Batman (1989)

Directed by Tim Burton
My rating: 1.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Warner Bros)

Tim Burton begins his descent into mainstream re-imaginings with the Batman. It's pre-CGI, so there are actual stunts involving real vehicles and real people, though there is some model work as well. The movie seems to be more interested in Nicholson's Joker than Batman. We get the whole origin of the Joker, at least the physical transformation is made clear, but the transformation of his personality from rather ordinary henchman to maniacal, over-the-top Joker is not so clear. The low points, and there are many, include Nicholson in dance mode while bad 80s Prince music blares from jam boxes and dancing to Prince again as grand marshal of a Gothic City parade. It's downright embarrassing. Keaton is about as stiff as his batsuit.