Batman (1989)

Director:

Tim Burton

Writers (WGA):

Bob Kane (Batman characters)
Sam Hamm (story)

Release Date:

23 June 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Thriller

Plot:

The Dark Knight of Gotham City begins his war on crime with his first major enemy being the clownishly homicidal Joker.

Plot Keywords:

Gotham | City | Police | Murder | Chemical

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 7 wins & 16 nominations

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Michael Keaton	...	Batman / Bruce Wayne
Jack Nicholson	...	Joker / Jack Napier
Kim Basinger	...	Vicki Vale
Robert Wuhl	...	Alexander Knox
Pat Hingle	...	Commissioner James Gordon
Billy Dee Williams	...	Harvey Dent
Michael Gough	...	Alfred Pennyworth
Jack Palance	...	Carl Grissom
Jerry Hall	...	Alicia
Tracey Walter	...	Bob the Goon
Lee Wallace	...	The Mayor
William Hootkins	...	Lt. Eckhardt
Richard Strange	...	Goon
Carl Chase	...	Goon
Mac McDonald	...	Goon (as Mac Macdonald)

Also Known As:

Batman (Canada: French title) (France) [fr]
Batman (Austria) (West Germany) [de]
Batman (Argentina) (Spain) [es]
Бэтмэн (Russia) [ru]
аЩРЛЩМ (Soviet Union: Russian title) [ru]
Batman (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Batman (Croatia) [hr]
Batman (Poland) [pl]
Batman (Japan: English title) [en]
Batman (Greece) [el]
Batman (Spain: Catalan title) [ca]
Betmen (Yugoslavia: Serbian title) [sr]

Runtime:

126 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Mexico:A | Malaysia:U | South Africa:PG (DVD rating) | Spain:13 | Netherlands:12 | Netherlands:6 (re-rating) | South Korea:15 | USA:TV-14 | Brazil:Livre | Germany:12 | West Germany:12 (f) | Ireland:15 | UK:15 (video rating) (1990) | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Chile:14 | Finland:K-14 | France:U | Israel:PG | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | UK:12 (original rating) | USA:PG-13 | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Iceland:12 | Iceland:10 (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Acton Lane Power Station, Acton Lane, Acton, London, England, UK

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Corto Maltese is also an island country in Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns, one of Tim Burton's inspirations for Batman.

Goofs:

Plot holes: Only Joker, Vicki, and Batman ascended the cathedral stairs, and Joker's helicopter wouldn't arrive for quite some time. So how did the Joker's henchmen get on the roof?

Quotes:

[first lines]
Passenger: Excuse me.
Tourist Dad: I'm sorry, this is my cab.
Passenger: Sorry.
Tourist Dad: Listen, I was here first!
[as the cab drives away]
Tourist Dad: Oh, God! Oh, taxi? Taxi!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Pitch (1997)

Soundtrack:

Electric Chair

A Tim Burton Classic!

Tim Burton takes a darker twist to a cheesy over the top silly TV show that was loved by everyone. Batman is now played by Michael Keaton. Michael as Batman was perfect, he had the look, humor, and mystery that is Batman. Playing Batman for him, he became the role and I will always stand by that. For me, he is the best Batman, no one besides the original Adam West can touch his performance.

Jack Nicholson is now the Joker. Who could ask for a better Joker? He has the look and dirty scary side to him that makes you fear but want to enjoy his presence on screen. He has such charisma and appeal, his lines were perfectly delivered and every scene, he stole. He and Michael were terrific together. They played off each other so well, it makes you go crazy almost. The Dark Knight vs. The Joker, the perfect super hero and villain. Jack stole my heart with his killer, no pun intended, performance.

Kim Bassigner was also fantastic. She plays Vicki Vale, the love interest of Bruce Wayne/Batman. She is a photo journalist who is looking for the true identity of Batman, which leads to the question of if Batman can trust another being with his darkest secret? She was absolutely beautiful and charming. No other woman could've done a better job.

Like I said, Tim Burton, he takes a different turn on this "Batman", but it's very appealing. Everyone loves this movie, and I can't blame them. Batman is the best super hero of all comic book hero's in my opinion. You see Spider-man can fly with webs, Super Man has super strength and can fly, but Batman just needs himself. He kicks butt by himself. :) The only thing you miss in the movie is Robin, his faithful sidekick, but I don't blame Tim for not adding him for this Batman. It wasn't needed. With a cool soundtrack by Prince and and awesome setting, please watch "Batman", it's a true classic.

10/10