From The Archives: BATMAN 1989 Review; "It Deserves To Be Remembered As A Classic"

With Michael Keaton set to return as Bruce Wayne in The Flash, we're reviewing his first two appearances as the Caped Crusader, beginning with 1989's Batman. Check out our verdict on the classic film here!

Review Opinion

By JoshWilding - Jun 28, 2020 04:06 AM EST

Filed Under: Batman (1989)

You know how you discover a great comic book series by picking up a trade paperback which is maybe the third or fourth volume rather than the first? In many ways, Batman is a lot like that. When this movie begins, we're introduced to a fully formed version of the Caped Crusader, and director Tim Burton doesn't spend a lot of time delving into what makes Bruce Wayne tick; arguably important character beats like why he became a superhero and his relationship with Alfred Pennyworth are glossed over or not addressed. One of the best things about this movie, however, is that like that aforementioned great TPB, you don't necessarily need to know what comes before or after this story to appreciate what proves to be a satisfying, exciting standalone adventure.

It's definitely a little rough around the edges (likely a result of a relatively modest budget and the fact it's a product of its time in some ways), and Bruce Wayne sometimes feels like a supporting character in his own movie. Just like The Dark Knight, a film which was released almost twenty years after this one, it's The Joker who proves to be the more interesting of the two as Jack Nicholson chomps through the scenery with his suitably crazy performance. In many ways, Burton's Batman suffers from the same issue comic book movies would face for decades after: a need to over-explain things in order to justify the existence of a character like the Clown Prince of Crime (the fact his face is deformed due to a stray bullet or his random interest in playing cards before being dunked in those chemicals, for example). None of that overshadows Nicholson's work, of course, and while he's not the best Joker, he's certainly one of the most memorable.

Before being cast in Batman, Michael Keaton was best known for his comedic work, and that's fully on display here. His Bruce Wayne is an eccentric, somewhat absurd character who sleeps upside down at night and becomes a bumbling mess talking to a beautiful woman. However, we see a completely different side of Keaton when he dons the cape and cowl, and while his interpretation of the iconic DC Comics hero feels like work in progress in this movie, Batman Returns would ultimately cement the actor as arguably the best big screen Batman.

There are some questionable performances scattered throughout Batman, with actors playing major characters given nowhere near enough to do (Billy Dee Williams as Harvey Dent) or just not making much on an impact (sorry, Kim Basinger fans). Burton manages to make up for that with his take on Gotham City, though, as this gothic take on the fictional location feels like it's been torn straight out of the pages of the comic books and is a lot of fun to spend time in and explore. The filmmaker delivers some fantastic moments too, with The Joker dancing to Prince's music in the museum an undeniable highlight. It's worth noting that his Batman is a killer, though that has oddly never been as big as a sticking point for fans as it was with Ben Affleck's version of the character in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

With a unique look, sound, and feel, Batman was a game-changer for this character and comic book movies in general. It's not necessarily a masterpiece, but it set the stage for the Caped Crusader to become the box office draw he is today, and Keaton's Bruce Wayne and Jack Nicholson's Joker remain the benchmark for a lot of fans out there. Honestly, it's not hard to see why.

Like Gotham City, Batman is a little rough at times, but Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson's wonderfully weird performances (and Tim Burton's unique vision for the DC Universe) mean it deserves to be remembered as a classic.

POLL: From BATMAN '89 To The Nolanverse And DCEU - Which Of The Caped Crusader's Movies Do You Think Is Best?

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54 Comments

1 2

Amuro - 6/28/2020, 4:26 AM

One of the two movies where Batman is a creature of the night, mysterious, fascinating and bestial, and Bruce Wayne is literally nobody, a guy everyone knows the name (Gotham's most eligible bachelor) but no one give a damn about or even know what he looks like, not even reporters, and very socially-awkward for the richest man in town. The guy who has nothing to do with all the socialites and who only becomes himself when he's disguised as a bat in the night, beating thugs and other monsters like him.

