Review of Batman (1989) by Hanif M — 31 Oct 2014

This is the greatest movie ever made! I absolutely adore this movie. I grew up with this movie and it will always have a special place in my heart. I am aware of the 60s comedy series but This is first real definitive Batman film.

Tim Burton crafted a cerebral film that draws you in due to its setting and atmosphere. The Characters are fascinating and the performances do a perfect job of capturing the complexity and these iconic characters.

The cinematography is flawless and so is the direction. Everything about this movie just screams Batman and its freaking Epic. There is a scene at the beginning of the film When two goons are talking about their fear of the Bat just before The Caped Crusader himself gracefully glides down a few feet behind them in the distance.

The elegant and eerie music that kicks in during this memorable scene from the film gives me goosebumps every time I see it. Danny Elfman's score captures the awe and majesty of The Dark Knight in a unique way that no other score ever could.

I can listen to it over and over again and be moved by it. The score is inspiring, genius, intense, blood pumping,exhilarating, and just plain awesome. It becomes part of the world of Gotham city that audiences remember the most.

Gotham is dark, brooding and a very fearful place. Tim Burton does an amazing job of making the audiences believe that this city need a symbol of hope like Batman. Someone who is just as if no more elemental and terrifying as the criminals that he is up against.

The character of Bruce Wayne/Batman is presented Masterfully in this picture. He is mysterious and hides in the shadows for the most of the picture. This makes his appearances all the more meaningful for this film and exciting.

His dramatic entrances are the best. The costume looks great and so does the bat-mobile and all of Bruce's gadgets. I absolutely loved Michael Keaton's Interpreataion of the character. He gives the best performance of the caped crusader of all time! As Bruce Wayne he is nerdy and unsure of himself.

He can't overcome his inner demons by being Bruce Wayne. Bruce surrounds himself with so much exotic images in order toillustrate this. He is a man of few words who is unable to express himself. When he is Batman his attitude chances.

He becomes a man of action who by dawning the symbol of a demon is able to vanquish them.The incredible visuals speak volumes about what the symbol of the Bat does for Bruce. It makes him stronger and it becomes shocking how good Keaton's acting is.

His performance is magnificent. Kim Basinger is great and underrated as Vicky Vale. She is a loving and sweet person. She probably the most normal person in the film which is much needed considering how crazy and fantastic all the other characters are.

She is a reporter who wants to learn more about Batman and mostly about Bruce Wayne. I love the angle Burton went with her character. She isn't some shallow hotty who has the hot for Batman because he is the cool bad-boy in town like in BatmanForever(sorry Nicole Kidman).

Time is well spent developing the relationship between her and Bruce and she it is clear that she genuinely cares for him. Vicky screams a lot and is clearly a damsel is distress but that doesn't mean she doesn't have courage.

She follows Bruce into the darkest corners of his life and his brave enough to deal with the consequences. Jack Nicolson was born to play The Joker. He gives the best performance in the movie. He is absolutely amazing proving that The Joker is a difficult role to mess up.

He is an incredibly goofy villain but not merely for the sake of itlike Jim Carry and Tommy lee Jones in Batman Forever. Jack is no comedian. He is an actor. He infuses his performance with a tint of malice and a psychotic outbreak in all the scenes with him laughinglike a clown.

He is a very creepy villain but also a very entertaining one.His fixed smile is brilliant and disturbing and his laughter is positively chilling. This movie has some great action scenes and setpieces but takes this film to the next level is depth and intrigue of the characters.

The Characters are conveyed masterfully and this is what makes Batman a film that will be cherished and celebrated as the best superhero film for years to come.