Occasionally laughable but mostly tinged with a morbid darkness as only Tim Burton can supply, 1989’s Batman is a groundbreaking comic book adaptation film. While the later films steadily got so hokey that the franchise required complete redefining by director Christopher Nolan, the original Batman retains most of the appeal of the inimitable comic book hero and a standout performance by Jack Nicholson, who some say can’t be bested as the most famous Batman villain, The Joker.

A mysterious black-cloaked flying man intercepts criminals during their getaways – a seemingly righteous act – but is being stalked by the local press of Gotham City, intent on revealing the identity of the “Batman”. On the job is award-winning photographer Vicki Vale (Kim Basinger) and comic relief reporter Alexander Knox, who attempt to get closer to the mystery by investigating wealthy recluse Bruce Wayne (Michael Keaton). Just as soon as their investigation is underway, criminal Jack Napier (Jack Nicholson) is set up by his double-crossing boss Carl Grissom (Jack Palance) and is caught in a deadly crossfire with a crooked cop and the avenging Batman. Thrown into a vat of chemical waste, Napier emerges a changed man – one with a newfound penchant for terror and a maniacally wicked laugh. Dubbed “The Joker,” he contaminates household supplies with toxic chemicals, and plans to overtake Gotham City with his unruly gang of mime gangsters. But Batman stands in the way of such dastardly evil-doers, and an explosive showdown on the blackened streets of the panic-ridden city is inevitable.

Batman the "Dark Knight" is brought to vivid life, despite a lack of backstory. While the latest film in the franchise, Batman Begins, decided to define the origins of the character, Tim Burton’s first attempt at the live-action superhero assumes that the audience already knows something about the caped crusader. An iconic figure with a huge fanbase, this rushed plunge into the alien world of Gotham City may be too much for those not familiar with the uber-famous comic book series. Nonetheless, vigilantism in an unruly town is nothing new for action fans.

Beautifully macabre set designs help bring out Gotham City’s appeal, as well as the colorful array of illicit characters. Dark and foreboding, the locales house the likes of The Joker, adorned with brightly colored suits and creepily gaudy makeup, and his band of clown-like mimes that tote machineguns and lay waste to crowds of civilians. The Joker’s makeup mirrors authenticity to most of the artwork from the graphic novels, but the scar tissue is highly unlikely – something Christopher Nolan’s re-imagining, 2008’s The Dark Knight, is taking extra pains to amend.

Some of the gangster’s stunts are a little overboard on comedy, especially when The Joker has a henchman carry around a jukebox so that he has an ever-present theme song following him about. The pulsing soundtrack by Prince also doesn’t help the tone Tim Burton probably intended; although the museum destruction montage could be considered offputting to some (he dubs himself a homicidal artist). The majority of the film has the appropriately dark touch that we’d expect from the awe-inspiring Batman, but enough goofy scenes permeate the atmosphere that they counter the remaining seriousness.

Decent scenes of action, including chases in the Batmobile and Batplane help to enliven the dull spots, and it’s always a thrill to see Batman make use of his many high-tech gadgets to thwart the enemies. With an exciting showdown in a toweringly rickety cathedral, intriguing characters, inventive art direction (which earned it an Academy Award), and the superb Jack Nicholson, Batman set the groundwork for one of the most successful franchises in motion picture history. The following three films suffered a similarly lucrative and much less acclaimed fate.

- Mike Massie

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