Batman (1989)
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Critics Consensus: An eerie, haunting spectacle, Batman succeeds as dark entertainment, even if Jack Nicholson's Joker too often overshadows the title character.
Critics Consensus: An eerie, haunting spectacle, Batman succeeds as dark entertainment, even if Jack Nicholson's Joker too often overshadows the title character.
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Movie Info
Jack Nicholson is the Joker, who emerged from a horrible accident as a maniacal criminal. Michael Keaton is the Caped Crusader, who emerged from a childhood trauma to become a masked crimefighter. Kim Basinger is Vicki Vale, the talented photojournalist desired by both men. And Batman is the movie, the all-out spectacular directed by Tim Burton, set to songs by Prince and a music score by Danny Elfman, and an Academy AwardO winner* for Best Art Direction/Set Decoration (Anton Furst and Peter … MoreCast
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Michael Keaton
as Batman/Bruce Wayne -
Jack Nicholson
as Joker/Jack Napier -
Kim Basinger
as Vicki Vale -
Robert Wuhl
as Alexander Knox -
Pat Hingle
as Commissioner Gordon -
Billy Dee Williams
as District Attorney Ha...
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Critic Reviews for Batman
All Critics (68) | Top Critics (12) | Fresh (48) | Rotten (19) | DVD (20)
It's an unforgivably flat ending for a movie of such astonishing contours. But its first two-thirds -- which should be called The Joker's Big Misadventure -- is probably the best film of the year.
The storytelling has weaknesses, but the characters are fascinating.
The idea of doing a dark, neurotic, highly stylized and highly claustrophobic superproduction is an audacious and appealing one, but director Tim Burton has only made it halfway there.
Is it interesting? Fitfully. Is it fun? Not much, Gotham City fans, not much.
Director Tim Burton effectively echoes the visual style of the original Bob Kane comics while conjuring up a nightmarish world of his own.
The conceptual side of the movie--two rather sick two-sided antagonists having it out in a black and sordid context -- lingers.
Nicholson isn't only offering a brilliant bit of self-parody here, he's doing it in service to the character
It is, unfortunately, awfully difficult to revisit Tim Burton's Batman with an impartial eye in the wake of Christopher Nolan's genre-defining Dark Knight trilogy...
Nicholson's Joker is a villain worthy of a real superhero and Keaton's Batman gets to perform some cinematic superheroics of the first order.
Highly recommended even for fans who think Batman begins and ends with Nolan's trilogy.
[Nicholson] has never been more commanding. Not only because he does an outstanding job, but also because so much of the movie's creative energy is devoted to making the Joker one of the most startling movie characters in recent memory.
As Robin might have said of this semi-boondoggle: "Holy overkill!"
Michael Keaton makes a credible hero, and Jack Nicholson is downright manic as his nemesis.
Even though its standing has diminished in the wake of the countless superhero flicks that emerged in the new millennium, the pros still outweigh the cons.
Only minor Burton, with hindsight on our side, and its chief merits and flaws are as one of the formative texts of superhero cinema.
While Keaton and Nicholson are dazzling in their roles, Burton never quite finds much to explore with Bruce Wayne, and that's wasted potential.
Stylish, violent, and often dull Batman adventure.
A dark and refreshing interpretation of one of comic kingdom's most beloved characters, Batman successfully wiped away the memory of the camp 1960s television show and proved that comic book movies can be highly entertaining viewing.
The element of surprise appears in every frame of this motion picture, creating a rich sense of joy and mystery that seems to befuddle Burton and his primitive instincts.
...Batman hasn't gone totally stale.
Visually arresting but dramatically undernourished, the film suffers from bland characterization (particularly by Basinger's Vicki and the other "good" crime fighters) and is ultimately saved by Jack Nicholson's bravura turn as the diabolical Joker.
A void of underdeveloped style and halfhearted execution.
Audience Reviews for Batman
The creative vision of the Dark Knight is presented in only a way Tim Burton could do it. Batman is a charming and stylized portrayal of the DC-Comic hero. From the layout of the entire city of Gotham to the casts dynamic stamp (Keaton, Nicholson, Basinger) the Caped Crusader emerges victoriously and notoriously. 4/5
Super Reviewer
again its not one of the best superhero movies ive ever seen but its still pretty good for any fan of the comics and or Tim Burton
Super Reviewer
An interesting take on Batman, which has a high level of unrecognized faith towards the comics. Michael Keaton only gives a moderate performances as the caped crusader; nothing dire, but nothing superb. However, its really Jack Nicholson's take on the Joker that truly makes this film stand out. Not only does Nicholson give a sophisticated, hysterical and psychotic portrayal, it's one of very few performances that gets very close to the character. Its worth a try if your a comic fan and want to see some loyalty within a film. However, on the bare minimum, it only worth seeing Nicholson being creepy yet wacky.
Super Reviewer
I respect this film for the same reason I respect the Sam Raimi's Spiderman trilogy. It brought a respectable version of the character to the big screen and made it enjoyable and grand for it's time. Sure it may be a bit dated and I don't think Bruce Wayne ever had a mullet but I can still watch this film today and love the portrayals of the characters. Nicholson's Joker may not be my favorite but it is a staple in movie history.
Super Reviewer
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