 After a young boy witnesses his parents' murder on the streets of Gotham City, he grows up to become the Batman, a mysterious figure in the eyes of Gotham's citizens, who takes crime-fighting into his own hands. He first emerges out of the shadows when the Joker appears a horribly disfigured individual who is out for revenge on his former employer and generally likes to have a good time, but the identity of the `bat' is unknown. Perhaps millionaire Bruce Wayne and photographer Vicki Vale have a good chance of finding out? Storyline: Gotham City: dark, dangerous, 'protected' only by a mostly corrupt police department. Despite the best efforts of D.A. Harvey Dent and police commissioner Jim Gordon, the city becomes increasingly unsafe...until a Dark Knight arises. We all know criminals are a superstitious, cowardly lot...so his disguise must be able to strike terror into their hearts. He becomes a bat. Enter Vicky Vale, a prize-winning photo journalist who wants to uncover the secret of the mysterious "bat-man". And enter Jack Napier, one-time enforcer for Boss Grissom, horribly disfigured after a firefight in a chemical factory...who, devoid of the last vestiges of sanity, seizes control of Gotham's underworld as the psychotic, unpredictable Clown Prince of Crime...the Joker. Gotham's only hope, it seems, lies in this dark, brooding vigilante. And just how does billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne fit into all of this? Written by Gregory A. Sheets Editor's Note: When Tim Burton decided to tackle the Batman mythos in 1989, comicbook adaptations weren't the billion-dollar industry darlings they are today. Aside from a few well-received flights-of-fancy, genre entries offered little more than cheesy dialogue, laughable special effects, and predictable performances. Neither the director nor the studio could have predicted that their dark and violent reinvention of DC Comics' iconic vigilante would change the landscape of summer cinema; paving the way for more substantial superhero fare like X-Men, Sin City, Iron Man, and, of course, director Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. Even twenty years removed from its debut, Burton's Batman continues to influence countless filmmakers working to introduce their cherished childhood superheroes to audiences around the world. Billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne (Michael Keaton) may attend business meetings, host charity banquets, and oversee the management of his late-father's corporation by day, but at night he dons a mask and cape; transforming into an elusive, crime-fighting vigilante known to Gotham City as the Batman. But the winged crusader meets his match in a sociopath named Jack Napier (Jack Nicholson) who takes on the moniker of the Joker after a freak accident leaves him with white skin, green hair, and volatile psychotic tendencies. Recognizing the danger of everything the clown prince represents, Wayne sets out to stop him at all costs. With the help of tenacious reporters Vicki Vale (Kim Basinger) and Alexander Knox (Robert Wuhl), his faithful butler Alfred (Michael Gough), and police commissioner Gordon (Pat Hingle), Batman has to find a way to bring an end to the Joker's mad reign once and for all. It's difficult to revisit Burton's Batman without immediately comparing the film's every element to its Dark Knight counterpart. Nicholson's Joker simply doesn't stack up to the eerie, unsettling monster Heath Ledger created: his expressiveness makes the character more clown than menace, his purpose lacks the frightening complexity of Nolan's villain, and his endless parade of one-liners plants the Joker squarely amidst Jack's all-too-familiar sneer-n-leer schtick. Keaton's Batman is also a lumbering wrecking ball next to Bale's light-footed, hard-hitting scrapper -- sure, stiffer costumes and cheaper effects are at the root of any inferiority, but it still leads to duller fights and action sequences. Likewise, Burton's Gotham is certainly charming, but ultimately feels artificial and stagey, lacking the real-world nuances and street-level immersion of Nolan's epic. At the same time, it's also important to remember that Burton's Batman wasn't intended to remotely resemble a grittier adaptation like The Dark Knight. It was meant to bring the pages of a comicbook to life... not transplant superheroic sensibilities into a more realistic setting. In that regard, Nicholson's performance meshes perfectly with the 1989 film's overall tone, its design aesthetic is entertaining and whimsical, and Burton proves he has a confident handle on his cinematic adaptation. With every scene -- with every proclamation made by Elfman's score -- I was transported back to my childhood; to a time when Keaton's kicks and the Batmobile's roaring engine made a bigger impact than they do today. Moreover, Sam Hamm and Warren Skaaren's screenplay still holds up quite well. A wry undercurrent of wit pulses beneath the surface of their work, imbuing characters with deceptively complex personalities. Granted, amateur-hour character actors derail a few minor scenes, but the main cast members invest their all to create a living, breathing Gotham City. It may not be the jaw-dropping experience it was twenty years ago (or the sort of film that can outclass a more weighty outing like The Dark Knight), but revisiting Burton's first go-round is nevertheless a fun and rewarding experience. Between the director's atmospheric vision and unique design sense, Keaton's well-rounded performance, and several rousing action sequences, Batman continues to demonstrate how it became