well, burton's "batman" movies were good because of his film style and not just because of their stories. for example, "batman returns" is his tribute to german expressionism, and it's visual high art even if the story and performances are a little off. of course, the first one was amazing.

"THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE!"

That thing looks like a cross between the Marines armored vehicle in the movie Aliens, and a mud bog dragster! 10 bucks says when Arnold Schwartzenegger finds out about this thing, he'll buy it for himself! Could you see "The Governator" driving up to the capitol in this thing?!
I agree with John here... with the new look of the "bat symbol", and the rugged real world application and look of the new batmobile, this may very well be a precursor of things to come. That said, we could be looking at an emergence or rekindling of the enthusiasm in fans for Batman movies. I tend to side with Eddie in his disdain for the most recent Bat films. For me they lacked the shear cool factor, and darkness that Tim Burton brought to the first two films. If you threw in a little dancing and singing in the last two, you'd have a couple of pretty nifty stage plays!

- Josh :p

then why are you looking at the new batman at all? :D

*U*G*L*Y*
Maybe it's their second car. An all-terrain Bat-SUV???
Anyway, I have only seen the first Bat-movie, and only one time. Fool me once... So I don't care anyway.:@

Sean...take a picture--"Gotham's Greed".

It's funny to me that all this discussion revolves around just the previous movies. Batman has been around a lot longer than 1989.

For example, the Bat Symbol on the website is really just a chromed and rusted out version of the one Bob Kane first used. The first Batmobile looked like a Studebaker with a bat-shaped battering ram on the front. Tim Burton's incarnations were certainly his own as the Bat Symbol, Batsuit, Batmobile, and Batwing he used were all different from the comic. Let's not even worry ourselves with Schumacher.

I think it's great that this series is getting a punch in the arm, and more towards a realist design. As mentioned previously, much of this seems geared more toward Frank Miller's concepts, and I think many people will agree that Miller is the one who brought Batman back into the place he should be: away from bright camp and into the dark alleys.

Sean (hoping I never have to sleep in one of those dark Gotham City alleys)

Um, apparently not, unless WB decided to celebrate an extended April Fool's Week.

So, the new "Batmobile" was an April Fool's Day joke, right?

Right?

John

Tell me my friend -- Have you ever danced with the devil under the pale moonlight?

My fave quote from Batman has always been the Joker saying to Batman, "you wouldn't hit a man with glasses, would ya?" and then Batman punches him square in the face. Precious cinematic moment. The Joker has countless great lines in this movie!!!!

While this is a wee bit off the subject, are there plans yet to release Special Edition DVD's of the other Batman films in correlation with the release of "Batman Begins"?
I would just LOVE to have Spec. Ed's. of Batman and Batman Returns!!!!!!!

Useless trivia of the day: My first word was "Batman". No joke, The film came out before I was a year old and I watched it all the time and I kept repeating "Batman" over and over again in front of my grandparents and parents. Maybe that explains why I like Batman and Spider-man so much. Anyway, I hope that trivia changed your life! :)