Nerds That Geek Movie Review: 'Batman (1989)'

Written by Scott Edwards

Boy I remember how pumped I was for the Batman v. Superman movie. Because I was ready to see what my boy Batman was going to do against the super powered alien that seems to like to save the day all of the time. Now I have nothing against Superman in the long run, his movies are uplifting and leave you feel like a better person for watching them, but when you like to remain down to earth on a daily basis, Batman is really the way to go. Why you may ask, well, Batman is a man and not an alien for starters, but I like seeing the darker stories where the real spit hits the fan and that is what the Dark Knight brings to the screen. So, without further ado, let’s look back at Batman.

Alexander Knox is looking for a story to break for the paper and is getting tired of waiting on hearsay about his stories, he wants to witness them first hand. Even though the reports of a Batman running around the streets and cleaning up the scum seem to be page turners, he wants to get the down and dirty info to make it to the front page. With very little going his way, Knox’s spirits are lifted when a young and talented photographer steps into his life. Vicki Vale is looking for the same thing as Knox, but when neither of them now how to get it, they will have to stand back and let life take its course.

Jack Napier is the mastermind behind the Grissom gang, just ask him. With the perfect ideas on what to do, Jack has his own group of enforcers that can take to the streets and bring him back the ultimate paydays, whenever he wants it. But subtlety is not Jack’s strong suit and things are starting to get out of hand with Grissom’s girlfriend and before he knows it, he is pulling off a job at the Axis chemical plant that will change his life forever. When the Batman makes an appearance, Jack tries to control the situation, but he is not strong or quick enough and winds up falling into a vat of chemicals. Coming to with a smile on his face, Jack now knows what his life is worth and wants to bring a joy and happiness to everyone in Gotham, especially if it kills them.

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Bruce Wayne may be one of the most popular citizens in Gotham, but he would not admit to it. Being more of a recluse, Wayne stays out of sight and even the local reporters do not know who he is. After meeting with Knox and Vale, Wayne is outed a bit, but is not ready to give up his life of keeping the innocent of the city safe. Becoming Batman during the night, Wayne is stronger, faster and smarter than his opponents and is able to help anyone in need before the situation escalates, but when Vicki Vale enters his life, he starts to think that there might be more to living it than he previously thought. Wanting to let someone other than his long-time butler, Alfred into his small circle, Wayne finds out that somebody else has eyes for his new love and comes to find out that his new opponent will cause more than friction in his love life.

While the city of Gotham is getting set to celebrate its two hundredth anniversary, the Joker has other plans in mind. While tormenting the city with his new Smylex concoction, Joker guarantees to leave all of the people of Gotham dead, but with a smile on their face. Batman cannot allow this to happen and is able to pinpoint different combinations of house hold products that will cause its users to die. Knowing that his plan has been foiled by the menacing bat, Joker has an even more extravagant plan that will bring the city to its knees. Offering to hold the two-hundred-year-old celebration on his own dime and hand out twenty million dollars, everyone in the city is guaranteed to attend and receive just a little bit extra at his own expense. 

This movie really set the bench mark for me when it comes to one of my favorite superheroes, although Batman seems to be a little bit darker than most. He does show that he is willing to kill for what is right, but for some reason, he keeps pulling back. I loved Bruce Wayne when he confronted the Joker for the first time with their exchange in Vicki Vale’s apartment, trying to get inside of the madman’s head to see what he was capable of.  Even through the battle rages on much further than that, Bruce is given a vital piece of information that alters what he has been dealing with all of his life. This movie also gave birth to my obsession with the Joker, not because he seemed to want to kill everyone, but because of how calculated he was in every attack. Not really the style of a madman, but someone that has something to prove and will stop at nothing to do so, that’s how I read it anyway, and yes, he is a complete madman. Well, let the series begin and remember, the next page is always better than the last.

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