Batman (1989) (4K Ultra HD)

Nearly twenty-five years later, I still listen to composer Danny Elfman's brooding orchestral score. It conjures up an image of actor Michael Keaton's Batman standing victorious atop a Gotham City skyscraper, as the new Bat-signal cuts through the night fog. As soundtracks typically do, I was recently inspired to re-watch 1989's No. 1 summer blockbuster. It is easy to see why it blew past a slew of routine sequels such as "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade;" "Ghostbusters II," "Lethal Weapon 2," "Licence to Kill," "Star Trek V," among other competition. It wasn't just the hype - sure, there was its mind-boggling marketing campaign (for its time) hawking every form of bat-merchandise imaginable (today, that's the norm). What really stoked moviegoers, I think, was its sheer originality - like lightning in a bottle that even its own three sequels couldn't re-capture. The movie's trademark, for better or worse, is Jack Nicholson's wily over-acting as the nefarious mobster Jack Napier turned macabre super-villain, the Joker. Although Nicholson was frankly far too old to be a legitimate physical threat to Batman, his sheer flamboyance overcomes this flaw. I still believe either Willem Dafoe or Ray Liotta (who was screenwriter Sam Hamm's preference) would have been just as effective in the role if the movie hadn't been designed as a Nicholson showcase. Even so, courtesy of a few well-designed flashbacks, director Tim Burton and screenwriter Sam Hamm cleverly side-step Batman's well-known origin by instead providing a mystery so viewers can deduce why a reclusive, strangely distracted billionaire has assumed a caped alter ego. The film opts not to show how Bruce Wayne becomes Batman since the psychological "why Bruce Wayne is Batman" factor proves far more interesting. Make no mistake: actor Michael Keaton doesn't look like Bruce Wayne, but, in this movie, he is Bruce Wayne ... a disturbed Bruce Wayne who walks, trance-like, through a hail of gunfire upon recognizing a face he once saw long ago. He is then left to ponder the Joker's favorite taunt to his doomed prey: "Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?" Not surprisingly, the Joker's dance with a captive Vicky Vale (Kim Basinger) plays against the backdrop of a pale moon on a dark Gotham night setting up a final showdown between two comic book legends. Late production designer Anton Furst's dark art deco, 1940's vision of Gotham City brilliantly resurrects film noir. Impressively, even though "Batman" was filmed almost entirely on British soundstages, Furst's sets are amazing enough to make a viewer almost believe that Gotham City really does exist. There is no mistaking that, based upon the villains' retro wardrobe alone, that this Gotham City is supposed to be reminiscent of Prohibition-era Chicago (think "Batman Meets the Untouchables"). Wisely, the stellar "Batman: The Animated Series" subsequently lifted Furst's distinctive style giving Batman a new sense of visual continuity, as Gotham City appears as the dark, corrupt cesspool of a modern city it is supposed to be. If one can swallow a middle-aged Nicholson as the Joker and Keaton's quietly neurotic Bruce Wayne / Batman, then everything else about this movie falls into place. Yes, Kim Basinger's glamorous Vicky Vale is a Lois Lane wanna-be and a helpless damsel-in-distress where she must be startled at every turn (not remotely believable for a war zone-savvy photo-journalist). Still, Basinger's charismatic presence nicely balances the lead actors. My only criticism comes from the Joker's less-than-satisfying yet unique fate (one is left incredulously thinking: "That's the best they could do?"). It is similar to the predicament that "Star Trek Generations" had in 1994 with William Shatner's iconic Captain Kirk: there were countless better solutions available than the one filmed for the theatrical release. Please also note that not all the acting honors belong solely to Nicholson and Keaton. They receive ample support from the late Michael Gough (as Alfred); the late Pat Hingle (as Commissioner Gordon); and even Robert Wuhl's new character, wisecracking reporter Alexander Knox. Knox isn't necessary to the story, but Wuhl has solid chemistry with Basinger. Deleting Knox in favor of making wimpy Vicky Vale far stronger, as in closer to Selina "Catwoman" Kyle's equal, would have likely would have increased the movie's mass appeal for female viewers. As for the special effects, they mostly hold up well, particularly the awe-inspiring Batmobile and a surprisingly realistic rubber Batsuit. Even though the Batplane model's aerial shots look terribly fake today, it is pretty clear that all the FX money spent on this fifty-million dollar mega-production appears on-screen. Finally, with its original interpretation of the title character vs. one villain fighting for the soul of Gotham City, "Batman" 1989 is simply far superior to its three sequels that imitated but could not duplicate the first movie's success. Overall: 9/10 stars. Despite its weaknesses, this "Batman" is well worth repeat viewings. The DVD extras (including multiple documentaries and three Prince music videos) are superb, but I might add that the Prince videos are not appropriate for young viewers.

