Photo: Batman (1989) Courtesy DC Universe PR
What are the ten best moments from this iconic Batman movie?
The 1989 Tim Burton Batman is an iconic movie. So much so that the other Batman films are compared to this one. Even if this project was completely different from anything we’ve seen after Batman Returns. It was dark, but was full of bright colors. Violent, but not bloody. Sexual, but not overly done. Michael Keaton (Bruce Wayne and Batman) and Jack Nicholson (Joker) played their roles and gave us a movie that will be watched forever. It’s been 30 years since the movie debuted. Let’s look back at the ten best moments from the movie.
10. I’m Vicki Vale
Alexander Knox was walking through his job getting mocked by his fellow reporters about his Batman obsession. One of them went as far as to draw a very detailed picture of a cartoon mocking Batman. Just as Knox was about to go to his desk and sulk, he was a woman sitting at his desk Her name was is Vicki Vale. A photographer. Vicki tells Knox that she is here to talk about Batman. Knox thinks this is a joke, but she’s serious. Thus, the ball gets rolling on her importance to the movie.
Why it makes the list
Batman is obviously the star of the movie, but she played an incredibly crucial role. She wasn’t just some woman who was there for eye candy. The scene had a good amount of banter between her and Knox. By banter I mean he kept flirting with her and she continued to ignore his advances. Even in the short amount of time you could tell the two of them were going to be gold together.
9. You better be sure
This moment let us know who the Joker was right off the bat (no pun intended). Jack Napier was talking to a detective named Max Eckhardt that he was paying off. Eckhardt got a little too big for his britches. He called Jack an, “A1 nutboy” after Jack told him to think about the future. Jacked pushed him in the face. Eckhardt got up and pulled his gun to shoot but stopped after Jack’s muscle jumped up behind Jack and pulled his gun. Jack smiled and said, “You better be sure.” Eckhardt slowly dropped his gun with fear in his eyes. Jack smiled and said, “See? You can make a good decision if you try.”
Why it makes the list
We see that Jack isn’t someone who takes threats of any kind lightly. Eckhardt insulted him and he responded. Jack’s right-hand man always had his back without hesitation. Jack trusted him enough to put his life on the line. The best part was that Jack didn’t flinch or give any sign of weakness. Some crime bosses in movies will wait in the car or in their base of operation. Not Jack. He is there in the thick of it without any fear.
Credit: Warner Brothers; from Batman (1989)
8. Hi, I’m Bruce Wayne
There was a party at Bruce Wayne’s mansion and everybody from the police commissioner to the mayor were there. With such a major event going on, it would only make sense that Alexander Knox and Vicki Vale would be there to represent the paper. Vale and Knox are wandering through Bruce’s mansion and come across a room with a bunch of random items from around the world. They start asking about one of them and Bruce steps in and says it’s from Japan. When Knox asks how he knows he says because he bought it in Japan.
Why it makes the list
This scene was funny from beginning to end. Knox was still trying his best to flirt with Vicki Vale and she continued to ignore him. Nonetheless, he was funny. Calling the armor, “King of the Wicker People” was great. It was even better when Bruce Wayne stepped in to say where it was room and introduced himself. Knox went from arrogant to awkward. Especially when he agreed with Bruce about the amount champagne to be opened. Bruce knew it would make Knox feel good. It was even better when Bruce asked Alfred to give Knox the grant he jokingly asked for.
Photo: Batman (1989) Courtesy DC Universe PR
7. You ever danced with the Devil…
Joker gets to Vicki Vale’s apartment still trying to court her. Unbeknownst to Joker, Bruce Wayne is there to see her as well. When he sees Bruce, Joker is upset. He goes into a goofy speech until Bruce gets serious. Bruce tells Joker he knows who he is and begins to insult him. Joker is ok until Bruce slams a metal poker and breaks something and yelled, “You wanna get nuts! Come on! Let’s get nuts!” Joker pulls his gun out and says, “You ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight?” Bruce freezes up and asked what he said. Joker says it’s just something he says to his victims and then shoots him.
Thankfully, Bruce was smart enough to put a metal plate under his shirt in case he was shot.
Why it makes the list
The back and forth between Joker and Bruce was phenomenal. Considering who the two actors in this scene are, we shouldn’t be shocked. They played off each other and made the scene seem real. Bruce going from calm to crazy was a surprise. Especially since Bruce is always so calm and cool. Joker’s, “You ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight?” line is still one of the best quotes in a movie as well.
Credit: Warner Brothers; from Batman (1989)
6. Joker takes over
Carl Grissom was at home and assumed his plan to kill Jack worked. Grissom here’s his door open and calls out to his lady. Nope, it was Jack. Back from the dead with a gun in his hand. After trying to get his gun, Grissom asks Jack to make a deal. Jack replies, “Jack? Jack is dead, my friend. You can call me Joker. And, as you can see, I’m a lot happier.” Joker then puts two bullets into Grissom and fires the last four goofily.
Later, Joker killed one of the mob bosses with a supercharged hand buzzer. A classic Joker weapon. He even added a joke saying, “There’ll be a hot time in the town tonight” as the guy fried to death. Joker even added an insult by having a fictional conversation with the guy and then said, “That’s why I’m glad you’re dead.” And laughs maniacally at his own joke.
Why it makes the list
Joker’s intro and transformation were perfect. Grissom thinking he was safe only to be surprised started everything off right. Hiding the Joker’s appearance until he was ready to shoot Grissom made for an eye-catching reveal. Joker killing one of the mob bosses with a joy buzzer was a fantastic way to show everyone he in charge and things were going to be run differently.
Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures Studios
5. Death of the Joker
Batman dropped Joker’s, “Have you ever danced with the Devil” line and punches Joker in the face. Batman gave away his secret identity and didn’t care. It was time for his revenge. He knew he wouldn’t be around to tell anyone anyway. Batman tells Joker he’s going to kill him. Joker calls him an idiot and says Batman created him in Axis Chemicals. Batman beats on Joker some more tells him he created Batman after he kills his parents. In the end, Joker almost escapes, but falls to his death. Leaving a dead body and recording of him laughing.
Why it makes the list
This fight scene seemed to come right out of the comics. Joker had a bunch of bad jokes like putting on glasses and asking, “You wouldn’t hit a guy with glasses, would you?” It was even funnier when he danced over Batman and Vicki Vale as they dangled from the building. It was classic Joker stuff all the way to joker dying with a smile and laughter.
Joker dying was a bit of a shocker. Killing him off meant that there would be no sequel with Joker. However, it was cool that he had a one-off movie. This way he didn’t have to one-up himself and this left room for Penguin and Catwoman to come in next.
Photo: Batman (1989) Courtesy DC Universe PR
4. The museum scene
This classic scene starts with Vicki Vale waiting in a museum for Bruce Wayne. Too bad Bruce didn’t plan the date. This was Joker trying to get close to Ms. Vale. Joker delivers a gas mask to her, gasses the entire museum and, enters the scene like only the Joker could; with a bang. A bright purple suit, his large group of henchmen, and Prince’s Partyman blaring on a boombox. Joker and his men go through the museum and splatter paint all over almost every piece of art. The only one they didn’t “improve” was a grim painting that Joker liked.
Why it makes the list
This scene was full flawless. Joker running around the museum flamboyantly was a sight to behold. He danced and twirled a cane without a care in the world. It was incredible watching Jack Nicholson be the Joker. Especially when Vicki splashed water on Joker’s face and he acted as it hurt him. Only to reveal his true Joker face with the makeup. Nicholson combined everything Cesar Romero did as the Joker and then gave it the dark touch Tim Burton needed. All of that was on display. Then, Batman comes flying in to get Vickie Vale out of danger. Joker ends this scene with a classic line. “Where does he get those wonderful toys.”
3. The Parade
Joker had a plan to get Gotham in his good graces and against Batman. Joker’s plan was to have a celebratory parade for Gotham’s 200th-year celebration. He was going to give away 200 million dollars in cash to the people in Gotham. You’d think that after everything that Joker did to the city that they’d be skeptical. NOPE! The people of Gotham showed up ready to accept his money despite all the people he’s killed. Alexander Knox said it best when he called the moment, “Gotham’s Greed.” As predicted, Joker had an ulterior motive. He used this as a way to get people around him so he could gas and kill them. Shocking, right? Batman was there (again) to save Gotham by taking the parade floats that distributed the gas.
Why it makes the list
This scene was the museum scene doubled up. Prince song Trust was playing through the speakers, the parade floats were large, bright and animated, the scene was grander, and the people of Gotham attended being their greedy selves. This time, the Joker wasn’t so calm when Batman foiled his plans. We saw the Joker angry for the first time. Yelling, “He stole my balloons!” He shot the guy watching his back with his own gun and seemed to have no idea what to do next. A perfect scene to go into the Joker’s last stand.
2. Jack becomes Joker
Jack Napier fell into a vat of chemicals and was left for dead. Soon after, his deformed hand raised out of the muck. His skin came out different than it went in. Jack went to a shady doctor to fix what happened to him. Jack didn’t get close to what he wanted. After the procedure, Jack’s face was covered in gauze. He rushed to get it off and asked for a mirror. When the doctor saw Jack’s face even he was scared. Joker looked in the mirror cried, breaks the mirror, and then let out one heck of a laugh. He continues his very creepy laugh as he leaves the room.
Why it makes the list
This is the first time we officially know that Jack is the Joker and it was done in a spectacular scene. Not only was Joker debuting a big deal, but it was also what happened to him that made his transformation make sense. Every evil character needs a reason to become a super villain. Jack Napier was an incredibly vain person. His face getting ruined was the thing that sent him over the edge. It was a great way to turn Jack from a gangster into a psychotic villain who dresses like a clown. For Jack, it was this.
Credit: Warner Brothers; from Batman (1989)
1. I’m Batman
The movie begins with two thugs robbing a family after they knocked out a father and husband with his wife and son. As they made off with their valuables, the wife screamed in terror. The thugs made their way to the roof of a building to count their earnings. One of them says they need to leave before the Bat gets them.
While the other thug listens in disbelief, Batman slowly floats down onto the roof in the background. He proceeds to beat the thugs and then tells the one he leaves conscious to tell all his friends about him. When he asks who he is, Batman brings him close and says the most iconic Batman line ever, “I’m Batman” and he jumps off the roof and disappears.
Why it makes the list
This entire scene was dark, creepy, and ended with Batman enhancing the legend that he’s something different. Thus putting fear into the criminals of Gotham. The “I’m Batman” line completed the entire scene flawlessly. A line that’s still said today. Sometimes it’s used as a joke on the internet, but it’s also used to tell everyone why he should be feared. This let everyone know that this wasn’t the Adam West Batman. He’s not going to win a fight with brightly colored sound effects after an attack or in a surf off. It was all about putting the terror into the hearts and minds of anyone who would try and put Gotham in danger.