BATMAN 1989 Commentary (Podcast Special)

[@sebastianfitzptraick7395]

I love the style and asthetic of this film, the costumes and music alone make it my favourite Batman film. Nicholson and Keaton are just perfect too.

[@toddreyes2487]

I don't understand Oliver's hatred for michael keaton he actually did more in batman returns than batman 89 according to his stunt double david lea and batman had more screen time in returns. And Michael Keaton gave batman less dialougue because the batman lines were corny like some in 89, and it worked that's why people still considee him the best batman today, his version was mysterious and Michael Keaton understands the character more than Burton

[@gokhanersan8561]

Having seen him in Beetlejuice, Keaton seemed a little stiff in 89. Batman Returns was the real deal. Keaton had charisma, depth. Man of few words. Great chemistry with Selina. Keaton is also the Birdman. The man is a legend.

[@ittdust]

This along with the first two Terminator films have the greatest opening themes that still give me chills.

[@Demigod_3scrub]

That's a true statement.. They don't make em like they use to

[@LAH-oq7vx]

Im so glad that others out there are as completely insane about this film as I am!! 👍 Thank you guys for your appreciation of BATMAN '89!!!

[@jordanvokolek3376]

Donny Baker couldn’t agree more, I’m happy that other people appreciate this movie as much as me. P.S. Nice profile pic

[@trekkiedave7910]

This film is timeless - I think Burton was trying to capture a 1939 Batman comic and I really think he succeeded wonderfully!

[@HoustonSoto]

Tim is like the Jim Ross of film commentaries. The way he calls the film play by play is informative and exciting. Great commentary guys!

[@benjiespinosa4703]

Batman 89 is a Perfect Movie 🍿 Good pacing, good writing, it’s got action, comedy, romance, horror, it’s an all around entertaining film and still holds up to this day 👏😎👍

[@heavyspoilers]

Love this, great analysis

[@Demigod_3scrub]

Proud of you 👍.. You've guys have come a long way!!

[@dcsportsmark4996]

Not only my favorite superhero movies but one of my favorite movies. Still stays with me. Need to watch it again after listening to this commentary. Cheers boys

[@LoganWood121]

I know this film so well I don't even have to follow with my copy. Glad to see you covering this on a commentary.

[@LAH-oq7vx]

Same here! Wanna be friends? Lol

[@jimd385]

Yep, me also, I can picture every scene in my mind while they talk. Great movie, great commentary.

[@marcdellorusso180]

We all grew up watching this film, so it's not hard.

[@LoganWood121]

@@marcdellorusso180 I didn't comment to impress you.

[@JasonX2]

Really enjoy the commentaries! Look forward to seeing more.

[@patrickdoherty4527]

Really fun commentary. I've always loved this film. I had it on VHS, recorded off TV, and I watched it countless times. I never got into later superhero movies, but I still really have a soft spot for this one.

[@billmurray7721]

“You know” was said approx 37 times in the first 5 minutes of commentary.

[@kamdan2011]

Burton’s commentary succeeds that.

[@werdna_sir]

Born in '82 and actually saw this in the theatres at 6 years of age. Had nightmares about the Joker frying the dude in the gang meeting. However loved (and still do) it and had a huge influence on my development and interests in pop culture.

[@davidjames579]

The bit after where he talks to the gangster was cut out of the TV edit I first saw, I guess for being too morbid! Also because it was screened at 6pm!

[@werdna_sir]

@@davidjames579 I love him tightening the tie and telling him he's glad he's dead!

[@davidjames579]

@@werdna_sir There's a lot of films I grew up on as a kid where I only saw the watered down and sometimes clumsily edited TV cuts. Robocop stands out as one. And even some of the Bond films, so they could show them in an afternoon. But the great thing was these films had an amazing second life to me when I finally got to see the uncut versions. It's funny how back then, actually buying a film was so rare in my family, that I felt like Indy gaining the idol at the beginning of Raiders, when one was bought for me.

[@watchingskies-starwarsspie9259]

This VHS kid recalls vividly that Friday 11 August in 1989...queueing for tickets (this was pre pre-book tickets... can you imagine the nerves you would have in those movie queues if your mental head count suggested not everyone was going to get in!)… and that opening wowed everyone... as did the whole film. I later got wed on one of the sets / locations of that film and made sure we had a BATMAN table name! Good work guys and great observations all round.

