| | | | Batman
(1989) |
ight falls hard on the city of Gotham.
Mayhem and madness typically arise in the large metropolis. Two crooks rob and kill a husband in front of his wife and son. A shadow passes over the sky. A 6-foot tall, rubber clad bat saves the day. Thus begins the film Batman.
Based on the classic D.C. Comics written by Bob Kane, Batman is a critical and commercial success. Garnering everything from Coca-Cola commercials to an animated series to three sequels, the Batman logo is recognizable to practically every living being. Bruce Wayne is an outsider to the city of Gotham, thus it seems only appropriate that the director of this film is Tim Burton. But don't let his elusive demeanor fool you. Batman is anything but helpless.
About halfway into the movie we find out why Batman is Batman in the first place. After leaving a movie theater at night, a young Wayne and his zillionaire parents are trapped in a dark alleyway where a menacing looking man murders both of Bruce's parents and then asks:
| "Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?" |
The viewer then realizes that the distraught little boy, Bruce Wayne, grew up to be a vengence seeking vigilante who uses his parents massive amount of money to be a crime-stopping superhero.
The film is set in Bruce's(Michael Keaton) adulthood and not a soul has figured out his double identity, although lots of people are intrigued by the elusive man-sized bat, including Vicki Vale(Kim Basinger). Vicki is a photographer eager to snap some pics of this Batman who many people don't even believe exists. I mean come on, what are the chances of their being a flying superhero in their own town? But there is one. And they need him. The mayor wants to hold a 200th anniversery of their prosperous city, but the crime-rate is so horrible that they feel even a city parade is too dangerous.
They were right of course, but after the creation of The Joker(Jack Nicholson) their lives would be put in peril more then ther ever imagined. Already a crook to begin with, all it took to turn Jack Napier into a walking Frankenstein was a plunge into a deep pool of toxic chemicals which turned his hair a sickly green and his skin a ghostly white. Facist plans to take over the world and create everyone into clown-lookalikes is on The Jokers agenda, but not if Batman has anything to say about it.
Filled with romance and humor, action and mystery, Batman is certaintly one of, if not the, best films ever made based on a comic book character. This film stands the test of time, and still looks incredible to this day. Watch Batman and let it carry you on its black wings of imagination to a justice prevailing outcome.
Don't forget that Batman is now available to order on Widescreen DVD using our special 80s Retro Assistant...
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| | | |  I love this film soooo much. How can anybody ever forget how big it was when it came out? It was enormous! My little brother was a Batman fan for years and so was I.
It was a film both girls and boys could watch and enjoy, even more so than say Superman.
After I watched the film I remember loving the colors red and green (Jokers main color coordinations).
Michael Keaton was the best Batman, in my opinion. He really brought a lot of charisma and depth to the character of Bruce Wayne that I feel other actors, like Kilmer and Cloony, failed to capture. Nicholson also did an amazing job and Basinger was at her most beautiful.
It was just an all around wonderful movie.
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This was the first film to ever get a "12" rating in Great Britain. The rating was created to prevent young kids from seeing the film. It has been in place ever since.
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Batman giving up guns in the early days of the strip was not entirely because of "political correctness". At that time there were still "The Lone Ranger", "Billy The Kid", "Roy Rogers" and other comic strips of similar content that were still very popular. Why should the Bat be like them? Through the inspiration behind Bruce Wayne becoming the Batman the story was written that he would NEVER intentionally kill. Quite simply, he didn't want to be the same kind of person that took his parents from him, even if that meant saving a bad guy. This silent oath of never intentionally killing was completely ignored in the Tim Burton Batman movies and wasn't given much more attention in the sequels that have followed. Is this true of the new Christian Bale version of the Dark Knight?? -Thanks to Christian
Burton has said in interviews that he simply did not want to use Robin at all and only agreed to consider using the Boy Wonder out of deference to Warner Brothers. Robin was also considered to be used in Batman Returns but again, his role was excised out. Robin made his premiere in Batman Forever.
Interestingly, 1986's The Dark Knight Returns first notes that Batman's parents were killed by an unnamed, never found assailant. Shortly thereafter, Batman comics' continuity was amended by DC Comics -- Batman's parents hadn't been killed by Joe Chill OR by Jack Napier, but by an unnamed, never found assailant. The feeling was that, if Batman solved the crime of who killed his parents, there goes his motivation to be Batman.
