Directed by:
Tim BurtonCinematography:
Roger PrattComposer:
Danny ElfmanCast:
Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger, Robert Wuhl, Pat Hingle, Billy Dee Williams, Michael Gough, Jerry Hall, Jack Palance, Tracey Walter, Lee Wallace (more)VOD (4)
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After a young boy witnesses his parents' murder on the streets of Gotham City, he grows up to become the Batman, a mysterious figure in the eyes of Gotham's citizens, who takes crime-fighting into his own hands. He first emerges out of the shadows when the Joker appears -- a horribly disfigured individual who is out for revenge on his former employer and generally likes to have a good time, but the identity of the `bat' is unknown. Perhaps millionaire Bruce Wayne and photographer Vicki Vale have a good chance of finding out? (official distributor synopsis)
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Reviews (8)
The biggest problem for me was the choice of director. I can't help but find Tim Burton's style terribly dull, and his Batman lacks pace, insight, and everything else that would adorn Nolan's dynamic spectacle 15 years later. Michael Keaton was bland and demonic, Jack Nicholson's flawless performance wasn't enough either. At least Kim Basinger was nice to look at....60%
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In 1989, the authors of any comic book movie could literally come up with whatever they wanted. And since in this case, the project involved Tim Burton, it was clear that you surely wouldn’t be disappointed. Even after almost thirty years I can say at least that, as opposed to today’s comic book movies, this one absolutely has the spirit of the playful visionary that is Burton. In this one, Batman is as dark as midnight, Joker is as deranged as a train gone wild and the music in this case is so genial that in connection with Tim Burton, who put a layer of gloss and visual aesthetics on all that wackiness, disappointment was simply not an option. It’s nice to see how it was all about entertainment with movies like this one back in the day. Today it’s all about colors, digital effects, pseudo-realism and forced catchphrases in the mouths of characters who don’t even deserve them. Here, you can simply focus on the scene and you are good. For instance, the scene where Joker storms into the museum and while listening to a divine song by Prince, he and his thugs spray and draw over one Renaissance painting after another. I mean that’s so genius that it can’t be beaten even by the entire arsenal of the Marvel of today.
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A legend. I prefer the new Batman of the new millennium, but this is a proper classic. An excellent cast, "gothic" music by Danny Elfman, and a demonic Jack Nicholson. The set and production design are slightly theatrical, but that’s fine. This film has a overall different feeling than the polished and realistic comic book movies of today. It's a different era and a different vision of the director. Tim Burton is an eccentric and he made an eccentric film. The gloomy atmosphere is hard to surpass.
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Not great, Keaton. Jack is no Joker, but simply Jack with some white make-up on his face, but this doesn’t mean he doesn’t fit nicely into Burton’s approach to Batman. Not great, and I mean not rather than great, when it comes to Basinger. The visuals are great, while Elfman’s music is surprisingly not so great (apart from the central theme, that is). Looks like a mediocre movie? A bit, but it isn’t. The atmosphere of the dismal, neo-gothic Gotham City and Burton’s directing make this a quality picture that is watchable multiple times. But not too often. ♫ OST score: 3/5
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I have to say that that film doesn't make as much of an impression on me anymore as it did when I was a child. I thought it was much darker back then. That's why it's better to watch Burton's films as a child. They have a much stronger impact on you then. But that doesn't change the fact that Jack Nicholson is still excellent and this Batman adaptation has nothing to be ashamed of.
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