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4/25/2014

Batman (1989) - A huge, glitzy, empty joker



 
A poster for Tim Burton's Batman


QUICK REVIEW:

Gotham City's gangster problem numero uno, played by Jack Palance (Shane (1953)), is exterminated, but the replacement is no better...
Michael Keaton (Jackie Brown (1997)) is good, but very yuppie-ish as Bruce Wayne. Batman has quite a few awkward 80s qualities, - among others songs by Prince composed for the movie. The first Batman of Warner Bros.' initial film series is strangely frigid, and the interest on behalf of the audience never grows out of the curious but essentially passive.

Jack Nicholson as the Joker

The main reason to watch Batman is, of course, top-billed villainous Jack Nicholson (Chinatown (1974)), who goes theatrical and all-in as the total wacko. Nicholson himself was no fool, however; he got paid an astounding 6 mil. $ salary for his part + a considerable gross percentage, which ran up to somewhere between 60-90 mil. $!


Jack Nicholson's goofing around in Batman earned him more money than few other movies have ever made their star

Batman was a huge production with impressive special effects, but, - though many people seem to love it, - it is certainly not among director Tim Burton (Batman Returns (1992)) best films, and it also isn't among the top 3 best Batman films.
Burton has himself expounded on his negative thoughts about it, calling its production "torture. The worst period of my life!" - As its budget spiraled upwards from 30 mil. to 48 mil. $. In retrospect he has said; "I liked parts of it, but the whole movie is mainly boring to me. It's OK, but it was more of a cultural phenomenon than a great movie." - And he is totally correct.

Related review:

Tim BurtonBatman Returns (1992) - Burton gives us the ultimate, Gothic spin on Gotham City and its sinister characters 
Beetle Juice (1988) - Burton and team serve one of the best horror comedies ever 


Watch the original trailer here

Budget: 48 mil. $
Box office: 411.3 mil. $ (+ 750 mil. $ of merchandise!)
= Huge blockbuster + first film to reach 100 mil. $ within 10 days of release

What do you think of Tim Burton's first Batman?

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