Review of Batman (1989) by Jordan K — 06 Mar 2014

Batman from 1989, is what some consider the first Batman movie (which Batman from 1966 is the actual first, I reviewed that a while back). It's a thrilling, exciting dark film that revolutionized and popularized the superhero movie genre.

I think everybody knows the Batman formula, but for those who don't: Batman is the caped crusader of Gotham City, wrapped in peril by the humorously psychopathic Joker. Batman is secretly millionaire Bruce Wayne, whose violent murder of his parents led him to stopping the town's criminals. Bruce and the Joker also fight over the damsel in distress, newspaper photographer Vicki Vale. The film's outcome is known to be "the battle of the freaks", and it's an enjoyable battle, indeed.

Batman is an entertaining movie for mainly adults, but I recall enjoying it as a child, too. I haven't seen the movie in forever but relived my memories and it was an excellent film. The characters are all psychopathic in their own ways and Burton's film career did get rockier and odder as it went, but Batman was one good film of his. It does have its slower parts, mainly towards the beginning, but picks up when the Joker is unraveled. A great film and a 1980s gem.