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Ten years in the making, with casting (Mr Mom as Batman?)
more divisive than a Michael Moore film, and a director so
idiosyncratic and untraditional that Bob Kane's oxygen tank
needed immediate refuelling, Batman was a film we so
much wanted to abhor - but in the end, ended up jammed for
lexis.
In June of 1989, Tim Burton gave us Batman - one of
the most spectacular movies of the '80s.
Though the casting of Michael Keaton (who had worked with
Burton on Beetlejuice, and who Burton thought would
make a good Batman because he'd be someone that wouldn't "need
to get around in a mask and batsuit to be menacing")
was a worry, and Burton's back-catalogue right away had purists
in a panic - it didn't take much to change all our minds.
Within minutes of the pricey blockbuster's grand opening
theme, its glittering and effervescent titles, and with our
first glimpse at the eye-poppingly designed Gotham City, we'd
all swayed from the sceptic's team to the supporter's team.
This mightn't have been the Batman we grew up watching
on TV - but that, it turns out, was a good thing.
The production value was incontestably the star - the sets,
the costumes, the cars, the effects, the stunts, the gadgets
- but looking back, it's hard to imagine it turning out so
well without Burton, Keaton and the fab Jack Nicholson leading
the charge.
Burton, it seems, was the right choice for the job all along.
Yes, he did get a little too dark there in spots, but he did
seem to have an understanding of this mythologic tale, much
more so than another director (hello Schumacher!) would've,
and ultimately put forward a slick, satisfying interpretation.
Keaton, as questionable as his casting was, also proved to
be a fine choice. As both Batman and his alter ego Bruce Wayne,
he lit up the screen, offering a multi-faceted performance
that was as captivating as it was unique. Keaton, best known
for comedies at that stage in his career, wasn't your typical
action hero - and that's what worked for the film. It gave
it some grounding.
Best though, was the always-dependable Nicholson, giving
a welcomingly over-the-top and risibly menacing performance
as the deformed Joker. Hard to imagine anyone else but Jack
playing that role. He probably did deserve that $500 billion,
or whatever he was paid, to do it.
The supporting cast isn't to be overlooked either. Kim Basinger
- replacing Sean Young at the last minute - proved to be a
laudable love interest for Bruce; Robert Wuhl was droll as
meddlesome reporter Knox; Pat Hingle was immersing in the
role of Commissioner Gordon; Billy Dee Williams - apparently
a little cheesed that he didn't get to play Two-Face later
on - was a pleasing Harvey Dent; Tracey Walter was tremendous
as The Joker's right-hand man Bob; and Michael Gough, just
splendid, as Bruce Wayne's long-time friend and butler, Alfred.
Though it's the best Batman film of the four that
were made prior to Batman Begins there's still a couple
of beefs I've got with it though. Firstly, it's tweaking of
Batman-lore.
In this, The Joker/Jack Napier kills Bruce Wayne's parents.
That's wrong. In this, Alfred the Butler has no problems letting
reporter Vicki Vale come for a stroll thru the Batcave. He
would never have done that, especially if he wanted to keep
his job. Thirdly, it does have a few too many slow/dull spots
- and that's never a good way to hold an audience's attention.
At the end of the day though, this is a much better film
than we all expected - right? - and even today, stands up
very, very, well.
One of the best DVD releases of the year - easily.
DVD Extras
The film looks and sounds terrific - much better than it
did on the original DVD release - and Burton provides optional
commentary for it, if you're keen. Though he covers most of
the information he relays here in the second disc's special
features, he's an interesting guy - and you'll appreciate
hearing his impetus and reasons behind doing Batman
the way he did.
Disc 2 contains the weight of the extras, and boy are they
fantastic! First up, there's a documentary on the legend of
the character himself. This is a wide-ranging, fairly prolonged
doco, narrated by Mark Hamill, which starts from the foundation
and ends with the current crop of movies.
Everyone from filmmaker Kevin Smith, Marvel's Stan Lee, Comic
legend Frank Miller, and Burton, are here. If you love the
Caped Crusader, or simply want to know more about the character's
evolution, this is a must-watch.
"Shadows of the Bat: A Cinematic History of the Dark
Knight" is a 3-part documentary that's got some real
sizzle. Here, we learn all about the challenging process of
bringing "Batman" to the big screen - finding a
studio and producer to back it, the controversy surrounding
Keaton's casting, re-casting Sean Young's part as Vicki Vale
and so on - and it's ultimate success at the box office (A
smug Jack Nicholson sits back and gleams about the experience.
Understandably so, he's sitting on a beanbag-sized bundle
of freshly rolled hundred dollar notes to do the interview).
"Beyond Batman" gets into the technical side of
things - personally, didn't interest me as much, not to say
it won't interest you - taking a look at how such things as
the gadgets, the backdrop, the car, the suit, the music and
casting Jack as 'The Joker', came about.
Also on the disc - a vintage featurette that features the
late Bob Kane on the film's set, brief interviews with those
that played the 'heroes' and 'villains' of the movie, a brief
deleted scene, three of Prince's music videos, and the original
storyboard sequence for a scene that would have introduced
Robin into the movie - ultimately scrapped.
Conclusion: Movie 85% Extras: 90%
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