Review of Batman (1989) by Martin R — 04 Oct 2013

Star Wars will always be my #1 source of inspiration, admiration, etc (or...at least the original trilogy anyways). But there is one film series that I've yet talked about but I was a big fan of. Yes, that series is the Batman franchise (the one that began in the late 80s and ended in the late 90s).

As a child, I loved all of those movies: Batman, Returns, Forever, and Robin. Now that I'm older and possess (well, what I'd like to think) is a more mature perspective on films, I realize that the last two are absolute garbage and that the real magic were in the films where Keaton portrayed Batman.

And as a quick note, I will not be comparing this to the Nolan trilogy--that's hands-off territory mainly because I think they're both cool. There is ONE definite fact though: Danny Elfman's score here is undeniably mysterious, dark, and emotional UNLIKE that flat, monotonous, amplified bass crap that Hans Zimmer produced.

The theme alone says EVERYTHING about Batman: he's a hero, he's cool, and he's been through a lot. It's a toss of a coin in way (see what I did there? Two-Face, no? Okay) because Batman/Bruce Wayne are totally different characters and we really do see that thanks to Keaton (sorry Christian Bale, although Bale did a fine job too).

What I really love about '89 Batman is that it doesn't take itself too seriously and that's really what I hate about 'modern' film audiences, they just always seem to miss that since Nolan's trilogy is so "realistic" (oh my, I'm doing what I said I wouldn't do.

...damn). Look, Heath Ledger is my boy and I LOVE his performance but I also love Jack Nicholson's Joker--this is probably the best on-screen performance of the comic version (though Mark Hamill's work has been wonderful as well).

I think I've written enough. I mean, this is a classic, this is where the real magic is, and this is the one with that 'grandiose to the fifth power' ending (thanks to Danny Elfman's score.

..again). .