Batman 1989 by AverageMansReviews

Batman 1989 by AverageMansReviews

Review Time

Warning: there is flashing effects/colourful effects/disfigurement/transformation/shooting/breaking/burning/electrocution/melting/impaling/medical

Gotham City 200 years Anniversary Gala: unfortunately Gotham is under the fist of Carl Grissom [Jack Palance:] a mob boss which compared to his number one guy/right-hand man Jack Napier/The Joker/other characters [Younger Jack Napier: Hugo E. Blick/Older: Jack Nicholson] is a pussycat. But Grissom decides to dispense of Napier after it dawned on him that Napier has been in a relationship with his girlfriend Alicia Hunt [Jerry Hall:] she is the second part of this love triangle, by setting him up to take care of Axis Chemicals on where The Joker is born and simultaneously the symbiotic relationship between Napier/The Joker and Bruce Wayne/Master Bruce/Batman/"Batsy" [Younger Bruce Wayne/Master Bruce: Charles Roskilly/Older: Michael Keaton:] Napier kills Bruce Wayne's parents; Thomas and Martha Wayne [David Baxt and Sharon Holm:] as a family trio they were harmlessly walking home after the theatre; is forged in an unbreakable bond between vigilante and super villain. Young or old Bruce Wayne/Batman has one family member and friend he can trust with his secret and that would be Alfred Pennyworth [Michael Gough:] he is solely responsible for bringing up Master Bruce and even when he is fully grown he still has his best interests at heart depending if Bruce will actually listen to him is another matter entirely. On the right side of the law Gotham City has a new District Attorney Harvey Dent [Billy Dee Williams:] that I am paraphrasing valves to clean up Gotham City, he only has one face in this film. There is one person to begin with that believes in Batman Alexander Knox [Robert Wuhl:] he is an investigator journalist for the Gotham City Gazette, but soon he will be joined by Vicki Vale [Kim Basinger:] she is a freelance photojournalist that has heard/read of Knox's work and has an interest in this bat.

Generally speaking: the framework and pacing of this 126 minutes film mixed in with the atmosphere and art is crucial to the success of this film as the Director Tim Burton and Story/Screenplay Sam Hamm and Screenplay Warren Skaaren has a clear idea of what he wants Batman and indeed Gotham City to look and feel like; as back in the late 80's we just didn't have the same kind of technological advances as we do today in 2023 and beyond, so Burton has clearly gone with atmosphere and presentation throughout.

So from the opening credits the viewers/viewing audiences can understand that Gotham City is very much a downtrodden city mixed with a few that have wealth be you law-abiding or criminal over those that are hard-working in this dilapidated society or/and the low ranking criminal element. We also have Bruce Wayne/Batman making his first appearance in this film looking like an outline of a bat descending in the background as we are on the rooftop with these two criminals that has just stolen; this miniature action sequence also sets the tone for the rest of the film as Bruce Wayne/Batman basically tells this criminal I am not going to kill you, but to tell people of what you have seen here. So Bruce Wayne/Batman wants the Batman reputation out there to strike fear into the criminal underbelly of Gotham City; basically Burton has done absolutely everything within his power to transport us from our world into his/Gotham City and rotting and toxic environment.

Action/Art; the Batman costume looks fantastic with the black and yellow symbol on his chest, with the Batmobile looking imaginative with Bruce Wayne/Batman voice commands, shields, situated guns one on each side and bomb drops and from an artistic perspective we also have this full moon and Bruce Wayne/Batman taking a moment to use the Batplane to create this future Bat-Signal and right at the end of the film we get to see this iconic scene of the Bat-Signal in the background as Batman is being called and in the foreground there is Bruce Wayne/Batman most probably standing in the rough facility of Wayne Towers if I had to guess [which I could be completely wrong with this so I will apologise either way; either way apologies.]

Napier/The Joker has been given his green and purple colour system including on vehicles that are under his ownership, including his own right-hand man Bob the Goon/number one [Tracy Walter:] Bob was Napier's right-hand man, so it was natural progression to become The Joker's right-hand man/number one guy, because we are dealing with Napier/The Joker there are appropriate comedy references such as The Joker destroying a TV in some way or/and in this iconic action sequence with Bruce Wayne/Batman pounding on Napier/The Joker; Napier/The Joker produces these spectacles and asks Bruce Wayne/Batman something to the effect of you wouldn't hit a guy with glasses [yes he would.]

Character developments and performances: well as it relates to the character developments and the performances we have three that absolutely nail their characters and likewise their performances Michael Keaton as Older Bruce Wayne/Batman, Jack Nicholson as Older Jack Napier/The Joker and Michael Gough as Alfred Pennyworth; they all individually or in different pairing really understood what it took to become these iconic characters; this trio set the benchmark for what was to be expected from these iconic characters and their interpretations and performances; a special note has to go out to; Michael Gough, yes I haven't forgotten the Batman 1966 TV program/film which first brought us these characters including Alan Napier as Alfred Pennyworth, but it tells you a lot about a character/performer Gough when in his tenure within the Batman franchise from 1989-1997 he oversaw 4 films, 3 Bruce Wayne/Batman [Batmen,] 1 Dick Grayson/Robin and 1 Barbara Wilson/Batgirl] and he very much set the benchmark for what was to be expected from this integral character. The rest of the cast as it relates to a character developments and performances they are all good.

This film receives: 10/10, this film is top-notch entertainment; it should be noted that I had the opportunity with the person I watch some of this content with to go and see this film at the cinema; it is still fantastic on the big screen, it is still fantastic anyway, but it is very much a film worth seeing at minimum on a big screen or cinema and it needs to be seen once in your life time. This film also has awards accredited to its name 10 Winners that includes Academy Awards, USA 1990 Oscar Best Art Direction-Set Decoration Anton Furst Peter Young, Online Film & Television Association 2021 OFTA Film Hall of Fame Character Michael Keaton As Batman/Bruce Wayne and 2022 OFTA Film Hall of Fame Motion Picture, Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA 1991 President's Award and BMI Film & TV Awards 1990 BMI Film Music Award Danny Elfman. 26 Nominees that includes these from the same award ceremony/event  BAFTA Film Award 1990  BAFTA Film Awards Best Actor in a Supporting Role Jack Nicholson, Best Costume Design Bob Ringwood, Best Make Up Artist Paul Engelen Nick Dudman, Best Production Design Anton Furst, Best Sound Don Sharpe Tony Dawe Bill Rowe and Best Special Effects Derek Meddings John Evans