Batman (Two-Disc Special Edition)

+ AS A BATMAN STORY
It's simply the worst I've experienced. I've read bad Batman comics, I've seen bad Batman television episodes, but this goes above and beyond that. We have nothing to establish Bruce Wayne as a character, nothing to flesh him out beyond "rich guy, wears Batsuit." While this is essentially a Batman/Joker story operating around the theme "the enemies that made each other," even that works as nothing but a cheap twist. Neither of the characters are fleshed out, making them shells of the iconic characters we've read and watched. While I like when film makers take liberties from the source material, giving the Joker the role that they give him in this movie (in relation to Bruce's past) is ridiculous and, again, is simply a cheap twist that has absolutely no emotional resonance. The actor's performances are passable--though there is nothing close to a spark, or really anything convincingly romantic, between Michael Keaton and Kim Basinger--and even Jack Nicholson doesn't wow in this film. Plus, since when does Batman kill people? Is he the Punisher now? They might as well have gave him a different costume, a different name, and called the film something else, because this bears no resemblance to the real Batman.

+ AS A TIM BURTON FILM
Not only does this movie not live up to the "Batman" name, it also doesn't live up to the rest of Tim Burton's directorial accomplishments. You'd expect this kind of movie from a run-of-the-mill hack director, but from the man who brought us Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and so many other good films? Not so much. Even Burton himself said "there's parts I liked, but it was a little boring at times." When I purchased this, I thought I'd be in for a treat. How can you go wrong with Burton and Batman? Turns out, you can go very, very wrong.

+ AS A MOVIE
The back of the DVD really convinced me to buy this from the used pile. "The best movie of the decade," it boasted. Back then, it was the selling point. Now, I'm shaking my head and chuckling at the audacity and falseness of it. This is simply a bad movie.

1/10

The story of the hero known as Batman is one that many people are familiar with to some degree. As a comic book character created by Bob Kane for DC Comics, Batman has remained one of the most popular heroes throughout the years, and the same can be said, for the most part, for all of his various incarnations in both the comics and other forms of media. In the 1960's the Caped Crusader was adapted into a weekly television series, starring Adam West (Bruce Wayne/Batman) and Burt Ward (Dick Grayson/Robin). The problem with this series, in my opinion, was that it chose to make a comedy out of Batman, everything about this series just screamed camp! I'll admit I have watched some of the episodes, along with the movie that was released around the same time, and for some reason I actually found myself unable to look away. The only conclusion I could come up with was that the series was the equivalent of a train wreck; you know the results are going to be disastrous, yet you can't bring yourself to look away. Sure the series was a hit, but I challenge any fan of the series to go back now, and actually watch it and see if you truly feel that it did any sort of justice to the character of Batman. Anyway, I digress, the series eventually ended; however, that would not be the end of Batman's life on television. He would later appear in animated form on the kid-friendly "Super Friends" show, which was basically the Justice League superhero team without the name. After a few seasons on the air, "Super Friends" ended, and once again Batman was left to only appear in the comics.

Then in 1989, Warner Brothers released what would become the first of four feature films that would comprise the original Batman film franchise. In this incarnation the character appeared to be getting the treatment he rightfully deserved, gone was the camp and stupidity of the 1960's, and in was a darker, brooding, and vengeful billionaire version of Bruce Wayne who prowls the rooftops of Gotham City in the guise of Batman

"Batman" focuses on the Batman's (Michael Keaton) initial appearances in and around Gotham City, stopping crime whenever and wherever he finds it. For many, he is nothing more than a myth supposedly lurking in the shadows, created in an effort to deter the criminal element that plagues the city. However, when a maniacal menace by the name of Joker (Jack Nicholson) begins terrorizing Gotham, Batman is forced to come out from the shadows to confront this madman before his city is plunged into madness.

After the popularity of the 60's TV series, Tim Burton's dark vision of Batman was exactly what was needed to turn the Dark Knight back into the vengeful hero he was meant to be. Burton was wise enough to create a version of Batman that was dramatically strong, yet remained true enough to the hero's legendary origins, while still adding a few tweaks for artistic license, that he was able to present a movie that would please the fanboys (and girls), and also gain great critical acclaim and commercial success. The approach of the story was different from most superhero movies of today, because here Bruce Wayne has already become Batman, and we are given his origin through a series of flashbacks. Taking the place of the traditional hero origin was the origin of the film's villain, the Joker. Generally in superhero films both origins tend to be presented simultaneously, or at least in quick succession of each other; however, the change to that method worked out well, and I believe the film's success when it was released, and its continued popularity today, is partially due to that somewhat unconventional approach to the storytelling. The overall story in "Batman" was very well-paced, and generally balanced in regards to the main characters. I did feel that at times perhaps Joker was getting way too much focus, and that Batman/Bruce Wayne was getting pushed aside a bit (this was possibly due to Jack Nicholson's much broader appeal and star power over that of Michael Keaton). Vicki Vale was fleshed out a little in the story, although she never manages to become much more than the token girlfriend for Bruce Wayne in this movie, not that this is all that surprising. The action worked well within the film, never feeling forced into the proceedings to provide the obligatory fight sequences for a comic book or action movie. Basically, all of the story elements within "Batman" worked perfectly with each other to create a very entertaining movie, and beloved comic book adaptation, and at the time, it could have been viewed as a "How To" guide for making a successful superhero movie.

