Shield Reviews Classics: Batman (1989)

Batman films these days are all about the intensity, the effects and action, and the story. Well, when you look back at the old Batman films such as the 1989 version of Batman, you'd begin to think that films like that are crap. The effects are pedestrian, the action is not as intense, and even the storyline isn't nearly as thick, since movies in 1989 watched these days have the "old" feel to them. Having seen this for the first time, yes, it does have the obvious lack compared to what we witness these days with Christopher Nolan's 'Batman' franchise and today's effects, but considering it was made 22 years ago, it's really not too shabby. First of all, before I compare today's versions compared to this one, I just wanted to mention the cast first (as usual) and no, I am not going into the plot considering I'm sure I'm the only one on all of CBM that hasn't seen this unto this day. The main cast contains Michael Keaton as the Dark Knight, Jack Nicholson as the Joker, and Kim Basinger as Vicki Vale. All 3 are great in it. The one that had to stand out was Nicholson. Now I know, yes, Heath Ledger did way better than Nicholson did, but Nicholson was perfect for the role. His looks, his personality, his humorous touch, and serious side all came together into a great performance, today's Joker that was portrayed by Ledger was much better (and much scarier) but Nicholson was pretty darn good. Keaton is very solid in his role as Batman, he has a different side to him compared to Bale's version of the character, but I think both are equally as good for their character's respective eras (I know I hated on Bale in TDK, but I loved him in BB and hope he impresses me again like he did in BB again in TDKR) And Kim Basinger plays Vicki Vale rather well, too. Another stand-out role (for me) was Robert Wuhl as Alexander Knox. His character had a nice sense of humor and was a goofball and pretty likable. Meanwhile, the black Harvey Dent played by Billy Dee Williams throws me off - I thought he was white? (hence Aaron Eckhart...) I will have to look further into that black/white thing. And Michael Gough is outshined by his current portrayer of Alfred Pennyworth in Michael Caine, but Gough was good in his limited scenes as Wayne's butler.

Now to the effects. You have to remember today's technology compared to 1989's technology. As mentioned, if you look at a 1989 movie and immediately compare it to let's say.. 'The Dark Knight', you would think the effects are bullshit. But to be honest (again) they really aren't that bad. Now 1989 isn't 1889 so technology was coming along compared to even later in the past, but then again, the technology then was nothing like today. Therefore, the effects for a 1989 year old movie are great, but not for a 2011 movie. The action is pretty good, the scene that had to stand out was the final climax scene between Batman and Joker at the top of the church with police searching for the criminal atop the building from the streets while Vicki Vale was practically being tortured by the Joker's emo dancing with her. And the story line isn't bad, I wish Wayne's character had a little more development (probably seen it previous movies before this one, I know) but the coming-along of Jack Napier to his transformation of the Joker is pretty epic. Especially when he walks in on Grissom and kills him while revealing his new face for the first time, that was one of the more memorable and epic scenes of the film, as well. Along with the party scene at Wayne Manor.

So overall, I really liked it. Compared to today's films, it would seem pretty shallow and dull, but for a classic older film, it's great. This film gets a 4.5/5 for me.