Batman
Tim Burton’s 1989 extravaganza of an adaptation (the first major comic book movie since the Donner Supermans) might surprise some to know that there was actually some legit controversy at the time of release due to its dark tone and violence, when in actuality it comes across today as almost the perfect kid’s movie, more than enjoyable enough for adults but not necessarily as deep or complex (as Dark Knight was) to turn the younger audience off to it. The beauty of this simplicity is that it is essentially about the vendetta between the two main characters (Batman and Joker) with a woman (Vicki Vale) caught in the middle and the other standard roles (like Commissioner Gordon) being mostly peripheral at best. Thus, it allows the spotlight to be shined on its two lead stars who are both used to perfection: Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne / Batman brings an enlightenment to the part that no actor before or since (including Bale) has ever achieved, that in order for a grown man to dress up as a Bat and go around fighting crime, he has to have at least a FEW screws loose, if not be an outright raging psychotic, and Keaton (who always had an edgy onscreen presence) projects the intensity of a deeply disturbed (yet heroic) figure when in the suit while presenting Bruce Wayne as a somewhat eccentric, socially awkward individual who still has a way with the ladies even while battling his own raging demons, making him no doubt the best actor to EVER play the part. On the other hand, we have Jack Nicholson as The Joker, letting his crazed insanity out as never before and leaving it ALL up on the screen, utterly convincing and adept with a combination of scariness and humor, and even though he may have been later eclipsed by Ledger’s virtuoso turn, one must remember that Dark Knight strove to be a REALISTIC portrayal of this mythos, whereas Burton was quite content to create a fantastical, over the top comic book universe where many of the Joker’s sick pranks (like burning a man alive with a joy buzzer or poisoning the entire city with a chemical that kills people but leaves a big smile on their face) seem actually plausible given the context of the setting. As for Kim Basinger’s Vicki Vale, we certainly get the most beautiful and charismatic female in the entire franchise’s history, and many of her best moments come in her (at times) bemused reactions to the extreme antics of her two leading men. As said, other characters that were so important in the Dark Knight era (like Pat Hingle’s Gordon and Billy Dee Williams’ Harvey Dent) are given scant screen time and are merely there to establish their presence in the universe, but Michael Gough as Alfred actually manages to get some good moments here, and his chemistry with Keaton (as well as Kilmer and Clooney later on) is excellent, and unlike Caine’s version of the character, actually assists Batman extensively in his mission to overcome Gotham’s evil. One also has to mention Danny Elfman’s epic, bombastic score (which won a Grammy) complemented by a handful of songs specially composed for the movie by Prince, Anton Furst’s Oscar-winning production design (a one time deal since he committed suicide a couple of years later), and Jack Palance’s wonderfully sniveling extended cameo as the crime boss who needs to be taken out of the picture for The Joker to seize control of the syndicate (seeing him and Nicholson interacting on screen together is a joy). Finally there is the issue of changes and alterations made to the source material to fit Burton’s vision, such as having an extended origin story for The Joker (when he had none prior), or the fact that it was HE (and not some random punk) who had actually murdered Bruce Wayne’s parents years ago, or the fact that this Batman is not above going into killing combat if he deems it necessary, but it all gels to create an emotional impact that packs a real punch, which at times Chris Nolan failed to do in his later efforts (particularly Batman Begins), and the action sequences from the fight scenes to the museum confrontation to the Battle Royale finale are all top notch. Overall, a brilliant, triumphant effort, and well worthy of comparison to the work that has come since…
10/10