Batman: From the Archives - Tim Burton & Michael Keaton Talk the 1989 Film

I just think films like that -- much as is the case with Superman: The Movie -- has to be placed in context of the time in which it was released.

I'm not a giant fan of the Burton film, but that being said, it was a TREMENDOUS box office success. A genuine phenomenon at the time.

@ Otisburg "burtons franchise didn't go anywhere" dude batman grossed $251 million domestic and $411 million worldwide in 1989 and batman begins only did $205 million domestic and $372 million worldwide. I am sorry but I would have to respectfully disagree with you on this. I think the look of Batman in 1989 was pretty dark for the era - much like Nolan's version is dark for this era. If WB just lets every tom dick and harry director and actor have their shot at making batman after Nolan you will see the same horrible pattern of bad movies IMO :o)

Tim Burton's was like one of the first darker styled comic book films, which really helped the films today.

Is there more to the interview?

I think Tim Burton's Batman(1989) was excellent, and I reckon his storyline was probably the best one for a Batman film as it dealt with the rise of the Joker which resulted in Gotham City's residents becoming disillusioned, plus his relationship with the female reporter....it was all about escalation, and thats exactly what Nolan currently does with his recent Batman movies

This is the movie that made me a comic book fan. It's still to this day a very watchable movie.

Are you people high? No where near Nolans? It's BETTER than Nolan's! It actually feels like a Batman movie and not a crime drama that just so happens to have Batman in it.

I mean I love the Nolan films as much as the next guy, but Burton's was actually a superhero/comic book movie that stuck closer to the feel of the comics than Nolan's did. Nolan in the past has mentioned that the comics are somewhat of an afterthought. And that's fine, because he's doing a great job. But none of the Nolan films have a real sense of adventure or fantasy about them, and Batman's all fantasy. Whatever way you look at it.

DP @ Lmao!!!

BATMAN is an awesome movie, timeless!!!

GR8 stuff @ ED!

What sets Burton`s Batman apart is that it was eccentrically stylistic. The world created for Batman in 89 was a Burtonesque world-dark, gritty but given to cartoony touches.(a-la Beetlejuice or Edward Scissorhands). Nolan`s Batman is rooted more in a gritty reality rather than a gritty cartoon world. Certainly there are divergences from reality, but the Nolanverse will hold up better as time passes.

I grew up loving this movie, I still love this movie. I can't really say its better or worse than Nolan's films, different era different directions.

@EdGross, yes more old school bat's stuff.

@grifdeadpoolteabag, I aggree about the casting's and the suit, can't get much better. And you forgot about the car, the tumbler was cool but not as bad @ss as the burton car.

Just because TDK is slightly more complex, it's praised as the most intelligent script in history. Well no, the script is actually REALLY REALLY bad, every other second there's a dumb metaphor. It's not smart, it's just conduluded and not interesting. Luckily Ledger's improv and adjustments made some of the best Joker dialouge in history.

And I'm sick of people bashing on Nicholson's Joker, when he portrayed the character far more faithfully than Ledger did. Ledger was great but for [frick]'s sake stop sucking his dick.

Batman 89' was a superhero, adventure movie through and through and it had the PERFECT tone for Batman. Perfect casting, everything. And the music is leaps above the generic crap made for TDK. The Danny Elfman epitomizes the Batman character.

It's like people have forgotten that Batman's a superhero.

@paulie- Of course the Joker is going to use colourful toys...HE'S THE JOKER. God read a comic once in a while.

Still my favorite Batman.

This movie is classic! It played a huge part into my childhood! Spent so much of my lunch money on Batman comics and anything Batman related!