Denny O'Neil, editor of Batman in 1989, liked Sam Hamm's original script well enough to invite Hamm to write a storyline for Detective Comics. Hamm's story appears in Detective Comics #s 598-600.
In the very early days of the Bob Kane comic, Batman was illustrated not with gloves on but rather with gauntlets that stopped at the wrists. His hands were actually bare in a number of the strips.
Annette Bening was originally cast as Catwoman for "Batman Returns" but had to bow out when she became pregnant.
In the original screenplay, Bruce Wayne is described as a man with muscles on top of muscles, and scarred from nightly combat. Michael Keaton was quite obviously NOT envisioned.
In the original screenplay, Dick Grayson and his parents, the Flying Graysons (John and Mary), are introduced during the parade scene. They are entertainment in the parade and the Joker shoots the trapeze artists, sending the Graysons plummeting to their deaths. Dick eventually becomes Robin by script's end.
In 1984, Tom Mankiewicz, who had co-written SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE and some of the James Bond films, had written a screenplay. Despite attracting some attention, it never got filmed. The Mankiewicz screenplay was deemed too similar to the Superman film, even including scenes of young Bruce Wayne training to become Batman and detailing the origin much more. The script also actually had two villains -- the Joker and the Penguin (who, unlike his comic version, is described as a tall, proper looking, thin man). -Thanks to Barry Freiman
Characters in the Batman movie that were based on DC Comics characters: Batman, Alfred, Joker, Commissioner Gordon, Vickie Vale, Harvey Dent, Thomas & Martha Wayne. All other characters were additions created for the film, including Wohl's Alexander Knox who was originally supposed to die in the parade scene.
In the comics, Vicki Vale (a redhead) always suspected Bruce Wayne was Batman and competed for Batman's affections throughout the 50s and 60s with Batwoman (a female Batman and predecessor to Batgirl). The movie "Vickie Vale" was actually based more on 1970's Bruce Wayne girlfriend, Silver St. Cloud, a name deemed too silly for a movie character. When Batman debuted in 1939, Bruce Wayne was engaged to movie actress Julie Madison (the character eventually appeared in the final film of the series). -Thanks to Barry Freiman
Tim Burton makes a cameo as one of the Joker's thugs in the Museum scene. -Thanks to Ashley Williams
Mac McDonald, one of the Joker's goons (the one painting the marble statue head in the museum/gallery scene) plays Captain Frank Hollister in the TV series 'Red Dwarf.' -Thanks to Simon Webb
Until shortly before filming, Batman's sidekick Robin was going to appear at the end. Burton never liked the character and it was also around this time that the second Robin (a character named Jason Todd, not the original Dick Grayson, who had become Nightwing) was killed by the Joker in the comics. -Thanks to Frankie
Jack Nicholson held the place of highest paid actor in the Guinness Book of World Records. -Thanks to Scot
Kim Basinger and Prince, who wrote music for Batman, met on the set and dated for a while. -Thanks to Jovana
Batman boasted two characters from the Star Wars trilogy. Billy Dee Williams, who played D.A. Harvey Dent, starred in Star Wars as Lando Calrissian, while Corrupt cop Lt. Max Eckhardt was played by William Hootkins, who was the fabled X-Wing pilot Jek Porkins in Star Wars -Thanks to Chas Garfield
In the comics, the man who murdered Batman's parents was named Joe Chill. Chill was never even hinted at as a secret identity for the Joker before or since the film. Likewise, in BATMAN FOREVER, Two Face was "blamed" for killing Robin's parents, even though in the comics, it was someone named Tony Zucco. -Thanks to Frankie
The Batman film, along with its sequel, Batman Returns, feature an extremely bleak, and terror-filled Gotham City. This feel for Gotham was originally seen in "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns", a 1986 graphic novel by comic book legend Frank Miller.
In 1984, Kenner produced a line of DC Comics based figures. In 1989, Toy Biz had acquired the rights and put out a line of DC characters. Batman, Joker, Bob the Goon, the Batmobile, the Batcycle, the Batwing, and the Batcave were packaged differently then the other D.C. characters (including Robin). The following year, Kenner put out the Dark Knight Collection line, which featured a bunch of different "Batmen" with different gadgets as well as a number of vehicles. Toy Biz had further success with Marvel Comics based figures, and Kenner (apperantly bought by Hazbro sometime recently) continued making toys based on Batman, Superman and other D.C. characters.
