History WMG / BatmanReturns

Among the photos of Max posing with various celebs, including Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, Jerry Lewis and Sammy Davis Jr., on his office 'Hall of Fame,' is one of Arnold Schwarzenegger. Or is it, in fact, an in-universe photo of a younger pre-accident Dr. Victor Fries? According to the ''Film/BatmanAndRobin'' novelisation, Dr. Fries was not merely an award-winning scientist and cryogenics genius, but he was also a famous Olympian, which might, thus, explain why Max was so keen to be seen appearing alongside him. Might Max have been the one funding Fries' research, and might he also have been the one who 'pulled the plug' on Fries' on it, thus prompting the latter to cut the corners that later led to his tragic accident (and making Max, the live-action universe's equivalent of Ferris Boyle from "BatmanTheAnimatedSeries"?) Or, here's another theory: Fries has personal animus towards Batman, because he holds Batman responsible for his associate, Shreck's death, which, in turn, led to a change in Shreck Enterprises' fortunes, the funding for Fries' research, and, thus Fries' accident. Or, how about this theory: Chip, Max's abnormally-ripped son, who has often been likened to Schwarzenegger, is in fact, Fries' real son (conceived between Fries and Max's late wife, behind Max's back), and the son and heir, that Max is so intent upon assuring a future for, is, ironically, not even his own flesh and blood.

[[WMG: Catwoman is a Lannister]]

* Jossed, since it was mentioned in the ''Film/BatmanForever'' novelization that he helped Batman clear his name.

* Jossed, since it was mentioned in the novelization that he helped Batman clear his name.

Ignoring actor switches, in the first movie, Harvey is seen being extremely politically active in Gotham's affairs, but in Returns, he's completely absent, even though, based on what we've seen, he would likely be working as closely with Gordon and the Mayor against the Red Triangle Gang were he in office as he was against Grissom and the Joker. Since he was only removed from office by Maroni's attack, it's very likely he was scarred before Red Triangle became active, regardless of whether he became Two-Face shortly afterward or disappeared for awhile before becoming a supervillain.

Ignoring actor switches, in the first movie, Harvey is seen being extremely politically active in Gotham's affairs, but in Returns, he's completely absent. We know that at some point, he was disfigured in court by Boss Maroni. Since he would likely be working as closely with Gordon and the Mayor against the Red Triangle Gang were he in office as he was against Grissom and the Joker. Since he was only removed from office by Maroni's attack, it's very likely he was scarred before Red Triangle became active, regardless of whether he became Two-Face shortly afterward or disappeared for awhile before becoming a supervillain.

Ignoring actor switches, in the first movie, Harvey is seen being extremely politically active in Gotham's affairs, but in Returns, he's completely absent. We know that at some point, he was disfigured in court by Boss Maroni. Since he would likely be working as closely with Gordon and the Mayor against the Red Triangle Gang were he in office, and he was only removed from office by Maroni's attack, it's very likely he was scarred before the Red Triangles became active, regardless of whether he became Two-Face shortly after or disappeared for awhile beforehand.

Based on a draft of the script.

Originally Max was intended to appeared in the cartoon where he apparently survived his ordeal with Catwoman, before they created [[CanonForeigner Roland Daggett]] instead. But since NoOneCouldSurviveThat ordeal, it seems more logical that his son take up the role. The death of his father would have contribute to his villainy and [[TurnOutLikeHisFather ending up being just like him]].

Batman TAS is not a sequel to the movies.

The movie makes it very clear that Jack Napier was in fact the murderer.

Why is Batman so unnecessarily brutal in dealing with the Red Triangle Gang, to the point of [[MurderIsTheBestSolution outright slaying two of its members]]? The answer, of course, is because they're clowns (well, most of them, anyway), and it had been established that Bruce Wayne has serious issues with comical white-faced characters. Recall the scene in the 1989 film when he's at the steps of the courthouse and shoots a DeathGlare at those mimes; this is before he knows they're working for TheJoker, and even before he knows that the Joker exists! It makes it hard not to wonder: perhaps Jack Napier ''didn't'' kill Thomas and Martha Wayne. We're never told exactly what kind of movie the Waynes went to see that night. Perhaps it featured a particularly terrifying MonsterClown as its villain, and young Bruce naturally conflated that memory with the one of his parents getting shot. So when Napier suffers an accident that turns him clown-faced, Wayne makes him a scapegoat for the tragedy, [[SelfServingMemory conveniently "remembering"]] that the murderer also made the "pale moonlight" reference when in fact this is a rationalization his mind made up! Now Wayne just hates all clowns, or anyone who ''looks'' like a clown, and if they're criminals - even relatively harmless ones - they deserve to die.

