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Does anybody else agree that the cinematography in "Batman '89" was better than the one in "Returns"?


http://www.batman-online.com/forum/index.php?topic=3625.0

DP Roger Pratt shot the film on Eastman 400T 5295 film stock, which has a higher degree of granularity and less exposure latitude than the EXR 100T 5248 used by Stefan Czapsky on Batman Returns. Consequently the picture quality is not quite as good as in Burton’s second film and is noticeably grainer. The contrast between light and dark also isn’t as distinct as in Batman Returns. The stark chiaroscuro lighting in Burton’s second Batman film is typical of German Expressionist cinematography, while the lighting in the 1989 movie is more typical of film noir.

Filming the Gotham scenes on an outdoor back lot allowed Burton to use natural daylight for the exteriors; an advantage he didn’t have in Batman Returns, which was shot entirely on a soundstage. The difference between the natural daylight in Batman 89 and the artificial daylight in Batman Returns is quite obvious. Also note the grainier texture to the Batman 89 picture quality.

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I think it is better in Batman 89, than in Returns. Batman Returns is a total Burton Movie so it looks like all his other films. I'm a big fan of the 89 film, and loved it when I saw it as a kid. Also I liked the grainy look on film sometimes. I have the 89 film on Blue Ray, and I think it looks great.

However I will say this about the two movies. I think special effects wise Batman Returns has aged better than Batman 89. Some of the effect shots for the 89 film hasn't stood up very good over time.

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The most egregious offender in Batman '89 special effects-wise, is probably the shot of the Batwing slowly crashing into the streets of Gotham after Joker shot it out of the sky with his long pistol. You can easily tell that what we're seeing is model work. Maybe if Tim Burton shot it in Cinemascope instead of 185 to one, it wouldn't have been as obvious.

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I much prefer Batman Returns on all fronts, my only complaint is that the shots of gotham citizens are somewhat small in scale but it doesn't matter, it is a work of art.

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