I’m frankly surprised that “Batman Forever” doesn’t show up often on lists about homoerotic mainstream films. In the annals of homoerotic cinema, “Batman Forever” is right up there. While Joel Schumacher pretty much does what Warner asked by making Batman less menacing, less violent, and a lot more family friendly, it’s also incredibly homoerotic. That doesn’t hinder the experience, but it’s worth discussing how Batman goes from fighting with a Latex covered sex zombie to building romantic tension with a young man he takes in seemingly out of nowhere.
Tag Archives: Thriller
Batman Returns (1992) [4K UHD/Blu-Ray/Digital]
If “Batman” was the opening act of Tim Burton’s iteration of Batman, “Batman Returns” is a pretty epic second chorus that pretty much completes the picture. Whether or not you believe Burton dropped out, or was ousted by Warner for being too dark or violent, “Batman Returns” is a pretty good closing chapter in Burton’s Batman world, even in spite of its flaws. Hell, it’s a better film than “Batman,” despite the fact it objectively garners the more obvious flaws than the 1989 original.
A Second Look at the Underrated “The Jackie Chan Adventures”
Full Disclosure: Although Mill Creek Entertainment sent us a copy of “The Jackie Chan Adventures,” the opinions expressed are 100% honest and our own.
Jackie Chan seemed almost fit for his own kids show. While the international action movie star was in fact known for a slew of iconic movies that continue to win the hearts of movie buffs to this day, Jackie Chan’s methods of self defense always made him look like a walking, talking cartoon character—but, you know–deadly. To tap his ever-rising popularity, the WB network eventually gave him his own animated series for kids. Unlike other action stars, it seemed like a natural fit that wouldn’t alienate any of the fan base including the action aficionados. Basing a show on a hero that avoided getting hit as well as avoiding actually hitting his enemies was a breath of fresh air, and it seemed like Saturday morning kismet.
Batman (1989): 30th Anniversary Edition [4K UHD/Blu-Ray/Digital]
It’s a new era and a brand new format for movie lovers and Warner Bros. is offering up their “Batman” movie anthology from the 1990’s on 4K UHD for those that have converted. With “Batman” also celebrating its thirtieth anniversary (where does the time go?) since its theatrical release, Tim Burton’s iconic adaptation of the DC Comics hero manages to appear once again in an even higher definition making it—uh—Battier? Burtoner? In either case, the good news is “Batman” is still a solid iteration of the Dark Knight, which is all that counts.
The Haunting of Sharon Tate (2019)
Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s “Foreshadowing: The Movie”! It’s the exploitative account of the last days of Sharon Tate, but with a lot of clunky foreshadowing thrown in to shove down our throats that Sharon Tate will and did die a horrible death. Characters sit around discussing fate, destiny, and alternate realities, Charles Manson shows up in the first ten minutes set to dramatic and very terrifying orchestral music, and Sharon Tate plays a fortune telling game with her friends asking in a child like pout “Will I Live a Long and Happy Life?”
Double Impact (1991): Collector’s Edition [Blu-Ray]
A mix of nostalgia value and genuine entertainment value, “Double Impact” is the Van Damme movie I’ve come to value over all of his other work. As someone who was a big Van Damme geek in the nineties, he’s had a better shelf life than people like Steven Segal, and films like “Double Impact” have held up big time. Even with the camp value and goofy comedy in the first half hour, “Double Impact” still amounts to a great action flick with Van Damme being given a test of how far he can stretch his acting chops.
Avengement (2019)
An imprisoned man out on special permission to visit his dying mother finds out she has passed away and decides this is the moment to put his revenge plan into action. As he goes after his brother and associates, the reasons for his revenge are made clear.
Brightburn (2019)
As a hardcore Superman fan I was very intrigued and a bit excited for “Brightburn.” I think we’ve reached the point in pop culture where, what with the glut of superhero movies being released, we can finally start to deconstruct and or satirize the classic mythology. With “Brightburn” the premise amounts to a spooky, chaotic, violent, but very entertaining horror tale that re-thinks one of the most recognizable superhero origin stories in pop culture history.