Batman 35 Years

Batman made its much-anticipated theatrical release during the summer of 1989. There was dancing with the devil under the pale moonlight at the box office. Michael Keaton was tapped to play the Caped Crusader with Jack Nicholson as the Joker. Keaton would reprise the same role in the 1992 sequel Batman Returns.

The movie has stood the test of time that is until Christian Bale comes along in the 2000s. This cinematic classic featuring Keaton and Nicholson was one that has stayed true to the comic book hero with its dark and gothic themes. Evidentially, the debut comic of the iconic hero was first released in the spring of 1939.

The acting and pace of the movie were enjoyable for fans of Batman. Nicholson gave us an unmatched portrayal of the Joker until; Heath Ledger’s came along in 2008. As for Keaton, let’s say that his two-word line will live in infamy (Don’t worry, Kevin Conroy’s voice acting of Batman will too).

Batman is seen as a hero who fights crime while wearing a mask to protect his identity. During the day, he is Bruce Wayne, a billionaire philanthropist who runs Wayne Enterprises. He lives in a mansion with Alfred.

As for the Joker, many people today are used to the late Heath Ledger’s maniacal idiosyncrasies that are portrayed in Nolan’s The Dark Knight. However, Nicholson gives us a version of the popular antagonist that is entertaining with a dark sense of humor.

The one thing Batman can teach us is to never caved to evil. In the movie, he confronts evil not just as the masked vigilante but also through his alias. One scene from the movie that demonstrates Bruce/Batman can stand against evil is when he comes to Vikki Vale’s apartment at the wrong place, at the wrong time. Yet, he wanted to get on his level in a way to made him vulnerable.

The movie shows also that the city of Gotham needed someone who could save them as they grasped with corruption and heinous crimes. Like them, we can rely on Jesus who is our savior. Jesus won’t put on a mask like Batman has done time after time. Rather, he preached about the kingdom of God and commissioned people to carry it on.

The movie gets an 8 out of 10. While the acting and flow are good, there have been some holes in the plot that could’ve been simply fixed. Keaton is one of the best actors to bring Batman to life.