Arguably the best iteration of these iconic characters ever made, Tim Burton's superhero classic Batman is an extraordinary feat in 20th-century blockbuster filmmaking. Many point to this film when discussing the birth of the often-dreaded franchise era, but I do not think there could have been any better choice of film to kick off this generation. This movie may not take too much from its original source material but that honestly does not matter when it comes to its storytelling. Batman provides such a clean and simple story on its own while setting up a sequel very nicely. Along with iconic performances from Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson and a timeless Danny Elfman score, this film is an incredible classic that never ceases to entertain.
At this point in our culture, we all know the origin story of Bruce Wayne and his vigilante alter ego Batman. It has been done countless times in television and film to the point of the idea of parents being killed becoming a joke. But for those who for some reason don't know, Bruce Wayne is an orphaned billionaire who takes up crime-fighting as the Batman, a ruthless and terrifying figure that haunts the criminals of Gotham City. When a crime boss named Jack Napier becomes a more threatening force in the city known as The Joker, Batman is forced to face his past to fight his present. This film was the first time on camera that mainstream audiences have seen the darker origin story of this character and how he came to be and I adore the way that Burton sets up this world. The writing throughout this film from Sam Hamm and Warren Skaaren is especially incredible, as it provides an extremely concise story that any audience can easily get on board with without having to be a connoisseur of comic history. Even though the root of this story comes from the classic comics, the way that Burton presented it was amazing. This movie really did not require a sequel due to the clean way that this story wrapped up, but that's just the way things worked after this movie kicked off the blockbuster phenomenon still happening today.
The writing and directing in this film was amazing but the elements that really make this movie unforgettable are the performances, score, and overall design. Michael Keaton stars as Bruce Wayne alongside Jack Nicholson starring as The Joker. Their respective performances were fantastic as they brought so much life to each of their roles. Keaton will forever be many audiences' favorite Batman and he definitely holds his own as the playboy crime-fighter. While some actors who have played this iconic character are better as either Wayne or Batman, Keaton fit the role of both so incredibly well. Even though he apparently despised the role during production, Nicholson was fantastic as the Clown Prince of Crime. Even though his look and stoutness may not exactly fit the comic persona of this villain, Nicholson brings such a different and passionate energy to his antagonistic presence. Equal parts hilarious and terrifying, Nicholson will forever be the perfect Joker.
Burton's style is very (thankfully) evident in the production design of this film, done by the late Anton Furst. Their work together on the sets of this movie makes for one of the greatest experiences to see on screen. The way that the different sets play into the feel of this film is incredible. It truly feels straight out of a comic book and the almost childish ways that the Joker commits his crimes contrasts so well to the dark hero work of the protagonist. The legendary Danny Elfman composed the catchy score for this film as well and is really a part of telling this story as much as the writing or directing. The main Batman theme will forever be impounded into my head, as it is still used in so many different types of media. The music in this film works so well with everything else to tell the story and the nostalgic feeling that I get listening to it is incomparable.
Batman is the pure definition of a comic book brought to life. The production design, acting, music, and every other minuscule detail put into this movie make this story so wildly entertaining. I can only imagine being a kid in 1989 when this film opened in theaters and the pure joy that it brought to many different faces: the same way it does to me and many others still in this day and age.
My Rating: ★★★★★
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