Review of Batman (1989) by C A — 05 Mar 2018

The first of many famous and influential Batman movies, some for the good and not so much, Batman (1989) sets the bar high and it's a debate which sequels, if any, have fully topped it. Spoilers ahead.

Michael Keaton's portrayal of Batman is restrained and dignified, which is a breath of fresh air compared to most superhero movies from the 90s on. His acting, especially as Bruce Wayne, is stilted and awkward in parts, but this works to contrast the mysterious, intimidating Batman. When he wears the mask, he is every bit the Dark Knight as any actor who has played the part. My one problem with him is how often he kills characters, despite being the most famous example of a pacifist superhero. Is it explained in the sequel?

Jack Nicholson may not be the best Joker, but it's just so fun to see how absorbed in the role he is. Every time he's on screen the movie goes from above average superhero film to actually pretty excellent superhero movie. He's flashy, he's insane, and he steals the show, which is exactly what was asked for in a Joker.

The rest of the cast is perhaps less well-casted, but some characters still shine. Commissioner Gordon, for example, and the knife-wielding henchman Bob, are fun characters, and it's nice to see the damsel in distress fight back like Vicki Vale does without being too contrived.

The film does have its flaws. Its effects budget is restrained by the year it came out, resulting in it struggling to hold up against future movies, and the physical acting leaves a lot to be desired. Half the time these characters make no effort to avoid being shot, and the combat is still trying to shake off the cartoony style of earlier Batman products. The Joker, for all his brilliance on screen, never actually has a punchup with the Batman but rather targets the rest of the cast (no, Bruce Wayne does not count). For such a great rendition of a classic character, it was disappointing to never see his crazy weapons used against the star of the movie.

Overall, this is a must-watch if you are tired of newer superhero films where heroes are either mugging to the camera or discussing fortune cookie philosophy. You won't get amazing explosions or knee-slapping humour, but if every movie is the same people will get bored of the cinema, something Marvel is beginning to learn.