Review of Batman (1989) by Emod L — 23 Mar 2016
Gotham City. Crime boss Carl Grissom (Jack Palance) effectively runs the town but there's a new crime fighter in town - Batman (Michael Keaton). Grissom's right-hand man is Jack Napier (Jack Nicholson), a brutal man who is not entirely sane... After falling out between the two Grissom has Napier set up with the Police and Napier falls to his apparent death in a vat of chemicals. However, he soon reappears as The Joker and starts a reign of terror in Gotham City. Meanwhile, reporter Vicki Vale (Kim Basinger) is in the city to do an article on Batman. She soon starts a relationship with Batman's everyday persona, billionaire Bruce Wayne.
Clumsy but reasonably entertaining. Plot is not that watertight and sub-plots are often quite weak. Quite a few inconsistencies in plot development. The love interest angle was half-baked, at best.
Characters feel quite one-dimensional and cartoony at times.
Add to this the wooden acting of Michael Keaton - not the right actor to play a hero. His delivery is off.
However, there are a few pluses to this movie that make it watchable. The special effects are very good, especially for 1989. Director Tim Burton was quite innovative in the production side.
Probably the best aspect is the performance of Jack Nicholson as The Joker. Wonderfully over the top. He gets all the best lines too.
Not a must-see but it is the movie that started the Batman resurgence in the 1990s, culminating in the Dark Knight series in the 2000s.
This review of Batman (1989) was written by Emod L on 23 Mar 2016.
Batman has generally received very positive reviews.
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