Batman

Rating:
Summary: Time To Super-Size (aka; In Dire Need of Special Edition)
Review: Though I did get a great deal on this DVD..., that is the only bright side. Batman is a great movie, and actually won an Oscar. So why release this DVD before it's time without special features? For it could surely use the super-sized treatment such as the Special Edition SUPERMAN I recently purchased. Not only do consumers want to own this movie to watch whenever they feel the urge. They also need the inside dirt on the making of the film! Personally I was blown away by the extras on the SUPERMAN DVD. For it's time the things they had to do to make people believe a man could fly (in the late 70's I remind you) were something I have always been interested in, but had never had a chance to see anywhere else. Hence when making a DVD, you should always try to go all out.... My personal opinion rating on this DVD (2 stars) is based solely on the DVD, not the film. It is great to see Batman that clear with sound that is astonishing...but after watching the SUPERMAN DVD, all I am interested in is to know "where did Batman get all those wonderful toys."

Rating:
Summary: very very GOOD movie
Review: this movie is a very good movie, it is suspensful and thrilling, plus it's action packed! michael keaton gives an excellent performance, and he is very handsome. if you're collectinng movies, collect this one!!

Rating:
Summary: One of my favorites
Review: Tim Burton's Batman isn't exactly a cinematic masterpiece. I mean, sure the story is a little dry. But this didn't bother me in the least when I went to go see it as a kid back in 1989. Back then, this was my favorite movie. I had the toys, the bedsheets, the T-shirts... the whole kaboodle. It was the first film my family ever bought on VHS, and I think out of all the movies I own, this is the one that was watched the most. It sounds very corny, but this film has a very special place in my heart. It reminds me of my innocence as a child. For those of you who basically grew up with the batman franchise, you know exactly what I'm talking about.

But if you haven't grown up watching superheroes dressed up as bats, this film will still entertain you. It has the dark, moody feel of a true Tim Burton film; this includes sets, costumes and characterization. Before the film was released, there was some controversy over whether or not Michael Keaton was able to fit the bill as Bruce Wayne/Batman. But if you want to compare Keaton to Kilmer and Clooney, Keaton IS Batman in the same sense that Sean Connery IS James Bond. If you ask me, he was perfect. Jack Nicholson's over-the-top performance turns out to be one of his most memorable. As with other Batman films, the true stars are the villains. The Joker is no exception whatsoever; Nicholson simply steals every scene he's in. Some of the cinematography is outstanding, especially the long shots which illustrate the skyline of Gotham City. The sets are very gothic and foreboding, which stages the tone for the film. And who on earth could forget Danny Elfman's now classic musical score?

I recently watched Batman after about two consecutive years, and true. It DOES kind of lose its technical greatness after you've learned a thing or two in film class. But as I said before, this is a very special film to me. If you haven't seen it yet (yeah right), I'd highly recommend it. Aside from Raging Bull, this is probably my favorite movie of the 80's.

Rating:
Summary: Michael Keaton is NOT Batman.
Review: Michael Keaton was a terrible Batman (not as bad as George Clooney though)! Batman is supposed to strike fear fear into the hearts of his enemies! When I heard that they casted the guy who played Beetlejuice (that's right, Beetlejuice) as Batman, I couldn't help but laugh at him through the entire film! Jack Nicholson was perfect for the Joker (he's got that evil but incredibly goofy feel to him, just watch As Good As It Gets to find out what I'm talking about), but the main problems were Michael Keaton and the lousy script. This movie confused the hell out of me! Don't skip this one though. If you do, you'll mis an incredible performance by Jack Nicholson.

Rating:
Summary: Great film; based on DARK KNIGHT comics
Review: BATMAN: fantasy action comic book story; dark character archetype with the Underworld of Hades; great archetype with the Joker too; the city being a jungle analogy; cool gadgets; Keaton did a good job playing a twisted dark hero wrestling with his past; and, of course, Jack Nicholsan was great as the Joker.

Rating:
Summary: "You can't make an omelette without breaking some eggs."
Review: I'm still not sure how to spell "omelette." I think it's one of those stupid words with more than one spelling that's acceptable, but in any case, it all means the same thing. The English language is a confusing one, indeed. Why did I want to become a writer? I don't know, but I still do... I do it well for someone with limited understanding of exactly where the people who invented this language were coming from, I guess. Oh well, to the point... As is the usual with movies by the visionary Tim Burton, "Batman" just reeks of visual style, amazing set design, a great villainous performance, and at the center of it all, a terrific hero. This is the best comic book adaptation ever made, followed closely by its immediate predecessor, "Batman Returns," "X-Men," and "The Crow." I'm really looking forward to what Sam Raimi is going to do with "Spider-Man." Whatever happens, it'll be good, `cause that's just my pal Sam, but I doubt if it'll live up to the level the bar for comic book films has been set to, after a masterpiece like "Batman."

