Batman (1989)

Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.

Good start, but then it gets ruined

Easily the biggest piece of Right wing non sense propaganda I ever saw.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

Clsssic. Timeless. Ahead of its time. Daring. Bold. Unique. Creative. Magnificent.

Batman is one of the most popular superheros in the world so obviously a movie would be made and out of all the Batman movies that I have seen i have really enjoyed this one and it further proves that Tim Burton is one of the best directors ever as this movie became a critical success. The story follows Batman as he fights crime and is still trying to get over the tragic loss of both of his parents and a new threat comes to Gotham and that's The Joker he is a crazy man with a plan and he won't stop. Michael Keaton,Jack Nicholson,Kim Basinger,Michael Gough,Pat Hingle and Billy Dee Williams are the cast who play there amazing adaptations of the comic book characters and they really made me feel like i was opening a comic and reading a new story and i love that. Overall for superhero movies this has to be one of my favorite i just love the story and i love the characters they are all amazing and this is always going to be a favorite of mine and the story can hold up against Nolan's batman trilogy.

This was the first superhero movie I have ever seen and it still holds up. Michael Keaton plays an excellent Batman and Jack Nicholson plays an excellent Joker. While almost 30 years old, the movies effects are extremelly good and Tim Burton's Gotham looked excellent. This was the first movie that proved that superhero movies can be serious stuff and I recommend it. It's quite fast-paced and fun.

It took several years for the producers to get the green light to make this first blockbuster "Batman" movie. All the hard work was certainly worth it. The tone and style of the film reflects that of the graphic novels "The Killing Joke" and "A Death in the Family." The Gothic look embues the film with power and imagination. There is no way that any fan of the comic book can call the 1989 movie self-mocking or camp. There is some humour but of a more dark and macabre kind. As the director Tim Burton wasn't yet established as a major talent in Hollywood, the producers didn't really permit him a long filming schedule or overly extravagant budget in order to make the film. As a result, it was decided to go to Pinewood studios in England where the production values would be of a high calibre and the producers could save money into the bargain. The set designers did a tremendous job of creating a Gothic-looking Gotham City. Photographing the sets with low lighting adds to the atmosphere that Tim Burton wanted and got. The Joker is the ideal villain with which to begin the "Batman" film franchise. You can't mention Batman without including the Joker in the same breath. Comic book sales are attributed to that particular villain. Jack Nicholson is the Joker personified. His evil and sadistic personality, along with his criminal activities are all executed with a twisted kind of humour. He is easily a match for Batman in the struggle in Good vs. Evil. Michael Keaton came under some criticism in his being cast as Bruce Wayne/Batman. Personally, I thought he did quite well but his lack of height is a handicap. As Batman, he is fairly effective and carries a hard edge. As Bruce Wayne, he is good enough. Michael Gough is excellent as Alfred (far better than that over- rated Michael Caine). Character actor Pat Hingle is ideally cast as Commissioner Gordon and Billy Dee Williams does well as District Attorney Harvey Dent. Jack Palance shows he can still be menacing at the age of 68 and he is, as the crime lord Carl Grissom. The screenplay is a fine one, with much memorable dialogue. The narrative is very good on the whole. The scene where Grissom is holding a conference in his office is a telling one. Jack Nicholson in his previous life as psychopathic thug Jack Napier, is casually flicking through his deck of cards. The moment he is entrusted with the job of robbing the payroll at the Gotham City chemical plant, he turns one card to see what it is. A Joker card is staring back at him. I noted how Napier stares at it, looks quickly to his colleagues, leans back to think for a moment, then dismisses whatever he was thinking. What the character may suspect but not know, is that his fate is beckoning....... The scenes at the Chemical plant are great as the gangsters shoot it out with the police. Of course, Batman intervenes to offer the authorities some assistance. I won't give away any more details of the plot but this is a film which any fan of Batman will enjoy.