35th anniversary of "Batman" - June 23rd

Not really much more you can say about this influential comic book film.  I can remember a little bit still getting to first see it when I was six years old.  Of course watching it on HBO later as I was growing up.  So how do I feel about "Batman" today?  A good movie still even though, like with "Ghostbusters", it gets an over-exaggerated sense of greatness from a lot of its fans (not as high as with Ghostbusters though).  As good as it is, it's far from perfect, and not the best film of 1989.  But it does have a lot going for it such as Anton Furst's Oscar-winning production design, the performances (Keaton and Nicholson in particular), Danny Elfman's muscular score, well-mounted production top to bottom in various areas with some flair, etc.  Tim Burton does a good job directing, but he was able to cut loose and be more relaxed with "Batman Returns". 

So what keeps "Batman" from greatness?  Flaws like Batman being a secondary character to The Joker (even more of a secondary character in Batman Returns) in his own movie.  Vicki Vale being not much of a love interest or character (not Basinger's fault necessarily).  I do have minor nitpicks like Batman firing guns and missiles from the Batwing at The Joker and none of them hit The Joker despite locked on target.  That one black dude who looks like Ray Charles who fights Batman and is able to see while wearing sunglasses while it's nighttime in a dark cathedral while fighting a dark-costumed Batman.  Prince's music doesn't add anything to the film, but doesn't necessarily hurt it either.  Many people seemed to take some issue with Alfred letting Vicki Vale into the bat cave (which is joked about later in Batman Returns).  Batman purists taking issue with Joker killing Bruce's parents when it wasn't that way in the comics (later rectified by Batman Begins).  These flaws and nitpicks don't greatly hurt the movie, but they do create imperfection.      

So in the end, "Batman" is still an entertaining and influential comic book/superhero movie that has a lot going for it even if it's not the masterpiece that a lot of its fans make it out to be.  Hard to believe 35 years have already gone by for this film.  For many Batman franchise fans, the movie would definitely be at or near the top in terms of ranking all the Burton, Schumacher, Nolan, etc. movies.

Leonard Maltin Movie Guide Review:

"There's razzle-dazzle to spare in this dark, intense variation on Bob Kane's comic book creation---but there's also something askew when the villain (a particularly psychotic villain, played overboard by Nicholson) is so much more potent than the hero!  Still, lots to grab your attention, including Anton Furst's Oscar-winning production design and Danny Elfman's terrific score.  Prince contributes several songs.  Followed by BATMAN RETURNS."