Batman

Batman (1989) starring Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, and Kim Basinger.

Before...I cannot remember I time before watching this movie in all honesty. It feels like it was one of the first films I ever watched. It was one of those films that made me really excited about films!:) So all in all this film has legendary status in my mind...though I haven't seen it since I watched The Dark Knight....this may change things....

In Gotham City, a dark knight known as Batman (Keaton) helps to defeat evil and keep the city's citizens safe. By day he is Gothams favourite bachelor, Bruce Wayne. Wayne soon falls for new girl in town, Vicky Vale (Basinger). When Jack Napier (Nicholson) is transformed into the evil, Joker, he promises to take over Gotham City and have Vale for his own, it is up to Batman to stop him in his tracks before it is too late.

My wife's view..."A classic that everyone should see. It just didn't match up to the later ones. Jack Nicholson's Joker is completely wrong and bizarre. Kim Basinger is a bit pathetic, but Michael Keaton is quite a genuine nice Bruce. As always Alfred makes it for me. Not too much gadgetry, but it just fails to match up to the later ones. ★★★☆☆"

Where to start...first things first...Keaton is a legend. Even Bale has not lived up to the awesomeness that Keaton delivers in Batman and Batman Returns. His role, his brooding darkness combined with comedy help to make this film great, my issue with the film comes not with Batman, but instead with the Joker...

"HERESY" I hear you say, but ultimately it comes down to this, Keaton has created a Batman which is pretty similar and close to the comics, whereas Jack Nicholson, on the otherhand, has created a camp and ultimately comedic version of Joker. For me, the only actor who has come close to the comic version of Joker is the late Heath Ledger, but I digress...

Batman is a film with a confused feel about it. It's director screams gothic, Tim Burton is one of the most intelligent and brilliant gothic directors out there at the moment. However I feel he lost his way with this film. The feel of this movie is not so much gothic, but instead humouress. The scripts play on the Joker was a far more jokey look at the character, which if you have read the comics is just not right.

Although a classic this film is not Batman as it should be, for which I am sure I will be condemned and damned for by most of you. Due to these reasons I cannot give the film more than...

★★★☆☆