[@davidjames579]

Hi Mark! I'm just working my way through Watching Skies at the moment. I'm gripped, as it recalls a lot of film experiences I had as a kid. Seeing that you have a really good memory for films, do you know if the cinema release of Batman had the "Is It Halloween?" bit where Batman saves a little girl during the Joker's thugs chase, and she says that. I've heard people say it was in the cinema cut. Other people have said that there was a bit where the crowd discover the money The Joker is giving out is fake, and has his face on it. This is a callback to the "My face on the One Dollar Bill" line. And finally, some people have said that Knox died, rather than being knocked out. Just curious if you remember any of this being the case? Thanks for reading. I'm on to Catching Bullets, once I've finished Watching Skies!

[@maddestmax6522]

The guy who done the man bat drawing for nocks is Cassandras dad from only fools and horses

[@megaky00]

Really glad you've got Tim in for a new commentary on this classic flick - it's a much more positive, appreciative discussion than the previous commentary. This film's still so visually interesting, unique and groundbreaking. It's always good to hear it get the praise it deserves! Oh, and I remember Spatz! Used to be shown on What's Up Doc for a while, I believe.

[@PharaohMan007]

Awesome job, guys! Learned and spotted a few more things after listening even though I've watched this movie four times this year already.

[@sebastienlebouthillier1441]

So cool to listen to this during the movie, like watching with friends

[@dustybragg4011]

Still best Batman movie ever.h

[@Aearonjer]

Batmania was crazy, when this came out. The prince soundtrack playing, the movie books, no internet. A joy to watch, still have the comic adaptation somewhere. Not a SJW in sight. Good times.

[@aurorauplinks]

haha i actually really like the bat dance or whatever it is, with the 5 batmans and 5 jokers. and prince

[@avace917]

That was a crazy summer.

[@datboygood187]

The reason for this movie and Batman returns being so great is because they are Tim Burton joints. Less than a hand full of day time scenes in both films.

[@davidjames579]

The artist who gives Knox a drawing signed Kane, was originally going to be Bob Kane. But then he couldn't make it. They cast the part with the guy who played Rodney's Father-In-Law in Only Fools And Horses.

[@dreamlandnightmare]

Speak for yourself! I'm a messed-up recluse and I can relate a lot to Bruce Wayne/Batman!

[@kylekullin2520]

Me too

[@seanmcmanus9575]

My favorite Batman film it came out 2 months before I was born I'm 30 in August it sucks lol

[@VenusHeadTrap2]

I don't want to be 30 either haha. I wanna stay 28

[@ComicBookSyndicate]

24:30 - Tim Burton is many things, but a storyteller is not one of them. Even he has said so in interviews; he can't tell stories. I think he is has incredible vision, and he's one of the only auteur filmmakers in Hollywood in the 90s and and 90s, but his storytelling is adequate, at best.

[@DDaSilva1980]

I was 10 when this came out. My brother, 17, went to watch this at the cinema with his friend and they both liked it. Then a few months later, my brother borrowed a copy and showed it to me. I didn't like it as much as the Adam West Batman but liked the all-action climax and the visual effects. When I bought the VHS in 2003 and watched it, I appreciated it a lot more and really enjoyed Jack Nicholson's turn as The Joker.

[@dreamlandnightmare]

I knew little about Batman other than he was a DC superhero before seeing this. This movie was essentially my introduction to all things Batman.

[@Witt2687]

Fantastic commentary, guys!!! Really glad to see you & Tim pairing up for this film and bringing a ton of enthusiasm and great details on the history of the film. You guys make a really great team and bounce off each other really well. I know they’re less appealing, but would really enjoy hearing you guys tackle Returns, Forever, and Batman & Robin. But it’s really great to hear Tim’s love for this movie and how it affected him so positively as a filmmaker. It reminds me of when you guys tackled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Ghostbusters. Hope to see you guys team up more in the near future 😁👍🏻👍🏻

[@AdrianMendoza23]

Great commentary. Tim is chock-full of info on this film. I watched this film at the cinema when I was 8. The film was more of an event than just another popcorn movie.

[@AdrianMendoza23]

@Dave Roche agreed, gets better with age.

[@monosound81]

I always thought the design of the cathedral was perfect. As a kid I wanted a model kit of it.

