Although Batman is a cultural phenomenon, I have never seen any of the films until last night. It’s not surprising I didn’t see the film when it first came out, seeing as I was only seven. However, it is somewhat amazing that I have dodged not only this film but all the related ones following for the last sixteen years. Last night, therefore, was my first impression of the whole Batman thing. I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

The Plot
As most of you know, the story of Batman takes place in crime-filled Gotham City. At the same time, a giant bat has been sighted acting as an independent law enforcer. Is he a good guy? Is he a bad guy? This is what the citizens of Gotham City are wondering. Along comes Vicky Vale, (Kim Bassinger) an investigative reporter who is determined to track down the story of this giant bat.

Much of the film centers around Batman’s (Micheal Keaton) battles against former thug Jack Napier (Jack Nicholson). Due to an incident with a vat of chemicals, Napier becomes Batman’s nemesis – the Joker. At least his victims die with a smile on their face. Gotham City really has no hope against the devious Joker without help from Batman. Will his elaborate arsenal of ‘toys’ be enough to save Gotham City from this insane clown?

The Good
The acting is decent, and some is very good. I just loved Micheal Gough’s portrayal of Alfred the butler, he did a great job of conveying his deep affection for Bruce Wayne. Jack Nicholson was great as Joker and this is the type of role I really enjoy seeing him play. He is able to seem insane and menacing while still add a lot of humor to the role, which is exactly how Joker should be I think. I liked Vale as Bassinger as well. She is an interesting character, and I liked it that she is tougher than she looks. No matter what the danger, Vale will always take photos.

Although this is an older movie, I was impressed by how well it held up and worked even twenty years later. The special effects are good but simple enough that they seem real. For example, Batman’s various gadgets shooting out of his suit are cleanly executed, and I enjoyed the effects related to the Batmobile. That car is freaking cool, I love when it goes places without Batman and covers itself up with armor so no one can get in. The way Gotham City was filmed also keeps the movie from aging, I think. Since it is a fictional city with a unique look, it still appears fresh instead of dated. I really liked the look of the city, and the film is very aesthetically pleasing to me even almost twenty years after its release.

I suppose the plot isn’t exactly creative as super hero movies go, but it has some creative parts. Joker as a villain is definitely unique, and I liked the concept of this insane killer who can’t stop laughing. It sounded silly to me before I watched the film but it somehow works. His schemes for killing people and taking control of the city are odd but strangely diabolical. Contaminated beauty products? Who would have thought?

The Not so Good
My husband strongly disagrees with me, but I just wasn’t quite sold on Michael Keaton as Batman. I haven’t seen the other films yet to compare, so I may change this opinion. I thought Keaton was great in the Bruce Wayne character. However, whenever I saw Batman on screen I just kept thinking he was really this little guy who has a lot of money, and it didn’t make him seem too convincing to me. I wanted a big, strong, hardcore Batman! Of course, I did go into watching this film expecting Batman to have magical powers so maybe that’s just me. My husband has seen all the films, and loves Michael Keaton as Batman so there you go.

Some parts of the film were a bit cheesy and contrived. For example, right at the beginning there are two bad guys featured having a conversation about this giant “bat”, and of course who looms over them at that very moment??? That’s right, the giant bat. There are just a few parts that seem really corny to me, but not too bad on the whole.

Overall…
This was a fun film for me, and I look forward to catching up on the rest of the series. On the whole, this held my attention very well and the special effects were great for an older film. If you’re like me and have missed Batman for the last sixteen years, I suggest you give it a try.


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD