211. Batman; movie review

BATMAN
Cert 12A
126 mins

BBFC advice: Contains moderate violence, threat

What did cinema superheroes look like before Marvel swept all before it?
As Avengers - End Game becomes the highest grossing film of all time, it may seem hard for its younger fans to imagine a time when the big event was a DC movie.
Indeed, such has been the malaise of Batman since Ben Affleck donned the cape, it is equally difficult to spin back to the brilliant collaboration of Michael Keaton and Tim Burton.
These were the days when Burton was unique but before he became self-indulgent and when he was more in tune with mainstream audiences.
Four Batman films have been re-released to coincide with the 80th anniversary of his first comic book appearance.
In 1989, Burton recreated the darkness and insecurities of Bob Kane's original Batman while bringing him up to date.

This was a very different Batman to the Adam West comedy hero with whom we had grown up.
Keaton is a picture of insecurity as is demonstrated by his awkward relationship with girlfriend Vicki Vale (Kim Basinger).
But he also believes in leading the fight against corruption and downright even which is threatening is hometown.
The hoodlums are led by Jack Palance but he is soon usurped by the ambitious Jack Napier, aka The Joker (Jack Nicholson).
Nicholson was born to play this smiling, unhinged killer - reprising some of the elements of his classic performance in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest.
Burton's film is effectively an introduction to Batman who is initially unknown to a suspicious Commissioner Gordon (Pat Hingle) and Harvey Dent (Billy Dee Williams).
Hot on his scent are newspaper reporter, Alexander Knox (Robert Wuhl) and a photographer, the aforementioned Vale.
Thus, as many headlines are attributed to Batman as there are to the crime spree running out of control thanks to the Joker.
Anyway, everyone knows that there will be much trouble before Batman, ably assisted by the straight bat of Alfred (Michael Gough) wins the day.
Or does he? Burton set the trend for there never being a clear winner in Caped Crusader movies and delving more into his dark side.
Unfortunately, few have done it as well as him.

Reasons to watch: The Batman ground-breaker
Reasons to avoid: More pantomime than today's Batman films

Laughs: None
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 9/10

Did you know? Among the contenders for the title role were Mel Gibson, Bill Murray, Kevin Costner, Willem Dafoe, Tom Selleck, Harrison Ford, Charlie Sheen, Ray Liotta and Pierce Brosnan.

The final word. Tim Burton: "'I'd considered some very good square-jawed actors,'' Burton said, ''but I couldn't see them putting on a Batsuit. You look at Michael and you see all sorts of things going on inside.''

Share this post