[@sonnyblack0870]

Can’t say I prefer Nolans Batman to Burtons, they’re both masterpieces in their own right. Nolan’s is obviously more grounded in reality where as Burton’s Batman immerses you in a surreal world that really feels like you’re watching an actual comic book. Real escapism in the Burton films.

[@kommissar.murphy]

Like if you are playing the Film IN YOUR HEAD as they talk!

[@kairozartstudio]

Love how youtube has to throw in a commercial to mess up the sync

[@ittdust]

I saw this in theater when I was 4 years old. I remember arriving and leaving the theater, not sure why.

[@davidjames579]

Was this in America? Here in the UK you had to be at least 12 to see it.

[@Banjo_Oz]

Damn, I love this film (and the sequel) so much... so much so that I think that's the reason I was never really able to embrace the Nolan films, even though I appreciate them as decent movies (except Bane, Hardy-Bane is *the best*). Nostalgia is probably a big part of it too; my only real love for Batman as a kid came from the 60's show, as I was never really a big Batman comic fan. Burton's movies are what really introduced me to The Dark Knight as many fans know the character, and I still feel it's the best adaptation with the right mix of grimdark, comic flair and fun. Plus, it has one of the very best movie themes of all time, IMO. I'm sad that Gotham is ending, as it's a wonderful spiritual successor to Burton's Batman.

[@rossbarrett9285]

30 years 89 the batman logo was everywere.

[@veganguy74]

Excellent commentary!

[@mwolski9921]

I saw this summer of 89 at Milton Keynes Point. I remember the day quite vividly - I already had the comic book and novel adaptations and was slightly underage going into the cinema. I remember being nervous about the Joker - he freaked me out as a kid - but as soon as Nicholson became Joker and killed Jack Palance i was grinning like a madman. Top film. Possibly the best cinematic experience I ever had at the big screen. Maybe Return of the Jedi is the only thing to top it but that was six years earlier and my memories of that are bit hazier.

[@n.b.l.5709]

still the best batman and joker movie to date, so many other factors on why it is way better than any of nolan's trilogy

[@MrGlasspider]

Don't listen to that Harper guy! This is the best batman evaaaa! =D

[@Demigod_3scrub]

I own the 4 disc Blu Ray, glad i can view it with you guys on my ps4..

[@RighteousBrother]

All the batman films are being released at the cinema this year, for those who missed it the first time round.

[@voodoomotion5855]

Always enjoy rewatching Batman 1989! Took me a while to realise Alfred is played by Michael Gough who also played Uncle Ludwig a few years before in the 80s kids tv series The Little Vampire. He must've liked bats 😁

[@brandonbivins3336]

Please do Batman Returns! Loved the commentary guys!

[@amua75]

Excellent commentary Oliver! I would love to hear your take on 'American Beauty' or 'Goodfellas'.

[@dan_evilrobot]

Batman 1989 is my all-time favorite movies a true masterpiece in my opinion but I also do like The Dark Knight too but was impressive but there were some parts I don't like, what I like this movie it had awesome music, Michael Keaton as Batman\Bruce Wayne and the Batmobile is absolutely my favorite. I can watch this movie everyday never get tired of it.

[@banquo3336]

Excellent as usual, Oliver. You should try and cover War Games at some point. I thought that might be right up your alley.

[@zachthezombie]

Hollywood Harper's back lol Good to see some comenterry tracks from ya goodselfe

[@gokhanersan8561]

My first impression was : Batman can’t move his head. All the action moves very slowly as characters watch each others moves before taking their turn. But, once I accepted what Burton was doing, I accepted and enjoyed the movie as pop art. Batman Returns had better costumes, fabulous combat action; fabulous Cat Woman; fabulously dark Penguin. That one was pure motion picture art, like Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas.

[@ralphcollins4678]

Please do a retrospective on the movie fright night some day. I would love to hear all about how the fx were done and its just such a classic 80s horror creature feature. I just think it would make for great retrospective/review episode

[@TheOutdoorlife78]

Saw this film in the Ritz’s cinema in Gosport! Awesome 👍👍👍

[@LeaCaballero]

I love the "you know" guy

[@mrhed0nist]

Jack Nicolson WAS The Joker. For me no one ever came close.

[@Horrormaster13]

@Tam Crude Jack Nicholson PLAYED The Joker Heath Ledger WAS The Joker

[@Horrormaster13]

@Charles Lindberg Completely disagree. If you want to see a really try hard performance then look at Jared Leto's Joker.