The following year, Roger Ebert dubbed the film TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES "a low rent version of BATMAN." Neither film, however, garnered a thumbs up. -Thanks to Frankie
The spear gun, ubiquitous in the film, was never seen before in the Batman comics. Batman frequently used a device that launched a grappling hook in the animated series that aired in the 1990's. As for conventional guns, Batman used one briefly from 1939- circa 1941, but eventually adopted a worried-parent-addled code against them. -Thanks to Frankie
The original 1989 movie Batmobile was purchased by magician David Copperfield for $1 million. -Thanks to David
Corto Maltese (where Vicki had been taking pictures) is the name of a popular European comic character, starring in the adventure comic books of Italian Hugo Pratt. Corto Maltese is also an island in Frank Miller's The Dark Knight, one of Burtons inspirations for Batman.
Actor, Chris Fairbank, who played Moxey in the popular UK comedy/drama 'Auf Wiedersehen Pet', played Mugger 2 (Nic) in the opening segment. -Thanks to Karl Williams
The Joker has continued to be the most evil villain in Batman's world. He proved this by killing Jason Todd (the second Robin) by using a bomb. The "Harlequin of Hate" also placed Barbara Gordon (Commissioner Gordon's daughter and Batgirl) into a wheelchair after he severed her spinal cord. A recurring theme in the comic books is also the Joker's ability to almost always escape from Arkham Asylum. -Thanks to Jeffrey
Billy Dee Williams took the role of Harvey Dent because of the character later becoming Two Face. Reportedly he had a clause put in his contract to ensure he would get the role of Two Face if the character was used in any sequels. Unfortunately Warner Bros bought it out so they could cast Tommy Lee Jones instead.
David Baxt, who plays Bruce Wayne's father, Thomas, also appeared in the other DC Comics-inspired movie Superman in 1978. In it, he played the thief climbing up the side of a building and caught by the Man of Steel. -Thanks to Joe
In the comic books, the Joker's true name was never revealed. Before he was the Joker, he was never known as anything but "The Red Hood".
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Find much more great trivia in the filmmaker's commentary on the Batman DVD.
Rediscover your favorites! If you like
Batman or 80's Action classics, then be sure to
check out this list: ..... Angel ..... Raiders of the Lost Ark ..... Beverly Hills Cop ..... Die Hard ..... Predator ..... Terminator ..... Black Rain ..... 48 HRS ..... Untouchables ..... Lethal Weapon ..... Rocky IV ..... Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior ..... Top Gun ..... Highlander ..... Streets Of Fire ..... Commando .....[More]
| | | | To prepare for the role, Michael Keaton worked out for two months and learned kickboxing from his stunt double, David Lea. Though hard to spot, many of the fight scenes are just about evenly split between Keaton and David Lea in costume, depending on the level of physical demand. Michael Keaton would go on to perform more of his own stuntwork for Batman Returns, according to Tim Burton's commentary. -Thanks to Chris Behnken
Adam West (the star of the TV series) wanted to play Batman, but Michael Keaton was given the role after getting the nod from Bob Kane, one of the creators of the original Batman comic strip. Adam was (rightly) very disappointed to be 'blanked' by the filmmakers by not being asked to participate in the film in any way, not even a cameo.
Though Adam West was allegedly snubbed for the Batman role. He was actually asked to cameo as Thomas Wayne in the murder sequence but ended up snubbing the cameo because he believed that the "new Batman" was too dark. Basically Adam West was too stuck on the brightly colored and very campy, tongue-in-cheek Batman that he starred in so many moons ago.
Bob Cane, when designing the costume for Batman, had attended a stage play called "Nosferatu" with Maxwell Schreck playing the title role. It was the cape that Maxwell wore that helped inspire the cape and over-all look of the bat-costume. Maxwell Schreck was paid homage in "Batman Returns" when a character bearing his name was played by Christopher Walken.
The Batman script changed quite a bit from Sam Hamm's original screenplay even as the script was being filmed. Filming of the climax of the movie coincided with the Hollywood writer's strike, and, as a result, Burton and Keaton both have said they were writing the ending to the film on set. This might explain how the biggest gripe of the Batman film made it into the movie: the Bat-wing is felled by a single bullet notwithstanding that the Batmobile was bulletproof.
