Batman (1989)

Directed by: Tim Burton | 123 minutes | action, thriller, fantasy, crime | Actors: Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger, Robert Wuhl, Pat Hingle, Billy Dee Williams, Michael Gough, Jack Palance, Jerry Hall, Tracey Walter, Lee Wallace, William Hootkins, Edwin Craig, Christopher Fairbank, George Roth, Kit Hollerbach , John Dair

Tim Burton broke through with this movie and how! In America, the film was already bombed as a classic upon its release. Shortly after, there was a huge hype around the film, Batman was very hot. But that had been different, in fact: Bob Kane’s creation had been almost forgotten. Until a comic appeared in 1986 that revived the struggling career of the comic book hero. That comic was “Batman: Return of the Dark Knight.”

The creator of that comic, Frank Miller, brought Batman back to his roots: darkness. Batman is not a happy character, something he had become over the years in the comics. Miller’s take on the classic cartoon character changed that, with Batman returning to the original melancholy person he was. This metamorphosis brought Miller much fame and also became the basis for the second Batman theatrical film, since its debut in 1966.

The eccentric director Tim Burton kept close to the atmosphere set in Frank Miller’s comics. Dark, gloomy sets and sober costumes populate the film. Burton clearly feels at home in this setting as his earlier films were also not blessed with cheerful colors and cheerful characters. Batman’s city, Gotham City, looks like a 1920s metropolis plunged into eternal darkness. The chilly buildings exude a desolate sense of claustrophobia. It gives the film an oppressive atmosphere.

Comedian Michael Keaton was cast for the role of Batman. At first sight a rather strange choice, but the suit of Batman turns out to fit Keaton like a glove. Keaton’s strange choice works out surprisingly well, in some scenes it seems as if Batman and his alter ego Bruce Wayne, feel like a stranger in their own city. Gotham City is a city teeming with crime and violence. Batman cannot accept living in such a horrible place. but nevertheless he feels connected to it. This dual attitude towards his city makes him a tragic figure and a kind of symbol of society as we know it. However corrupt and rotten the place where you live, you are inextricably linked to it. You are a product of the society in which you live. Tim Burton has captured this feeling very aptly in his film.

Hollywood icon Jack Nicholson plays ‘The Joker’, Batman’s most famous enemy. Nicholson’s manic play is truly fantastic. He knows how to portray a depraved clown with some perverted traits. The Joker is a master at manipulating people and that gives him a certain charisma. Nicholson acts very strongly and shapes his character very well. Despite the character’s ‘larger than life’ character, Nicolson keeps The Joker in check enough to be able to speak of a real person.

The highly developed characters in combination with the story and the action scenes make for an entertaining comic book adaptation. The beautiful soundtrack by regular Burton composer Danny Elfman enhances the atmosphere of the oppressive fable. However, this comic adaptation is aimed at an adult audience. The atmosphere is grim and hard. Some passages in the film are quite gruesome and absolutely not suitable for (small) children. ‘Batman’ will especially appeal to people who like Burton’s earlier and later work and, of course, fans of the comics.