1989 was the Year of the Bat.

After missing the boat with Superman's 50th anniversary in 1988, Warner Bros. and DC Comics made sure that wouldn't happen for Batman's 50th anniversary in 1989. So what was the biggest and best way to get the world in on the celebration? Why, deliver a blockbuster movie, of course.

The sleeping giant of the popular Batmania from 1966 was reawakened with the 1989 Batman movie, and what a spectacle it turned out to be. However, this wasn’t the Batman with Adam West and Burt Ward that has been ingrained in pop culture history. There was no “POW”, “BIFF” and “BAM” sprawled across the screen. And, thank the gods for this one, no Bat Shark Repellant gadget anywhere in sight.

Tim Burton, the director of Batman, brought the Dark Knight back to his original, dark roots. Purists and comic book fans rejoiced in this announcement hoping to erase away the stain of the 1960s camp. Unbeknownst to them, Burton was creating a whole new campy feeling for his version of Batman. The tone was heading towards the right direction, but who would be the perfect actor to carry out the lead role and that vision?


“I’m Batman”

Bruce Wayne is a disturbed man. Seriously, he is. His crusade for justice stems from that night his parents were murdered in front of him as a child. That incident forever changed his entire life. An actor needed to be able to portray the inner turmoil of the loss and channel it by wearing a bat suit to fight crime. Someone big and buff, someone with a square-jaw and chiseled body, somebody with a commanding presence that could put the fear of God into anyone. That perfect person was none other than… Michael Keaton.

Whoa, wait-a-minute. Mr. Mom is Batman?

That’s how everybody reacted when it was first announced Keaton had the lead role. What the hell was Burton thinking when he made this decision? Apparently, making the right choice as he and Keaton erased all doubts about everything. Keaton may not have all the physical qualifications for the role, but he brought something that was dire… a psychotic intensity that made people believe he was Batman. Burton recognized this when the two of them worked together on Beetlejuice, and as a result, Keaton is praised as one of the best actors playing the role of Batman.

But every hero needs a good villain (heaven knows he has the best selection of villains to choose from). And really, only one comes to mind, the perfect foil to the Dark Knight.


Stop Clowning Around

Jack Nicholson got top billing in this movie playing The Joker, the undisputed Clown Prince of Crime. If Keaton was the question mark to the entire production, Nicholson was hailed as the sure thing to hit the mark. He brought a dementia to the screen that was very manic in nature. It almost seemed he was channeling a watered down version of Robin Williams (who, incidentally, had the role only to lose out to Nicholson when he finally confirmed he would take the part) .

But I think Nicholson also attended the Adam West/William Shatner “Overacting: Performing Over the Top Scenes” seminar. If anything he should ask for a refund, but I don’t think he cried over spilled milk as he laughed all the way to the bank in merchandising royalties.

There were things about the Joker’s history that streamlined Batman’s origin and made it clean in nature. Falling into a toxic chemical vat and transforming into the ghoulish Joker has always been a staple in the Batman mythology. Everything else is up for grabs. The Joker’s “real origin” is still a mystery of sorts, having never been truly defined at all. British writer Alan Moore came very close to giving the “definitive origin” of the Joker in 1988’s graphic novel Batman: The Killing Joke. Burton said that this was one of his major influences, and it shows as he tries to make the Joker into a more three-dimensional character instead of a one-hit single.

A small change proved to be the backbone of the movie by making the Joker the instigator of setting the wheels in motion in the creation of Batman. In the comics, it was a thug named Joe Chill who gunned down the Waynes in front of Bruce. In the movie, a young Jack Napier does the deed instead of Chill. This adds fuel to the fire later on as Bruce becomes Batman and Napier becomes the Joker. All of a sudden, it becomes very personal.


