Batman (Burton) VS. Batman (Nolan)

[Lord_Stewie]

Hey,

This thread isn't about which movie is better than the other. Its about the comparative between the two in terms of visual and cinema style and how true it is / how close it is to the comics.

First of all I just watched Batman Return (because I felt like it. ). Noticed the huge difference compared to Nolan's version of the story. Tim Burton chose darkness for the movie. Its almost rare to see the morning in the original 2, also he chose to keep a close style of visuals as to the comics. By that I mean the environment of the city of Gotham, it almost feels cartoonish in a sense i.e:

• The way the streets are set up.
• Bridges
• Statues (Gargoyles.)
• Vehicles (which is interesting it almost makes the story feel as if its taking place in the 50's yet its modern).

Now all that established that Batman may be way darker than he seems but then Forever came out and it seemed that WB wanted to escape that Darkness instead of staying with it. (That's a whole different discussion).

Audio:

Well to be fair its Tim Burton's work and it almost always involves Danny Elfman doing the music which is interestingly coincides with the movie and gives it a notch up/completes the film. Yet, that very same music is almost repetitive in about every Tim Burton Flick. So if you heard it in Batman Returns then pop in Nightmare before Christmas and you won't tell a difference in the soundtrack except a few.

I say Tim Burton's version of the Story is more true to the comics than Nolan's version.

Now don't get me wrong I very much enjoyed Nolan's work as well but it seems that his version tends to agree with today's style of Cinematography. More serious, villains are sadistic and almost too realistic (compare that to Burton's villains are sadistic, not realistic which makes them more dangerous). I guess in terms of unpredictable i.e: The Joker (Burton's) Vs. The Joker (Nolan's) both were excellent but they are too different.

Want to see what you guys think about this.

Enjoy the discussion.

[Q?]

Doesn't Batman from Burtons kill people? I thought that Batman never killed, though I'm not sure...

Great Idea Shad...

[McLovin]

Originally Posted by Lord_Stewie

Hey,


I say Tim Burton's version of the Story is more true to the comics than Nolan's version.



Enjoy the discussion.

When was the last time you read a Batman comic?

[Clark Kent]

Burton's Gotham is a real gothic nightmare come to life. Nolan's Gotham is more grounded in urban reality. Both have been used in the comics, though I do not think Burton ever truly understood the character, or the universe he inhabits. Burton's movie are always about one thing, his own twisted vision of the world.

[Lord_Stewie]

Originally Posted by McLovin

When was the last time you read a Batman comic?

Its been a while Mclovin.

I am talking about how he captured the Bob Kane vision of Batman. I think some may disagree on this.

[Moefiz]

At the time when Burton made Batman, he wasn't as dark and gritty like he is now in the comic...Nolan's Batman is much more darker which is in line with the comics..

If Nolan's Batman was release in 89...I don't think it would have been a sucecss same thing if Burton's Batman was release today...

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by Moefiz

At the time when Burton made Batman, he wasn't as dark and gritty like he is now in the comic...Nolan's Batman is much more darker which is in line with the comics..

If Nolan's Batman was release in 89...I don't think it would have been a sucecss same thing if Burton's Batman was release today...

Exactly, characters in comic books change with the times they are in.

[dallywhitty]

The production design in Batman Returns was brilliant. Sets shrouded in darkness and snow, structured with creativity and flair - just brilliant. The sets in the Burton films don't look real (though this is probably intentional, considering Burton's style), but this only adds to their charm. I think the only issue I had with Gotham in Returns was that it looked too empty. Then again, I can't really picture it being as dirty and overcrowded as the one in the 1989 film.

I really don't understand the argument that Nolan's Batman is darker. More gritty, maybe, but not darker.

[Lord_Stewie]

Originally Posted by Moefiz

At the time when Burton made Batman, he wasn't as dark and gritty like he is now in the comic...Nolan's Batman is much more darker which is in line with the comics..

If Nolan's Batman was release in 89...I don't think it would have been a sucecss same thing if Burton's Batman was release today...

What do you define as dark in both movies?

I thought that Burton's use of lighting/soundtrack was the essence of dark. However, Nolan's version was within the characters to unleash.

[Q?]

Originally Posted by Q!

Doesn't Batman from Burtons kill people? I thought that Batman never killed, though I'm not sure...

Great Idea Shad...

Strike that argument, turns out Batman has killed in the comics before...

[JonD7]

Everyone knows I hate Nolans Batman films... lol but yes, Burton FTW!

[vegeta88]

I really like both visions for Batman. Burton's films are much more into the German Expressionism while Nolan's are Realism. I know people like to debate about how "real" Nolan's movies are, but for a movie where a guy dresses like a bat and fights crime, it is Realism.

