20 years ago Today June 23 Batmania!

[kingdom warrior]

Today June 23 is the 20th anniversary of the release of Batman 1989. Whether you liked it or not or hated or loved Keaton as Batman or Nicholson as Joker. It was a major event and everyone was talking about it and went to see it...

The movie I think still holds up well to some extent and although the Newer versions a far better. it was good for it's time and hell it was a merchandise monster with all the bat stuff that was available.

I was lucky I saw the movie a few days before at a preview and enjoyed it for what it was

So where were you 20 years ago today?

YouTube - Batman Trailer 1989

20/20 batman feature part 1 YouTube - 20/20 Segment - Summer of Batman 1989 (1 of 2)

part 2 YouTube - 20/20 Segment - Summer of Batman 1989 (2 of 2)

Keaton on letterman YouTube - Michael Keaton Promoting Batman on David Letterman 6/22/89 (1 of 2)

[Earth 2 Chris]

It began my collecting mania in earnest.

I'd decided at age 13 I was going to start collecting super hero toys and memorabilia, but there was practically NONE on the shelves post Super Powers. So the next year rolled around, and the promise of the Batman movie, things started trickling out. And before long you couldn't turn your head without seeing something cast in black with the bat-symbol plastered on it. And I bought everything I could find.

The movie seems very cheap now. It's very obviously done on a set, and although I know Burton likes to do that to a point, I think much of it is unintentional here. Hard to see where the then-astronomical $40 budget went (other than into Jack's pocket). Still, the soundtrack rocks (too bad Elfman kept apeing it in every movie he did afterwards), Keaton and Nicholson did fine, and it's still fun in a nostalgic sense. It did manage to capture the mood of the early Kane/Finger/Robinson work, as well as a bit of the Englehart/Rogers/Austin run.

Chris

[palitoy]

I was waiting in line at the mall for the midnight showing, my buddy John picked up a girl and I got to spend a half an hour in his van listening to the Prince Soundtrack I bought while he went to "say goodnight".

I regretted buying the Prince Soundtrack immediately, if you go to my parents house it's likely there in mint condition.

The next day, the Pizza Delight shut down and I found myself jobless. That summer ended up being a total blast.

[Mikey]

At the time, I didn't like Batman 1989 ... but i've grown to like it more and more after the years passed by.

I didn't like it for a few reasons.

1. The old rumour Adam West was turned down a cameo appearence.

2. At the time I thought it was too serious, comparing it to the TV series... It's funny thinking about that now considering Batman '89 is more like the TV series then the NEW Batman movies.

3. I didn't like the Batmobile ... I just didn't think it looked cool (I still don't)

4. Batman's rubber suit just didn't do it for me ...

5. Michael Keaton is a comedian .. what the heck is doing playing Batman ?

But after time, I lightened up on Batman '89 bigtime.

[kingdom warrior]

At the time, I didn't like Batman 1989 ... but i've grown to like it more and more after the years passed by.

I didn't like it for a few reasons.

1. The old rumour Adam West was turned down a cameo appearence.

2. At the time I thought it was too serious, comparing it to the TV series... It's funny thinking about that now considering Batman '89 is more like the TV series then the NEW Batman movies.

3. I didn't like the Batmobile ... I just didn't think it looked cool (I still don't)

4. Batman's rubber suit just didn't do it for me ...

5. Michael Keaton is a comedian .. what the heck is doing playing Batman ?

But after time, I lightened up on Batman '89 bigtime.

Funny I had seen Keaton in a movie called "Clean and sober" he did a dramatic part and it was at the time a total about face to his other movies.

When he was cast as Batman. I thought I can see him as Bruce wayne but how the heck are you gonna pass him off as Batman? Then when i saw him in the suit I thought ok normal guy becomes creature of the night with body armor.

He is the ONLY batman I've accepted with that armor everyone else I felt should have not worn it ( Oh boy did i open a can of worms)

The car I liked because it was an extention to his suit so I was ok with it plus you can't top that 66 car impossible at least they had the flames coming out from the back.......

Nicholson was over the top and always genius I just thought he was a bit too old but what the heck it's Nicholson....

[Mikey]

Nicholson was over the top and always genius I just thought he was a bit too old but what the heck it's Nicholson

I never thought that.
It seems there's a big trend today to cast young (many times too young) actors in everything.
A great example is the chick who played Lois in Superman Returns.
Another example is the new Doctor Who is like 25 years old.
I could go on and on.

