Batman (1989 film)
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| Batman | |
|---|---|
| Image:Batman ver2.jpg | |
| Directed by | Tim Burton |
| Produced by | Peter Guber Jon Peters |
| Written by | Sam Hamm Warren Skaaren Bob Kane (comic book) |
| Starring | Jack Nicholson Michael Keaton Kim Basinger Robert Wuhl Pat Hingle Billy Dee Williams Michael Gough and Jack Palance |
| Music by | Danny Elfman Prince |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
| Release date(s) | June 23, 1989 (USA) August 11, 1989 (UK) |
| Running time | 126 min. |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $35,000,000 |
| Followed by | Batman Returns |
| All Movie Guide profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
Batman is an American 1989 Academy Award-winning superhero film based on the Batman character created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger and appearing in DC Comics. It is the first entry in the original four-part Batman film series, the first directed by Tim Burton and the first to star Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne/Batman. It also starred Jack Nicholson as the Joker. Inspired by the darker Batman comics of the 1980s (including the work of Frank Miller and Alan Moore), the film moved the franchise towards the darker version of the Batman character and away from the campy 1960s representation of the character.
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[edit] Plot
Approaching its 200th anniversary, Gotham's leaders fear that the high level of criminal activity will deter citizens from attending the celebrations. Gotham's mayor orders district attorney Harvey Dent (Billy Dee Williams) to make the city safe again, in hopes of revitalizing local business. Dent, in turn, targets mob boss Carl Grissom (Jack Palance), who sponsors much of the criminal activity within Gotham and has paid off a significant segment of the police force.
Meanwhile, a dark vigilante dressed as a bat has attracted the attention of both the police and the local media. Newspaper reporter Alexander Knox (Robert Wuhl) is attempting to investigate, but his questions are deflected by skeptical cops, including Lt. Eckhardt (William Hootkins), one of many police officers on take from Grissom. After stonewalling Knox, Eckhardt is shown taking a payoff from Grissom's second in command, Jack Napier (Jack Nicholson).
Grissom, on discovering that his mistress is involved with Napier, sets him up to be killed by Eckhardt in a raid on Axis Chemicals. The plot is foiled by the arrival of Police Commissioner James Gordon (Pat Hingle), who wants Napier taken alive, and Batman (Michael Keaton). Batman captures Napier, but releases him when Bob the Goon (Tracey Walter), holds Gordon hostage at gunpoint. Batman vanishes, and in the confusion Napier shoots and kills Eckhardt, and then attempts to shoot a reemerged Batman. The latter deflects his shot, sending shrapnel into the former's face. Napier falls over a railing into a vat of chemicals, presumably to his death. Batman escapes the scene.
Batman, as we discover, is actually billionaire industrialist Bruce Wayne, an orphan who lives alone in the large mansion Wayne Manor, with only his butler Alfred Pennyworth (Michael Gough) in attendance. At a fundraising party, Bruce meets and falls for famous photojournalist Vicki Vale (Kim Basinger), recently arrived in town to cover the "Bat Man phenomenon."
Napier, in the meantime, is not dead but horribly disfigured, with white skin, green hair, and a permanent grin. Already erratic, the trauma has apparently driven him completely insane. Calling himself "The Joker", he kills Grissom and usurps his criminal empire. His first scheme is to spread terror in the city by creating hygiene products that can kill by fatal hilarity when used together. Following the death of a news anchor on-air, the city becomes paralyzed with fear. Making war on several fronts, the Joker then sets a trap at the Gotham Museum of Art for Vicki Vale, with whom he has become smitten. Batman intervenes and saves Vicki, to whom he then gives the secret of the Joker's chemical combinations. In typical fashion, Batman then renders her unconscious, and she awakes at home. Angered, the Joker vows to eliminate Batman for interfering with his plans.
Vicki's apartment is then the scene of a confrontation between the Joker, come to woo her, and Bruce, attempting to confess about his double-life but not getting very far. After Bruce challenges the Joker to a fight, the Joker pulls a gun and asks him: "Tell me something, friend. Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?" He then shoots Bruce, apparently killing him. The Joker then leaves amid his own hoopla, and Vicki is shocked to see that Bruce has disappeared, leaving behind only a metal platter which he used as an ersatz bulletproof vest.
That confrontation confirmed for Bruce that the Joker is actually Jack Napier, the man who murdered his parents many, many years ago in Gotham. The final clue was that his parents' murderer said the same phrase to him as The Joker said in Vicki's apartment. ("Ever dance with the Devil in the pale moonlight?") As Bruce grapples with this memory, he is shocked by the sudden appearance of Vicki in the Bat Cave; Alfred having decided that she deserved to know the truth.
The Joker has put his own plans in motion to upstage the city's canceled anniversary celebrations with a grand spectacle: a nighttime parade at which he will dispense $20 million in free cash. Vicki and Knox are there to cover the pandemonium and notice strange tanks on the balloons. In the middle of his generosity, the Joker begins gassing the crowd. Batman arrives in his bat-shaped jet and snatches the balloons away to carry them out of the city. Furious, the Joker shoots Bob the Goon, his number one thug. Batman returns to make a strafing run on the Joker, who responds by shooting down the jet. Vicki approaches the downed craft but is captured by the Joker, who leads her to the top of Gotham Cathedral. Dazed but not finished, Batman pursues. At the top of the two adversaries confront each other in single combat.
In a moment of opportunity, the Joker pushes Batman and Vicki off the belfry, where they cling to the ledge for their lives. The Joker's helicopter appears and he grabs hold of a dangling ladder, apparently about to escape. Batman shoots a wire around the Joker's leg, connecting it to a stone gargoyle on the ledge. As the Joker is lifted away, the wire pulls the gargoyle loose and he plummets to his death. The movie ends with Commissioner Gordon unveiling the Bat-Signal supplied by Batman with a note promising to return if the city needs him.