I just watched Batman Returns as well and I really like the way they made Bruce Wayne quirky and somewhat off-kilter with his awkwardness around Selina. I also think Burton's movies are actually beautiful in a way, especially the scene at the party when Bruce and Selina are dancing. They are the only two without masks and they reverse the lines they said before as Batman and Catwoman about the mistletoe. Burton also has a lot more comedy IMO like when Max Schreck says "Bruce Wayne? Why're you dressed up like Batman?"

As for Nolan's movies, they are much grittier and on a bigger scale. His movies are more thought provoking IMO. His take on the Joker is much deeper and psychological.

The plot to Batman Begins and especially The Dark Knight are very intricately woven and are complex whereas Burton has more complexity and layers to the characters rather than the plot.

I like both takes on the character but I think I can watch Nolan's movie more often.

[Lord_Stewie]

Originally Posted by vegeta88

I really like both visions for Batman. Burton's films are much more into the German Expressionism while Nolan's are Realism. I know people like to debate about how "real" Nolan's movies are, but for a movie where a guy dresses like a bat and fights crime, it is Realism.

Great point.

It is Expressionism VS. Realism they both worked pretty well with the Genre and the characters of the films.

[P@t_Mtl]

I enjoy both of them, they are different take of the same character taken over a 20 years difference. I never felt I need to show only love to Burton since that was the "original" movie.

And by the way, the best Batman ever is not Bale or Keaton, it's Adam West and I have his signature and a pic taken with him to prove it

[Moefiz]

Originally Posted by Lord_Stewie

What do you define as dark in both movies?

I thought that Burton's use of lighting/soundtrack was the essence of dark. However, Nolan's version was within the characters to unleash.

When Burton did Batman...IIt was about the same time that Frank Miller and Alan Moore did there run on Batman and as most people know the stories were pretty dark...

Burton try to capitalize on that by making Gotham city dark, using statues and lighting and even changing the batman costume to all black..yet he lighten it up by not touching the joker ...

With Batman begin...Nolan basically follow the formula at the time in the comic books which was a much darker Gotham and a much darker batman.

[Lord_Stewie]

Originally Posted by Moefiz

When Burton did Batman...IIt was about the same time that Frank Miller and Alan Moore did there run on Batman and as most people know the stories were pretty dark...

Burton try to capitalize on that by making Gotham city dark, using statues and lighting and even changing the batman costume to all black..yet he lighten it up by not touching the joker ...

With Batman begin...Nolan basically follow the formula at the time in the comic books which was a much darker Gotham and a much darker batman.

Interesting. I never thought about the origin of the Black costume for Batman. Would it be fair to say that Burton gave birth to it.

Nolan's vision of the city was dark but I thought he gave it time for it to unleash. I.e. you have the beginning of the movie which starts out with problems but by the time the ending comes its total chaos all over the city. Begins with gas pressure and TDK Joker rampage on the citizens. I have a feeling it will be very similar to the 3rd film.

[vegeta88]

Originally Posted by Lord_Stewie

Great point.

It is Expressionism VS. Realism they both worked pretty well with the Genre and the characters of the films.

It's funny how the one character can be adapted in very different ways yet they both can be well done and successful.

Also, I wanted to mention that I love the scores to both sets of films. Elfman's score is more like a theme (Star Wars, Indiana Jones), something memorable and something you can hum. Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard had very simple main scores (the two notes comes to mind and Joker's high tension theme).

[Lord_Stewie]

Originally Posted by vegeta88

It's funny how the one character can be adapted in very different ways yet they both can be well done and successful.

Also, I wanted to mention that I love the scores to both sets of films. Elfman's score is more like a theme (Star Wars, Indiana Jones), something memorable and something you can hum. Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard had very simple main scores (the two notes comes to mind and Joker's high tension theme).

Yeah about the Score for the films. I was somewhat freaking out before Batman Begin came out. Because I found out that they won't be using the old score so I had a fear that the new one may not be as good as the old.

At least it turned out to be good.

Anyone has a comment regarding the Gargoyles used in the original Batman Movies and what they meant to the film?

[Rob71]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

I enjoy both of them, they are different take of the same character taken over a 20 years difference. I never felt I need to show only love to Burton since that was the "original" movie.

And by the way, the best Batman ever is not Bale or Keaton, it's Adam West and I have his signature and a pic taken with him to prove it

Adam West Batman rules.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEGd3...eature=related

[Lord_Stewie]

Originally Posted by Rob71

Adam West Batman rules.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEGd3...eature=related

You are just too old.