Batman Returns Impact on Kids Rare Video

[THE BAT-MAN]

Found this rare video regarding the controversy of Batman Returns impact on children.  For the record when I was a kid I absolutely loved Batman Returns and still do till this very day.  I was never traumatized nor did it ever effect me in a negative way.  I would go as far as saying the film inspired me in a very positive way and I'm very glad it was made in the way Tim Burton envisioned it.  Hope everyone enjoy's the video.

[The Laughing Fish]

This talk show segment is a little time capsule that captures the outcry when BR was released. It's hilarious to think some people in recent years would think the movie is completely cheesy despite having a lot of dark content. As soon as McDonald's made that public apology, it's not very surprising how Burton would lose control of the franchise and Warner Butchers tried to appeal to the family friendly audience.

With that all said, yes, BR is a very dark film, full of characters who were broken people. Emotionally and psychologically. I saw it when I was a kid too, at a time when I watched a lot of movies unsuitable for my age. But it didn't quite scare me. When I first saw it, I felt it was a very sad movie. Unlike the triumphant ending of B89 where Batman avenging his parents and establishes himself as a force for good and saves the girl, this movie definitely felt bittersweet in comparison. This time, not only was it revealed the relationship with Vicki didn't work out, he doesn't save the other girl because of her guilt and, ironically, her own quest to seek vengeance. While managing to save the city once again despite nearly having his reputation left in tatters. It was heartbreaking, which is why it makes it so unique.

That "junior film critic" kid annoys me though. I call bullsh*t at his claim BR frightened more than Terminator 2. Nothing in BR is more frightening than watching a nuclear holocaust wiping out 3 billion people.

[thecolorsblend]

This talk show segment is a little time capsule that captures the outcry when BR was released. It's hilarious to think some people in recent years would think the movie is completely cheesy despite having a lot of dark content. As soon as McDonald's made that public apology, it's not very surprising how Burton would lose control of the franchise and Warner Butchers tried to appeal to the family friendly audience.

With that all said, yes, BR is a very dark film, full of characters who were broken people. Emotionally and psychologically. I saw it when I was a kid too, at a time when I watched a lot of movies unsuitable for my age. But it didn't quite scare me. When I first saw it, I felt it was a very sad movie. Unlike the triumphant ending of B89 where Batman avenging his parents and establishes himself as a force for good and saves the girl, this movie definitely felt bittersweet in comparison. This time, not only was it revealed the relationship with Vicki didn't work out, he doesn't save the other girl because of her guilt and, ironically, her own quest to seek vengeance. While managing to save the city once again despite nearly having his reputation left in tatters. It was heartbreaking, which is why it makes it so unique.

That "junior film critic" kid annoys me though. I call bullsh*t at his claim BR frightened more than Terminator 2. Nothing in BR is more frightening than watching a nuclear holocaust wiping out 3 billion people.

Junior film critic, lol. Whatever.

But different people have different temperaments. When I was a kid, certain specific things in movies always freaked me out. But my brothers pretty much rolled with it. They were triggered by things that didn't faze me at all.

I could see some kid being more uneasy by BR's content than T2's. It's no stretch at all.

[Kamdan]

When I first saw it, I felt it was a very sad movie. Unlike the triumphant ending of B89 where Batman avenging his parents and establishes himself as a force for good and saves the girl, this movie definitely felt bittersweet in comparison. This time, not only was it revealed the relationship with Vicki didn't work out, he doesn't save the other girl because of her guilt and, ironically, her own quest to seek vengeance. While managing to save the city once again despite nearly having his reputation left in tatters. It was heartbreaking, which is why it makes it so unique.

Burton was so smart at taking this approach to make these two movies great to watch back to back. Attempting to do this with Schumacher's films makes me more depressed at the end of it because they just copied and pasted from the previous movie. We deserved that apology he gave on the DVD.

Nothing in BR is more frightening than watching a nuclear holocaust wiping out 3 billion people.

I bet that kid went to the bathroom or had to get a refill on his popcorn or drink during that scene because no one in their right mind would make that argument. Can't forget about the scene of Sarah attempting to kill Dyson with his son watching it happen and even attempting to defend him. That's the scene that really got to me. Batman Returns was fun and games compared to Terminator 2.

[The Laughing Fish]

I could see some kid being more uneasy by BR's content than T2's. It's no stretch at all.

Yeah...no.













BR certainly has its share of creepy and disturbing moments, but I don't quite see how they compare to the horrifying and apocalyptic imagery T2 has to offer. The only moments that come close to that graphic nature are the dying and bleeding Penguin, and Bruce finding the charred body of Max Shreck under the rubble. And even then, they're not as nearly as disturbing as, say, the nuclear extermination of the human race.

