In 1954 the Comics Code Authority(CCA) began to protect kids who read comic books thus comics became campier and less serious. That was until “Swamp Thing” issue #29 was denied the CCA seal of approval, but DC published the comic anyway and after followed series “Watchmen” and “The Dark Knight Returns,” both without the CCA seal of approval.
The darker comics also interested Warner Bros in a film adaptation of “Batman.” After the success of “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure” and “Beetlejuice,” Tim Burton would direct one of the biggest hits of 1989, “Batman.”
The film stars Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Jack Nicholson as the Joker and Kim Basinger as Vicki Vale. Keaton’s casting sparked controversy with him being known for comedy roles, such as “Mr. Mom” and “Beetlejuice,” so Warner Bros quickly put a teaser trailer together which did so well that fans would buy movie tickets just for the “Batman” trailer.
The film’s story is about Bruce Wayne’s double life as Batman (a new hero the world has yet to know about), his relationship with photojournalist Vicki Vale, and his attempts to stop the Joker.
The film’s musical score was done by Danny Elfman, who worked with Burton on “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure” and “Beetlejuice.” The pair would also work on “Edward Scissorhands,” “Batman Returns” and “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”
I think that this film is the best Batman movie ever made even if that’s from a nostalgic bias. I love Nicholson’s Joker with it feeling more like the comics with props and jokes rather than him just being insane, not that he isn’t insane; he is still insane but that he’s also really is a joker.
