Tim Burton Says "Lay Off My Batman!" Author: Jett Friday, November 23, 2007 2:26 PM TEXAS TIME: Tim Burton (BATMAN, BATMAN RETURNS) on his two Bat-Flicks: When I told Burton that Nicholson had seemed almost upset about Heath Ledger taking over as the Joker in the upcoming film, the director laughed it off saying, “That’s what’s great about him. He could be not serious but he also could be serious. That’s what gives him an amazing quality as an actor and a person.” But just because it’s laughs all around when it comes to Burton and Nicholson doesn’t mean the “Sweeney Todd” director doesn’t harbor some resentment over how his “Batman” films were treated. “I was just always amazed that people used to rag on my movies,” he said. “Nobody really acknowledged the fact that [’Batman’] was slightly different at the time from other comic book movies. So lay off, will you? They would get on my case all the time and it’s still kind of that way today,” he said. SOURCE: MTV MOVIE BLOG. Y'all know I have to respond to this, right? So... EDITORIAL: Mr. Burton, your BATMAN is a classic and one of the greatest comic book movies of all time. It --along with SUPERMAN -- changed the genre and made films based on superheroes “legit.” While it may have been dissected and scrutinized to the Nth degree by fans over the last two decades, it is very well respected. I have rarely found anyone who “rags” on B89. On the other hand, your BATMAN RETURNS, well, sucks, and is a “Batman Movie” in name only. Yes, it has its supporters who love it to death, but BR‘s collateral damage is indisputable: It begat BATMAN FOREVER which begat BATMAN AND ROBIN which nearly killed the entire Batman movie franchise. Sir, if your comments were not taken out of context -- which could be the case -- I think you are a tad confused. Your BATMAN is beloved by (just about) all, while your BATMAN RETURNS split the Batman fan base. Mr. Burton, your spot in Batman history is a lofty one, I promise. (For the record, I LOVE B89 and I am a HUGE Tim Burton fan. I just LOATH that "BATMAN" RETURNS. - "Jett")