Batman (1996)

BETTER THAN CLASSIC AND GREAT

Although this was't precisely the beginning of the revival of comic book heroes as hi-budget color movies, it was certainly one of the mos famous and successful of the transformations. Tim Burton, by casting Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger and Michael Keaton assured at least big headlines for his provocative cast. It was a signal that Button, the arch-eccentric director, intended to do something worthy of notice with this new film. And indeed he did.

The supporting cast was excellent: Billy Dee Williams, and Jack Palance were sensational, each in his own way, and Palance more even than Pat Hingle, captured the public imagination with his characterization.

Myself, I'm impressed mostly by the unique and effective music by Prince, one of yhe most innovative of POP artists. The stuff made for this movie particularly, was outstanding. And, in addition to that, the art design -- of the sets and of the ariel floats -- was brash, sensational and thrilling, like cheap candy. The idea of gassing an entire city by means of festive baloons is a high point in demenedness.

The sight jokes and the staging of them is wonderful. Basinger is exquisite and the perfect foil for the JOKER"S perverse, monomonical lust.

In short, while keeping most of the elemens of the original Detective Comics creation -- the demented, sadistic arch-villain; the beautiful, helpless girl; the bumbling, well-meaning police force; the blithering and spooked population of corrupt Gotham, and above off the appearances and disappearances of the caped crusader -- this version of the BATMAN myth, combines with the 1943 Serial, to offer the careful observer of the changes in American POP culture and behavior, a rich and irreplacable reward. The sexual symbolism is hotter and more overt; the overall feeling of irrational psychosis is more intense and shrill, and the cynicism of the concept thrills the nerves like an Asian aphrodisiac.

This is or can be a valuable addition to your collection of BATMAN POP junk treasure. Long shelf life. It defies time. December 9, 2008

ONE OF THE BETTER "BATMAN" FILMS MADE BEFORE "THE DARK KNIGHT"

I PLACED AN ORDER FOR THIS DVD MOVIE ON August 2, 2008, BUT I WAS TOLD IT HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED BUT I WILL BE NOTIFIED AS SOON AS IT BEOMES AVAILABLE! I HOPE SO,THIS "BATMAN" IS A BETTER FILM COMPARED TO IT'S FOLLOW UP'S,EVEN THOUGH I DID ENJOY "BATMAN BEGINS" AND "THE DARK KNIGHT". HOPE IT BECOMES AVAILABLE ASAP OR VERY SOON,HEATH LEDGER MADE A DARK JOKER BUT I STILL ENJOY JACK NICHOLSON AS A FUNNY BUT EVIL JOKER. November 28, 2008

The all time Batman classic

After much anticipation, legendary director Tim Burton directs the memorable box office hit "Batman."Set in the brooding and morbid Gotham City, a millionare bachelor, Bruce Wayne dons a persona to make sure that no innocent person faces the fate his parents faced. He calls himself "Batman."

He causes contreversy in the city, which in the polices eyes, he is a criminal who is taking the law in his own hands. Well, soon enough he has a showdown with Jack Napier, Boss Carl Grissom's right hand man.Napier the falls in a vat of acid, which turns him into the homicidal Joker.Joker now sets out on a grizzly crime spree, causing chaos and mayhem for Gotham.

His Big plan:Poisoning all of Gotham with his "Smylex"gas.Batman must stop the Joker before this plan can be set into action.But,Brucie's love interest, photojournalist Vicki Vale(Kim Basinger)gets suspicious of him for his mysterious dissapearances.But soon, Vicki becomes a love target for Joker, and he uses extreme homicidal remarks and gifts to try to get her love.

This film is extremely entertaining, and you will always treasure this in your movie collection. November 27, 2008

Not perfect, but somewhat important.

Keaton and Basinger are very bland, and some new guy named Knoxx is all over the place and Gordon ain't in much. And the Joker upstages Batman. But the dark feel would rub off on many comic-book adaptions, and the big success would lead to more superhero films. (For better or worse.) And Jack Nicholson is very good, amd the set and score are amazing. Worth a rent. October 16, 2008

IMPORTANT TO THE COMIC FILM HISTORY, BUT HASN'T AGED WELL!

It's a tough thing growing old!......and this film hasn't grown old gracefully. Tim Burton tried so hard to make the film the fans wanted to see, but the 1966 TV show is still present to a degree in this "not so dark" romp through Gotham City! I do enjoy this film despite it's flaws, but you have to remember at the time this was fairly new territory. I went to see this opening night and it was a grand experience for the most part although I was not completely happy with the film!

Keaton who fans and critics scoffed at for being picked to play the caped crusader is actually pretty good and way better than Kilmer or the abysmal Clooney! Jack Nicholson's Joker is a slightly more deranged Caesar Romero, his perfomance is sometimes genius, but ultimately it's not that memorable because of the uneven tone of the film. A tone that switches from dark to camp to Hollywood and back again. If there is one consistent critique that remained the same in the last 20 years, it's that the Prince music is horrible and inappropriate in this film! Making the art gallery scene one of my least favorite parts of the movie!

OK enough already, the film is still pretty entertaining earning a 3 1/2 star rating from me and this two disc edition is awesome! Great DVD transfer and lots of Batman goodies to look at!
October 6, 2008

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