Wednesday, 2 April 2014
Cast: Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger
Batman was made 25 years ago and still it’s one of Burton’s best works, perhaps the late 1980s and the early 1990s was the time when Tim Burton made his greatest films. Beetlejuice, Batman, Ed Wood, Edward Scissorhands and what not; we can easily say that Tim Burton’s best is now behind him.
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| Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson |
Before watching a Batman film, a true Batman fan must have imagined a Gotham City pretty similar to what we see in this film. The Gotham here was dark, mysterious and unsafe, a place which deserves a vigilante, with the right mix of colors to not make it look too realistic and thus retaining the Comic book impression. This is one of those details where I find Burton’s Batman better than Nolan’s Batman.
Although I believe Christian Bale was the better Batman actor of the two, I have no hesitation saying that I found Michael Keaton much more convincing as Bruce Wayne. He was unbelievably charming and complacent as Bruce and even as the Batman he looked terrifying in that Batsuit.
Jack Nicholson’s brilliant portrayal of The Joker is always overshadowed by the iconic Heath Ledger’s performance as The Joker. This is an uneven comparison and is unfair for both of them, the films were different in tone and so is the interpretation of that character, which suited their respective films. The Joker played by Nicholson was actually Jack Napier who was a mafia rank and worked in a gang. It was only after his boss planned his execution; he survived and became the Joker after his face is damaged in a chemical factory. On the other hand, the Joker played by Heath Ledger was more dark and mysterious with a mentality to extract evil from the best of people. He was a loner, a psychopath and had more issues than just money. Ledger will always be my pick, but Jack Nicholson was great in his own way.
The Dark Knight Trilogy films were way better but Burton’s Batman was a better Batman film, especially for a Batman fanatic, this is gold. The over the top acting by Heath Ledger, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Christian Bale, the technically sound fight sequences and that remarkable background score by Hans Zimmer makes the dark knight trilogy an outstanding action film franchise and also enlist it with some of the greatest films ever made but for a batman film, this one is closer to my heart because of the non-realistic and conventional approach with which it was made.
The conventional Batman and Gotham City I am talking about was pretty much visible in Batman Begins. The other two films were better movies but lesser batman like. I am not here to criticize Nolan’s Batman films but only because Christopher Nolan made such amazing Batman films, it is important to talk about it when you are talking about Batman. Any review of any Batman film is compared with the kind of benchmark Nolan created with The Dark Knight Trilogy, so even being a critic here, I am admiring his films in the first place.
Burton’s Batman has many flaws all through but still very delightful and the gadgets were funny yet intriguing. Jim Gordon and Harvey Dent were not significant at all in this film but nobody cared about them till we came across Gary Oldman’s Gordon and Aaron Eckhart’s Dent in the Nolan’s Batman films; full marks to Nolan there for emphasizing those important characters.
Nolan’s batman was definitely a better film according to me and a majority of people but it can’t be denied that Burton achieved the feat to make the comic book world look real whereas Nolan’s Dark Knight was more realistic and totally out of the comic book world. Burton’s character weren't deep and it was something Nolan perfected in his films.
This is not a typical review where you talk about a film for its own substance; I have reviewed it while keeping Nolan’s The Dark Knight Trilogy in the background. Only because Batman is a subject where one cannot talk about a film without comparing it with the Nolan’s films.
Movie Geek’s Rating: ★★★★
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[This post is a part of the A to Z Challenge in April 2014. Let's celebrate blogging.]
I like Batman movies and I totally enjoy playing Batman games :)
ReplyDeleteBatman is great... such a hero
DeleteI loved the book and the movie too.... loved the review too.... :)
ReplyDeletethanks Sheethal :)
DeletePretty exhaustive review, unfortunately I am yet to see any batman movie :-(.
ReplyDeletethanks Jayanth :)
DeleteA movie geek you surely are.. I've never watched the Batman films so closely. Which is why your post makes for an interesting read.
