Tim Burton: October Review Star
126 Minutes
Staring: Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger, Robert Wuhl, Billy Dee Williams, Jack Palance, Jerry Hall, Michael Gough, and Pat Hingle as Commissioner James Gordon
Batman… Batman… Can somebody tell me what kind of a world we live in, where a man dressed up as a *bat* gets all of my press? This town needs an enema! -The Joker
Batman finally meets his greatest foe, The Joker, a man who was once an average criminal, but turned homicidal murderer after falling into a giant tub of acid. Disfigured and even crazier than before, he takes over his mob bosses syndicate and begins wicked plan of destroying Gotham and all those in it, but first he wants to rid himself of Batman, who is busy juggling normal life and the grief of his parents death with being a caped nighttime vigilante.
When you look back and actually read the lines the Joker has in this film, it’s not sensational writing, but Nicholson’s performance made each and every delivery of those lines into something more. The Joker was larger than life, but Nicholson’s interpretation walked that fine line between being a cartoon and something completely different. He was sadistic and homicidal, but also charismatic and hilarious. Nicholson’s Joker is one of the best character interpretations ever onscreen. However, I wouldn’t dare compare his Joker to Ledger’s. Each carry a genius that is very separate from one another, and the likeness only remains in the name.Wait till they get a load of me!
I was lucky enough to catch this film in the theatre as a kid, and I can tell you there weren’t too many movies that were as exciting, fun, and smart as Burton’s Batman, and that still holds up today. Watching it after ten years have passed I still find myself enjoying it with the same excitement as I did in my youth. This is a movie for everyone and more important and movie that is lasting in it’s creation. Even with the new Batman’s out there today, they are very unique, but they both share one important quality: the focus on the psyche of our hero. The character’s are all very real. This one belongs in your DVD collection.
Popularity: 5% [?]
Awesome flick. Hands down.
Gun to your head: Batman or The Dark Knight?
Oh that’s tough……………..but……………
The Dark Knight………….better movie overall, but I still think Keaton was the best Batman.
What about you?
Great to see the film getting the credit it deserves. It is often forgotten these days through association with the Joel Schumacher abominations and because of the success of The Dark Knight. The only thing missing in this film was Michelle Pfeiffer. The fixed that problem three year later! It’s interesting that you say Michael Keaton is the best Batman, I have always discounted Kilmer and Clooney as rubbish but never compared Keaton to Bale. I did however suggest earlier in the year that he reprises the role:
http://fandangogroovers.wordpress.com/2009/06/16/the-batman-movie-they-should-make/