Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #454 in DVD
• Released on: 1998-09-25
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Full Screen, PAL
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: Arabic, English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 121 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Thanks to the ambitious vision of director Tim Burton, the blockbuster hit of 1989 delivers the goods despite an occasionally spotty script, giving the caped crusader a thorough overhaul in keeping with the crime fighter's evolution in DC Comics. Michael Keaton strikes just the right mood as the brooding "Dark Knight" of Gotham City; Kim Basingerplays Gotham's intrepid reporter Vicki Vale; and Jack Nicholson goes wild as the maniacal and scene-stealing Joker, who plots a take over of the city with his lethal Smilex gas. Triumphant Oscar-winning production design by the late Anton Furst turns Batman into a visual feast, and Burton brilliantly establishes a darkly mythic approach to Batman's legacy. Danny Elfman's now-classic score propels the action with bold, muscular verve. --Jeff Shannon

Special Features
Full Screen
English
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Dolby Digital 5.1
Interactive Menus
Production Notes
Scene Access
Arabic
English

Synopsis
Tim Burton's BATMAN, inspired by Frank Miller's graphic novel THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, is a Gothic, Wagnerian treatment of the Batman mythos that explains the origins of Batman (Michael Keaton) and his nemesis, the maniacal Joker (a ripe Jack Nicholson).
Gotham City is a sunless, ominous haven for criminals, held in the corrupt grip of crime boss Carl Grissom (the ever-magnetic Jack Palance), and terrorized by a sadistic vandal and murderer known as The Joker. But it isn't long before a dark, mysterious caped crusader, who goes by the name of BATMAN, is on their trail and trying to thwart their evil doings. In this darkly entertaining retelling of the Marvel comic classic, ace photojournalist Vicki Vale (warmly and sympathetically played by Kim Basinger) is also on the trail--she wants to find out who Batman really is. Based on the popular comic book character created by Bob Kane for DC Comics; the story and tone have nothing in common with the popular TV series of the 1960s. Imaginative special effects and imposing, Gothic architectural sets dominate this visually graphic, stylish film. Keaton gives a brooding performance as the Caped Crusader and his interestingly understated alter-ego Bruce Wane. But is it Nicholson's Joker that steals the show, with his unnerving, brilliantly maniacal portrayal, especially in the context of his twisted relationship with Grissom's gal Alicia (a lanky, disquieting Jerry Hall).

Customer Reviews

Great Gothic & superior ham
This is a cracking film. The detail of Tim Burton's Gotham vision is astounding, and this is a very beautiful film as well as a hugely entertaining one. An epic performance from Jack Nicholson dominates the film, but Michael Keaton is fantastic too, in a more understated way, as is Jack Palance.

This movie is great fun and well worth watching.

Batman
Batman shows a mature, dark side of the Caped Crusader, and is portrayed by the dark and mysterious Michael Keaton and directed by Tim Burton.

Michael Keaton is absolutely amazing in this movie. With all the doubt going on at the time about the Batman movie, casting Michael Keaton was a mistake etc. But it wasn't. As Tim Burton himself says, Michael Keaton seems like the kind of person that would have to dress up as a bat. Val Kilmer and George Clooney do not seem like that kind of person. Jack Nicholson is amazing as the Joker and he made it darker than the Joker was in THAT TV show. Kim Basinger is a very good leading lady in this movie (and she wasn't originally the actress wanted by Tim Burton!) And yes, Tim Burton faced a hell of a lot of slack for focusing too heavily on the Joker, but both Batman and the Joker are done credit here.

Batman-the best superhero movie, about the best superhero (my personal opinion, as Batman has no super powers and is just an 'ordinary' guy. (OK he's a billionaire playboy but you've got to love him.)

The film never gets dull!

How it should be done
Now this is how a Batman film should be done. It's got darkness, funny moments that don't ridecule the film and a character that you root for because he DOES NOT have superpowers, if you see what I'm saying. There is also a villain who, okay is thoroughly evil of course, but humerous with it because of the amount of lengths he will go to to achieve his goal. There is also a pretty hot Kim Basinger in it.

However the film does have a few faults. There is not much of a plotline and basically boils down to the two male lead characters (Keaton and Nicholson) trying to outdo each other in the fear scales and win the affections of Gotham Globe reporter Vicki Vale (Basinger).
The character of Vale also gets rather annoying, especially towards the end, and at times seems to be there for no apparent reason other than to look pretty. Also there are a few plot loopholes (as always with films).
Also parents of very young children may see this title and think 'Ah a Batman film. I'll take it home for the kids to watch tonight." May I advise you that this, along with it's first sequel Batman Returns, are not suitable for anyone under the age of 15, especially Batman Returns.

Overall a good Batman film, if not the best plot-wise and character-wise and an excellent way to kill two hours worth of a Saturday afternoon.