Mini-review: Batman (1989)

Tim Burton is not the ideal Batman director. It's clear from his movies that he prefers the villains over Batman himself, and as such Batman himself has a relatively minor role outside the final act.

Because this really doesn't give me rage issues, I'm not doing a full out review on it, but I do have a little to say, so I'll say it

1) Jack Nicholoson does a really good Joker. Although there are 2 elements I'd say I don't like, neither are really based on the actor, more the general story-telling directions.

2) This version of the Joker is funny, homicidal, and insane, which is exactly what you want in the Joker

3) I do like that they do have a little focus on the corrupt cops angle

4) Some of the sets look really nice

The majority of my problems are in the final act, but here's a couple I had earlier on

1) They gave Joker a definitive origin story (including the notion that he was a psycho prior to the chemical bath). One of the fundamental rules of the Joker is you don't see his origin in full (if you're going to have an origin story, better off making it multiple choice)

2) The Joker spends way too much time in human make-up

3) Batman takes Vicky Vale into the Batcave without a blindfold

4) And then proceeds to knock her out, just to take away her camera film

5) Bruce Wayne is a little too bumbling in this film (I'm guessing the glasses were necessary?) Bruce Wayne is supposed to be a play-boy, rather than socially awkward

But the main problems of the film are in the final act

1) Batman destroys a chemical plant, killing everyone inside

2) The bat-mobile has gatling guns

3) The bat-wing has gatling guns

4) The bat-wing fires lock-on missiles at the Joker, who is standing still, and they all miss

5) Way too much time is spent looking watching that bat-wing flying over an obviously fake background

6) The Joker killed Bruce Wayne's parents

7) Batman sends several henchmen hurtling to their deaths

8) Batman kills the Joker

9) Batman delivers a message to the police (who had done nothing but chase him in the few scenes they're in) the bat-signal, and totally trusts that they won't arrest him the moment they call. (Bare in mind, Batman has committed cold-blooded murder at this point)

It's obvious in this film, and even more so in the next, that Burton values the Bat-villains over the Batman. And because their Joker is very good in this, you can ignore it, it's a little more difficult to in the next one (despite the claims that it's better than this one, which in some ways, it is) but it's clear Burton does not get Batman.

Outside a brief period in the early times of his character, Batman doesn't kill! Even the worst of scum have families, and he knows he's walking the edge of becoming exactly what he fights against.

But as much as these points annoy, I can't hate the film, not least because it inspired the fantastic Batman: The Animated Series, which became a basis for an entire animated universe, also because it's a step away from the campier Batman from the 60s (he thankfully doesn't carry shark-repellent bat-spray)

Batman and all related characters and trademarks are properties of DC Comics. Batman (1989) was created by Warner Bros. Batman: The Animated series was created by Warner Bros. Animation and DC Comics.

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