25 Years Ago...

[palitoy]

I recorded what seemed like hours of stuff off of Entertainment Tonight and MTV. Even 20/20 had a segment on Batman, that was actually quite good. I do recall one scary ET clip that had a large Bat-fan running around in the 1966 Ideal Batman helmet, while the Neal Hefti theme played in the background. He did have some great Bat-swag though.

I think I still have all that stuff taped, I had the Late Night and Will Shriner reunions of the '66 Bat casts as well.

[Earth 2 Chris]

^Yes, it seemed nearly every talk show had the 66 cast on that year. Was the Shriner show the one where Alan (Alfred) Napier said he thought Alfred was an illegitimate member of the royal family?

I remember The Family Channel (now ABC Family) re-ran the series, and aired a special on Bob Kane. No doubt even the goofiest West episode had more truth in it than Kane's video "memoirs".

Chris

[filmation batman fan]

I was 17 years old when Batman: The Movie came out in 1989. It was my first summer driving. I got my license at 17 as opposed to 16. My mom was out of town that week and I remember going out to Hamilton Place Mall in Chattanooga that afternoon, but I bought a ticket to the late show. Since Batman operated at night, I wanted to see the movie at night. I remember walking around the mall, hanging out, and buying the little PVC figurines of Batman, Robin, Joker, and Penguin at Spencer Gifts. I recall eating in the food court and being among the first people in a long line to get in and see the movie. Batman The Movie was awesome!! I went and saw it again with a buddy of mine.
In the summer of 1989, I remember the Bat Dance song by Prince being played a lot on the radio. But it was the Danny Elfman score I wanted. When it came out, I bought the tape and wore it out. Thank God for CDs.
The summer of 89 got me into really reading different Batman comics from different time periods. And it was after that movie release that my obsession with finding the New Adventures of Batman by Filmation kicked in. That series was the rarest Batman series back then. And while I was on a quest to collect it was when I heard about the development of Batman: The Animated Series and while the initial character designs did not impress me, I was blown away when the series aired on my birthday September 6, 1992. Although I knew Robin was not in this movie, I awaited a future movie he would be in. Then I had to sit through Batman Returns and by the time Robin was introduced, Keaton and bowed out and Joel Schumacher messed up the franchise.
Back to the first movie, I was never bothered by the controversy over casting Michael Keaton. When I saw him perform as Batman, I was delighted and to this day, he is one of my favorite Batmen along with Adam West, Olan Soule (Super Friends), Christian Bale and Kevin Conroy. And Jack Nicholson was spectacular as the Joker. He certainly gave me a lot of memorable quotes from "This town needs an enema" to "What are laughing at?!" I really got caught in the Batmania of 1989. It was a memorable, enjoyable summer.

[Figuremod73]

The spring/summer of '89 was full of television hype about Batman. I think Showbiz Today on CNN talked about the movie everyday for at least 3 months. I wanted to see it but the theaters were so small and packed around here, I ended up waiting till it was on video.

Nicholson definately stole and maybe saved the film because of the screenplay. I was happy with the overall look and tone of the film at the time, but it certainly had a major influence of the look of films in the '90s to the point I was tired of everything having shadows and little color.

I have to say that Batman Returns is my favorite of any of the Batman films released with Batman '66 coming in second.

It was a good year for film overall: Last Crusade, The Little Mermaid, and Born on the 4th of July among others.

[drquest]

I was a multiple viewer myself.
Dating my now Wife at the time, driving my Cobra mustang.
That was the day when you could buy the cassette-single, and I bought Elfman's Batman score...popped it in the car and drove like I was behind the wheel of the Batmobile lol

Now that I am older, the show has limited repeatability for me. I watch it maaaybe once every two years or so.
Seeing this thread, I might just have to cook a pan of popcorn and go watch it right now.

Wow that sounds like me, except I had a 1984 SVO turbo Mustang and played the crap out of the soundtrack too...

[PNGwynne]

Nothing much to add here that other's haven't said--I was similarly obsessed with the Burton Batman films, collected & read everything on them. I saw the first one three times. Batman was everywhere in '89, it was heaven.