The cast was led by Michael Keaton, who was a source of much contention amongst fans at the time of his casting; because at that time all he had really been known for were comedic roles, and his most recent had been the title role in Tim Burton's "Beetlejuice". However, once trailers for the movie started appearing on TV and in movie theaters, and then the eventual release of the movie, the fans soon began supporting Michael's portrayal, and to this day he still remains the fan favorite for many Bat-fans. Michael brought a very serious minded approach to the character of Bruce Wayne, playing him as being somewhat uncomfortable in his billionaire role, and much more at ease in the part of Batman. He also was the first to give the two characters very distinct voices to differentiate from one another, a choice that has stuck with the character throughout all of his movie incarnations since then (well, except for "Batman & Robin", George Clooney never left `George Clooney' mode). Jack Nicholson ("The Bucket List") was the perfect choice for Joker, and at the time was the iconic version of the character that all other versions would be judged by; however, the late Heath Ledger has dethroned Nicholson with his recent portrayal of a much more menacing version of Joker in Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight". Jack brought a dark sense of humor and violent disposition to the character, aspects of the Joker that hadn't been seen before except in the comic books, mixed with a little bit of wackiness, although not so much that it became cartoonish or distracting from the movie or his performance. Rounding out the main cast was Kim Basinger ("Cellular") as Vicki Vale, her character as I stated earlier, was essentially nothing more than eye candy and a love interest for Bruce Wayne. There were a few moments where Kim was surprisingly given some important scenes in the script, therefore adding some depth to her character and her relationship with Bruce, but otherwise she was nothing more than the damsel-in-distress for the hero to save.

In the end, "Batman" was, and still is, an excellent superhero film adaptation, and at the time was responsible for resurrecting the seemingly dead comic book genre after the one-two punch of "Superman 3" and "Superman 4: The Quest for Peace" had killed it off. Boasting a very solid story that was approached seriously by all the cast and crew working on the film, Tim Burton's "Batman" was the perfect weapon for successfully destroying the public's misconception of Batman as being nothing more than a silly superhero for children that was the focal point of an extremely campy TV show.

"Batman" is rated PG-13 for violence and language.

I love this movie! jack nicholson is impeccable as the joker. this movie feels like the dark 80's comics. i am so grateful for this masterpiece. thank you tim burton and jack for getting everything on point. this, batman begins, and the darknight are the only worthy batman movies worth watching. sorry joel shumacher, your movies suck! IF YOU LIKE THE JOKER THAN YOU MUST WATCH THIS MOVIE

Batman succeeds as well as it does because, unlike most films, it doesn't look phony by trying to be real. Instead, it broadcasts its own artificiality: "Look at us -- we're doing art!" And extremely well.

Part of what gives Batman its self-awareness is an aspect of the film that I haven't seen remarked on: the range of spoofs of popular and sometimes important art that are sprinkled through it.

-- It starts by spoofing itself: the Joker reprises Carl Grissom's "You're my best man!" scene.

-- The Joker spoofs the melting witch of The Wizard of Oz.

-- The two-bladed thug spoofs the swordsman of Raiders of the Lost Ark, except that where Indiana Jones gives up and shoots him, Batman plows straight through him with his fists.

-- The Joker's lieutenant then spoofs Crocodile Dundee with his big hunting knife, except that what was so imposing in Crocodile Dundee ("This is a knife!") is laughably inadequate for confronting Batman.

-- The Batplane spoofs E.T. in crossing the moon, and then spoofs Star Wars in its strafing run through the canyon of the skyscrapers.

-- The Joker spoofs Dirty Harry's long-barreled pistol.

-- The whole tower scene is a prolonged spoof of Notre Dame de Paris ("The Hunchback of Notre Dame").

I'm sure I've forgotten other films Batman spoofs, and missed more. Batman never lets you forget that you're watching a movie about a comic book.

P.S. Kim Basinger is brilliant in an under-rated performance that realistically swings her urban working girl between conceited yuppie, terrified hostage, and insecure single: "You weigh a little more than 108!" -- "Oh, really!!"

It's hard to believe that stars like Mel Gibson, Kevin Costner, Dennis Quaid, Harrison Ford, Charlie Sheen, Pierce Brosnan, Tom Selleck and Bill Murray were all considered for Batman, at some point. It's even harder to believe that Tim Curry, Willem Dafoe, David Bowie and James Woods were considered for the Joker. Thankfully, the powers that be gave us Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson in their respective roles that made this film a classic among Batman fans. Directed by Tim Burton, Batman was a critical and financial success. The film inspired Batman: The Animated Series and a series of films. Up until the release of "The Dark Knight", it was the highest grossing film based on a DC comic book. In my opinion, this movie is the definitive Batman movie. With over 50 years of comic books to be based upon, it's the one closest to Bob Kane's original vision for Batman. Although there were three more movies to follow after this one, This movie is my most favorite out of them all. I mean, it had an all-star cast involved with it like Kim Basinger, Michael Gough, Pat Hingle, Billy Dee Williams, Jack Palance, and Jerry Hall. Heck, even Batman creator Bob Kane has a cameo in the movie. Who wouldn't like it?? This Two-Disc Special Edition includes features such as Audio Commentary by director Tim Burton, Legends of the Dark Knight Shadows of the Bat: The Cinematic Saga of the Dark Knight Parts 1-3 Beyond Batman Documentary Galleries, On the Set with Bob Kane featurette, and three music videos by Prince. Definitely worth getting if you're a Batman fan.