The one that started it all. The movie captivated me from start to finish as a child, and even today. The theme by Danny Elfman is unforgettable, and mesmerizing(and definitely unreplacable.*snort*nice try, Goldenathal).
Keaton IS Batman, and himself will never be replaced in a role to which only HE has been able to bring any nuance, or complexity. The others were practically wooden planks, bereft of emotion.
It is a truly awe-inspiring moment when we first see the Batman descend from above on his enormous leather 'wings'. That scene alone conveyed all the mythic grandeur that is Batman, and as an entrance will never be one-upped. No over the top, neon spectacles Schumacher can contrive could replace the mixed feelings of fear and fascination I first felt when saw Micheal in his suit for the first time.
Joker is an awesome villain fantastically played by the unfailable Jack Nicholoson who delivers an oscar winning preformance(he was robbed). None have come close to matching him for sheer, wicked villany save Michelle Pheifer as Catwoman(the one bring spot in the otherwise awful Batman Returns). He's the one future Bat-villains tried to emulate, and failed.
The Batmobile, the batwing, the set design-all of it is take-your-breath-away fabulous. That its used to patch holes in the story didn't matter then, and perhaps not now. The movie zooms along at a steady clip, while managing to mix in serious drama, and themes such as fate, and duality. Admittedly it does not go into these very deeply, but its something that would never have occurred in Schumacher's Batman movies(and haven't), which try repeatedly in vain to susbstitute brains, and character development with "clever" quips. Here you get a feel for all of the main players.
Keaton IS Batman, and himself will never be replaced in a role to which only HE has been able to bring any nuance, or complexity. The others were practically wooden planks, bereft of emotion.
It is a truly awe-inspiring moment when we first see the Batman descend from above on his enormous leather 'wings'. That scene alone conveyed all the mythic grandeur that is Batman, and as an entrance will never be one-upped. No over the top, neon spectacles Schumacher can contrive could replace the mixed feelings of fear and fascination I first felt when saw Micheal in his suit for the first time.
Joker is an awesome villain fantastically played by the unfailable Jack Nicholoson who delivers an oscar winning preformance(he was robbed). None have come close to matching him for sheer, wicked villany save Michelle Pheifer as Catwoman(the one bring spot in the otherwise awful Batman Returns). He's the one future Bat-villains tried to emulate, and failed.
The Batmobile, the batwing, the set design-all of it is take-your-breath-away fabulous. That its used to patch holes in the story didn't matter then, and perhaps not now. The movie zooms along at a steady clip, while managing to mix in serious drama, and themes such as fate, and duality. Admittedly it does not go into these very deeply, but its something that would never have occurred in Schumacher's Batman movies(and haven't), which try repeatedly in vain to susbstitute brains, and character development with "clever" quips. Here you get a feel for all of the main players.