When I first saw it, I felt it was a very sad movie. Unlike the triumphant ending of B89 where Batman avenging his parents and establishes himself as a force for good and saves the girl, this movie definitely felt bittersweet in comparison. This time, not only was it revealed the relationship with Vicki didn't work out, he doesn't save the other girl because of her guilt and, ironically, her own quest to seek vengeance. While managing to save the city once again despite nearly having his reputation left in tatters. It was heartbreaking, which is why it makes it so unique.

Burton was so smart at taking this approach to make these two movies great to watch back to back.

Agreed. Revenge is a trope in action and superhero movies, but the contrast between how the two movies handles it is very unique.

Attempting to do this with Schumacher's films makes me more depressed at the end of it because they just copied and pasted from the previous movie. We deserved that apology he gave on the DVD.

My opinion of BF has been up and down in the last couple of decades. I remembered when I first watched it as a kid, I thought it was the best Batman movie I've seen but then I forgot about it over the years. When I watched it again as a teenager back in the early 2000s, I thought it was rather goofy and got bored with it. Didn't even finish it. But when I watched the fan edit of the director's cut five years ago, I could appreciate it better.

I actually don't agree they copied and pasted from BR; if anything, I thought it followed up what BR started when Batman pleaded Catwoman not to take revenge, and build it even further by saving Robin, and overcome his own guilt and anger for good. I think there was potential of a great movie buried somewhere in BF, but sadly, they just didn't fulfill it. The comedy, script rewrites including the removal of key scenes and Keaton's recasting didn't help matters. Especially the latter, because that alone just didn't make the movie feel like a sequel, despite it was supposed to be. I don't mind Kilmer, but had BF toned the down goofiness and Keaton stayed on, it would have enriched the character arc even further. So yeah, it still feels like a missed opportunity.

Nonetheless, I'd honestly still take that movie any day of the week than any of the undeservedly hyped up, overrated garbage of certain Batman movies that came out in the last 15 years.

Nothing in BR is more frightening than watching a nuclear holocaust wiping out 3 billion people.

I bet that kid went to the bathroom or had to get a refill on his popcorn or drink during that scene because no one in their right mind would make that argument. Can't forget about the scene of Sarah attempting to kill Dyson with his son watching it happen and even attempting to defend him. That's the scene that really got to me. Batman Returns was fun and games compared to Terminator 2.

Exactly.

[The Laughing Fish]

Looking back at the topic surrounding the backlash over the toys and merchandise promoting BR, I wonder how big the backlash was for T2? I remember I had several action figures from Kenner's Terminator toyline as well as Batman. The parents must've sh*tted themselves when they saw these toys and video game commercials based on an R-rated film.

They even had Milton Bradley board games: http://www.jamescamerononline.com/T2Merch.htm

Nevertheless, the guests' attitudes towards Batman and comics as entertainment for children put BR under enormous scrutiny. You only have to listen to the mother's disbelief at the movie's dark content in comparison to those Silver Age comics she appeared to describe when she was growing up. If she only knew how dark the comics were back around the time Burton's movies were released. I'd go far to say the comics were darker than either B89 or BR, and not just Frank Miller. Norm Breyfogle and Alan Grant's collaboration is another good example. You have comics where Batman would battle real world terrorists (even kill some of them, like he does in Detective Comics #590), serial killers like Cornelius Stirk who cut people's hearts out alive so he can eat them - even kissing one of his male victims on the mouth before murdering him, and tackle issues such as drugs, anarchy and other social taboos. I have no doubt she'd ban her children from reading comics too.

[Kamdan]

I actually don't agree they copied and pasted from BR...

I meant watching Batman Forever and Batman & Robin back to back is not a good experience because those two movies are beat for beat the same. The only way to enjoy Batman & Robin is its mocked.

[The Dark Knight]

I actually don't agree they copied and pasted from BR...

I meant watching Batman Forever and Batman & Robin back to back is not a good experience because those two movies are beat for beat the same. The only way to enjoy Batman & Robin is its mocked.

You know, I've said complimentary things about B&R in the more recent past, and it's no longer a threat, but when it comes down to it, I'd rather the film didn't exist. I can tolerate Forever and I have a lot of time for what Kilmer brought to the table. But Clooney's film is just....there. There as this embarrassing scar. The only other change I'd make would be releasing the JL Snyder cut - so as much as I like Batfleck, I mostly ignore that film as well, and Suicide Squad.

[The Laughing Fish]

The only other change I'd make would be releasing the JL Snyder cut - so as much as I like Batfleck, I mostly ignore that film as well

Not so surprising, given how it became more apparent over time the theatrical cut was a movie completely made by committee, as more details came to light. While the director himself says his true vision for the movie is done, but he's not allowed to show it. While the disgraceful corporation had the audacity to still slap his name on the compromised version that was released to the public.

But whatever, we'll just put up with it and accept anything Warner Butchers does going forward? Aren't we?