Anton Furst's designs for Gotham City were eventually incorporated into the comic book depiction of Gotham City in the early 1990s as a tribute to Furst who died shortly after filming. Most of his designs eventually disappeared from the comic book Gotham, especially after Gotham was decimated by an Earthquake, becoming a veritable "No Man's Land" for a time.
When Tim Burton first read "Batman: The Dark Night Returns", he wanted to do the film based on the comic. In the comic, it had so much story that if it were a movie it would be about four hours! Warner Bros. didn't want that, so they told Burton to do something different! -Thanks to Patrick Magallanes
Robin was close to appearing in both "Batman" and "Batman Returns". In the latter film, the producers went so far as to cast Marlon Wayans as Robin. The story goes that Burton (rightly) felt there were too many new characters in the film already, and Robin had no importance to the story. Supposedly, Burton promised Marlon he'd be in the next one ("Batman Forever") but Schumacher became the director and cast Chris O'Donnell. This is similar to Billy Dee Williams, who was promised to the role of Two-Face in a future film before the character was re-cast.
Rene Russo was originally cast as Dr. Chase Meridian for "Batman Forever" to play opposite Michael Keaton as Batman. When Keaton bowed out and Kilmer took over, Nicole Kidman was cast as Chase because it was decided she'd have better chemistry opposite Kilmer. -Thanks to Joe Stachler
When Keaton got the part of Batman, fans cried bloody murder and some even threatened to boycott Batman merchandise. Years later, fans screamed bloody murder when Michael Keaton left and was replaced by Val Kilmer. -Thanks to Frankie
Actors considered for the part included Mel Gibson, Charlie Sheen, Pierce Brosnan and, for some reason known only to God, Bill Murray. -Thanks to Frankie
Sean Young was originally cast as Vicki Vale, but broke her collarbone while filming a horse-riding scene with Michael Keaton. The scene was subsequently written out of the script.
As a result, Sean Young wanted the part of CatWoman in the sequel so badly that she allegedly went 'temporarily insane', dressing up as CatWoman and accosting studio reps at Warner Brothers. She even sported the old CatWoman "purrrrrfect" accent when delivering interviews. The part eventually went to Michelle Pfeiffer. Sean Young eventually went to Ace Ventura... Poor girl! -Thanks to Santiago Velasquez
Before sending the "Bat-Man" concept to DC comics, Bill Finger, friend to Bob Kane, helped Bob a great deal. Kane's original designs were comical, depicting a buccanear type hero, with a red hood, mask and only a small glider with bat wings. With Bills re-sketches, Batman became the comic legend we see today, instead of Bob Kanes' comic version. -Thanks to Chas Garfield
The costume design for the '89 movie was supposed to mirror that of the the '60's original, but Burton wanted to opt for something more dark, brooding and sleeker, ending up with the final design. The all-black costume was to mirror the fact that Batman owns the night. -Thanks to Ash
The stages used in the scenes involving the staircase were redesigned and used in Spiderman as the Osborn mansion. -Thanks to Dewey
Set designer Anton Furst deliberately mixed clashing architectural styles to make Gotham City (which was based on New York City) the ugliest and bleakest metropolis imaginable.
The plastic surgeons tools are originally from fellow Warner Bros. production Little Shop Of Horrors (1986). They were the dentist tools owned by Orin Scrivello.
The Batman costume weighed 90 lbs. -Thanks to Chas Garfield
Heavy security surrounded the Jokers makeup.
Bob Kane was scheduled to make a cameo appearence, but he couldn't make the shoot. The drawing that the newspaper report holds up of the "Bat-Man" was drawn by Kane.
The throne the Joker sits on when he spreads money over the city is a copy of the "Silver Throne", the royal throne of Sweden which the king of Sweden still uses at the opening of the Swedish Parliament. The replica was made for the film "Queen Christina"(1933)
Tim Curry was an original choice to play The Joker. Robin Williams was also considered for the role of The Joker; he would later be considered for The Riddler as well.
Jack Nicholson got the role of Joker but demanded top billing and a lucrative deal that gave him royalties on all merchandise. His deal for Batman has been considered one of the smartest ever.
Hatfield House (Wayne Manor) was in the video game based move "Tomb Raider".
The Joker's last name of 'Napier' was used as a tribute to actor Alan Napier who played Alfred on the t.v. series. He sadly died 2 months before the movie began production.
