by The Extraordinary Tourist

Created on: January 11, 2009

Nineteen eighty nine's 'Batman' directed by Tim Burton is a stylishly dark re-imagining of Bob Kane's Batman comic book creation.

At the film's beginning we arrive in Gotham City just as Batman (Michael Keaton) is introducing himself to the criminal underworld. His presence is beginning to make small time crooks nervous to be out at night.

Batman has not gone unnoticed by local Gotham News reporter Alexander Knox (Robert Wuhl) and out of town photo journalist, Viki Vale (Kim Basinger) who set out to track down the 'six foot bat'.

As their investigations progress Viki finds herself falling for billionaire recluse, Bruce Wayne, whom she realises isn't being entirely honest and up front with her.

At the same time newly appointed District Attorney, Harvey Dent (Billy Dee Williams), sets out on his mission to rid Gotham City of its mob crime bosses and their henchmen.

In the process Jack Napier (Jack Nicholson), a right hand, number one man to mob boss, Carl Grisham (Jack Palance), is double crossed and inadvertently becomes the Joker in a botched Chemical plant robbery.

From then on the Joker unleashes his own brand of anarchy and chaos on the people of Gotham whilst becoming increasingly more obsessed with bringing down the Batman.

Batman is a landmark comic book movie for its time. It was a huge success at the box office and redefined the character of Batman for the main stream audience of the day (for many of whom the 1960s TV Show, staring Adam West, was likely to have been their greatest experience of the character).

The movies unique style and timeless design enables it to hold up many years after its first release. The film doesn't feel dated at all.

Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne/Batman was a controversial choice by Tim Burton at the time but thankfully his performance won over even his harshest critics. Whilst he may not have been the preferred choice most people agree he did a good job with what he was given.

Jack Nicholson as Jack Napier/The Joker is really the main reason to watch this movie. The role was written specifically for him and he plays it up at every opportunity. His Joker fits right into Tim Burton's world in a way that Heath Ledger's Joker from Christopher Nolan's, The Dark Knight (2008), just wouldn't.

Jack has most of the best lines and fully utilises the freedom that the character of the Joker brings for any actor who takes on the role.

A common criticism is that this movie could be called 'Joker' because it's much more about the Joker than it is

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