I have long been a comic book fan and Batman has always been one of my favorite characters. When the Tim Burton Batman movie was announced over 20 years ago I was dismayed when I heard Michael Keaton was to be the caped crusader. Soon Jack Nicholson was announced as the Joker (a slightly overweight middle-aged man?) and the characters of Jim Gordon and Harvey Dent were minimized, I wondered how this movie could succeed.
The Movie
Releasing to theaters in 1989 the movie was an instant hit and most of my fears were alleviated. Yes, this was not the Commissioner Gordon we know and some other characters were not right but the unique takes on the Batman (Michael Keaton) and Joker (Jack Nicholson) just worked. Flash forward to 2009 and we have Batman 20th Anniversary Edition on Blu-ray.
Batman begins with an amazing close-up flyby of the bat symbol carved in stone and Danny Elfman’s stirring (and now immortal) score setting a perfect tone for the movie. The initial scene shows a family being mugged in the gritty and gloomy streets of Gotham City. I remember wondering 20 years ago if this was Bruce Wayne and his family at first; it isn’t but it does introduce us to Batman.
Batman makes a very dramatic initial appearance taking down the small-time crooks on the rooftops of Gotham. Batman is initially shot as the crooks panic but immediately gets up and takes them out with ease. Holding the crook up he is asked ‘Who are you?’ and replies ‘I’m Batman’. This is a 20-year-old classic movie; people know it and have seen it many times but that line gave me chills 20 years ago and did so again when I watched the Blu-ray.
The movie does not hold any surprises; we are introduced to Jack Napier (Jack Nicholson) and know he will become the Joker. When he does transform after an initial encounter with Batman the use of darkness and lighting make his new appearance a slow and dramatic reveal. Of course we now have the Heath Ledger Joker to compare him too but Jack Nicholson’s take on the clown prince of crime is iconic, unique and amazing.
Bruce Wayne has a very visual role in this Batman as well, often conflicted, absentminded when not Batman and very intense. Michael Keaton still surprises me with how well he handled this role. I am sure he was as surprised as I was when he was chosen for the role. He is not a large man, he is not square jawed, but he has intensity in his eyes and is a gifted actor. After watching this for the first time again after the Christian Bale Batman movies I have to say Keaton’s ‘Batman voice’ is far superior to Bale's (no offense).
Article comments