Batman (1989)

Director:

Tim Burton

Writers (WGA):

Bob Kane (Batman characters)
Sam Hamm (story)

Release Date:

23 June 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Thriller

Plot:

The Dark Knight of Gotham City begins his war on crime with his first major enemy being the clownishly homicidal Joker.

Plot Keywords:

Gotham | City | Police | Police Commissioner | Vigilante

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 7 wins & 16 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sat. Jan. 9	11:30 PM	SPIKETV
Sun. Jan. 10	1:00 PM	SPIKETV

Cast

Michael Keaton	...	Batman / Bruce Wayne
Jack Nicholson	...	Joker / Jack Napier
Kim Basinger	...	Vicki Vale
Robert Wuhl	...	Alexander Knox
Pat Hingle	...	Commissioner James Gordon
Billy Dee Williams	...	Harvey Dent
Michael Gough	...	Alfred Pennyworth
Jack Palance	...	Carl Grissom
Jerry Hall	...	Alicia
Tracey Walter	...	Bob the Goon
Lee Wallace	...	The Mayor
William Hootkins	...	Lt. Eckhardt
Richard Strange	...	Goon
Carl Chase	...	Goon
Mac McDonald	...	Goon (as Mac Macdonald)

Runtime:

126 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Mexico:A | Malaysia:U | South Africa:PG (DVD rating) | Spain:13 | Netherlands:12 | Netherlands:6 (re-rating) | South Korea:15 | USA:TV-14 | Brazil:Livre | West Germany:12 (f) | Germany:12 | Ireland:15 | UK:15 (video rating) (1990) | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Chile:14 | Finland:K-14 | France:U | Israel:PG | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | UK:12 (original rating) | USA:PG-13 | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Iceland:12 | Iceland:10 (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Acton Lane Power Station, Acton Lane, Acton, London, England, UK

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

During filming, a young Tim Burton was having trouble shooting a scene with Jack Palance. An irritated Palance asked Burton, "I've made more than a hundred films, how many have you made?" Burton said, years later, that it was a "whiteout" experience he would never forget.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The S&W M29 44. magnum with the long barrel that the joker pulls out of his pants would not be powerful enough to take down the bat jet. The size of the barrel would change nothing unless it was a single shot but it isn't.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Passenger: Excuse me.
Tourist Dad: I'm sorry, this is my cab.
Passenger: Sorry.
Tourist Dad: Listen, I was here first!
[as the cab drives away]
Tourist Dad: Oh, God! Oh, taxi? Taxi!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Shaun of the Dead (2004)

Soundtrack:

Partyman

The best 'older' Batman

As you know, Batman Begins is out, and that is easily one of the best Batman films, but this one was the best of the older ones. I was not the biggest fan of Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne/Batman, but Jack Nicholson made this film. Him as the joker could not have been better, his face is perfect. I am actually concerned about the sequel to Batman Begins because no one can ever live up to what Nicholson created for the character. How can they replace him? So to cut this short, this is the best Batman for the time it was around, and is still good. It should be watched and be enjoyed from beginning to end. Easily a good film.