Not very comic-accurate, but still my favorite incarnation of the character and definitely the most cinematographic one. He could be right there with Dracula or the Monster of Frankenstein and no one would feel him out of place.

dragon316 - 6/28/2020, 8:19 AM

@Amuro - there are a lot of Batman books and movies that are not comic accurate people love LEGO Batman that’s far less accurate as you can get as Batman fan I didn’t like LEGO Batman

99OPTIMISTPRIME - 6/28/2020, 4:28 AM

I'm glad Keaton's Bruce Wayne/Batman will be given more story, and hopefully a satisfying conclusion.

Nightwing1015 - 6/28/2020, 4:33 AM

Great film but not a great representation of comic book Batman or Joker.

MOTP takes the cake there!

Nightwing1015 - 6/28/2020, 4:34 AM

Also, I kill myself laughing every time I see Batman running up the clocktower stairs at the end of the film. We're used to seeing him grapple up and glide places but in the 3rd act he just runs up 100 stairs, LMAO

dragon316 - 6/28/2020, 8:20 AM

@Nightwing1015 - nothing his hook can grab onto

dragon316 - 6/28/2020, 8:21 AM

@Nightwing1015 - what version would you suggest is best representation of joker and Batman don’t say last laugh book I didn’t like that end to book Batman never laugh end of book he laughs with joker

Nightwing1015 - 6/28/2020, 8:34 AM

@dragon316 - The best representation of comic book Batman and Joker?

That's tricky. I'd say either the DCAU or the Batman Arkham games. They really nailed them in those adaptations!

tmp3 - 6/28/2020, 4:36 AM

I actually rewatched this last night. It's an ok movie, Keaton didn't leave that much of an impression on me as Batman but Nicholson was a lot of fun as Joker. Some of the lighting's really cool, definitely feels like it owes a lot to films of the 30's & 40's - a period of film that Burton would later explore in his (imo) masterpiece Ed Wood.

tmp3 - 6/28/2020, 4:50 AM

Honestly, as far as Michael Keaton as bird-themed characters in comic book related projects go, I'd put his Batman at #3

dragon316 - 6/28/2020, 8:22 AM

@tmp3 - I like vulture I’m still hesitant still watch birdman actor with imaginary friend of sort himself as bordman

99OPTIMISTPRIME - 6/28/2020, 4:39 AM

GothamSon - 6/28/2020, 4:49 AM

As much as '89 is revered and is a fantastic film, 'Returns' is the better movie. Darker, creepier & more Gothic

WakandanQueen - 6/28/2020, 5:00 AM

Great film but where is the love for Returns?

MrCamw1 - 6/28/2020, 12:57 PM

@WakandanQueen - I LOVE returns. I know its least comic accurate of the two Burton movies but I dont care.

Stinkor1 - 6/28/2020, 5:34 AM

I wouldn’t say those characteristics of the Joker are overly explained so much as just plain explained. He simply likes to play with cards. He has a lucky deck. It’s not like it’s beaten down or anything. And a bullet ricocheted into a glass gage that cut his face up. It just happened.

MutantEquality - 6/28/2020, 6:59 AM

@Stinkor1 - Thank you! Exactly

boiling - 6/28/2020, 6:10 AM

Yip of course this Batman is classic. Don’t need an article 30some years later to tell me that. How about another this/that 5 things did/not work doofus article.

James695 - 6/28/2020, 6:29 AM

Birds of Prey is a five star film. Batman 1989 is four star film. Ok Josh!

AnthonyVonGeek - 6/28/2020, 8:54 AM

It’s remembered as the first movie I ever saw Batman kill in.
Not just killing one person, he killed dozens if not more.
Still a fun movie. 👍

SnideCut - 6/28/2020, 9:43 AM

My biggest problem with Batman killing was that that fact makes his biggest foe being a glorified gangster in clown makeup an absolute joke. Atleast 89 ended it with Bats killing Joker.

1 2

From The Archives: BATMAN 1989 Review; "It Deserves To Be Remembered As A Classic"

With Michael Keaton set to return as Bruce Wayne in The Flash, we're reviewing his first two appearances as the Caped Crusader, beginning with 1989's Batman. Check out our verdict on the classic film here!

POLL: From BATMAN '89 To The Nolanverse And DCEU - Which Of The Caped Crusader's Movies Do You Think Is Best?

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