That autumn at my frat Hallowe'en party, a bunch of us cooperated and dressed as the whole cast of the film, plus some other classic foes.

[jimsmegos]

Remember this one? Back when the nerd rage came from Dr. Demento and it begins at the 3:01 mark

[Earth 2 Chris]

^That was awesome. I vaguely remember hearing that back then, but had never seen this video.

Chris

[Bruce Banner]

I too was caught up in the anticipation surrounding the Batman movie. As a lifelong Batman fan, I had very high expectations for the film. I'd been looking forward to it for so long. I bought all the magazines that featured it, I bought the making of the movie book, heck, even the candy heads and the erasers and other assorted stuff.

The difference is, I was terribly disappointed by the film. I didn't like the casting or the overall story. I loathe the rubber Bat suit. I hate the Prince music.

The redeeming features for me were the Elfman score (still magnificent), the awesome production design of the film (Gotham was perfect), and the great Batmobile design.

[PNGwynne]

^ I know what you mean--I was excited & obsessed but somewhat disappointed. I know I'll never see a film of "my" Batman, but in retrospect some things were right in Burton's vision.

Had never heard the Wingert novelty song--awesome!

[The Bat]

I'll never forget that day either. I had waited so long for a live action Batman movie...but I walked out of that theater utterly hear broken and disappointed. It was an awful feeling....Keating was the absolute WORST choice Burton could have picked for Batman. I had to wait another 16 years for someone to get it right and make a REAL Batman movie. Batman Begins erases the all past mistakes and redeems WB in my eyes.

[VintageMike]

I remember this coming out right around the time I graduated High School. As as already big Bat fan I was pumped to see it but can't remember if I went by myself or took my best freind. Either way I dug it. A serious dark Batman and creepy Joker? Yes! As far as the related stuff I was always picking up those the types of magazines that would feature bits about something like this so I don't think my magazine consumption rose any, unless there articles in more mainstream magazines I wouldn't normally pick up.

[mego maniac mark]

Pretty wild it's been 25 years. I like most of you were beyond excited for the movie to open. I collected/ read/ watched everything batman I could gaze my eyes upon. Ah the pre internet days.
Funny thing coming to mind was in the fall of 88 going to see beaches with Bette Midler with my girlfriend at the time. I really wanted no part of that but sometimes we gotta do what we gotta do.
Then the previews start and there is the first trailer. I was so pumped when I first saw that, counting down the days till June. The best part was that I have a habit of falling asleep during boring movies ( no judging, lol) and let out a big snort during the scene where one of the characters reveals they have cancer. I got the elbow as the folks in the theater laughed.
Oh well, must have been dreaming of batman.

Saw the movie at the midnight showing and then again the next evening. It was an event that we all can remember fondly. My girlfriend loved watching my face while watching the movie. My boyish geek smile must have looked like I had a dose of smilex.

I remember loving it but still feeling I wanted more batman in it. Obviously jack stole the show and was the main character. After exciting the movie, there were reporters from the local paper interviewing the audience. I remember replying that I loved the movie but it should have been called the joker instead of batman.

We all know that the movie has some short commings, but will always have a special place in my heart. It was that batman film we wanted (mostly) and were over joyed to get. Bat hysteria was rampant just as much as in 66 with the tv show.

Wow, 25 years ago.

[kingdom warrior]

Loved it then and now. I remember seeing a movie called Clean and sober that sold Keaton to me. I had no clue how they were going to make Keaton look like
Batman till I saw the suit. Thought it was great for him. Nicholson was fantastic. Still love it today for what it is.

[megonaught]

I was 21 when i saw Batman in 89.
We went to Wichita Ks.
It was so awesome i wasnt sold on Keaton until i saw him and i gotta say
I still think his version of Wayne/Batman is the best.
I think i saw the movie three times and i worked for Wal-Mart when it came out on video.
I had the cowl so i dressed up as Batman and greeted kids when they came in the store.
They loved it and i even made the local paper.