage, that line loses a lot of its meaning but when viewed within the context of the deleted scenes you get what he's trying to say.

    The extra footage was included as bonus material on the most recent DVD, but it wasn't integrated into the film. Unfortunate as it would have added a whole new dimension to the movie.
  • Dan SameDan Same Victoria, AustraliaPosts: 6,054MI6 Agent
    I've got to say, although Batman Forever isn't one of my favourite Batman films (my two favourites being BB and Batman), I think it's a really fun film. It was a film which also achieved the balance between light and dark; unlike Batman Returns which was far too dark IMO, and unlike Batman and Robin, which I still can't bear to rewatch, even though it has Arnie in it. :#

    The other thing about Batman Forever, and I may be in a minority, is that I loved the villains. I thought that Jim Carrey was perfect as the Riddler, and as a huge Tommy Lee Jones fan, I was delighted to see him play a prominent role, and I thought he did a terrific job. The action scenes were also really good, the film had some nice dialogue, Val Kilmer IMO did a fantastic job (although I still preferred *Michael Keaton) and Nicole Kidman did as well as she could. All in all, I think the film is great fun. :D

    *Christian Bale is my favourite Batman, due entirely to BB, however Keaton remains my second favourite Batman (Adam West excepted of course.)
    "He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
  • Rick RobertsRick Roberts Posts: 536MI6 Agent
    Dan Same wrote:
    The other thing about Batman Forever, and I may be in a minority, is that I loved the villains. I thought that Jim Carrey was perfect as the Riddler, and as a huge Tommy Lee Jones fan

    I love Tommy Lee Jones as well but in this movie he just flailed like Carrey. A shame really since I can see him as Harvey Dent/Two-Face.
  • Mr MartiniMr Martini That nice house in the sky.Posts: 2,703MI6 Agent
    TonyDP wrote:
    Mr Martini wrote:
    3.Batman Forever (especially with extended scenes)


    Extended scenes? What makes the movie better with these scenes?

    Batman Forever had a whole subplot, most of which was cut out of the movie, about how Bruce Wayne blamed himself for his parents death because he thought they had taken him to see a cartoon Bruce loved on that night. He had blocked out all memories of just what happened on the night his parents died and even hidden away his father's diary because he couldnt' bear to read what he wrote in it. In the film, after Two-Face and Riddler have trashed the Batcave, Bruce goes down into the lowest levels of the cave and finds the diary. In reading the last entry, he discovers that his family went out on that fateful night because his parents wanted to see a movie, not because of Bruce's desires. As such he comes to realize that he wasn't at fault for his parents' deaths. At that moment, he has a vision of a giant bat approaching him - its clearly his alter ego taking a physical form and as they stand face to face, Bruce must make a choice as to whether he wants to continue to be Batman or not, since the reason he had been Batman all this time is now moot. That is why, when he later defeats the Riddler, he tells him "now, I'm Batman because I choose to be". Without the deleted footage, that line loses a lot of its meaning but when viewed within the context of the deleted scenes you get what he's trying to say.

    The extra footage was included as bonus material on the most recent DVD, but it wasn't integrated into the film. Unfortunate as it would have added a whole new dimension to the movie.


    Wow. That is cool. I'm not even sure if I own the DVD. If I don't own it, I now have a decent reason to buy it. Thanks for the explanation Tony.
    Some people would complain even if you hang them with a new rope
  • TonyDPTonyDP Inside the MonolithPosts: 4,303MI6 Agent
    Mr Martini wrote:
    Wow. That is cool. I'm not even sure if I own the DVD. If I don't own it, I now have a decent reason to buy it. Thanks for the explanation Tony.

    My pleasure. There is also a scene that shows how Two-Face escaped from Arkham at the beginning of the movie as well as a few additional bits with the Riddler. Just be aware that the quality of extra scenes is pretty raw. There is no music track nor any sound effects; clearly, the producers decided to cut the material before the film's final cut was even being assembled and the scenes were never cleaned up in any way. It is my understanding that Joel Schumacher wanted to incorporate them back into the movie but WB never gave him the resources to make them usable and nixed the entire idea.
  • Rick RobertsRick Roberts Posts: 536MI6 Agent
    I am really not surprised by these extra scenes in Batman Forever. I must admit looking at those scenes with Bruce's torment even in the final cut was ahead of it's time and Kilmer did a good job. Then unfortunately he put on the Bat-nipple suit and everything fell apart. :#
  • TonyDPTonyDP Inside the MonolithPosts: 4,303MI6 Agent
    Nipples in Hollywood have always been so controversial. :))

    Nipples notwithstanding, I always thought that the batsuit Kilmer wore for the first 2/3 of Batman Forever was the best of the movie versions. It avoided the overly armored, helmeted look of Keaton's costume, while also not being as over-engineered as Bale's (and don't get me started on Clooney's ridiculous silver accented anti-freeze batsuit).