Everyone knows the story of "Batman." Billionaire golden boy Bruce Wayne's parents were murdered when he was just a kid, and he was there to witness their demise. In his grief, he vowed to dedicate a part of the fortune he was left, and the empire he took over, to establishing himself as a figure that would strike fear into the hearts of any person who even considered donning a ski-mask and going for an unexpected withdrawal from the bank. He became Batman, the dark figure that looms in the shadows of every murderer's consciousness, ever-threatening their life as a free person. As was expected by virtually every fan of the comic book series, Batman's first veray onto the big screen (discounting the over-acted Adam West version) was going to be against the Joker, and who could possibly play the Joker better than Jack Nicholson? Jack (an 11-time Oscar nominee) embodies the Joker in everyway, and his resulting performance behind the white make-up and red lipstick is astonishing. Michael Keaton was an unlikely choice to play Batman when the film was thought of being made, but oh my God, does he do the role justice! He is amazing behind the cape and cowl. He is Batman! How could Val Kilmer or George Clooney live up to such a dynamically portrayed Batman after Keaton left? Exactly, they couldn't! But the real star of the movie is its director, Tim Burton. His direction of his visual effects and set design is what makes this movie into the dark, atmospheric thriller that it is. The very close second is, of course, the maniacal Joker performance from Nicholson, who is given so many one-liners from the screenwriters that they must've taken half-hour breaks to stop laughing, thinking up this stuff. Their work is hard-fought for and well-done. I love this movie! And remember these words of wisdom: "Never rub another man's rhubarb."

Rating:
Summary: Tim Burton's Batman is THE Batman
Review: Ever since the film's debut twelve years ago, I have been watching this film first on beta(yes, i was on of the 8 people who still had beta back then), and then on DVD. All I can say is that this film is even more incredible when you add the widescreen picture(it also features a standard version) and Dolby Digital sound to the movie. All I can say is that if you own a DVD player and liked this movie, you'll enjoy this film even more now.

Tim Burton has made some of the best movies to come out in recent years, most notably Edward Scissorhands and Sleepy Hollow. He created a Batman here that was (please forgive me) even better than the comic book series. The film has a dark, industrial look throughout the film, with little color and a very dark brooding musical score by Danny Elfman. The plot is about Bruce Wayne(Michael Keaton), a rich millionare who fights his personal demons by becoming the Dark Knight, a man who must avenge his parents death every night by stalking and bringing down criminals. But in his path is the Joker, played by the always fabulous Jack Nicholson. Kim Bassinger comes in as Vicky Vale, a photographer who becomes the object of interest for both Batman and the Joker. While there is not as much action in this like the other 3 films, it is the best one when it comes to acting, directing, and overall feel. On DVD, Batman becomes the best comic book film(underneath Superman I and II) of all time.

Rating:
Summary: The Best Batman Movie
Review: This was the first and the best of the new era of Batman movies. Jack Nicholson and Kim Basinger deliver a perfect performance in this one. The opening of the movie is amazing, and it continues with stunning special effects, dark atmosphere, and suspense up until the end. The soundtrack by Prince is good. As far as originality and acting this one stands head and shoulders above the sequels.

Rating:
Summary: The fifty-third card in the deck
Review: Tim Burton does an excellent job at updating Bob Kane's crimefighting superhero to the late eighties. This film renders a much better description of the comic book dark knight than any movie or TV show released before this one. Michael Keaton does a great job in his portrayal of our hero. Jack Nicholson has had a long, distinguished, and enviable career in films; his performance as the supervillian Joker has been considered by many to be one of his best and most memorable. Overall, enjoyable by the average summer matinee movie junkie.

Rating:
Summary: style over substance - assembly line blockbuster
Review: First thing - I'm a huge batman fan, and like many others I was waiting for years for the dark knight to get the sort of motion picture treatment that had been so great for the man of steel. I admit that I was caught up in the incredible hype machine that surrounded this film when it came out - I bought the t - shirts, posters, key rings etc. I went to see it at least five times and loved it every time. I could see it wasn't a perfect movie, but hey - that's BATMAN up there on the screen!!

Returning to Batman many years later without the euphoria, hype and anticipation, I have sadly had to draw very different conclusions. It is a very average movie first and foremost. The story/plot has a processed, manufactured feel to it. The script probably went through the hands of a dozen movie executives who all had their own 'ideas' on how to improve it. A perfect example is the scene where the Joker sees a picture of Vicki Vale and suddenly becomes obsessed with her for the rest of the movie. It feels so forced and unreal - a phoney way to create a three way tension between the main characters. Another sickening example is the way in which the Joker is tied to Batmans' origin story. The result of such manufactured, unnatural writing is a movie that plods from one scene to another without any cohesive, organic flow, and ultimately tends to bore.

With the exception of batman himself (played admirably by Michael Keaton), all of the other characters seem to fall into two categories - forgettable (Vicki Vale, Alfred, Commisioner Gordon) and irritating (the Joker, Vicki Vale's reporter sidekick). I remember thinking that Jack Nicholson was really great as the Joker, but after repeated viewings, his performance seems to have the whiff of Jar Jar about it.

I hate the way it looks. It is often described as a 'comic book come alive'. I just think it looks fake. 'Superman: the movie' was set in a real world setting which, I think increased the sense of wonder when something extra ordinary happened. Batman's costume is a classic example of style over substance - it looks great in still shots, but in motion batman plods around like Frankenstein's' monster, totally paralysed and unable to move his head from side to side. The Batman I know is an incredible gymnast who can swing through the rooftops.

Its' biggest crime is the complete lack of respect it shows to the source material. This isn't Batman.