Review of Batman (1989) by Gregory C — 16 Aug 2016

I watched this movie countless times as a kid, and countless times as a teenager, but as a young adult in my late 20's I realized I hadn't truly seen Tim Burton's Batman (especially as a huge fan of the character and Batman comics) until I recently experienced it in a movie theater.

By the end credits, I was, in a way, shocked by how much I didn't notice and understand about the film, and now having seen the movie twice in the theater, I can honestly say that I have finally seen Batman for the first time, and not only do I truly appreciate and respect it, I fucking loved it.

Granted, it's definitely flawed and a little wonky in its story, plot, and third act, but Tim Burton's vision of Batman, Joker, and Gotham City are realized for the first time on film in a unique and haunting way that's both eerie and beautiful, and closer to the source material.

I found myself mesmerized by Anton Furst's noirish production design of Gotham City, Batman's nightmarish costume, Jack Nicholson's transcendent performance, the timeless designed Batmobile, and of course Danny Elfman's mysterious, dark, and operatic score.

These elements not only make the movie but they save it, and because so the film is more than watchable. It's entertaining, enjoyable, and holds up (for the most part) on repeated viewings throughout the years.

I look forward to seeing this movie again ten years from now, and ten years after that, and so on and so forth. I give Batman an B+.