Batman 1989

Dave Kehr, Chicago Tribune: The idea of doing a dark, neurotic, highly stylized and highly claustrophobic superproduction is an audacious and appealing one, but director Tim Burton has only made it halfway there. Read more

Sheila Benson, Los Angeles Times: Is it interesting? Fitfully. Is it fun? Not much, Gotham City fans, not much. Read more

Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel: The storytelling has weaknesses, but the characters are fascinating. Read more

Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer: It's an unforgivably flat ending for a movie of such astonishing contours. But its first two-thirds -- which should be called The Joker's Big Misadventure -- is probably the best film of the year. Read more

Vincent Canby, New York Times: The wit is all pictorial. The film meanders mindlessly from one image to the next, as does a comic book. It doesn't help that the title character remains such a wimp even when played by Michael Keaton. Read more

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader: The conceptual side of the movie--two rather sick two-sided antagonists having it out in a black and sordid context -- lingers. Read more

Ron Pennington, Hollywood Reporter: Batman is a stunning achievement, especially through the incredible and unique visualization of director Tim Burton. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: There are a lot of things wrong with Batman, but it still makes for decent entertainment in the fine tradition of the typical low-intelligence summer movie. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: A triumph of design over story, style over substance - a great-looking movie with a plot you can't care much about. Read more

Time Out: In the end, one's reaction to Burton's blockbuster is little more than that of the Joker to Batman: 'Where did he get those wonderful toys?' Read more

Variety Staff, Variety: Director Tim Burton effectively echoes the visual style of the original Bob Kane comics while conjuring up a nightmarish world of his own. Read more

Hal Hinson, Washington Post: Dark, haunting and poetic Read more

Desson Thomson, Washington Post: An exhilarating mix of cartoon lore (though not nearly enough for rabid Batpurists), screen presence (this is pretty much the Jack and Mike Show), psychological murkiness (though it could have used even more) and demented Gothic goofiness. Read more