6. Burton Made Some Massive Technological Advancements
Tim Burtons passion for Hollywood history and intrigue in upcoming technologies meant that Batman Returns became a really unique blend of the old and the new. On the one hand, more than half of the Warner Bros lot was taken up with old school practical sets, massive matte paintings and miniature cityscapes. And on the other, Burton was pushing the boundaries of modern filmmaking. Unlike during the production of the 1989 Batman, by 1992 Burton was willing to experiment in using computers to assist with special effects. Members of Oswalds penguin army were CGI, as was the shield on the Batmobile, the remote controlled Batarang and the actual bats that fly into shot at one point. Additionally, in terms of audio, Batman Returns was the first movie to be presented using Dolby Digital technology. And so, you can see how Burton was open to trying new technologies while still keeping one foot in the old ways. The result was a film that has strong visual effects despite having the sheen of a classic Hollywood picture. Many films that come out these days dont look as good as this 1990s classic.
