Batman Review!

 Alright! Today I'm reviewing the 1989 Tim Burton-directed Batman, which is not only responsible for bringing in the age of dark and serious comic book movies but also for revolutionizing the summer blockbuster, promotional material, and controversially casting Batman characters. 

The first thing you'll notice is that this movie isn't actually that serious or dark by today's standards. While in 1989 this was a game-changer, this is a relatively tame movie today. Just like how every Batman movie seems to bring in a wave of like-minded blockbusters, each generation gets more serious than the last. 1989 made "serious" mainstream, the Nolan trilogy revolutionized the budding genre and influenced a more "realistic" style, and who even knows what the hyper-violent and grimdark The Batman will bring about. 

The movie itself is largely entertaining and a classic of cinema. As Sam Raimi's Spider-Man hit all the right beats for Spider-Man, Batman hits all the right beats for Batman. It's the quintessential movie. Even though I had never seen it until, like, I was 16, I can easily picture an entire generation growing up with such an epic tale between good and evil. 

Now, the characterization for Batman is a bit rough. The brutal murdering and willingly dropping Jack Napier into a vat full of chemicals is very un-Batman-like. But this was before The Dark Knight Trilogy and Batman: The Animated Series ingrained into the pop culture that Batman doesn't kill. Batman here is a bit less complex than the tortured soul that is constantly struggling to justify his violent actions and avenge his parents' death. This movie definitely takes the route of "Batman is a rich guy who beats up poor people."

The only reason the title character doesn't come off as completely psychotic is that the movie spends a great deal developing Bruce Wayne. He's just a guy here. He doesn't seem to have a noble quest to cure Gotham, this is just a hobby to him. An outlet to relieve his stress. It's an interesting take, but it works and it was the defining Batman take for a good decade and a half. Bruce even considers settling down with Vicki Vale! That's pretty humanizing. 

"You didn't think I'd risk losing the battle for Gotham's soul in a fist fight with you. No. You need me."

And while Bruce shines, Jack Nicholson's Joker is even shinier. A legitimately funny and campy take, shoot, and, when looking at other Joker portrayals, it's easily the most comic accurate. He's just an insane man who fell into a pit of goo and now wants to wear purple suits and beat up a mentally unstable rich boy. That's the Joker. This movie hit a really nice balance of making the Joker legitimately funny (Which is important) and having him do grotesque things. 

I also love how Vicki Vale is more than just a glorified object of a character like some heroines were back in the day (And still are). Even for a character that the comics don't care about and has never been referenced by movies again (Save The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part), she's a surprsingly fun dynamic in the movie. More than just a screaming plot point to be saved. That was nice. 

I also loved how gothic this movie was. The gloomy and run down nature of Gotham City looms large in nearly every outside frame, it's majestic. Very nice. And I loved the aesthetic of the Batcave and Batmobile. And despite it's manueverability, the Batsuit probably has the best silhouette out of all the live action suits. 

Batman hits the beats and tells a very classic feeling story. This Gotham vibe is always welcome in my books. And the soundtrack from Danny Elfman! Beautiful main title. 

Overall, I give Batman an 8/10. "While an imperfect movie, Batman is the perfect introduction for the iconic character." 

What a nice silhouette. Very nice.