Batman'89 or Batman Returns..?

[Vidocq]

Which one do you liked better?

After watching them both back to back, I go with Returns. Even though I love Jack Nicholson's Joker (Yeah, Heath Ledger did it better, No he didn't, yeah he did, you two stop arguing they are both different interpretations yadda yadda yadda...), Returns' characterization, action and visuals were superior, from Gotham City to the Batsuit it all looked better.

And Micheal Keaton did a much better Job playing Bruce Wayne than he did in '89.

[coconutphone]

Returns easy. It's the superior picture all around; acting, visuals, characterization, plot everything. The theme of duality alone is just so much better executed in Returns.

[Buried Alien]

I would keep everything in BATMAN BEGINS/THE DARK KNIGHT, but swap for the 1989 Batman costume. The Christian Bale-era Batman outfit has never looked "right" to me for some reason.

Also, I'm not particularly crazy about incorporating Ra's Al Ghul into Batman's origin. Ra's definitely has his place in the movie franchise, but I think he should have come along later...like he did in the comics.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Lew Moxon]

I would sooner watch Batman 89, but Returns is probably the better film objectively.

[carabas]

Batman 89. I mean, they both have aged horribly, but even back then I disliked the many, many liberties Batman Returns took with the villains (and with a rather muderous Batman).

[md62]

Batman Returns. DeVito was downright digusting as The Penquin. Nailed the character perfect. Michelle Pfieffer was perfect as Catwoman - sexy & crazy at the same time. Keaton was more comfortable as Batman in this movie. And the Batman suit is my favorite of all the movies.

[kentish]

Batman 89. Keaton was better in Returns, and Catwoman was great, but overall it can't touch the original. Coincidently, I saw Batman Forever on TV last night, and think that costume is the best looking batsuit in any of the movies, including the current Nolan flicks. The mask in ‘89 was too bulky, and I didn’t like the suit in Returns. They seemed to get it right in Forever, more streamlined.
My rankings:
1. Dark Knight
2. Batman 89
3. Batman Begins
4. Returns
5. Forever
6. Batman & Robin

[Kiryu]

I love this set so much more then the Begins/Dark Knight pair the 2000s has given us.

It's a tough call, I feel that Batman 89 is a superior movie, it has a better climax and pacing and is one of the few Batman movies where Batman isn't a guest star.

But Batman Returns is my favorite Batman movie. I mean, Christopher Walken just rocks. DeVito's Penguin is an excellent performance. And Pfiefer's Catwoman is a more entertaining and excellent character then anyone in any of the follow-up movies.

I'll give my personal rankings, just because.

1.Batman Returns. 2. Batman 89. 3.The Dark Knight. 4.Batman and Robin. 5. Batman Begins. 6. Batman Forever

Yeah, I'm putting Batman and Robin over Batman Begins. Its just based on an enjoyment factor. It may be stupid with awful music and cheesy over the top acting, but Arnold as Mr Freeze is the funniest thing I have ever seen. "Wat Keelled da danasa's?? DA AYCE AYGE!".

Plus I thought Batman Begins was an awful awful movie and The Dark Knight is only marginally better by virtue of superior villains.

[n2doop5u]

89... Returns was ridiculous and silly. Not to say 89 wasn't but the thing in returns that gets me every time is when that guy comes out of the sewer, steals that baby, and no one stops him... it's as cringe worthy as when in Crystal Skull Indy falls into that truck, pauses, says a line, then knocks those guys out.

I mean, I'm all for stretching reality but come on, in any world if someone is about to steal a baby, you'd drop that bitch.

[caboose]

Batman 89 all the way. Nicholson steals the show, the soundtrack is awesome and the batmobile is too cool for school.

I've tried watching Returns several times recently, but the whole thing descends into Edward Scissor Hands in Hell after 15 minutes. And while I could tolerate a Batman who kills, in Returns he's pretty much 50-50 lethal each fight he gets into. I guess this is what happens when you direct a comic book film while knowingly hating comic books.

[Karl O'Neill]

Batman 89.

The scene at the end where Commisioner Gordon unveils the bat-signal to the public, it shines on the building.

The Danny elfman music hits, din din din din da da da, Batman stands atop the rooftop of the building.

Our hero has arrived!.

Movie history. fanboy history. comic book history.

it was great.

[TVsGrady]

I think both these movies are overrated, although I do prefer the first one.

[davepaton]

Defo Batman '89 for me. Was Batman even in Batman Returns?

[Bradley]

I voted for Returns, but it's a close one for me. I did love Jack Nicholson in the first one, but thought that the sequel was a more visually exciting movie. And, that dialogue-- "I was their number one son, and they treated me like number two." Fantastic!

But I have to admit, I much prefer the strange and scary Batman fighting ghoulish grotesques to the "realistic" Batman who acts like Dirty Harry in a cape. I think it means I'm getting old...

[GRANT!]

I'll go for Returns. It would have been better if it was just a Batman/Catwoman story though.

[kentish]

This is an interesting thread, as I thought over the years that most people did not care for Returns. It could never live up to the hype of Batman 89, but it is a forgotten gem, IMO.

[LEADER DESSLOK]

Batman Returns- hands down!

I didn't have a problem with Batman's easily "dispatching" with various thugs because the early comic book counterpart also wasn't squeamish about doing the same; complemented by the fact that "...Returns" is supposed to take place during Bats' "early" years.

Better script. A lethal and scary Penguin and the scene of Bruce sitting alone in the dark inside his study is absolutely heart wrenching.

My only problem with it was the absence of Danny Elfman. I would have enjoyed "...Returns" and the nearly flawless "The Dark Knight" (I still hate that damn costume!) if Danny had composed the soundtracks!

[Bradley]

Elfman did compose the music for Batman Returns. Collaborated on the Siouxsie and the Banshees song for the "unmasking" scene too, if memory serves...