Ever since, the original Batman series went of the in 1960’s, the Batman phenomenen has been strong. D.C. Comics sales of Batman were strong. Several Cartoon shows featuring Batman and Robin were made. The tv series was rerunned in the 1980’s, then in the mid 80’s and 90’s an avalanche of Batman games came out.
One thing that I’ve noticed after watching all the Batman movies is that with each sequel, it seems that the Director has seem to pull away and in same cases ignored the roots of Batman (although Batman Forever with Val Kilmer was an excellent movie). With the exception of this movie and the original movie, we don’t get further info about Bruce Wayne/ Batman character. Anyhow, I loved the research and passion that Burton brought into bringing ’’Batman’’ back to life, after the series ended. Even better he got the best actors available at the time to play Batman and his arch enemey the Joker: Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson (Good old Jack!) Jack Nicholson is without argument the best actor in the world, even Michael Keaton pales in comparison to what Nicholson has done: ’’The Shining’’, ’’One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s’’, ’’Easy Rider’’, ’’Terms of Endearment’’, ’’As Good As It Gets’’, and ’’Wolf’’ are just a couple of the great films he has done. Needless to say that ’’Batman’’ wouldn’t have gotten the box office it had, if it wasn’t for Nicholson.
Nicholson’s maniaclly, cool, calm, intense , and lunatic portrayal of The Joker is one of the best villian roles I’ve seen. PLOT AND STORY: The movie starts out Batman doing what the comic book heroes does best, destroying all the evil villians in Gotham. In the first minutes of the movie, he captures and beats up badly 2 muggers who have robbed an innocent family. Using all the gadgets and muscle he has available, Batman (Keaton) manages to not only beat up this guys, but leaves them shivering with fear. One of the robbers ask him ’’Who are You’’ and Batman responds with one of the most famous line in the movie ’’I’am Batman!!!’’. Oh yeah.
Eventually a news reporter Robert Wuhl sends his girl Vicki Lake (Kim Basigner) to investigate who is the mysterious caped crusader who has temporarily eliminated Gotham City of all this vile criminals. Vicki Lake eventually meets Bruce Wayne and falls in love with him, not knowing that he is Batman. Meanwhile Jack Napier, (Jack Nicholson -’’Here’s Johnny) is causing chaos in Gotham until his fateful encounter with Gotham. Napier is part of a corrupt conspiracy involving a toxic waste company called ’’Axis Chemicals’’ and the police lieutenant Eckhart.
Eventually Batman learns of the conspiracy going and goes after Napier.. During their battle, Napier falls into an acid that disfigures his face and transforms him into the Joker. Jack or should I say the Joker, goes after the people that set up to take the fall at ’’Axis Chemicals’’ and makes a wish to get Batman and Destroy Gotham City.... One critic called ’’Batman’’ , ’’The Movie Of The Decade’’, another said ’’4 stars’’, ’’Spectacular Entertainment!!!’’. They were all right. Not only does Burton succeed in remaking the original movie and bring Batman to his true glory, but Burton gives Batman an edge that all fans wanted to see. Not only but Burton adds new spectular effects to all the traditional Batman gadgets: Batman comes like the original series, with his trusted batbelt, and his gadget of weapons. Of course, what Batman would have been complete without the Batmobile!!! The Batmobile itself is a character in the film, fully revamped and ready to kick butt.
The Batmobile was redesigned, and looks more powerful than the original Batmobile in the 1960’s series. The Batmobile has fully automachine guns, a special stealth utility that allows it be invisible. It’s also goes from 0 to 200mph in a matter of seconds. Also to make the movie more mature, and compelling Burton, presents with a new powerful look for the BatCave. The BatCave was shown in the original series in several episodes, but in the movie it looks like a fortress capable of destroying anyone that wishes to cross it’s path. Characters in the film: Besides the Joker, Burton introduces too other Batman characters that fans will recognize although their parts in the film are minimal. Pat Hingle, who now has the new role of Commisioner Gorden.
Billy Dee Williams plays prosecutor/defense attorney Harvey Dent. Harvey Dent as all Batman comic readers is the guy who will eventually have a terrible crime done to him that will turn into the criminal ’’Two Face’’ There is so much action in Batman that it takes several viewings to appreciate all of them. The Great Lines in The Film: ’’Where does he get does wonderful toys?’’ is the great famous line by Jack Nicholson echoing the Joker’s response to Batman’s great gadgets. Without Jack Nicholson, Batman wouldn’t have been blockbuster, exciting, crazy, action packed movie it is. Nicholson is probably the only actor alive that could play the joker, period.
Ceasar Romero who played the original Joker in the 1960’s was great, but Nicholson’s portrayal of the Joker, takes into that insanity level that the comic fans were looking forward to it. Nicholson was also smart, in that he had he put a contract, a restriction which would give him a cut of the profits of the movie, and the merchandise that would follow it.
All the actors in the movie are great, with Keaton getting second best. Keaton no matter what bad or good movies he has made, will forever, have the satisfaction of playing the caped crusader. That doesn’t sound like a big deal, but it is. Christopher Reeve, literally came back from the brink of acting obscurity when he played ’’Superman’’. Playing Superhereos carries not only a tremendous financial benefit, but it can literally break or make a career.
Last Comments: Even 12 years later, ’’Batman’’ is still the measure up of what a ’’Superhero’’ movie is all about. It follows the comic book origins very well, introducing us to the characters of the comic book and giving the necessary background on them. It gives a bid bugdet interpretation of what the comic book should look on the movie screen and provides fans with all the action and special effects possible. Batman has of course been made into several games and across several game system. There are games of Batman on the pc , Sega Genesis, Supernes, Sega Saturn, Sega Master Master System, and of course the Playstation.
It seems that the Legend of Batman will be here for a long time, and Tim Burton version of Batman is rightfully the best one. Burton unfortunately did not follow the success of ’’Batman’’ into his next sequel ’’Batman Returns’’. ’’Batman Returns’’ has so many problems with it, that it ain’t funny.
Thankfully though we Batman fans have this great Batman movie to look back on, as an example of what every ’’Batman’’ movie should be. Highly Recommended.