[edit] Cast
- Michael Keaton as Batman/Bruce Wayne
- Jack Nicholson as Jack Napier/Joker
- Kim Basinger as Vicki Vale
- Robert Wuhl as Alexander Knox
- Pat Hingle as Commissioner Gordon
- Billy Dee Williams as Harvey Dent
- Michael Gough as Alfred
- Jack Palance as Grissom
- Jerry Hall as Alicia
- Tracey Walter as Bob the Goon
- Lee Wallace as the Mayor
- William Hootkins as Lt. Eckhardt
[edit] Influences
The tone and themes of the film were influenced in part by Alan Moore's Batman: The Killing Joke and Frank Miller's Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. <ref>David Leverenz, "The Last Real Man in America: From Natty Bumppo to Batman," American Literary History, Vol. 3, No. 4. (Winter, 1991), 767.</ref> There are also notable similarities to Beauty and the Beast and The Phantom of the Opera. The climax is an homage to Fritz Lang's Metropolis.
[edit] Reaction
When the film was approved for production, there was considerable fan concern that it would emulate the farcical parodying tone of the 1960s Batman television series starring Adam West, concerns that seemed even more worrying after the casting of Michael Keaton (who was, at that time, known for his comedic acting) in the title role. To quell the concern, a rushed teaser trailer was released to prove the film would be more faithful to the original comic books.
Despite the early worries, the film became the most successful of 1989 and received praise from many Batman readers, especially those who had read the Frank Miller stories that inspired it. Furthermore, Keaton changed many doubters' minds about his casting to become hailed as one of the best actors to play the title role.<ref>Hal Hinson (June 23, 1989). Batman. Washington Post. Retrieved on 2006-11-01.</ref> Critical reaction was largely mixed, with some praising the film for its set design and production value, while others panned it as being too much of an intellectual exercise for Burton and too little of a Batman movie. Roger Ebert gave the film two stars (out of four), remarking, "'Batman' is a triumph of design over story, style over substance - a great-looking movie with a plot you can't care much about." <ref>Roger Ebert (June 23, 1989). Batman. Retrieved on 2006-08-31.</ref>
Some critics also felt that the film didn't delve deep enough into the psyche of Bruce Wayne/Batman. Although his parents' murder is depicted, Bruce's inspiration to dress up like a bat in order to fight crime (something that wasn't touched upon until Batman Forever two movies later), his physical training, and how he amassed his gadgets, was left out.[citation needed]
[edit] Awards & nominations
Batman won an Academy Award for Best Art Direction/Set Decoration (awarded to Anton Furst and Peter Young), making it the only Batman film to win an Oscar as yet. It was also nominated for a Golden Globe, two Grammys and several BAFTAs.
[edit] Home Video
The film was first released on VHS, Betamax, and Laserdisc in 1989.
The film's first release on DVD was in late 1997, shortly after the format debuted; it was a single disc release featuring the ability to watch the film either in widescreen or in fullscreen but not featuring any bonus materials, save for sparse production notes and cast info.
To coincide with the release of Batman Begins on DVD in 2005, Warner Brothers decided to give all four of the original Batman films new DVD treatments and special edition versions of all four films were created. The special edition DVDs feature newly restored audio and video, a re-mastered Dolby Digital audio track, a new DTS audio track and a second disc filled with bonus materials. Each title is available both individually and as part of a pack featuring the special editions of all four films in the franchise.
[edit] Soundtrack
There were two albums released in conjunction with Batman. The first was an album by Prince featuring songs from the film (including "Batdance") and others inspired by it. It is considered the official soundtrack album. The second album features the original score by composer Danny Elfman. According to the DVD Special Edition, Elfman says that Jon Peters was not sure about him as a composer until Burton made him play the main titles. The theme score however went on to become one of the most iconic superhero scores ever composed. Many fans felt that the score captured the essence of Batman's dark psyche. It also served as the basis for the theme song to Batman: The Animated Series, which premiered in 1992.
[edit] Notes
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[edit] References
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Famous Locations For Batman
- Batmobile featured in the film
- Pictures of the set, Batsuit, Batmobile, and cast of Batman
- Batman 60's Series to the Batman Film's
- Keith Short - Film Sculptor Sculpted the Batmobile for this film
- Batman review, Batman DVD review
| Batman in popular media | |
|---|---|
| Actors: | Lewis Wilson • Robert Lowery • Adam West • Olan Soule • Michael Keaton • Kevin Conroy • Val Kilmer • George Clooney • Rino Romano • Christian Bale • Casts |
| Live-action television: | Batman • Legends of the Superheroes • Birds of Prey • Return to the Batcave |
| Film: | 1940s serials • Batman (1966) • Batman (1989) • Batman Returns • Batman Forever • Batman & Robin • Batman Begins • The Dark Knight |
| Animation: | Batman/Superman Hour • New Adventures of Batman • Batman: The Animated Series/New Batman Adventures • Mask of the Phantasm • SubZero • Batman Beyond • Return of the Joker • Mystery of the Batwoman • The Batman • The Batman vs. Dracula |
| Tim Burton ( |
|---|
| Director |
| The Island of Doctor Agor • Stalk of the Celery • Vincent • Frankenweenie • Pee-wee's Big Adventure • Beetlejuice • Batman • Edward Scissorhands • Batman Returns • Ed Wood • Mars Attacks! • Sleepy Hollow • Planet of the Apes • Big Fish • Charlie and the Chocolate Factory • Corpse Bride • Sweeney Todd |
| Producer |
| The Nightmare Before Christmas • James and the Giant Peach • Batman Forever • 9 |
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