Batman, the Dark Knight, the world’s greatest detective – these are but a few of the names by which this comic book icon is known. Originally created as a comic book series in 1939 by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, the series followed the non-superpowered caped crusader as he protected his crime-torn home of Gotham City from criminal activity. Batman himself has become a pop-culture icon featured in various incarnations of film, television, comics and video games. He is one of the most recognizable characters in fiction; even if you have never read a comic book, you have likely heard of him. He is also one of the most profitable characters for D.C. Comics and Warner Brothers, alongside the likes of Superman and Wonder Woman.
Batman was no stranger to the big screen, with films such as Batman: The Movie (1966) starring the late and great Adam West. This film was styled similarly to the original live action series, which embraced a more lighthearted and campy style, featuring elements such as shark repellent spray. Batman 1966 was quite a departure from the tone at the character’s inception. Thus, the next film sought not only to bring Batman back to his darker origins, but also to be an entertaining film to non-Batman fans. This is Batman 1989.
In 1989, the Batman franchise celebrated its 50th anniversary. Warner Brothers decided to commemorate this important milestone with a new interpretation of the caped crusader, one that differed greatly from the tone of the Adam West series. The intent was to create a film that was more reminiscent of Frank Miller’s Dark Knight comic lineup that had launched earlier that decade. The film itself had a lengthy production period, with four writers brought on to finish the project: Sam Hamm, Warren Skaaren, Charles McKeown, and Jonathan Gems. McKeown and Gems were brought on primarily for script rewrites and went uncredited in the final film.
Ultimately, Tim Burton was selected as the film’s director. He had shown a knack for dark atmosphere the previous year when he directed the dark comedy Beetlejuice. Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson were selected for the roles of Batman and Joker respectively, along with Kim Basinger in the role of Vicki Vale. The plot is as follows: Gotham’s 200th anniversary celebration draws near, but the festivities and city are threatened when Gotham’s criminal empires rally behind an insane crime lord called the Joker. With Gotham city mired in crime and terror, there is only one person who can come to the rescue: Batman.
Overall, Batman 1989 provides a simple story that focuses on the Joker, one of Batman’s most iconic villains. Batman and Joker have long been two sides of the same coin, and the writing on this film makes that connection even more obvious. This straightforward narrative was an intentional choice to make the film appeal to Batman faithful and newcomers alike.
From a production standpoint, this film maintains a high standard of quality with only a few dips. It is obvious that the Bat-suit was hard for Keaton to move in from the way he walks and rarely turns. Occasionally, when Batman descends on a scene, you can very clearly see the wires suspending him. The atmosphere itself is dark and dank, which is pretty accurate to comic portrayals of Gotham City. The atmosphere is supplemented by Danny Elfman’s score, which further highlights the dark and mysterious nature of Gotham. The film also features some original songs by Prince, which stand out quite a bit. But I’m not complaining, because it’s Prince…
The film benefits from some top-notch performances. In any performance of the Batman character, there are three aspects that must land: Bruce Wayne as he is in the public eye (his billionaire playboy persona), Bruce Wayne the tortured soul as he actually is, and Bruce Wayne as Batman himself. I can gladly say that Michael Keaton excellently handles all three sides of Batman’s character. My compliments extend to Nicholson’s performance as the Joker. The actor clearly had a lot of fun playing the role, and he wonderfully chews the scenery every second he is on screen. A hero is only as entertaining as their villain, and Nicholson brings the Joker to live action wonderfully, which is a very good thing since most of the movie is focused on him.
The film received financial and critical acclaim, earning $251 million during its theatrical run and becoming the highest-grossing movie of 1989. It also took home an Oscar for best art direction and set direction that year, the first film within the Batman franchise to win such an award. The next Batman film to take home such an honor would be Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight in 2008.
Batman 1989 launched a resurgence of the Batman character in the public eye, inspiring projects such as the Batman Animated Series. Modern Batman adaptations owe their existence in some shape or form to this film, which brought Batman back to its thematic roots while making appropriate changes to attract newcomers. It was just what the caped crusader needed for his continued survival, and it is a film that, in my opinion, is still worth viewing today.