ReplyDeleteloved your comments Tulika :)
DeleteGotham needs you :P :D I am a batman fanatic!!!! :P :D
ReplyDeleteHahaha... Gotham needs me... ? :P good to meet another fanatic :)
DeleteI haven't watched Batman movies yet! I know , I know! But what can I say I love the cartoons more :D
ReplyDeletewhat... go watch it my friend :) Batman is not the regular superhero type kiddish stuff.. it is actually good
DeleteI am yet to read the book.. Batman has been lurking the pages of my to-be-read list for a long time now.
ReplyDeleteIshithaa
#AtoZChallenge
Happiness is reading or watching Batman :)
DeleteI have never seen a Batman movie. Your review makes it a compelling watch!!
ReplyDeletedo watch Shilpa... you are going to love it :)
DeleteI used to enjoy the cartoon but never really got into the movies...
ReplyDeletedo watch it my friend... it's not something you skip :)
DeleteI didn't know about the old one, but Dark knight was an amazing watch! Specially joker "why so serious" (thats wht I say when somebody is serious in a haunted tone) Now I need to see other parts and the old one after reading you here!!! May be soon after April ;)
ReplyDeleteLedger will be my pick always... he was the best joker we ever had... this film gives you the batman feel... a better batman film it is... and the one you say was a better film..
DeleteI have known batman more through my brother,he loved.....and still does.
ReplyDeleteWe used to fight over batman stickers glued to cupboards and bags.....
You took me back to childhood Amrit
the pleasure is all mine Sitara... your brother and I share a common love for Batman :)
DeleteI loved the latest batman movie. Very detailed review. Liked reading your views
ReplyDeletethank you Rajlakshmi... I am loving your family stories a lot :)
DeleteWhat an awesome review! Both my Dad and husband are Batman movie fans! Will run this across through them!
ReplyDeletethanks a lot Aditi... please show them this review... I am sure they will relate with my love for Batman :)
DeleteI love the Batman movie series.
ReplyDeleteSame here belinda... Batman/Bruce Wayne is an awesome character everyone loves
DeleteYou are absolutely right about the fact that Batman Begins is the closest to the Batman of old, the classic hero he once was. The next two films are more about Nolan's vision of good and evil than about Gotham or Batman. Kudos for writing such a fantastic review!
ReplyDeletethanks Murtaza, your words means a lot to me :)
DeleteI have seen both series and yes I agree with you whole heartedly! Christian Bale as Bruce looks more confident than the real comic one..
ReplyDeleteRicha
glad you got my point richa :)
DeleteHuge Batman fan but I loved Nolan's depiction the best, on all levels :) Maybe that's because I am a hardcore Nolan fan ;)
ReplyDeleteNolan is something unmatchable I must admit.. but its just Batman I prefer Burton :)
DeleteNot a big fan, just liked the one with George Clooney; )
ReplyDeleteLet's see what you give us tomorrow.
George Clooney one is the only batman one I didn't like... but if you like it, I will give it a rewatch :)
DeleteYou may want to kill me but for me Batman has always been Michael Keaton...and shall stay as well, no matter how many others wear the garb. Anyway, this sure was the best Tim Burton movie :) Great review, Amritt!
ReplyDeletethis is indeed the best batman adaptation, glad you agree with me :)
DeleteActually I'm not fond of the Dark Knight series and prefer the Burton one, just as I prefer Roger Moore's 007. Ridiculous characters need a sense of humor about things otherwise they're just caricatures.
ReplyDeletewhoa.. that's exactly my point... these character needs to be a little larger than life and humor and illogical too... too much of realistic approach ruins the fun
DeleteI loved this Batman movie. Really worked for me.
ReplyDeleteglad you said that :)
DeleteYou've written quite an interesting review. I've never thought about comparing the Batman movies with the Dark Knight trilogy because they were so different.
ReplyDeletethanks Susie for liking the review :)
DeleteThis Batman movie was truly one of my favorite because it did carry the comic book feel so well. I think you were spot on with the analysis of Jack Nicholson vs. Heath Ledger as the Joker. Each had their own take on the character and each one nailed their interpretation in relation to the film it was in.
ReplyDelete*~MAJK~*
A-to-Z Challenge 2014
Mighty Minion of Co-Host Nicole Ayers
@Safireblade on Twitter
http://www.safireblade.com/
glad you liked that part :)
Delete