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My thoughts after watching this after 15 years

posted 5 years ago by StoneKeeper (21049)
13 replies | jump to latest

Whoa, this movie is dark. Way darker than I remembered. Maybe I shouldn’t have let my 4 year old watch it with me, although he enjoyed it a lot. I was 4year old myself when this movie came out, although I probably only saw it a few years after. And then I saw it again and again. Some scenes stuck with me my entire life and I remembered the gist of it but seeing it for the first time as an adult was something else. I still think Keaton is the best Batman and Jack Nicholson plays one of the greatest vilains ever. I say that because I can’t say he’s the best Joker ever. He isn’t. I also can’t say this is the best Batman movie, it ain’t. My rating: 9/10

[–] janelsenor (2042) 5 years ago

I think Nicholson was the best Joker.

[–] StoneKeeper (21049) 5 years ago

I totally respect that.

[–] Stratego (29209) 5 years ago

Yeah, I remember watching this movie in the early 90s and thinking it was so dark. Not at all like Adam West's campy Batman that I grew up with.

[–] kwestmo (4114) 5 years ago

I think the Keaton/Burton interpretation of Bruce Wayne (not Batman) is the most interesting, even tho it is not remotely the Bruce Wayne of the comics. IMO, the interpretation is what makes the movie great.

Like you I agree this isn't the best Batman movie or the has the best Joker. That was the Dark Knight.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

The best Batman movie is "Mask of the Phantasm."

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7395) 5 years ago

Yeah. I like it too. I watched it with my 9 year old nephew last year(he's 10 now) and he was freaked out at the scene where Joker burns the guy's face up with a handbuzzer. Can't imagine a 4 year old's response to it.

[–] StoneKeeper (21049) 5 years ago

I dont remembered what exactly but I know he made a comment that clearly showed he did not make the connection.

[–] TandyMan (10339) 5 years ago

Loved it when I was a kid. It wasn't till years later I realized how messed up this movie is. haha I have to imagine it would be the same for kids today.

[–] TMC-4 (19393) 5 years ago

Batman '89 Review - It Ain't Broke Episode 21

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2V6oyAUcZI

Batman (1989) - Does it Hold Up?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0hztl6WdDM

[–] Ace_Spade (9336) 5 years ago

Agreed. It drives me to distraction when people criticise this movie for being too campy and over-the-top, usually in comparison to The Dark Knight. It bugs me because this movie is plenty dark (though TDK probably is "darker"), but also because the argument seems to be that "darker = better", and it doesn't.

Batman '89 is a terrific film, gothic, entertaining, really well put-together, dark, and psychologically complex.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

I think they got the balance right.

[–] peterkneter (374) 5 years ago

Absolutely. I think as it is a comic movie, this is totally right. The best Batman movie.
Dark knight and all the Nolan movies were ok too but the tried too hard to be realistic and put the joker into a terrorist. 89 Batman is a good balance between darkness and comic movie. Also I think the iconic Batman sign and the iconic Batman music are still the best fitting to the genre.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

My problem with the Nolan movies is that it doesn't feel like it's taking place in Gotham but rather just the modern world. Flying off to Hong Kong? Then the idea that Batman's tools and how he gets them are explained that the Wayne Corp has prototypes. Some things are better left a mystery.