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The Dark Knight of Gotham City begins his war on crime with his first major enemy being the clownishly homicidal Joker.
Michael Keaton: Batman / Bruce Wayne
Jack Nicholson: Joker / Jack Napier
Kim Basinger: Vicki Vale
Batman, the first major Blockbuster of Tim Burton and effort to Bob Kane's Dark Knight. Regarded by me when i was younger as a truly captivating movie it was very fun to watch indeed.
I watch it now and time has taken it's toll, what with sequels and the new reboot, which has overshadowed this in part, Batman Begins.
Granted Tim Burton infused so much energy into making this film he became sick, and it shows in the end result how much effort he's put in yet at the same time i see now he couldn't let loose all his artistic vision and darkness in full intensity. What with Warner Bros. overlooking and shadowing his every move.
Granted the sprawling metropolis that is Gotham City is a unique dirty huge vision of amazingly huge skyscrapers, buildings in contrast to it's dark grimy back alleys. Tim Burton hands down has given party of his vision.
On to the performances, which should start with Michael Keaton & Jack Nicholson.
Michael Keaton's Bruce Wayne/Batman is dark, mysterious, thoughtful and quiet yet underneath this lies a character that shows he's a man not of many words, that in his expression there's something that tells us more. Granted he's a versatile actor and his days of Beetlejuice show us he can change himself as any good actor should be able too.
Jack as the Joker kind of overshadows Keaton completely in all his intense lunacy. He's loud, colourful, insane and has all the qualities that Nicholson can empower. His performance maybe a little too good that it does make the movie more Joker than Batman. Granted he stuck in my memory most when i was little, even his random killing ended up being humourous and his one liner's, don't even get me started, he's a legend.
''Where does he get those wonderful toys?''...Magic !
Michael Gough as the Butler is like putting the kitchen sink in the bathroom, it belongs where it started, Gough just fits hence all the successor's of the Batman franchise, excluding Batman Begins & Dark Knight of course, featuring him that he's instantly connected to the role.
Jack Palance falls victim to the ''other'' Jack, pardon the pun and that bit where Joker shoots him, get me a potty because...THAT'S FUNNY! i know I'm sick but hey ah well...
Kim Basinger of course has the sexiness and female lead bit in the bag, and her chemistry with Keaton & Nicholson shows she was comfortable.
Batman would be a great start but the follow up Batman Returns is Burton Unleashed. Overshadowed by the recent Batman Begins which puts a more realistic serious human face on the villainy.
Still a great film Batman shines in all it's Blockbuster Comic glory, a fine way to finish of the 80s period.
Take it away and hit the road Jack !
8/10
