Batman Returns

After many technical problems with last week’s Batman the Movie podcast we are hoping that those of you who subscribe via iTunes will be able to see this week’s episode (and hopefully last week’s will show up eventually). Let us know in a couple of days if this hasn’t happened and we’ll talk to the people that we need to talk with (primarily this means poking Lee with a pointy stick).

So after watching the 1989 Tim Burton Batman film some time ago Lee and Dan pushed ahead into the second Burton Batman film Batman Returns.

Time to sit back and enjoy this week’s Midnight Movie club:

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Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:13:34 — 34.0MB) | Embed

During the podcast Dan and Lee got a little deep and analysing of the film so let us know your thoughts about Batman Returns.

Leave us a comment here or over on Facebook.

Next week the boys are watching Batman Forever.

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Rate the movie:
Rating: 5.7/10 (3 votes cast)
Batman Returns, 5.7 out of 10 based on 3 ratings

  • http://bigthoughtsfromasmallmind.blogspot.com/ CS

    I have grown to appreciate this film a lot more over the years, especially after seeing Batman Forever and Batman and Robin. While I like the darker interpretation of the penguin, not to mention DeVito’s great performance, I found that Tim Burton made him too cartoony. The arcade scene is just too over-the-top from me. Also wish they had set up Catwoman’s backstory far better. When she becomes Catwoman the film soars, but the scenes prior do not flow well. Regardless, the film has aged fairly well over the years.

    As for the comics, my favourite Penguin is the one that is featured in the one-off “Joker’s Asylum” series. He is more along the lines of Dan’s ideal nightclub owner Penguin but with a darker edge. If you have not read it yet, I highly recommend checking the issue out.

    • http://allthatcomeswithit.com Dan

      I’m not sure if I’ve come across Joker’s Asylum. I’ll keep an eye out for it though.

      As i said on the podcast, I really struggle with Burton’s style of directing in nearly all his films. i understand why others might like it, but he’s just not for me.

  • phil

    Oh Dan you had me all the way until the end and then you said you would rate Batman Forever higher then Batman Returns…

    • http://allthatcomeswithit.com Dan

      I have given up trying to please you Phil. You’re just too fickle.

  • phil

    Lee you certainly dug deeper into the subtext of this movie then I ever did. made me rethink a few things, I still dislike the Penguin, actually as a stand alone character he is interesting to watch I just like the comic version version better.

    I do enjoy this film, I saw it at the cinemas twice but I do think Michelle Pfeiffer over acts too much for me, I also didn’t like the army of penguins with rocket launchers at the end much either.

    I think it would of been better to make The Penguin the criminal mastermind he is in the comics and not include the Max Shrek character at all. This Penguin is pretty much a simpleton freak & sexual deviant really ;)

    I agree the costume is pretty cool except for the head peice which still looks a bit awkward mobility wise and the opening scene where he’s fighting the clown gang is pretty great, he’s a more confident Batman here.

    I would rate this the 4th in the Batman films.

    Batman Begins
    Batman (89)
    The Dark Knight
    Batman Returns
    Batman the Movie
    …
    Batman Forever

    Batman & Robin

    • http://geeksofchrist.wordpress.com/ Mickey

      My list is identical to yours. Maybe Batman 89 beats Batman Begins on certain days. Otherwise, identical.

      I wonder where the animated features fit in. I haven’t seen them all, but I remember one or two as being very good. Specifically, Batman Under the Red Hood and Gotham Knights.

      • Phil

        oh yeah actually Mask of the Phantasm got a cinematic release. Batman the Animated Series was probably one of the most faithful adaptions of Batman ever done.

      • http://allthatcomeswithit.com Dan

        Under the red hood was superb, even if it does deal with the return of jason Todd which, like Lee, i have problems with.

        I found gotham Kights a bit too bitty personally though.

        • Phil

          yeah agreed under the Red Hood was great. Apparently he’s getting a new origin soon which may or may not make things worse.

          • http://allthatcomeswithit.com Dan

            I think we can all be pretty sure it’s going to be worse.

            • Phil

              yeah maybe, I haven’t read his new book and I don’t really care about the character that much. Some of the New 52 stuff has been pretty good some I have dropped already

  • phil

    Ps I actually hit the Enter button 10 times to indicate my disdain for Batman & Robin but WordPress has removed them.

  • http://geeksofchrist.wordpress.com/ Mickey

    I stumbled upon this review of Batman Returns. Dunno if this guy’s views on the Penguin might sway some opinions.

    http://viewerscommentary.wordpress.com/2012/04/06/special-review-batman-returns-villainy-of-biblical-proportion/#comment-771

  • Alan

    I’m currently looking for a marvel or dc character to dress as for my comic-obsessed cousins 18th birthday party. I was struggling to come up with a middle-aged, balding character with a pot belly to go as and feared I would have to hijack my grandmas wheelchair and go as MODOK! However, the penguin looks like a potential solution….thanks guys, pure inspiration!!

    • http://midmoclub.com Dan

      I’d have gone with the Ventriloquist myself.

  • http://schwoit.com Dean

    I think from all the blathering at the end that Dan is calling for a Penguin Origins story. Perhaps Lee could write it and have Tim Burton direct it.

    • http://midmoclub.com Dan

      I’ve never really liked any of the origin stories in the comics if i’m honest. I’m not sure what I WOULD like mind you.

  • Jonathan

    Lee and Dan,

    Fantastic podcast that kept me interested more than the movie itself! Lee, your commentary on catwoman and the plight of women in general was really, really good. As a father of daughters, I must say that I understand what you were saying and what Burton was trying to communicate much more now than I did as a young man watching this film for the first time. I had sworn off all of the non-Nolan Batman films but you have made me rethink that stance. Good on you, sir! Great insight.

    Oh, and Dan, you’re cool too.

    • http://quityourdayjob.com.au Lee

      Jonathan, thank you for that feedback as you’ve made my morning :) I’m always excited when you can find a new level of context within a film like Batman Returns which seems reasonably superficial at first glance.

      The Never Ending Story was another film which we found quite deep upon revisiting the material, if you’ve not listened to that podcast I recommend that as well.

    • http://midmoclub.com Dan

      Th thing I’m going to take from this comment is that you said i was cool, but you didn’t mention if you thought Lee was cool – so I assume you don’t.

      • http://quityourdayjob.com.au Lee

        “The” thing I take away from this is that you are unable to spell the word “the”.