In the forthcoming The Dark Knight, Batman will be confronted by his greatest adversary: The Joker. It won’t be the first time the two comic book icons have faced off on the big screen however, and before delving into the caped crusader’s latest adventure, it is appropriate to take a look back at the film that started it all, Batman.
Much like The Dark Knight, the 1989 original film features Batman/Bruce Wayne (Michael Keaton) struggling to protect Gotham City from the maniacal Joker/Jack Napier (Jack Nicholson). Nicholson steals the show as the clown prince of crime, and although he often overshadows Keaton as the title character, both are entertaining and memorable in their respective roles.
In fact, Christian Bale could learn a thing or two from Keaton’s understated performance as Batman. Bale’s sometimes over-the-top intensity stands in stark contrast to Keaton, whose chilling stare and stoic body language go a long way in conveying what’s going on under the cowl.
Nicholson’s flamboyant Joker is the perfect foil for Batman. Add to that the plot point of a young Napier being the mystery gunman behind the murder of Wayne’s parents and you have a winning formula for an epic hero/villain confrontation.
A mediocre romantic element has been a prevalent problem in the Batman films. Even the new film series is not immune, as Batman Begins’ Rachel Dawes was unquestionably the weakest character of that film. The role has been recast with Maggie Gyllenhaal in The Dark Knight, which may lead to an improvement.
Likewise, Commissioner Gordon (Pat Hingle) and District Attorney Harvey Dent (Billy Dee Williams), important characters from the comics, are criminally underused in the original. Thankfully Wayne’s loyal butler Alfred (Michael Gough) does not suffer the same fate. The current franchise doesn’t make this same mistake though, as both Gordon and Dent are key players in Batman’s plan to take down the mob in The Dark Knight.
Perhaps Batman’s strongest aspect is its score. This is truly composer Danny Elfman’s finest hour.
Tim Burton’s Batman is a very different take on the character than Chris Nolan’s Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. Burton’s vision is of a comic book come to life, accepting the absurdity of all that entails and embracing it to the fullest. He sees Batman as a vengeful crusader, and even calls into question Wayne’s sanity, suggesting Batman is as insane as the criminals he fights.
Nolan’s is firmly grounded in reality, with an authenticity that almost allows for it to take place in our reality. His take on Batman is of a man on a mission, driven by tragedy to be a symbol of hope in a world of darkness, all the while walking the fine line between justice and vengeance.
Both interpretations are equally valid. For a character that has been around for almost 70 years, there should be ample room for multiple versions of Batman in everyone’s imagination.
