Batman (1989)

In this article, we will be looking at 2019’s book “1001 Movies to See Before You Die” and going through each film in a random order that I have chosen. We will be looking at what constitutes this film to be on the list and whether I think this film deserves to be here at all. I want to make perfectly clear that I won’t be revealing details from this book such as analyses by film reporters who have written about the film in question, so if you want the book itself you’ll have to buy it. But I will be covering the book’s suggestions on which films should be your top priority. I wouldn’t doubt for a second that everyone reading this article has probably watched many of these movies anyway. But we are just here to have a bit of fun. We’re going to not just look at whether it should be on this list but we’re also going to look at why the film has such a legacy at all. Remember, this is the 2019 version of the book and so, films like “Joker” will not be featured in this book and any film that came out in 2020 (and if we get there, in 2021). So strap in and if you have your own suggestions then don’t hesitate to email me using the address in my bio. Let’s get on with it then.

Batman (1989) dir. by Tim Burton

If you are like me and born in the era of Tim Burton's Batman films, you probably grew up watching them like me too. And we all have to admit that though all the others are not great, "Batman" (1989) is an absolute blast and, to this day, I still re-watch that one. Jack Nicholson's Joker seems to be the main pull and from then on, all the "Jokers" have tried and tried to match and get inspiration from his performance with Heath Ledger being the closest in meeting Jack Nicholson's original, adapted into a new Batman era.

Released on June the 23rd, 1989 nationally in the USA, the film made over 400 million dollars at the box office after spending only 35 million dollars on production. I would say those are pretty good numbers for a comic book movie. Given the fact that the last thing people saw was probably Adam West and the crew. Tim Burton did well there.

At first, it was criticised for being 'too dark' (as if Batman is not dark when you actually read the comic books, that seems to be the entire point but oh well). But generally, it was well received. Rotten Tomatoes critics' consensus states that the film is an:

"An eerie, haunting spectacle, Batman succeeds as dark entertainment, even if Jack Nicholson's Joker too often overshadows the title character."

Tim Burton spent a hell of a lot of time on the set design and placing the Joker within these sets, making him a different person in comparison to the others, juxtaposing him to the Batman in more ways than one.

In the AFI lists, Jack Nicholson's Joker was voted the 45th Greatest Villain with Michael Keaton's Batman as the 46th Greatest Hero.

I think what Roger Ebert said about the film actually made me laugh a bit when I first saw it some years ago. Not because I thought he was wrong, but because I thought he was right on the way we are supposed to watch superhero movies and yet, everyone else has not yet realised it. He states about "Batman" (1989) here:

"Batman is a triumph of design over story, style over substance, a great-looking movie with a plot you can't care much about."

His close friend and veteran film critic Gene Siskel begs to differ and I think he called the film something like 'adult' and something that was new and refreshing in comparison to older Batman films and TV shows.

All in all, the film has become an icon of superhero genre films since its release and definitely on the future films directed by Christopher Nolan. Bob Kane himself worked on Batman (1989) and its sequels and so, you cannot really have many complaints there. But I have a question for all of you here:

"Have you ever danced with the Devil in the pale moonlight?"