[[WMG: Tim Burton wanted Killer Croc as the main villain but was forced to use Penguin and made the barest of changes in the script to make it happen.]]

Examine all the weird changes to Penguin's character and then transfer it to Croc.
* Born a deformed, carnivorous freak that was abandoned by his parents.
* Thrown in a sewer to be raised by sewer penguins/crocodiles .
* Joined a circus as a freakshow.
* The taste for raw meat (and people's faces).
* The references to being "cold-blooded" (Penguins are not cold-blooded, crocodiles are.)

Originally Max was intended to appeared in the cartoon where he apparently survived his ordeal with Catwoman, before they created [[CanonForeigner Roland Daggett]] instead. But since NoOneCouldSurviveThat, it seems more logical that his son take up the role.

Based on a draft of the script.

Why is Batman so unnecessarily brutal in dealing with the Red Triangle Gang, to the point of [[MurderIsTheBestSolution outright slaying two of its members]]? The answer, of course, is because they're clowns (well, most of them, anyway), and it had been established that Bruce Wayne has serious issues with comical white-faced characters. Recall the scene in the 1989 film when he's at the steps of the courthouse and shoots a DeathGlare at those mimes; this is before he knows they're working for TheJoker, and even before he knows that the Joker exists! It makes it hard not to wonder: perhaps Jack Napier ''didn't'' kill Thomas and Martha Wayne. We're never told exactly what kind of movie the Waynes went to see that night. Perhaps it featured a particularly terrifying MonsterClown as its villain, and young Bruce naturally conflated that memory with the one of his parents getting shot. So when Napier suffers an accident that turns him clown-faced, Wayne makes him a convenient scapegoat for the tragedy, [[SelfServingMemory conveniently "remembering"]] that the murderer also made the "pale moonlight" reference when in fact this is a rationalization his mind made up! Now Wayne just hates all clowns, or anyone who ''looks'' like a clown, and if they're criminals - even relatively harmless ones - they deserve to die.

** Or it wasn't until seeing someone else going down the same path that he realised how far he'd fallen and turned away from it. He even warns Robin away from following that path in the next one.

This is actually not so much a WMG as a legitimate part of the movie, which becomes increasingly clear if you [[AllThereInTheScript look over the script]] or [[AllThereInTheManual read the novelization]].

Batman has been known to look different from the perspective of others, the guilty see nothing but shadow especially around the eyes. Whilst the innocent do see the clear face since they have nothing to fear from him.

** Or it wasn't until seeing someone else going down the same path that he realised how far he'd fallen and turned away from it. He even warns Robin away from following that path in the next one.

The Agony Booth review suggested this, but it would actually explain the film's inconsistencies. In the first film Batman only killed one person in extreme self defence, never seemed to enjoy it and even tried to save Jack in the chemical plant. In Returns he goes out of his way to blow up mooks while grinning. After the Batsignal summoned him Steve intercepted Bruce, knocked him out and stole his suit and took his place up until the third act. Bruce eventually took him out, which is why Batman is suddenly against Selina killing the man who murdered her in cold blood despite being a ok with blowing up some random goon for giggles. In fact Bruce was so ashamed of what Steve did he completely forswore lethal force for the rest of the series.

[[AC:{{BatmanReturns}}]]

[[WMG: [[AllStarBatmanAndRobin Crazy Steve]] replaced Batman for most of the film]]

The Agony Booth review suggested this, but it would actually explain the film's inconsistencies. In the first film Batman only killed one person in extreme self defence, never seemed to enjoy it and even tried to save Jack in the chemical plant. In Returns he goes out of his way to blow up mooks while grinning. After the Batsignal summoned him Steve intercepted Bruce, knocked him out and stole his suit and took his place up until the third act. Bruce eventually took him out, which is why Batman is suddenly against Selina killing the man who murdered her in cold blood despite being a ok with blowing up some random goon for giggles. In fact Bruce was so ashamed of what Steve did he completely forswore lethal force for the rest of the series.

[[WMG: Crazy Steve replaced Batman for most of the film]]

The Agony Booth review suggested this, but it would actually explain the film's inconsistencies. In the first film Batman only killed one person in extreme self defence, never seemed to enjoy it and even tried to save Jack in the chemical plant. In Returns he goes out of his way to blow up mooks while grinning. After the Batsignal summoned him Steve intercepted Bruce, knocked him out and stole his suit and took his place up until the third act. Bruce eventually took him out, which is why Batman is suddenly against Selina killing the man who murdered her in cold blood despite being a ok with blowing up some random goon for giggles. In fact Bruce was so ashamed of what Steve did he completely forswore lethal force for the rest of the series.

"Hear me roar." Also, hair color fits.