don't count on it, Universal's had a bad track record regarding the treatment of their library lately!

but this is a warner title....

I noticed that Turner Classic Movies is airing the 1989 BATMAN this Friday Feb 18th at 10:15 PM. I think this will be the first time they've shown it. I wonder if the print will be the one used for the upcoming SE DVD.

Those SEs sound great. I can't wait for top notch versions of Burton's Bat films. Schumacher's Forever will be interesting, a film that was, well, ok, but nothing great. Sure, it explored Batman's character moreso, but bad drama is still bad drama.

I did find the comment about him knowing people think he's the devil when it comes to Bats quite funny, considering that he's not fixing the film people really had a problem with. Of course, having seen Batman and Robin, I can't imagine there's anyway in hell that film could ever be fixed. I suppose if he cut out the parts between the WB logo and the end credits, it would be better.

i somehow doubt this would be a new transfer for the tcm version. when the Sci-fi channel plays the first movie, they also play the movie in widescreen as well.

Hope they sell these separately. The only one of the bunch I really hate is the third one. I doubt an extended cut will make it any better. The fourth one is just so bad on such an incredible level it's like a superhero "Showgirls". It's so bad it's almost entertaining. The third one was too much Jim Carrey and Tommy Lee Jones mugging and Val Kilmer's worthless Bruce Wayne.

Val Kilmer could kick George Clooney's Batman anyday of the week. George Clooney was such a horrible Bruce Wayne / Batman. The fourth film needs to be burned and buried at the center of the earth where it will burn the burnt remains.

You never know with TCM...

The aired the restored, remastered, 1.66:1-all-the-way version of Dr. Strangelove almost 2 weeks before the DVD streeted. And that's a film they don't even own via Turner/Warner.

I have always liked Batman Forever. I thought the acting was solid all around (Kilmer remains my favorite Batman BTW), and the story was actually pretty well written...with the whole duality theme.

My only beefs with the film are all style choices that I can blame solely on Schumacher (new Batmobile, neon guns, batnipples)...nothing that couldn't be fixed digitally.

^ I agree with about everything you said chess. Although I can deal with the style as long has the story and acting was there, and in the case of Forever it was, and I quite liked the style. Was a nice change of pace from Burton's overly goofy and gothic feel.

Hey, if neon and latex nipples are your thing, who am I to judge.

Seriously, I think Forever has the deepest character development and is the most watchable (i.e. fun) of the bunch, but the first still remains the best. I watch Forever more often though and have much better odds of not dozing off while watching it.

And stylistically speaking, I think Forever is a good middle ground between what Burton had in mind (Gothic) and what Schumaker apparently had in mind (Batman & Robin).

Biggest weakness: Lack of development for Harvey, who is a very complex character.

Yeah, Kilmer's great - if you like your Batman cross-eyed.

Yeah, I thought that we were going to be so original as the "Bat Patrol" at the 1989 Boy Scout National Jamboree ...

I have the original tape of Batman, which shows a Diet Coke commercial tied into Batman, would like to see that on the upcoming DVD.

I have that tape still too. Holding onto it for now. Also has Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck pushing WB merchandise, which is pretty cool too.

Ah yes, the Warner Bros ball cap and neck tie. I still remember the day one of my sister's friends excitedly knocked on our door to give us the news that the movie was on VHS.

They are both bad. Terribly bad. While Batman Forever is just a bad film (It's like a cheesy movie adaptation of the TV show), Batman and Robin reaches such depths of execrableness that it is almost surreal. B&R is a $200M mess that just has to be seen to be appreciated. It might as well be Ace and Gary the Ambiguously Gay Duo up there. Arguing which is better is like arguing which pile of feces smells better. I just believe that B&R is the type of feces of which legends are made. In 20 years, it will stand beside Showgirls and Battlefield Earth as prime examples of what can be achieved with cinema if you have your head up your ass deep enough.

didn't daffy duck run through the credits of the vhs?

I loved that Diet Coke commercial...

I think they also had a commercial for one of the movies with batman pulling through a drive through window...

Na, that was Gremlins 2.

As previously posted, there was a animated clip with Bugs and Daffy shilling for "Warner Bros. Ballcaps"

I can't wait for the new 10th Anniv. Director's Cut of Forever!

I love the first two films, but I never really gave 3 and 4 a fair chance. If WB releases a box set, that is what I will buy.

That was for Batman Forever, they played the clip where Batman said "I'll get drive-through."

4 is beyond hope. I don't think I've ever met a person that liked it.

3, as I've said before is my favorite of the bunch, although 1 is a better film...if that makes sense.

I think I like Batman Forever for the same reasons I like 5th Element and Farscape. It doesn't take itself too seriously, but it's not so completely campy that it's stupid. I can watch it pretty regularly without feeling like it has to have my undivided attention. It's just a fun movie.

Oh...and as much as Nicole Kidman gets on my nerves, she was smoking hot in Batman Forever.

I liked Returns & Forever better than the first film.

Remember, Forever didn't flop at the box office.

I thought Batman 3 and 4 were more or less just mockeries of Batman. It kind of reminds me of what they did with Superman 3 and 4 -- though they weren't quite THAT bad.