Batman (1989)

There is a tendency in the comic book community to retroactively hate on earlier film adaptations of their superheroes, while anointing the new version as “the best adaptation ever.” This was the fate that befell the Tim Burton Batman movies when Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” trilogy hit theatre screens (the same fate also befell Richard Donner’s Superman movies after the release of Man of Steel). This is predicated on the logic that the Nolan movies are a far more faithful recreation of the Batman comic books than Tim Burton’s more gothic approach. The flaw with this argument is that there have been various incarnations of Batman throughout the decades, therefore the argument that the Nolan films are the most “faithful” is based entirely on what version of Batman you grew up with: Everyone talks about how the early Batman comics were dark and gritty, but they quickly took a more fantastical turn; as early as 1939, Batman was fighting vampires. By the time World War II rolled along, Batman went from being a dark vigilante to being a full-blooded patriot who devoted his time to fighting Nazis and the Japanese. In the 1950, he was a warm and fuzzy father figure who easily thwarted his incredibly inept enemies. 

I like the Christopher Nolan movies, but they didn’t nearly have the cultural impact that the Tim Burton movie had back in 1989. It is really hard to describe to younger audiences just how big Batman was in the summer of 1989; it wasn’t merely a movie; it was an event!  Super Hero movies have become a fixture in modern day cinema (Marvel has three movies slated for release in 2017, while DC has two), but they were a complete scarcity in the 1980s; the Superman series hit an all-time low with the 1987 Superman: The Quest for Peace. Before the Tim Burton, if you were to bring up Batman in a conversation, the Adam West television show would undoubtedly spring to mind. Sure, the comic book had already adopted a darker tone in the 1970s, but West’s tongue in cheek approach had cast a long shadow. It was the Tim Burton movie that helped shift the public perception of the character; he was no longer goofy Boy Scout but a dark, brooding vigilante that would resort to whatever means necessary to capture his guy. There have been complaints over the fact that Burton’s Batman kills, but this isn’t far removed from the early Batman comic books in which The Dark Knight often racked up a body count. 

I prefer the style of Burton’s movies to Nolan’s more “realistic approach.”  There is a timeless look to the Burton’s Batman movies; the characters dress in different fashions that it is really hard to pinpoint what time period it takes place in. The only thing that really dates the first movie to the 1980s are the songs by Prince. In my opinion, Tim Burton's Batman has the best opening of any comic book movie: two scuzzy muggers hold up a family in an alley way and are dividing the take on top of a building, when Batman swoops in and kicks their asses.  The reveal of Batman is extremely clever – the two muggers are stationed in the foreground when the Batman descends into frame in the background, while the two thieves remain oblivious to his presence. This effectively builds suspense, when will Batman strike? 

The main mugger shoots Batman multiple times and he falls to the ground, only to rise up again and take out the two bad men; bullets seemingly have no effect on Batman.  Batman then grabs the main mugger and holds him over the edge of the building, and then commands, “I want to you tell all your friends about me.”  Batman throws the man aside and jumps off the building. The mugger is scared shitless! It’s an incredibly exciting way to open a movie and definitely preferable to the disjointedness of Batman Begins. It is not only a visually exciting opening, but it sets up the psychological warfare Batman wages on crime – what makes Batman frightening is the idea that he could be watching you any place and any time, so you better be on your best behavior.  A mythic stature has already been bestowed upon Batman – the two muggers arguing over his existence before he punches them into next week. The interesting thing about Burton’s movie is that it avoids the structure of most Super Hero movies – the first half is devoted to the origin story, the second half has the hero fighting the villain – Batman has already begun his crime fighting campaign and has become a newsworthy topic. The police deny his existence, while secretly viewing him as a threat to the public.  

 

The main criticism of Tim Burton’s adaptation is that it is more of a Joker movie than an actual Batman film; this isn’t entirely false.  It is the Joker that is given a lengthy back story, while Bruce Wayne’s is told in a brief flashback.  Jack Nicholson certainly dominates the proceedings with his wonderfully over the top performance as the Joker.  However, even this isn’t too far removed from the comic books – Batman’s foes were often far more colorful (and interesting) than he was.  Tim Burton’s interpretation of the character is that he is a man that keeps to the shadows and has a very low key personality; Bruce Wayne goes through the motions of being a millionaire – he holds fundraisers, he attends business meetings, and he dates attractive women.  The only time he comes to life is when he dons the bat suit and fights criminals. This is not the flamboyant character from the Batman TV series. He is so obsessed with his work that he foregoes a social life and is willing to sacrifice a potential romance with Vicki Vale. I always felt that Michael Keaton was miscast in the role of the Caped Crusader, but he is good enough of an actor that it isn’t too big of an issue. I also prefer his interpretation of The Dark Knight to Christian Bales nonstop grunting. 

I like the fact that Burton and company don’t go to the default ending of most modern Super Hero movies – the leveling of an entire city. It ends on a rather small, personal note: Batman faces off against the Joker in a church bell tower.  It’s a completely unique sequence and certainly trumps the massive amounts of destruction seen in most modern day Super Hero movies; it’s really hard to distinguish one from the other.  Batman certainly has its share of flaws; I never bought Alfred showing Vicki Vale into the Batcave behind his master’s back.  Alfred over steps his bounds and would probably feel the wrath of Batman in some form or other. Also, Bruce Wayne has only known Vicki Vale for a couple of days; therefore it’s a bid odd that he would want to reveal his true identity to her.  In Batman Returns, it is revealed that their relationship didn’t work out. Way to go, Alfred.  Plus, the reveal that it was the Joker that murdered Bruce Wayne’s parents is a bit too convenient. It’s an unnecessary addition to the script that doesn’t really serve any purpose. If Batman is solely drive by revenge, then killing the Joker should be enough for him to move on. 

I know I’m in a minority when I say that I prefer the Burton movies to Christopher Nolan’s trilogy, and I’m willing to admit that there is a nostalgic bias at work. The Tim Burton movie came at the right time in my life (I was ten) and is what got me hooked on the Batman comic books. It was the first time I, and most fans, had seen a more serious adaptation of the comic books.  The Christopher Nolan movies are terrific movies, but I’ve notice they are much easier to nitpick because of Nolan’s “realistic” approach.  It is easier to accept the flaws in the Burton movie, because it never makes an attempt at realism and is much more fantastical in its approach.  However, the Nolan films deserve credit for willing to take risks, when most Super Hero movies play it safe. However, it must be said that if it wasn’t for the success of Tim Burton’s 1989 movie, there is a good chance that the Nolan movies would have never been made. 

Credits
Cast: Jack Nicholson (Jack Napier/The Joker), Michael Keaton (Bruce Wayne/Batman), Kim Basinger (Vicki Vale), Robert Wuhl (Alexander Knox), Michael Gough (Alfred), Pat Hingle (Commissioner James Gordon), Billy Wee Williams(Harvey Dent), Jack Palance (Carl Grissom), Jerry Hall (Alicia), Tracey Walter (Bob the Goon), William Hootkins (Lt. Eckhardt), Lee Wallace (The Mayor).

Director: Tim Burton
Screenplay: Sam Hamm, Warren Skaaren.
Running Time: 126 min.