Dark Knight (Batman - Special Edition (DVD))

Member Name: Pulsebeat

Product:	Batman - Special Edition (DVD)
Date:	28/05/01 (35 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: stylisation, costumes, Nicholson

Disadvantages: plot's a bit rubbish

'Holy, exploding golf-course Batman!!!!!?@@??:@@@?' 'BANG' 'POP' 'HAIIIIYAHHH'.
This is what Batman meant to me as a young child. I thought, 'How can a man called Batman look like such a ponce in an all-over pair of grey tights and why is he about 85?'

Tim Burton obviously thought this as well, and sought to redefine the popular image of Batman taking it as far away from the terrible, camp travesty that was the 60s TV series (don't pretend it was good because irony is so out darling). Burton turned Gotham City into a dystopian nightmare, blending day-glo images of childhood with brooding gothic images, to set the tone for this film.

The film adds a depth of psychological depth to the characters which people unaware of the comic-books would perhaps not know. Michael Keaton was certainly not an obvious choice for the caped-crusader, but he was brilliant in the role, particularly as Bruce Wayne. Jack Nicholson as the Joker is a piece of casting that is so perfect that it almost makes you believe in a God.

The storyline isn't up to much (though it is much better than 'Batman Returns' which was all style no substance...no bad thing in my book) and revolves around the idea of a gangster (Nicholson) being disfigured in a botched raid on a chemical factory. He then takes over the city's local crime-syndicate and tries to poison all the cosmetic products (perhaps not the greatest plot development in recent memory). And guess who has to stop him? Kim Basinger provides the love interest and Prince provided the soundtrack.

Alltogether now... 'Baaatdance/Go Go Go with a smile'. Superb.

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