MovieChat Forums > Batman (1989) Discussion > Who saw this in cinemas back in '89?

Who saw this in cinemas back in '89?

posted 8 years ago by bozo_500
73 replies | jump to latest

Who saw this back in the day? What are your memories - the anticipation of seeing it in the weeks/days before, the actually seeing it and how much a big deal was it where you were back then, the crowds, audience etc and after coming out of the cinema what were your thoughts and in the days/weeks that followed.
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I saw it must've been a week or so after was released. I remember ALOT of hype in the weeks/months before, bat logo was everywhere t shirts, badges, posters everywhere. There was also ALOT of discussion in the news about the rating. Initially it was to be a 15 (which would mean I couldn't see it) but then the BBFC invented a new rating especially for it (that's how much of a big deal the movie was) so it got 12 (more equivalent to the PG13, before that in UK PG13either had to be cut for PG or get the kid unfriendly 15 rating)

I didn't really get the hype, id never been that interested in batman (was a superman fan) and beyond the AWest TV show had little knowledge of the character (only read the odd DC comics in annual form, had no knowledge of any of the adult Frank miller stuff) and the rating stuff confused me..how violent could it be?..this was batman not the terminator!

Onto the film it was something that id never really seen before, the retro/modern 1930s gangster look, the hard violence, the dark atmosphere and gritty hard urban legend edge..I was a huge superman movie fan and just 2 years before had seen SIV at cinema (and loved it!) But this was like the dark twisted side of those films, very adult in tone. Suddenly I felt like superman was for kids Saturday morning cartoons but this was a real adult film with very adult feel. I completely got why it was almost a 15 like the movies I was too young for back then. When I emerged from the darkness of the cinema I definitely felt more grown up more of a man 

In the weeks that followed I bought (or had bought for me) stuff like the TOPPS magazine, poster magazine, DC comic adaptation (which had incredible artwork and cover), the novel, some badges, as well as started collecting the TOPPS bubble gum cards, the Elfman soundtrack LP (the score sounded amazing back then..had to be careful not to get the Prince album by mistake which was everywhere).. I even got a bat logo t shirt that everyone was wearing (although initially I didn't want one)

there was ALOT of movies to see in 89 - Indiana Jones was just before batman like happened almost 20 years later in 2008 (with a new joker - almost a remake of Bat89 in some ways), BTTF2, Ghostbusters 2, Star trek V, Bond (which was 15 so couldn't see it) but Batman topped them all..

[–] Blueghost 8 years ago

I did. I shrugged at it. I thought it was a joke of a movie. It had all the Batman comic book visual styles, but it was filmed like a parody of the comic, which was intentional.

It was entertaining, but stupid all at the same time. I thought the score was excellent.

Truth be told I expected a little more from that film, but when I saw the end result I thought someone was trying to torpedo the future of comic book adaptations to the big screen.

Like I said in the other thread, this film was intentionally made to be bad to keep any potential males from getting Batman like crime fighting thoughts into their heads.

Kind of a stupid sociology experiment, but there it is.

Truth is people don't take messages from films all that seriously, unless they're lacking in parental guidance.

Meaning that this film should have been directed by someone else, and recast so it could have been a good movie, and not the slop artist trash that it is.

The score is excellent, but also a bit over the top.

[–] Nyx71 8 years ago

I was in college, and I went with my boyfriend. It is still the only movie I have ever had to wait in a theme park worthy line,and had to be seated by an usher because it was sold out! I hate seeing movies in a crowded theater, but I still loved every second.

[–] mrkovacs1 8 years ago

I did.

The summer of 89 was the summer of Batman. It was everywhere! EVERYWHERE! I'd never seen anything like it.

[–] OldFriendOfTheChristys 8 years ago

I saw it on the big screen a week or two into its release and was for the most part disappointed. While I certainly appreciated its sense of style, I oftentimes found it silly and/or boring.

[–] racefan3815 8 years ago

Saw opening weekend down the shore in Ocean City NJ on a boardwalk theater.

What we do in life echos in eternity

[–] packtherac 8 years ago

Oh yes, opening night. June 23, 1989. Place was PACKED. Even the balcony to the old theatre I saw it at was re-opened for the 1st time in years. I was 14 and went with 3 older friends and the place was packed with good looking girls. Ah, I miss 1989. LOL!

But yeah, loved everything. And MTV was rocking the entire BATMAN craze that spring/summer. Batman comics, t-shirts, posters, hats, it was batman mania.

[–] Ashaod43 8 years ago

^
Exactly. I went with 3 people and we almost couldnt find 3 seats together. Packed and most people liked it. I think it was very over hyped everywhere but it was def pretty cool at the time.

[–] ajmal-m 8 years ago

saw it opening night in London @ Warners West End. It was madness in Leicester Square and i think tickets were changing hands from £50 upwards. A lot in those days. I kind of enjoyed it at the time but over the years its got worse every time i watch it.

best so far this year:
The Revenant (2015)
A Gorgeous Girl Like Me (1972)

[–] bozo_500 8 years ago

£50 back then be about..100 today?

[–] Blue_Eyes_James 8 years ago

Interesting to see the people who posted their age at the time, as young as 4 or 9! I was a Batman comic fan, had slowed down on actually buying them but I was 25 when this came out in 1989. One memory I had most awesome was the opening sequence, with the title music going through the labyrinth that turned out to be the bat-symbol! I knew I was in for a ride then!

I also saw Pee-Wee in the theater, Large Marge made me and my friend jump in our seats!

Threads like this are what make me realize that we really can't ever see things from the other person's point of view, in both age and time.

[–] Utpe 8 years ago

Yes!

Actually, I remember the anticipation for this movie back in 1989. Everybody that I knew ranging from relatives to friends to classmates were super hyped that we were actually receiving a new Batman film, apart from Batman: The Movie (1966). It was like a dream come true.

We all rushed to the theaters on opening day, dressed in costumes made-up by our parents. That's how stoked we were about it.

Everybody also purchased the toys. You were the coolest kid on your block if you actually owned the Batcave. And they weren't cheap back then.

Good times. I remember Ghostbusters II (1989) came out the previous week as well. The summer of 1989 was one heck of a ride.

[–] Blue_Eyes_James 8 years ago

I still have my 1975 Bat Cave, that same out with the Mego line of action figures! Those were the best, before Kenner started making those tiny plastic Star Wars figures.