Batman (1989) (Steelbook) (Blu-ray Review)
Directed By: Tim Burton
Starring: Michael Keaton, Kim Basinger, Jack Nicholson
Rated: PG-13/Region: A/1:77/1080p/Number of disc: 1
Available from Warner Home Video
Gotham City: dark, dangerous, ‘protected’ only by a mostly corrupt police department. Despite the best efforts of D.A. Harvey Dent and police commissioner Jim Gordon, the city becomes increasingly unsafe…until a Dark Knight arises. We all know criminals are a superstitious, cowardly lot…so his disguise must be able to strike terror into their hearts. He becomes a bat. Enter Vicky Vale, a prize-winning photo journalist who wants to uncover the secret of the mysterious “bat-man”. And enter Jack Napier, one-time enforcer for Boss Grissom, horribly disfigured after a firefight in a chemical factory…who, devoid of the last vestiges of sanity, seizes control of Gotham’s underworld as the psychotic, unpredictable Clown Prince of Crime…the Joker. Gotham’s only hope, it seems, lies in this dark, brooding vigilante. And just how does billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne fit into all of this?
The craze that this movie brought along with it in the summer of 1989 was a sight to see. I was only six years old, so in a way this was the first summer blockbuster that I remember. I also remember the movie not being bad either and I’d later get the VHS and watch it whenever I could. That same feeling still remains today when you watch Batman. This was the first real attempt to make Batman slightly dark like he was in the comics and while some might have been unsure at first Michael Keaton makes a great Bruce Wayne. On the other end of that we have Jack Nicolson who gives one of the two greatest Joker performances ever. When you combine that with the style of Tim Burton you have a classic.
One of the best parts of Batman is the pace it keeps. From start to finish the movie never seems to have a wasted scene as each scene adds something to the overall story and moves things along with a nice twist here and there for good measure. The music is very brooding, which works perfectly for Batman. And, when there is a call for something more upbeat we have Prince handling things. So what’s not to love about Batman? At the end of the day the overall package you get with the 1989 Batman is one of the two greatest Batman movies ever made.
– Commentary by Director Tim Burton
– On the Set with Bob Kane
– Legends of the Dark Knight: The History of Batman – The Comic Book Saga as Reinvented and Reintrepeted over Seven Decades
– Shadows of the Bat: The Cinematic Saga of the Dark Knight Parts 1-3
– The Road to Gotham City
– The Gathering Storm
– The Legend Reborn
– Beyond Batman Documentary Gallery (6 Featurettes) – Visualizing Gotham: The Production Design of Batman / Building the Batmobile / Those Wonderful Toys: The Props and Gadgets of Batman / Designing the Batsuit / From Jack to the Joker / Nocturnal Overtures: The Music of Batman
– 3 Prince Music Videos: Batdance, Partyman and Scandalous
– Heroes and The Villains Profile Galleries
– Batman: The Complete Robin Storyboard Sequence
– Theatrical Trailer
