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Thanks a lot,it feels great to be back. Been waiting for this for a long time now (I dunno if some people thought I was "dead", ie Johnny Gobbs who I spoke to alot), & killer sig btw. Now is it possible for B:TAS to get an anniversary spotlight later in September?

Wow, so the long awaited event has finally come ladies & gentlemen. Thought it'd be perfect to step out of the shadows to confess my love to the inspirational, diamond in the rough, Gothic comic book film that is Batman Returns.

Now to as how far back as to when I first saw BR, I believe it was on VHS or one of the movie channels (HBO & etc.) back in the 90's. Of course I saw 89 first (with the Looney Tunes short, sweet memories), & from then, along with the comics & B:TAS, I was totally hooked on Batman, to the point where he became my favorite superhero. Seeing references to the movie on Tiny Toons & the TV specials got me hyped for BR even more, especially seeing how sexy Michelle looked as Catwoman. Finally the time comes, and on goes Batman Returns....

I don't whether or not if I was a kid & at the most impressionable point in my life or had artistic taste at such an early age, but the movie - from start to end - just absolutely blew me away. Seeing the Penguin as an outcast of society & left to drown in the sewers by his parents, I already felt a connection to the character & was sorry for him in a way. From then on there, he lived in an abandoned zoo, was a circus freak at one point, ate raw fish like an animal, only had penguins & the RTCG as friends & family/cronies. Such a departure from the original comic version who, while an outcast, didn't have the same difficulties as his movie counterpart. His parents, while trying to make him look less like a freak in the public eye, at least allowed him to live relatively normal, even with his strange obsession with birds. Other than that, comic Penguin was just one of the regular, sane crooks who ran a shady club. A bit boring if you ask me.

Like Penguin, Catwoman herself got a bit of a re-imagining, of course, for the best. Now, in the comics, Catwoman is a sexy, femme fatale cat burglar with an anti-heroine morality & has a longtime love/hate/flirty relationship with the Batman. For the film, since this time around a psychological element was added, she needed to become more than just your neighborhood thief. What the movie gives us is a timid, overwhelmed-by-male-authority Selina Kyle, personal assistant of the devious Max Shreck. Everything in Selina's life seems to never work out for her, with her cat (Isis I'll call her after B:TAS) as the only positive light in life. One night, as Selina goes through Max's secret files, Shreck catches her in the act & so to keep a lid on any exposure, knocks her out of a window sending her to an untimely, tragic death. Just as things look bleak, a cat & several others gather around Selina's body, as though if performing a resurrection. With the cats' help, Selina awakens from the brink of death, takes out her frustrations on her apartment & makes her suit of destiny. With this, she becomes the Catwoman, a fierce force that will bring men to their knees, complete with 9 lives, catlike reflexes, & a whip! Now I've read on forums & seen reviews that some have issues with the 9 lives thing, but I strongly believe it added Catwoman a stronger edge, & a much better execution than the Catwoman movie.

Last, but certainly not least & my favorite, the Batman. Now I know a lot of people bash this movie b/c Batman isn't out at EVERY second, but I feel that doing so would only kill the character's purpose. Batman's a man of mystery, a creature of the night, he doesn't need to be out all the time! The way Batman's done in this film & its predecessor is that he comes out from nowhere like a silent force, & given Batman's training in Ninjutsu & keeping up with the batlike nature, wouldn't this be THE Batman any fan would want? Before I forget to mention, the part when Bruce rises upon the bat signal shining in his dark room is not only such a pivotal, awesome moment, but stays true to the character by having him seemingly obsessed with fighting crime that until he sees the signal he's truly like a bat, in the shadows in tranquility until the time calls.

I could go on about the supporting characters, but I dunno what's the limit to these posts, but I'll just say they were all brilliant. The late Michael Gough, of course, my favorite Alfred (with Efrem Zimbalist Jr.); the late Pat Hingle, while we didn't see him that much during the film, was awesome (reminds me alot of the Golden Age Gordon); Walken as Shreck is ever so devious, backed up with a wicked sense of humor; the Ice Princess was sexy, & etc. I'm not sure if people realize this, but these two films have a legacy that can be seen in films like The Crow, Blade, Sin City, & of course gave B:TAS the green light. Before I finish, I'd just like to say, "Batman Returns, you continue to be one of my all time favorite movies. I wish more Batman/movie fans would give you a chance & realize how much of a diamond in the rough you really are, but with fans such as myself & the rest of your cult following, your legacy won't go unrecognized. Happy 20th."

Anyone ever noticed several similarities the HOI episode had to TESB, quite a good many actually, & if anyone wants to make more comparisons then go right ahead.

1. Mr. Freeze & Darth Vader
    Darth Vader is forever encased in a suit of armor, needed for life support & scarred from burns
    Mr. Freeze depends on a cryogenetic suit to keep his body at sub-zero temperature as a result of a "lab accident" by Ferris Boyle

2. If you noticed the goon that gets accidentally frozen by Mr. Freeze, he's put into a chamber of warm water, same as when Luke Skywalker is put into the bacta tank to revive from the sub-zero temperature & wampa facial scars.

3. Darth Vader can be seen as a tragic villain; he was destined to go to the Dark Side, even against his own will, but did it to save Padme & their children. Mr. Freeze is a tragic villain as he suffered a "freak accident" & his wife Nora became terminally ill. He becomes a criminal to avenge himself & Nora for the wrong done to them.

4. After his transformation, Darth Vader becomes a rather cold individual, twisted & evil, more machine than man. Mr. Freeze loses his emotions after his transformation & is willing to kill anyone who gets in his way of vengeance.

There's probably more to add, that is if anyone wants to speak.

I saw it today & it was utterly fantastic. From the visuals to the soundtrack (by Daft Punk), I say it's a must see.

Anyone planning to see it?

Funny, funny guy. R.I.P.

OMG, I didn't know he died until reading this post just now. I don't even recall seeing it in any newspapers or magazines as of recent.

R.I.P. Mr. Kershner. Under your direction, we got TESB, one of the best cinematic sequels ever made in movie history.

Some to name:
Batman Knightfall (Knightquest & Knightsend included)
Batman: Strange Apparitions
Batman: Year One
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
Batman: The Last Arkham
Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on a Serious Earth
The Killing Joke
Birth of the Demon

Ditto on every word. Nothing else to add - Thats the Batman I got to know and thats the look I always liked the most - the long-er ears and the yellow oval. I remember when there were some flashback stories with the big black bat logo and short ears I was always dissapointed because I really disliked the original suit. And I mean REALLY bummed out that To this day, Im not that crazy about it

I say we petition for the "New Look"'s resurrection & send it to DC. There's nothing like good old classic detective Batman.

Happy Birthday, Mr. Keaton. Since you donned the cowl in 1989, you've been the live action Batman that only many wish they could be.

You always were, & always will be, the perfect movie Batman.

I don't know, I was thinking that when WB has the ability to do something new with the franchise I wouldn't mind seeing the grey suit on screen in a sort of retro-type Batman movie, but not campy, very bad-ass. 

Yeah, they should base the film on the 1930's pre-Robin Detective Comics with giant monsters, vampires & what not, with Burton at the helm of course.