The Human Element

Oftentimes, it is said that Bruce Wayne is the mask and Batman is the real person; however, Bruce is essential because he can operate in places even Batman has no access to… the real world. If you think about it, Bruce is really the spy by gathering information and resources in order to make the Batman’s crusade possible. The nonchalant playboy is all an act for the public to see to draw suspicion away from Bruce’s nocturnal activities. So how does one obsessed like Bruce stay grounded (not to say he’s really grounded in reality)? He gets lectures from his butler.

Alfred Pennyworth is perhaps the most vital component to Bruce Wayne’s life. He is to Batman what Jonathan and Martha Kent is to Superman—a reminder of human sensibility and morality. Michael Gough plays Alfred to a tee with his dry wit and fatherly concern for Bruce’s mental state. If anything he is the voice of reason and sanity in Bruce’s life. Without him Bruce would no longer exist; there would be only Batman.

This is evident as Bruce shows a quirky awkwardness towards people, especially in the company of photojournalist Vicki Vale. It almost seems that he doesn’t know how he should act, if he should take the time to get close to her, if she is only going to get in the way of his work. All she wants to do is love him, but he won’t let her in. She’s trying to understand his world but it’s a bit more complicated than she realizes.

Vicki Vale: Some people think you're as dangerous as the Joker.
Batman: He's psychotic.
Vicki Vale: Some people say the same about you.
Batman: What people?
Vicki Vale: Well, face it. You're not exactly normal, are you?
Batman: This isn't exactly a normal world, is it?

Kim Basinger’s performance was sexy and emotional. She was the voice of curiosity and understanding to the mad world that revolved around her. Pat Hingle (Commissioner Gordon), Billy Dee Williams (District Attorney Harvey Dent), and Robert Wuhl (reporter Alexander Knox) rounded up the supporting players to the game.


The Overlooked Character

Gotham City is perhaps the biggest character of the movie. The city is the stage for all these players and she sets the tone for everything that goes on within her. This Gotham is not a happy place. In fact it’s very dark, even when the sun manages to shine through. This is a city that screams “Beware” or “Avoid Me At All Costs” because it is definitely not the happiest place on Earth.

Anton Furst designed the look for Gotham City giving it a very Gothic feel to it. The skyscrapers climb high into the air trying to pierce free from this cesspool but can never manage to find the light. There is such an eerie feeling to Gotham that it makes people think twice of ever setting foot within the city borders. It feels dangerous and it is dangerous. That’s the way Gotham City will always be.

Batman shattered the perception of the bright 1960s television version by exhibiting a much, more darker nature. I’m sure this put off those who still hold the Adam West era in high esteem. Tim Burton played with a minefield when accepting this job and, for the most part, delivered a quality version of the Dark Knight. However, it is not without its faults.

There was too much theatrics especially with the villains. I really did feel it was over the top for me. The Joker’s antics were at the forefront of things almost making Batman a background character in his own movie.

Burton has a unique vision but it sometimes goes into the bizarre and surreal. There were times I wondered if I was watching an art film and other times if I was watching a theatre play—things were over exaggerated. The borderline between reality and fantasy was… actually, nothing was based on reality so scratch that notion.

And the thing that really bugs me the most is how ineffectual the secret identity concept has become. It seems like every Tom, Dick and Harry, especially the villains, always manage to find out the hero’s identity. Granted, it was Vicki Vale in this movie, but it still constitutes the secret identity concept as being a joke.

The gadgets, however, were a really fun treat, almost James Bond-esque in its revelation. I guess when you’re a multi-billionaire with lots of time on your hands you can invent whatever you want.

Batman went back to its darker roots and brought a renewed interest in the character as a result. I think this shocked the non comic book fans and revealed why he is called the “Dark Knight”. Burton may have showcased a more “Surreal Knight”, but if it wipes out any traces of the “Holy Fill-in-the-Blank, Batman!” statements then I’ll forgive him for that. But only just a bit.


Other Comic Book Movies
Batman Begins
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
The Batman Superman Movie
Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker
Spider-Man
Superman: The Movie
Superman II
X-Men


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 9 - 12