Micheal Keaton sprained a muscle in his calf while filming the opening roof-top scene, due to the inflexibility of the costume, when he tried to kick a thug. As a result, his leg no longer goes as high as normal to this day. -Thanks to Walter
In the museum sequence, one of the paintings the Joker is destroying is defaced with red hand prints, then when the scene cuts further away it is intact again and then after another cut it is again defaced. -Thanks to Sarah Troiano
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|  |  |  | | Batman
Locations |
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Featured Movie Location: The Wayne Manor (exterior) Wanna see the real life filming location used for The Wayne Manor (exterior) in the movie? These scenes were actually shot at Knebworth House, located at Knebworth House in Knebworth, HERTFORDSHIRE, UK.
Knebworth House is one of England's most beloved stately homes. Famous worldwide for its rock concerts and as the home of Victorian novelist Edward Bulwer-Lytton - author of the words "The pen is mightier than the sword".
The interiors of the Wayne Manor were shot at Hatfield House in nearby Hatfield in the UK
The Axis Chemicals set was built in the abandoned Acton Lane power station. The same place was used for sets for "Aliens" (1986).
The exterior of Axis chemicals may have been filmed at the refinery in San Pedro, right off the 110 fwy can anyone confirm?. [Thanks to Darryl]
Gotham City was built at Pinewood Studios, where it stood for 2 yrs after filming in the belief the sequel would be filmed there. [Thanks to Nikki]
Featured Link: Knebworth House site
Can you help? Do you know any of the UK (or any other) filming locations used for Batman? [Please send them in]
|  | | | | ![[16:9 -Widescreen Enhanced]](16_9.gif) | ![[5.1 CH SURROUND]](dd5.gif) | Trailer, Commentary, Featurette, OutTakes |
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| | ![[16:9 -Widescreen Enhanced]](16_9.gif) | | Trailer, Commentary, Featurette, OutTakes |
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Comments: Special Edition due 7th Aug 2006 |
| | | | | The soundtrack for Batman was completely comprised of songs from a man who's as mystical as the caped crusader himself: Prince.
It seems ironic that Prince's music was chosen as a backdrop for this film, simply because it just seems so out of the blue. Not that his music is miscast, in fact it works wonderfully in Batman, it's just that using Prince's music for the first Batman film was such an original idea that it seemed almost bizarre. But then again, Tim Burton was the director and he is definitely an original man. The original score was composed by Danny Elfman.
The tracks, all written and sung by Prince, are:
1. The Future 2. Electric Chair 3. The Arms Of Orion 4. Partyman 5. Vicki Waiting 6. Trust 7. Lemon Crush 8. Scandolous 9. Batdance
Although Prince made 9 songs for the Batman album, only 5 of the songs appeared in the movie: The Future (heard very well into the background at the beginning where the family is walking down the alleyway), Electric Chair (played during the party when the guy from the newspaper is buttering up to the guy), Partyman (during the scene in the museum), Vicki Waiting (at the beginning of the party, the instrumental part of the song is played), Trust (during the parade scene), and Scandalous (during the credits). The Arms of Orion, Lemon Crush, and Batdance were not in the film, but Batdance was a number one hit. -Thanks to Tyler Martinez
Danny Elfman is also part of the 80s group Oingo Boingo. Probably best known for its song "Weird Science". The group disbanded in '95.
Originally both Prince and Micheal Jackson were asked to write the soundtrack for Batman. Jackson's music would symbolise the more lighthearted side of our caped crusader and Prince's music would be used to symbolise the darker side. It became apparent this wouldn't work so well, especially with the rivalry between Prince and Jacko and, as Prince already had heaps of material, he was asked to do it alone. -Thanks to Hollie - I Lv Prince
Prince was asked to create a soundtrack for the film, and after spending a couple of days on the set of batman, was so inspired that he wrote the entire album within a week! -Thanks to Rich Baldwin
Danny Elfman and Tim Burton have a steady list of movies done together. They met in '85 when Burton asked Elfman to do the music for Pee-Wee's Big Adventure. It was a hit and they became friends, and later went on to do the soundtracks for The Nightmare Before Christmas, he has done every soundtrack for Burton's movies with the exception of Ed Wood. -Thanks to Joanna Howell
Danny Elfman was also in "Nightmare Before Christmas". He did Jack's singing voice and the rest of the music. -Thanks to QTPieG
Danny Elfman, who scored the film, found later success with the Simpsons theme and other films including Spiderman.
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