BATMAN
A film review by Ted Prigge
Copyright 1997 Ted Prigge
Director: Tim Burton Writers: Sam Hamm and Warren Skaaran Starring: Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Bassinger, Robert Wuhl, Michael Gough, Jack Palance, Pat Hingle, Billy Dee Williams, Jerry Hall, Tracey Walter
A simple pleasure comes from watching this first full-length Batman film...especially after having just witnessed the latest opus in this series, the dreadful "Batman and Robin." To get over that experience, which wasn't totally horrible but incredibly unfulfilling, one must go back to the roots - the original, with the original cast and crew. To watch Tim Burton's intense view of comic books with a pefectly amazing score by Danny Elfman reminds us how fun it was to watch these little stupid action hero films.
I can't totally explain my love for this film - it's just plain fun. Maybe I'm bitter because I didn't enjoy the latest one. But I remember being almost obsessed with Batman prior to seeing it and actually becoming more obsessed after seeing it. When does that happen? When does a big budget pic ever live up to its potential and even go further? Hopefully, "Men in Black," which I have been calling "orgasmic" will live up to the hype as well.
Now, director Tim Burton's view of Gotham is incredibly different from that of Joel Schumacher. It's bleak yet bright, filled with life and seems rather inspired by "Metropolis" and "Blade Runner." Crime is so bad that the local government has had to cancel their 200th anniversary celebration. The criminal world seems to be ruled by a Carl Grissom (Jack Palance). But there's a superhero in hiding who is pretty much a myth - Batman (Michael Keaton), who just happens to be the alter-ego of billionaire (or millionaire), Bruce Wayne (also Michael Keaton), a reclusive, weird type.
Carl Grissom's big man on campus is none other than Jack Napier (Jack Nicholson), who is sleeping with Carl's mistress, Alicia (Jagger wife, Jerry Hall). He has him set up in a big factory scene with the cops AND Batman battling the goons. To finish up this amazingly cool action sequence, Jack falls into a vat of chemicals and turns up deformed. After plastic surgery, Jack emerges as the Joker, taking over the crime world by storm.
Meanwhile Bruce has fallen in love with Vicki Vale (Kim Bassinger), a photographer who's working with a Batman-obsessed reporter, Alexander Knox (Robert Wuhl). As she gets closer to Bruce, he finds himself wanting to reveal himself to her, even though the consequences may be horrible. Their romance is interesting, but when she finds out who he is, it should have been a lot bigger. I mean, this cat's Batman, for Christ's sake, not Bill Gates.
The thing that makes this great is the wonderful black humor and intriguing action sequences. His humor is best represented by Jack Nicholson, who all but steals the film and becomes the trend setter for future Batman villains to rule the show, while Batman and his kind are left behind. But Tim Burton infuses a kind of psychological approach, since it was Jack Napier who killed Bruce's parents. He becomes obsessed with this and starts to question what he's doing. This is a nice approach to the character and it is wonderfully done by, in my opinion, the quintessential Batman, Michael Keaton.
The action sequences are amazing as well - adrenalin-rushing and hilarious. Tim is a true master for creating these intense scenes and he does it by minimalism. He doesn't use a billion Bat-Gadgets, just the ones he needs. In the newer ones, they have gadgets for everything. "Hand me the Bat-Sock-Warmers, will you, Robin?" will be the next quote in the next Batman. But in this one, he has a few things and a mere two vehicles - the Batcar and Batwing. These are cooler than any of the later models.
Danny Elfman's amazing score is also highlighted by some campy Prince tunes. These fit nicely into the campy, darkly comic scenes that Tim Burton creates.
Tim creates a Batman with depth, humor and action and also creates the quintessential superhero film - it feels like a comic book but not like the hammy TV show. He perfectly balances the film noir qualities with the humor. And with Jack Nicholson playing the Joker, the circle is complete since we have the best Batman and the best Batman-villain.
The only weak point is the female - Kim Bassinger, who gets to fall in love with Bruce (and not Batman). She's good most of the time, but the scene where she finds out who he is just kills her character. She's good except for that essential part.
Overall, this is probably the best superhero film ever made. Of course, with Tim Burton handling it, how could you miss? Okay, well "Mars Attacks!" wasn't that great, but at least he has this one on his oeuvre.
MY RATING (out of 5): ****1/2
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