[@ojpistorius6369]

@@Horrormaster13 he was comparing Ledger and Nicholson no one even mentioned Leto

[@DjJokerr]

I love this movie!

[@--Fish]

I think somebody's in love with green and red

[@rmjmoviereviews6876]

Batman 89' is unfairly criticized by some fans now. The film was made before the comic book boom, and all the fancy cgi origin comic book films today. It's a product of the time, and though it's flawed, is a strong first serious interpretation of Batman on film.

[@Book-noob]

Always enjoy more commentaries but what happened to the Batman Returns one? One of my favorites from Ollie and Rich

[@deany53]

well in lads

[@1978pq]

One of the greatest movies of all time.

[@silverbolbo]

I love VHS era ...

[@wingleburt3146]

How many times can one person say "you know" in 2hours

[@lancelindqvist8848]

Love it

[@hkr0065]

Well, I know what I'm doing for the rest of the night.

[@Lorfarius]

Is this going to be on iTunes?

[@christopherrichards387]

Striking just how brutal, moody, mean, and violent this is. Strange looking back how there was this sense at the time of terminal decline/ urban decay and ever increasing crime and general meanness in the world - it was just presented as inevitable. It was pretty depressing at the time. Not surprising that the film is not appealing to audiences now. The gangster world is also centre stage in the first act and pretty scary - the psychopathy of Grisholm and Napier etc is almost like something out of David Lynch (blue velvet). Remarkable that this film was marketed at children.

[@mattjames7386]

I, you know, really, you know, enjoyed, you know, this commentary.

[@JOHNN01.82]

My experience with this film was identical i was born in 82 so making me 6 or very near 7 years old at the time and i too was too young to watch it at the cinema and back then in the 80s the wait time verid widely on when it would be released on Video and back then the price movies on video cassette were expensive £60 per copy

[@djtforever1414]

I saw this at the cinema back in '89. Being a kid at the time I have a sentimental bias towards it.

[@mwolski9921]

Do you really think the second thug in the Wayne killing is supposed to be a young Bob the Goon? I have never read or heard that anywhere so it was quite interesting to hear a new idea/plot point after thirty years of being familiar with this movie. I am not sure i agree it is Bob (the credits don't list him as such) but you got me thinking there. What do other viewers think?

[@JohnnyGobs81]

Tim Partridge clearly recognises legendary film making. Oliver your attitude towards this movie has totally changed since your last Batman 89 commentary where you and your friend shitted all over this film, and said and I quote "When you look at reasons why people hold this movie in high regard, they are superficial and nostalgic" so have you changed your mind?

[@JohnnyGobs81]

@Charles Lindberg Yes that's what I am referring to. That guy had an awful vocabulary. I don't mind minor swearing, obviously it's the age we live in, but when you F and blind throughout the entire commentary it's very distracting, and yes people of today still get offended by swearing, It didn't do Olivers commentaries any justice at all! Oliver you have a great channel and whilst I don't agree with all your opinions you done very well, please don't let your channel down by over use of bad language and sick humour.

[@garycarpenter2980]

I am a BATMAN fanatic. You should see what I have in my collection. The first time I saw him was in the Super Friends in the 70s and then on the show and the first movie. Then I saw this movie and every movie and other cartoons. The only one that was the best was Adam West and Olan Soule was the best as the voice on the Super Friends and then Adam did it in a later show. This movie was really great and the cast was really great and the action was amazing

[@johngalantini6910]

Funny how it was a 12 on release and 15 on vhs. That's mad isn't it?

[@davidjames579]

The BBFC did that on every 12 film until Mrs Doubtfire. It was a 12 in cinemas, so they were going to up it to a 15, and because the film was popular with kids, the studio leaned on the BBFC. Like, c'mon, you can't make Mrs Doubtfire a 15!

[@j.b.9260]

The 12 certificate was cinema-only until 1994.

[@Weezing336]

I love visual symbolism, but it can only add to what's already there in the text. Like oh this is a representation of Batman's mind. That's cool, but we don't KNOW what's in Batman's mind because the movie doesn't explore his character!

[@Weezing336]

Which is why Ebert said the film is just empty visuals. Batman is haunted by his past ohhh Gothic architecture and a bat, that'll do it. Doesn't matter who this guy is, just stereotypical.. darkness. Joker was a psychopath, let's turn him into a clown. Oh boy. We know nothing about this typical mob guy but this image of a clown will carry so much meaning and emotional depth.