I miss the old days when age didn't matter and roles were cast NOT FOR LOOKS but for acting ability.

[ScottA]

I was so miffed they messed with the chest emblem. I still hate it today. But the movie was all we had at the time. I did enjoy it for what it was.

[Riffster]

I loved the movie, it came out 2 days after I had returned from a 6 month deployment to the Med. I saw a double feature of Batman and I'm gonna git you Sucka. I was jazzed about the movie, but also broke cause I had just picked up 6 months worth of comics from the store.

[livingdead70]

Its the last movie I can recall having to wait to get into to.
The theater it ran in here closed years ago, it was a 70mm screen with Dolby Surround. Great place to see it.
I liked the movie, thought it was cool. All the Batstuff everywhere was cool.
I dont remember, someone else may, one of the cable networks was running the old show for an hour every night that summer for an hour. Think it was at ten?
I had just graduated high school, worked at chik fil a and that was a great summer.
trey

[toys2cool]

Loved it ,loved it ,loved it and still do. It's still my favorite Batman film ever and always will be. I was 9 and made my mom take us to see it about 4 times including on opening night. I was already collecting Batman figures but this got me into collecting everything batman,Pins,key chains,coloring books,you name it

I still think Keaton was the best Batman ever with the suit on,Clooney was the best Bruce Wayne and Bale is the best overall

and the 89 Batmobile was the best!!

[GAFan]

I was sitting in the theater that night and not able to hear the dialogue because of the audience. We were all loving it. It was the first movie that I went to see on opening night.

[Hotfoot]

They should have called it The Joker! I enjoyed it at the time and watch it on occasion.

[RG]

about a week before I had my last day of the 6th grade and for an end of the school year my older sister took me to see Batman. We were very close to the screen and the opening almost made me have motion sickness, lol.

I remember being stoked all day waiting, then a bit let down after the movie. but that didn't stop me from buying Batman stuff for the next couple months lol lol

[The Toyroom]

I still remember being psyched for this when I first saw the trailer debut on Entertainment Tonight. I waited patiently until opening day, when my friend and I (Leon Haley....remember that name) were going to see it after work. I was off that day and was supposed to meet him at work (Pizza Hut) when he got done. When I arrived, I discovered he was not there but had gone home to change. So I had to drive 10 minutes totally out of the way to go get him. Then we drove another back 10 minutes and then drove another 20 minutes to the mall (we were without a cinema at that point where I lived). We went into the mall by the theatre and stood in the longest line I've ever seen for a movie....it literally cut the mall in half. We made our way up slowly........only to be told once we arrived right outside the door (probably 4th or 5th in line at that point)....that the movie was SOLD OUT!

So 20 years later....THANK YOU LEON HALEY FOR RUINING OPENING DAY FOR "BATMAN" 1989 FOR ME!!!!!! (Told ya to remember that name )




I made up for it be seeing it 4 times total that summer......

[livingdead70]

I still remember being psyched for this when I first saw the trailer debut on Entertainment Tonight. I waited patiently until opening day, when my friend and I (Leon Haley....remember that name) were going to see it after work. I was off that day and was supposed to meet him at work (Pizza Hut) when he got done. When I arrived, I discovered he was not there but had gone home to change. So I had to drive 10 minutes totally out of the way to go get him. Then we drove another back 10 minutes and then drove another 20 minutes to the mall (we were without a cinema at that point where I lived). We went into the mall by the theatre and stood in the longest line I've ever seen for a movie....it literally cut the mall in half. We made our way up slowly........only to be told once we arrived right outside the door (probably 4th or 5th in line at that point)....that the movie was SOLD OUT!

So 20 years later....THANK YOU LEON HALEY FOR RUINING OPENING DAY FOR "BATMAN" 1989 FOR ME!!!!!! (Told ya to remember that name )




I made up for it be seeing it 4 times total that summer......

Like I mentioned in my earlier post, there was quite a line !!! I see others had the same experience. The Theater it ran in in Augusta GA was National Hills theater, it sat at one end of a pretty long shopping center, the line went all the way to the end of the center. This was a one Auditorium theater, hence the big screen and all, not sure how many people it held but it was 500 atleast. So we only had to sit thru 2 showings to see it. Thats the last time I remember that happening, and last time i can remember being that excited about a movie. I miss those days like that alot sometimes, the anticipation, talking to the people around you.......... Werent they selling Batman stuff in theaters? Seems I can remember cups and definatly buying a t-shirt and a comic book...................
trey