{"id":356,"date":"2014-09-26T22:36:17","date_gmt":"2014-09-26T22:36:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cinemacocoa.com\/?p=356"},"modified":"2014-09-26T22:36:17","modified_gmt":"2014-09-26T22:36:17","slug":"saga-review-batman","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cinemacocoa.com\/?p=356","title":{"rendered":"Saga Review: Batman"},"content":{"rendered":"

Possibly one of the most iconic, well received and respected “superheroes” created, Batman’s success is thanks to the relatively down-to-Earth nature of the character, a\u00a0billionaire\u00a0with a taste for vengeance, with training and a lot of gadgets.
It is the villains that broaden Batman’s scope, and are always the most interesting and mesmerising elements in any story.<\/p>\n

I speak as a fan of film, not comics; I’ve never read a Batman comic, but a lot of friends tell me all about the stories and major developments. As a fan of films, Batman has been with me since the beginning, and I only realise this now with this Saga Review; I was five when Tim Burton’s Batman<\/em> hit the scene, and I was watching it and Batman Returns<\/em> at home before I finally got to see Batman Forever<\/em> in the cinema.<\/p>\n

From 1989 to 2008. Riddle me this, riddle me that…
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Batman<\/strong> (1989)<\/p>\n

The theatrical, Gothic gem that started it all.<\/p>\n

Before Tim Burton was Tim Burton<\/em>, his early interpretation of the DC comic book hero Batman would show Hollywood what is possible with the genre; it was dark, adult orientated and thick with atmosphere. It was before comics were \u201ccool\u201d and mainstream, Batman<\/em> isn\u2019t even accurate to the origin story and if it were made for today\u2019s audience, it would have been slandered. But this was all we had, and looking back at it you can still forgive its flaws because of its theatrical, quirky darkness. That, and a truly awesome score by Danny Elfman.<\/p>\n

(Whatever happened to Elfman and Burton?)<\/p>\n

Jack Nicholson gets top billing as Jack Napier, a gangster who\u2019s dream of taking control of Gotham\u2019s crime syndicate becomes reality when he is viciously transformed into the maniacal Joker. Blaming the spectre-like Batman vigilante, he seeks revenge, while at the same time Bruce Wayne discovers his own vengeance isn\u2019t far away.<\/p>\n

You can already tell how I love this film\u2019s mood and tone; Burton\u2019s heavy use of shadows and keeping Batman almost entirely obscured (visually and in terms of the story). The city and costume design make it more timeless than retro, while it boasts the undisputed best Batmobile put to film.<\/p>\n

Its strengths can be its weaknesses too however. The plot and character development are relatively shallow, taking a back seat for the theatre and straight up loopiness of Nicholson\u2019s Joker, while I have to say \u2013 asides from Michael Gough who will always be Wayne\u2019s faithful butler Alfred in my eyes \u2013 the supporting cast is far from spectacular. Kim Basinger goes from subplots to screaming damsel, while the irritating comic-relief Alexander Knox is mercifully forgettable.
This is Nicholson and Keaton\u2019s movie, without any doubt.<\/p>\n

As a film I grew up with as a kid, I will always respect it, and must say to anyone growing up with Nolan\u2019s trilogy to check it out! It may be goofy at times, but it has subtle strengths that do outmatch the new trilogy.<\/p>\n

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