Batman

Year of release : 1989

Run time : 2h6m

Genre : Action / Adventure

Cast : Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger, Jerry Hall

Director : Tim Burton

The superhero movie is based on the DC character of the same name, created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, in 1939.

The movie is the first installment of the Batman franchise, although, Batman has been portrayed in movies since the 1940's! It has 3 sequels, 1992 Batman Returns, 1995 Batman Forever, and 1997 Batman and Robin, and even an animated series "Batman : The animated series" which ran for 3 years, from 1992 to 1995.

The movie opens with a family new to Gotham, who is robbed, and Batman goes after the robbers.

The new district attorney Harvey Dent promises to take out the corruption in Gotham.

A newspaper reporter, Knox, investigates sightings of Batman, while his colleagues laugh at him. Beautiful photojournalist Vicki Vale comes to see him, and proposes a partnership.

Jack Napier, the mob boss' second in command, is paying corrupted Gotham police lieutenant Eckhardt to deal with Harvey Dent who is disturbing their business.

Meanwhile, the mayor of Gotham is ready to start the festivities for Gotham 200 years anniversary. Vicki Vale has tickets to Bruce Wayne's fundraiser, and she takes Knox with her.

Mob boss Grissom sends Jack Napier to Axis Chemicals to retrieve incriminating evidence on them.

Vicki Vale and Knox meet Bruce Wayne, as they walk around his house, commenting on his lifestyle.

While talking to them, Alfred tells him commissioner Gordon found out about Eckhardt running an unauthorized raid on Axis Chemicals, rushing to the place.

Eckhardt and the policemen he lied to about the raid, open fire on Napier, and Batman comes around the same time with Gordon's men, trying to take Napier alive. Unluckily, after a fight with Batman, in which Batman tried to rescue Napier, he falls into the vat of chemicals.

Napier emerges with pale skin, green hair, black nails and a disturbing grin on his face, not even the plastic surgeon can change. He goes after his boss, and k1lls him,taking over not only his business but every other mobster's in Gotham, and then to his mistress, who's face he burns with acid, to match him.

He calls himself The Joker now,and sets his eye on Vicki Vale, whom he wants to date and burn with acid, to match his look.

Vicki Vale is invited to Bruce's place, and spends the night, after which Bruce shuts in. She follows him, and sees him placing roses on a deserted street,in front of a hotel.

We find out that's where Bruce's parents were k1lled by muggers when he was just a boy, hence his fear of intimacy.

The Joker is terrorizing Gotham by lacing certain hygiene products with Smylex, a deadly chemical, which causes victims to die laughing.

Something The Joker tells Bruce / Batman makes him believe he's the one who k1lled his parents.

I personally enjoyed the movie, it didn't bore me, like so many movies of today, and liked the world they created, the places they filmed at, like Vicki's place.

The acting was good, Michael Keaton was a pensive,brooding Batman.

The visual effects were good.

I didn't like the soundtrack, and the songs written and singed by Prince, as they didn't match at all, what was on the screen!

I liked Kim Basinger's outfits.

Many actors were considered for the role of Batman,like Kevin Costner, Charlie Sheen, Tom Selleck, Harrison Ford, Bill Murray,Mel Gibson,Dennis Quaid, Pierce Brosnan (who didn't want to play a comic book character), and Willem Dafoe, as Michael Keaton played comedic roles until this one, and critics and comic book fans (who sent 50.000 letters in protest to Warner Bros.) didn't think he'd pull this off (ironically, I thought he only played serious roles!)! After, the critics loved his performance!

David Bowie, Ray Liotta and James Woods among others, were considered to play the Joker.

Sean Young was supposed to play Vicki Vale, but she got injured horse riding before the shooting started.

Billy Dee Williams plays Harvey Dent in this one, while in Batman Forever he is played by Tommy Lee Jones.

Batman was a success, grossing 411.6 million dollars at the box office, against a budget of 48 million.

It received 5 Saturn Awards nominations, 6 BAFTA nominations, a Golden Globe nomination for Jack Nicholson, and won the Oscar for Best Art Direction.

Cinema Score audiences gave the movie an A, on an A+ to F scale.

Batman was the 6th highest grossing movie in history, when released!

Michael Keaton reprised his Batman role in the 2023 The Flash.

Rating : Worth a watch !