such an influential superhero staple. Reviewer's Note: Reviewed by Kenneth Brown, May 5, 2009 -- When Tim Burton decided to tackle the Batman mythos in 1989, comicbook adaptations weren't the billion-dollar industry darlings they are today. Aside from a few well-received flights-of-fancy, genre entries offered little more than cheesy dialogue, laughable special effects, and predictable performances. Neither the director nor the studio could have predicted that their dark and violent reinvention of DC Comics' iconic vigilante would change the landscape of summer cinema; paving the way for more substantial superhero fare like X-Men, Sin City, Iron Man, and, of course, director Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. Even twenty years removed from its debut, Burton's Batman continues to influence countless filmmakers working to introduce their cherished childhood superheroes to audiences around the world. Billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne (Michael Keaton) may attend business meetings, host charity banquets, and oversee the management of his late-father's corporation by day, but at night he dons a mask and cape; transforming into an elusive, crime-fighting vigilante known to Gotham City as the Batman. But the winged crusader meets his match in a sociopath named Jack Napier (Jack Nicholson) who takes on the moniker of the Joker after a freak accident leaves him with white skin, green hair, and volatile psychotic tendencies. Recognizing the danger of everything the clown prince represents, Wayne sets out to stop him at all costs. With the help of tenacious reporters Vicki Vale (Kim Basinger) and Alexander Knox (Robert Wuhl), his faithful butler Alfred (Michael Gough), and police commissioner Gordon (Pat Hingle), Batman has to find a way to bring an end to the Joker's mad reign once and for all. It's difficult to revisit Burton's Batman without immediately comparing the film's every element to its Dark Knight counterpart. Nicholson's Joker simply doesn't stack up to the eerie, unsettling monster Heath Ledger created: his expressiveness makes the character more clown than menace, his purpose lacks the frightening complexity of Nolan's villain, and his endless parade of one-liners plants the Joker squarely amidst Jack's all-too-familiar sneer-n-leer schtick. Keaton's Batman is also a lumbering wrecking ball next to Bale's light-footed, hard-hitting scrapper -- sure, stiffer costumes and cheaper effects are at the root of any inferiority, but it still leads to duller fights and action sequences. Likewise, Burton's Gotham is certainly charming, but ultimately feels artificial and stagey, lacking the real-world nuances and street-level immersion of Nolan's epic. At the same time, it's also important to remember that Burton's Batman wasn't intended to remotely resemble a grittier adaptation like The Dark Knight. It was meant to bring the pages of a comicbook to life... not transplant superheroic sensibilities into a more realistic setting. In that regard, Nicholson's performance meshes perfectly with the 1989 film's overall tone, its design aesthetic is entertaining and whimsical, and Burton proves he has a confident handle on his cinematic adaptation. With every scene -- with every proclamation made by Elfman's score -- I was transported back to my childhood; to a time when Keaton's kicks and the Batmobile's roaring engine made a bigger impact than they do today. Moreover, Sam Hamm and Warren Skaaren's screenplay still holds up quite well. A wry undercurrent of wit pulses beneath the surface of their work, imbuing characters with deceptively complex personalities. Granted, amateur-hour character actors derail a few minor scenes, but the main cast members invest their all to create a living, breathing Gotham City. It may not be the jaw-dropping experience it was twenty years ago (or the sort of film that can outclass a more weighty outing like The Dark Knight), but revisiting Burton's first go-round is nevertheless a fun and rewarding experience. Between the director's atmospheric vision and unique design sense, Keaton's well-rounded performance, and several rousing action sequences, Batman continues to demonstrate how it became such an influential superhero staple. Arriving on store shelves more than two months after the Batman Anthology box set, this standalone Blu-ray edition sheds the series' baggage to focus entirely on Tim Burton's original Batman. Not only does the film itself hold up quite well (in spite of unavoidable comparisons to Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight), the disc offers a noteworthy catalog transfer, a solid TrueHD audio track, and a healthy helping of supplemental material. It even comes packaged in a handsome, 50-page Digibook case that further showcases the characters, the production, and all the hard work that went into its development. If the prospect of paying for Batman Forever and Batman & Robin doesn't sit well with your soul, look no further than this excellent release. (Based on Comic Book) Cast Notes: Michael Keaton (Batman / Bruce Wayne), Jack Nicholson (Joker / Jack Napier), Kim Basinger (Vicki Vale), Robert Wuhl (Alexander Knox), Pat Hingle (Commissioner James Gordon), Billy Dee Williams (Harvey Dent), Michael Gough (Alfred Pennyworth), Jack Palance (Carl Grissom), Jerry Hall (Alicia Hunt), Tracey Walter (Bob the Goon), Lee Wallace (The Mayor), William Hootkins (Lt. Eckhardt), Richard Strange (Goon), Carl Chase (Goon), Mac McDonald (Goon [as Mac Macdonald]). IMDb Rating (01/07/13): 7.6/10 from 173,059 users
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