    I also liked the visible emblem of the black bat inside the yellow oval; I know it was created by DC as a trademarking stunt but I found that more iconic than the barely visible bat symbol from the last couple of movies. And if anyone needed rationalization for it being present, it was often used as a target for criminals to fixate on when they tried to shoot Batman.
  • Rick RobertsRick Roberts Posts: 536MI6 Agent
    edited August 2009
    TonyDP wrote:
    Nipples in Hollywood have always been so controversial. :))

    Oh I love man nipples, just not on Batman's costume. ;)
    Nipples notwithstanding, I always thought that the batsuit Kilmer wore for the first 2/3 of Batman Forever was the best of the movie versions. It avoided the overly armored, helmeted look of Keaton's costume, while also not being as over-engineered as Bale's (and don't get me started on Clooney's ridiculous silver accented anti-freeze batsuit).

    Personally, I could forgive Keaton's costume since he wasn't a physically intimidating person. I like the Batman Returns one out of his preformances. I agree about the other costumes, especially Clooney's in the finale of Batman and Robin, good lord. 8-)
    I also liked the visible emblem of the black bat inside the yellow oval; I know it was created by DC as a trademarking stunt but I found that more iconic than the barely visible bat symbol from the last couple of movies. And if anyone needed rationalization for it being present, it was often used as a target for criminals to fixate on when they tried to shoot Batman.

    I don't need it. ;)

    Not everything has to have a reason in superhero comic books or films.
  • RogueAgentRogueAgent Speeding in the Tumbler...Posts: 3,676MI6 Agent
    TonyDP wrote:
    I also liked the visible emblem of the black bat inside the yellow oval; I know it was created by DC as a trademarking stunt

    ?:) I thought that the yellow oval was created from the mind of the talented Carmine Infantino when he was brought on to help ressurrect Batman's sinking monthly sales back then? I could be wrong but that's his design. I'm sure DC just took advantage of that from a marketing standpoint though...


    I miss the yellow oval. :(
    Mrs. Man Face: "You wouldn't hit a lady? Would you?"

    Batman: "The Hammer Of Justice is UNISEX!"
    -Batman: The Brave & The Bold -
  • TonyDPTonyDP Inside the MonolithPosts: 4,303MI6 Agent
    RogueAgent wrote:
    TonyDP wrote:
    I also liked the visible emblem of the black bat inside the yellow oval; I know it was created by DC as a trademarking stunt

    ?:) I thought that the yellow oval was created from the mind of the talented Carmine Infantino when he was brought on to help ressurrect Batman's sinking monthly sales back then? I could be wrong but that's his design. I'm sure DC just took advantage of that from a marketing standpoint though...


    I miss the yellow oval. :(

    I could very well be mistaken about this but I remember once reading somewhere that DC wanted to trademark the bat symbol but, since they couldn't trademark a bat silhouette, they decided to place it inside a yellow oval - thus evoking the batsignal - because that they could trademark. Of course, it could all very well just be an urban legend.
  • RogueAgentRogueAgent Speeding in the Tumbler...Posts: 3,676MI6 Agent
    TonyDP wrote:
    RogueAgent wrote:
    TonyDP wrote:
    I also liked the visible emblem of the black bat inside the yellow oval; I know it was created by DC as a trademarking stunt

    ?:) I thought that the yellow oval was created from the mind of the talented Carmine Infantino when he was brought on to help ressurrect Batman's sinking monthly sales back then? I could be wrong but that's his design. I'm sure DC just took advantage of that from a marketing standpoint though...


    I miss the yellow oval. :(

    I could very well be mistaken about this but I remember once reading somewhere that DC wanted to trademark the bat symbol but, since they couldn't trademark a bat silhouette, they decided to place it inside a yellow oval - thus evoking the batsignal - because that they could trademark. Of course, it could all very well just be an urban legend.


    I'll find out when I set up shop with my buddy in Baltimore this October; I'm going to ask Mr. Infantino myself since he's going to be there this year. I'll admit if I'm mistaken.

    Hopefully I won't get too giddy while meeting him but like all of my childhood comic legends that I've met, I usually do. This guy was the s*** back then... :))
    Mrs. Man Face: "You wouldn't hit a lady? Would you?"

    Batman: "The Hammer Of Justice is UNISEX!"
    -Batman: The Brave & The Bold -
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