Review - Batman (1989)

    Hey guys, Chuck here. Well, with HallowScream behind us and 12 Reviews of Christmas just a few weeks away,  I think it's time to take a look at an all-time classic of superhero cinema: Batman. Released in 1989, this Tim Burton-directed superhero adaptation of DC Comics' Dark Knight Detective starred Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger, Robert Wuhl, and a host of others. 

    So, the story of this movie is just as much about the Joker as it is about Batman, and we are introduced to mob underboss Jack Napier, who is sent into a trap at a chemical plant by mob boss Carl Grissom, played by Jack Palance, and although Batman does try to rescue him, Jack does fall into a vat of chemicals, which transforms him into the Joker and the villain we all know and love today. So Joker makes moves to get rid of the other mob bosses across Gotham, and ships out tainted hygiene and beauty products, which causes the deaths of several Gothamites, and puts Joker at odds with Batman, who discovers the secret, and stops his plan, leading to his filling parade balloons with a gas known as Smilex, which Batman captures and sends away from the city. Batman and Joker have one last confrontation in the bell tower of Gotham Cathedral, which leads to Joker falling to his death, and Batman being accepted by the authorities and the people of Gotham as their defender. 

    Now, to this day, Michael Keaton is still seen as the best version of Batman to grace the silver screen, and I definitely have to agree with that. I do feel that Michael Keaton was fantastic as Batman, and had probably the most beloved version of the Batmobile. I have two Hot Wheels toy versions of this Batmobile, it's that cool. I also really enjoy Jack Nicholson as the Joker. Yes, Heath Ledger, Jared aleto, and Joaquin Phoenix were terrific with their renditions of the Joker, but Nicholson still remains a fan favorite. Now, there are a lot of adult jokes and gags that are probably going to go over the heads of younger viewers, but I'd say wait a few years, and watch the movie again, and you'll probably find Nicholson's jokes to be hysterical. I know I did. 

    I also really liked a lot of the other actors in this movie, such as Kim Basinger as Vicki Vale, Billy Dee Williams as Harvey Dent, Robert Wuhl as Alexander Knox, and so forth. Tim Burton put together one hell of a cast with this movie, and I enjoyed everyone involved. I also really liked the theme music composed by Danny Elfman. The leitmotifs in his theme are still popular today, and have been used is several subsequent versions of Batman, including Batman: The Animated Series, and the theatrical cut of Justice League. Heck, WB Games and Traveler's Tales even used the theme in its entirety for the first Lego Batman video game. Overall, the 1989 Batman is still the most beloved film of the series. While most younger viewers will look and say, "You know what? The Dark Knight Trilogy is better." I feel that this is the one Batman movie to stand the test of time, even as the Batman movies get darker and grittier. I'm going to give Batman 1989 a rating of 5/5. Now, next month I'll be taking a look at the first sequel to this film, Batman Returns, as part of 12 Reviews of Christmas. So, keep an eye out for that, and see you guys next time. 

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