MovieChat Forums > Batman Returns (1992) Discussion > Ahead of it's time

Ahead of it's time

posted 2 years ago by enriquesingh (1775)
10 replies | jump to latest

This is just a Masterpiece, that's all I've got to say.

I love this movie, but a masterpiece is a stretch.

I really love it too. I like to get back to it once in a while.

Tim Burton's artistic blueprint transpires through and the music is perfect. The villains are wonderful and make the hero seem somewhat bland in comparison. I am tempted to call it a masterpiece too but, to me, it misses that little something to be called that.

What word could be used for just a notch below "masterpiece" ?

[–] samoanjoes (51780) 2 years ago

I always go with "near masterpiece" or "a great work of art".

[–] [deleted] 2 years ago

"A great work of art". That sounds just right! Thanks.

[–] R_Kane (15828) 2 years ago

How was it ahead of its time? Always a good idea to give, you know, actual reasons for making a statement.

[–] pioneergrrrl (2390) 2 years ago

before 'metoo' catwoman is the abused secretary who after being harassed by her boss---literally fights back. She (unlike the TV show) isn't stealing things. She's specifically seeking vengeance against him bc he's a sexist pig. Batman doesn't necessarily stop her either

He halfheartedly tries to talk her down from it, but doesn't take any solid action to actually save Max from Selina, Basically he's content to let Max get his in this case.

Yes this movie (despite early 1990's technology/effects) could have been made today.

[–] [deleted] 2 years ago

Yes it could have been made today like a ton of other movies on a ton of other subjects.

Vengeful women looking for payback in movies were not something new. "I Spit on Your Grave" did it in 1978 and "9 to 5" in early 80's (although I think this one was more of a comedy but the theme revolves around an abusive boss).

It comes down to relevance, in my opinion. Just because a movie is relevant today, it doesn't automatically make it ahead of its time. You might argue that #metoo made the Catwoman-Max Schreck subplot even more relevant today. And I agree with that.

Now to me the question is: Does "a more relevant subplot" necessarily mean something as considerable as "a movie ahead of its time" ?

[–] pioneergrrrl (2390) 2 years ago

Batman's batarang has a digital component which seems like a great idea to take out multiple people---until a dog of one of the red triangle gang members swipes it and it is tamped with. The problems/issue of electronic tampering. Yes, all of this e-technology is great, but it can also be tampered with too.

In 1992, most people did not think about computer bugs or viruses. Most of us were not online. batman is 'rich' but because it's 1992 he himself ironically does not think about anti-virus/anti-spyware on his devices. He's convinced that most people will merely not know how to hack it just because. He had to learn the very hard way that those who did could still be very dangerous.

[–] [deleted] 2 years ago

Okay.

[–] pioneergrrrl (2390) 2 years ago

I really wish Keaton and Burton---and possibly Pfeiffer had continued onwards with the franchise. It makes me mad that Schumacher tinkered with it. These and other issues could have instead been explored more and in depth.