By Michael Lyons
During the summer of 1989, you would have not only had to have been living under the proverbial rock, but in the basement apartment under that rock, to not know about “Batman.”
Director Tim Burton’s take on one of the world’s most iconic super heroes was, quite literally, everywhere with one of the world’s greatest mass-marketing campaigns ever.
And, no matter your feelings or fandom with “Batman,” the character or the movie, there is also no denying that this film was groundbreaking in so many ways and changed the landscape of movies (and, specifically, summer movies) forever. And now, this summer, “Batman” celebrates its 30th anniversary.
Turning away from the campy (but lovable) style of the ‘60’s TV Show and leaning more on the character’s DC Comics roots and mythology, this version of “Batman” would be more serious and brooding than audiences were used to.
Couple this with the casting of Michael Keaton in the lead role of Bruce Wayne/the Caped Crusader and no one knew what to expect from this “Batman.” The choice of Keaton was quite controversial at the time. Best known as a comedian, in movies like “Mr. Mom” and Burton’s own “Beetlejuice,” fans were beside themselves when other serious and action-oriented stars of the time weren’t chosen. Luckily there was no internet in ‘89, otherwise it would have broken.
Then, there was also the jaw-dropping choice to have Jack Nicholson play Batman’s arch enemy, The Joker. Not only one of the biggest names in film, but one of the most respected actors of any generation, Nicholson was more associated with serious, dramatic, Oscar-season films, than Summer blockbusters, up to this point.
His casting was a true coup and he went on to define the villain for the generation who grew up with this film. He also garnered a paycheck and a portion of the profits from the film that is still a legend in the industry.
“Batman” (or “Batman ‘89,” as it’s come to be known to differentiate it from the multiple versions of the character that have come before and since) as film, is less an origin story of the title character (although that’s weaved in through flashback).
As the film opens, a mysterious “giant bat” has been seen in Gotham City and a group of underworld criminals, which include the brutal Jack Napier (Nicholson) attempt to take control of the City.
During a raid at a chemical plant where the mobsters come up against Batman, Napier falls into a vat of chemicals and emerges horribly disfigured as The Joker.
The Joker then launches a creepy, diabolical plan to put a smile on every citizen’s face and take over Gotham, which results in a showdown between the demented clown and cowl-cloaked hero.
The look of “Batman” is a true original. It’s still fascinating to revel in the details of the film, with its cross between film noir and the world of Tim Burton. The late, brilliant Art Director Anton Furst won an Oscar for his design of Gotham City, replete with Art Deco buildings that seemingly soar into the heavens.
Laid over this is an soaring, operatic score by Burton stalwart Danny Elfman, that not only feels at home in this world, but has gone to be one of the most recognizable film scores ever.
After so much hand-wringing, Keaton surprised everyone and made for a great Batman. Tough and feral while in the cape and cowl (his sneer as he faces-off with Joker at the end is perfect) and also leaning on his comic timing while playing the absent minded Bruce Wayne.
And Nicholson? Well, he is just SO Nicholson in this movie it’s not even funny. He brings so much of his eyebrow arching persona to the Joker that he rightfully walks away with the film. There’s also his oh-so-many quotable lines, like, “Can somebody tell me what kind of world we live in, where a man dressed up as a bat gets all of my press?!?”
Released June 23, 1989, “Batman” demolished everyone’s expectations of how well a summer blockbuster could perform, earning over $400 million at the box office and becoming the fifth highest grossing film of all time. In fact, the film broke a record for how quickly it reached $100 million. “Batman” was even one of the first movies to feature Thursday night showings at theaters and went on and on and on the entire summer.
Part of the film’s success was the ubiquitous marketing campaign in place. The simple “Bat-logo” movie poster was splashed everywhere and there were over 300 licensees, producing everything from action figures to cereal. You couldn’t even turn on the radio without hearing one of the several songs that Prince had written for the soundtrack, which included the #1 hit, “Batdance.”
“Batman” was more than a movie, it was an Event. One so big, that moviegoers felt that they HAD to see it and not just some time that summer, but opening weekend.
In fact, the movie went on to usher in the age of the “Event Movie,” in Hollywood throughout the ‘90’s. A number of movies copied the “Batman Formula” of the Uber-hype machine and were transformed from movie to Event. Among them were “Jurassic Park,” “The Lion King” and “Independence Day.”
But, this new era of the Summer Blockbuster began 30 years ago this summer with “Batman,” a movie that made an entire generation fall in love, not only with the Caped Crusader, but with movies themselves.
As the title character himself said, “I want you to tell all your friends about me...
...I’m Batman.”
Sources:
IMDb
Wikipedia
No comments:
Post a Comment