[@zachthezombie]

The joker returning in the not made batman 5 was going to be a done by a fever dream brought on by scarecrow gas

[@davidjames579]

Yeah I remember that scene being described as the most expensive in motion picture history! Because you'd have: Jack Nicholson, Danny De Vito, Michelle Pfeiffer, Jim Carrey, Tommy Lee Jones, Arnold Schwartzenegger, and Uma Thurman all in the same scene!

[@zachthezombie]

@@davidjames579 wow that would of been a sight I I wish they made it as much as I hated batman and robin going off Joel schumachers pitch for it saying he wanted to do a more darker film and move away from the batman and robin style I think it could of turned out ok . Or it could of been a complete mess lol we will never know

[@davidjames579]

@@zachthezombie Yeah hard to know if he could have pulled it off, but the dark, gritty origin story was what WB eventually gave to Darren Aronofsky and then Christopher Nolan. But it started with Schumacher. Actually after Batman Forever. Bless him! after B&R, he wanted to make to up to the fans, but never got the chance.

[@kR-qj7rw]

yeah more live commentary from you guys

[@ramrk5601]

Kindly do a review of the great escape

[@hoffy1888]

This Chat Section Needs An Enema!!... Heeeyteehh

[@CDubya.82]

Oliver: this movie you did a commentary on already I’m pretty sure. Is that one still up?

[@CDubya.82]

I much prefer your previous commentary to this movie.

[@jimd385]

30 years ago, yikes.

[@rossross9281]

Oh shit 🤭 that is scary

[@sonnyblack0870]

Please do Batman Returns

[@phunkym8]

princes music is alright but it so doesnt fit in the scene where the joker barged into the museum with the boombox blasting prince.

[@JDobbsy79]

phunkym8 wow! I dunno...maybe because I saw it when I was 10, I just accepted it and always will but I think it fits the scene PERFECTLY. Same with the Prince song when Joker is on the float at the end. It just FITS.

[@kingtit5006]

The Blokes are so improper they deny response to commenters even loyal followers of the channel, batman great, analysis great, but their indifference and nose in the air attitude is bloody shite, bloody shite I declare

[@PatrickWentzell-jd9gq]

Batman has been very popular since the nineteen thirties that name was good however the story was not . In the comic books Batman would get driven around he shoots bad guys with a shot gun then moves on it sucked ok we fast forward to the eighties were fans see Batman and Robin they are with the Justice League that animated cartoon and that story got better well thanks to director Tim Burton finally everyone got to see Batman told in a dark story on the big screen however two voice actors would change the story in characters making Batman so exellent on the Fox Network and not just vigilanties but criminals too this new animated series would surpass any other classics on television wish that I could have met Kevin Conroy . 🥺

[@walter_the_wobot2349]

I love this movie. I've listened to Richard & Duncan's recent commentary, now I have the joy of listening to Oliver's. Great stuff. I'm looking forward to the 4K release this year but I hope it's better than the one Warner Bros. put out for Superman last year. That was a huge disappointment :(

[@steam276]

It's a little known fact but Bruce’s mom was named Martha.

[@davidjames579]

Hang on, so's Clark Kent's! Would be so cool if they actually mentioned that on screen.

[@eamon4800]

God damn im early. Bit too early.

[@maxwaller2055]

hmmmmmm and hmmmmmmm and hmmmmm BatMan versus SuperMan or SuperMan versus BatMan - i saw it three times in a row consecutively - i enjoyed, obviously

[@mrbee4life182]

Why cut out the word "Crap"? The F word or S word i can understand but Crap 🤔 Come on! 🙄

[@robinhooduk8255]

"you know" 4578869896379543 times in 2 hours.

[@j.b.9260]

Not unlike Tim Burton.

[@willie1886]

James Gunn was absolutely right Tim Burtons Batman is Incomplete Shit that's right mate shight

[@stephenkissane4268]

This film ripped off the movie Fat man

[@anthonyhood5123]

Great

[@roguetrooper5288]

Never liked this film, it's a mess. Bad editing and sound mix, even the new sound mix on the 4K transfer is bad. This film has always looked unfinished, about 20% unfinished. The film lacks ambience and much more. Batman Returns, love it or hate it is a more polished film.

[@Bod8998]

Yawn yawn yawn