Batman (1989): Does it Still Hold Up?
Revisiting the classic Tim Burton blockbuster offers a wealth of disappointment
To most, Tim Burton’s attempt at bringing the Caped Crusader to the silver screen in 1989 is still looked upon as an iconic and groundbreaking work of cinematic glory.
Indeed, without its success, we may not have the current cultural obsession with superheroes at all. Many comic book fans have fond memories of seeing this blockbuster for the first time, and remain steadfastly devoted to Michael Keaton’s portrayal of the Dark Knight as the epitome of what the character should be. But, does this film truly hold up to the test of time?
Curious about this, as I had just viewed (for the third time) the latest iteration of the character, brought stunningly to life by Robert Pattinson and the flawless direction of Matt Reeves, I found Batman (1989) available for streaming on HBO Max and decided to give it another look.
I was shocked and dismayed by how utterly TERRIBLE this movie is, when compared to the comic book epics of today. When you take off the nostalgia-tinted glasses, and just see this movie for what it is, it’s astounding how much it fails to accomplish on virtually every level of film making.