A lot of people say the Richard Donner/Christopher Reeve Superman film started off big budget Superhero films but if they started it the 1987 disaster that was Superman IV: The Quest for Peace almost killed it. THIS FILM in my opinion is what started off the modern Superhero era. The film holds a soft spot in my heart because I still remember seeing it in theaters when I was 6 years old. This is also the first time Batman is portrayed in a major motion picture without the campiness and cornball humor of the Adam West Batman. This movie is responsible for helping the mainstream public learn that Batman is far from a joke and is one of the greatest badasses in American Pop Culture. Jack Nicholson is amazing as the Joker and I'm sure everyone knows that but Michael Keaton really is great as Bruce Wayne/Batman. I know a lot of people complained because he didn't physically look the part but his performance is perfect. He's also the first person to speak with a slightly altered voice when wearing the Bat suit, even though a lot of people will try to claim Kevin Conroy who voices Batman in the awesome animated series did it first they are wrong. This film came out in 1989 and the Animated Series came out in 92. Keaton did it first. The Batmobile in this film is arguably the most badass version of the Batmobile you'll find in any form of Batman media whether its other films, comics or cartoons. This film greatly inspired the 1992 Animated Series with it's design and you can clearly see that. This is also BY FAR the best of the Burton/Schumacher Batman films. After this one they got progressively worse to the point that Batman & Robin is damn near unwatchable. Is this the greatest Batman film of all time? No way. Is this better than Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Trilogy? Not at all. Is this a fun, entertaining and exciting action/superhero film? ABSOLUTELY. The soundtrack is a bit dated and total 80's with Prince songs but I honestly think it helps add to the charm of the movie. The Danny Elfman score is ICONIC and right up there with John Williams Superman, Star Wars and Indiana Jones themes. It's shocking and mind boggling why they changed his score for Batman Forever and Batman & Robin. The only SLIGHT negative I'll say about this film is that THIS particular version of Batman kills without remorse. If you can take that with a grain of salt then you'll have no problem enjoying this film for what it is. A fun, entertaining action adventure film that helped usher in all of the modern Superhero films that fill movie theaters to this day.

The best batman movie of all

In the animated series, Batman is known as a pacifist. He does not kill, and I am not sure he has an officially-recorded canon murder; However, this Batman he is killing left and right, deliberately. I am not a fan of this version's Batman, even if he does a good job as Batman, because I am not fond of his Bruce Wayne. Regardless, it makes sense that in This Batman he kills, because it is more grounded and "realistic," as what would you expect from a 6 foot man, in a 200lbs armored suit, fist-fighting criminals, whereas in the animated series, he is a Grundy of a man and moves much faster with Much greater agility. Joker steals the show, and his performance is no laughing matter. The only problem with this film is outdated cinematography and camera angles, which is very noticeable if you are very cinematically critical, but the actual content is No Less than 5 stars: Period. The sets, the scenes, and the plot have great pacing and logical connections, versus in the animated series he just shows up, as well as scenes to let the Joker get his kicks. The runtime was appropriate, some excellent effects, and serious implications and consequences make this one of the best Batman movies to date. Overall an Excellent addition to the legend of Batman, worth watching if you are a fan of DC and especially Batman. Fool him once, shame on him. Fool him twice, shame on me. Animated Batman could take a lesson from this film.

Good condition and quality

Pure nostalgia. Got it for Rs. 370.

Super super, très contente de cet achat

Un Grand Classique de l’année 1989 Le Cinéaste Tim Burton donne vie au plus fascinant et tourmenter des Supers Héros avec cette Adaptation Gothique et Incontournable de l'Homme Chauve Souris.Grace a une Réalisation Somptueuse qui dispose au passage d'une Photographie de qualité avec en prime une reconstitution méticuleuse de la ville de Gotham City dont la noirceur y est parfaitement retranscrit a l'univers des comics et qui est accompagnée d'une envoûtante BO de Danny Elfman dont le thème principal est devenue mythique en collant merveilleusement au long métrage. Ensuite le Scénario est rondement Ficeler tout en moderniser l'esprit des Comics en allant a un rythme effréné dont on voit pas les 2h00 passer,ajouter a cela une multitude de Séquences Cultes qui est servi par des Effets Spéciaux Spectaculaires ainsi que des Scènes D'Actions sont réjouissantes avec en prime une bonne dose D’Humour Noir parsemé de Répliques inoubliables. Enfin le Casting est Parfait avec en tète d'affiche l'excellent Michael Keaton qui est épatant dans la peau de Bruce Wayne un riche playboy milliardaire au passé traumatisant le jour et qui la nuit enfile le costume du Justicier Masqué Batman dont l'acteur tout en sobriété concernant la dualité de ce personnage emblématique dont le film parvient a faire l'impasse sur ses mystérieuses origines avec audace, face a lui notre héros masqué est confronté a son plus redoutable et machiavélique adversaire en la personne du dérangé et charismatique Joker camper avec brio par l'immense Jack Nicholson qui y excelle merveilleusement tout en tirant son épingle du jeu dans la peau de ce Némésis psychotique qui met la ville de Gotham a feu et a sang pour contrecarrer l'homme chauve-souris, fort heureusement notre héros est entouré de trés bons alliés comme le fidèle majordome Alfred Pennyworth jouer avec finesse par Michael Gough en passant par les personnages emblématiques du Commissaire James Gordon et du procureur fédéral Harvey Dent jouer avec efficacité et respectivement par Pat Hingle et Billy Dee Williams sans oublier l'arrivée remarqué de nouveaux protagonistes conçu spécialement pour le film comme la ravissante photographe Vicky Vale incarner par la charmante Kim Basinger qui ne laisse pas insensible notre Justicier Milliardaire et qui est rejoint par son collègue reporter Alexandre Knox jouer par Robert Wuhl qui viennent compléter cette distribution d'excellente fracture. En Conclusion, Batman est l'un des meilleurs films de Super Héros du Septième Art qui confirme tout le talent de Tim Burton qui parvient a rester trés fidèle a l'univers des Comics tout y apportant une modernité a l'univers Ténébreuse du plus grand anti-héros de l'histoire de la BD et qui s’avère a la fois Spectaculaire,Envoûtant,Drôle et Sombre dont les inconditionnels du genre seront combler tout comme les non initiés dont le Second Volet est encore plus Aboutissant et Meilleur que son aînée.

Collezione stupenda, presa a un prezzo vantaggioso 40€, completa dei primi 4 film di Batman degli anni 80, zaino, scatola 📦 e 4 mini card poster dei film. Batman (Regista Tim Burton, protagonista Keaton) Batman il ritorno Batman Forever (Val Kilmer) Batman e Robin (Clooney)