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The time has come again for me to talk about a movie in my DVD collection. This month's topic is, the first live-action Batman movie. Well, technically the Adam West show got a movie in 1966, but this is the earliest one that most people ever talk about.
If you were around in 1989, then you probably recognize that poster and I don't have to explain anything. This movie was a BIG deal. It got three sequels, and spawned a critically acclaimed and well remembered animated series, put Tim Burton on the map as a director, and has been praised for bringing the Caped Crusader into a serious light after the campy nonsense that was the Adam West show.
SIDE-NOTE- It might not have aged especially well, but the Adam West Batman show deserves some credit. This movie made the franchise a box office juggernaut, and the Nolan films gave it critical merit, but the Adam West show is what made it a household name.-END SIDE-NOTE
What do I think of it? I liked it, but I can't call it anything more than pretty decent. Let me make one thing perfectly clear. It is not a bad movie, at all, in fact I can think of many good things about the movie. Let's just get to the listing of points.
Story: Batman must stop the Joker from using cosmetic products to bring Gotham City to it's knees. It isn't terribly engaging, and that's my only serious problem, unfortunately it's kind of a big problem. Granted if I had seen this back in 1989 when it came out I might think more of it, but that is because the only thing I would have to compare it to would be Adam West show. I can't know how it felt to see this film back then anyway, because I did not yet exist.
Presentation: Tim Burton's signature aesthetic style is applied effectively, but it's only in play part of the time, and the dissonance between where it is and where it isn't really stands out. In fact, Burton himself has said that he wasn't satisfied with how the movie turned out, and only came back for Batman Returns in exchange for much greater creative control. The action scenes are serviceable, but there is no real stand out moment, and Micheal Keaton being unable to move in the Batsuit doesn't help. The sets look damn good, it is nice to see practical effects, and Danny Elfman's musical score is fantastic. Yeah, the Prince songs date the movie considerably, but I didn't mind them very much.
Cast: Micheal Keaton is the best Bruce Wayne/Batman combination*, even if the reaction to his casting wasn't unlike the controversy over Ben Affleck being cast in the same part for the Man of Steel sequel. Jack Nicholson as the Joker is a joy to watch, easily the best part of this movie. Those are the two major players, but everyone else does alright in their supporting roles.
In conclusion, it is a damn nice looking film, that just sort of drops the ball in terms of plot. If you haven't seen it, you don't need to rush out and do so, but if you want to, then know that it is a serviceable endeavor. As for the sequels, the only one I have seen is Batman Returns, and I have yet to finish it because I find it generally unpleasant.
Have a nice day.
Greg.B
Story: Batman must stop the Joker from using cosmetic products to bring Gotham City to it's knees. It isn't terribly engaging, and that's my only serious problem, unfortunately it's kind of a big problem. Granted if I had seen this back in 1989 when it came out I might think more of it, but that is because the only thing I would have to compare it to would be Adam West show. I can't know how it felt to see this film back then anyway, because I did not yet exist.
Presentation: Tim Burton's signature aesthetic style is applied effectively, but it's only in play part of the time, and the dissonance between where it is and where it isn't really stands out. In fact, Burton himself has said that he wasn't satisfied with how the movie turned out, and only came back for Batman Returns in exchange for much greater creative control. The action scenes are serviceable, but there is no real stand out moment, and Micheal Keaton being unable to move in the Batsuit doesn't help. The sets look damn good, it is nice to see practical effects, and Danny Elfman's musical score is fantastic. Yeah, the Prince songs date the movie considerably, but I didn't mind them very much.
Cast: Micheal Keaton is the best Bruce Wayne/Batman combination*, even if the reaction to his casting wasn't unlike the controversy over Ben Affleck being cast in the same part for the Man of Steel sequel. Jack Nicholson as the Joker is a joy to watch, easily the best part of this movie. Those are the two major players, but everyone else does alright in their supporting roles.
In conclusion, it is a damn nice looking film, that just sort of drops the ball in terms of plot. If you haven't seen it, you don't need to rush out and do so, but if you want to, then know that it is a serviceable endeavor. As for the sequels, the only one I have seen is Batman Returns, and I have yet to finish it because I find it generally unpleasant.
Have a nice day.
Greg.B
*Christian Bale does a better Bruce Wayne.
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