michael keaton

There have been five men to portray Batman in the character's eight live-action feature-length films, from Adam West in Batman '66 to Christain Bale in 2012's The Dark Knight Rises. All five actors came with their strengths and weaknesses, but the best was Michael Keaton, who played the DC Comics superhero in 1989's Batman and 1992's Batman Returns. In the first major scene of Batman '89, Keaton famously grabs a terrified mugger by the collar, holds him off the side of a building, pulls him close to his face, and hisses, "I'm Batman." As a 12-year old watching that moment on a VHS tape in my living room, I believed Michael Keaton. And I still believe him as a grown man watching it on DVD in my office 25 years later, even after having seen a half-dozen different Batman movies since. I realize declaring Michael Keaton's performance as Batman to be not only my favorite Batman but the best Batman is a somewhat controversial statement, even (especially?) among my fellow writers at ComicsAlliance, but allow me to make my case.

On the occasion of the film's 25th anniversary, ComicsAlliance represents our in-depth commentary and review of Tim Burton's Batman '89, the father of modern superhero cinema. Originally published in 2011 as part of our exhaustive Cinematic Batmanology series (which also included a massive five-part analysis of Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight), this piece by Chris Sims and David Uzumeri strips the fan favorite Batman '89 down to the bone to get at what works, what doesn't work, and what's just plain crazy about Burton's enduringly influential film.

In celebration of the 25th anniversary of Tim Burton's Batman movie, The Arkham Sessions takes a break from analyzing the psychology of Batman: The Animated Series to pay special tribute to the legendary film that influenced the style, music, and dark themes of the animated show. Consistent with her measured, analytical approach to the characters and stories of BTAS, Dr. Andrea Letamendi offers psychological conceptualizations of Burton's Batman and Joker with the help of co-host Brian Ward. Is the film, as Burton once described, a story about the intertwined paths of Batman and the Joker, culminating in a "fight between two disturbed people?" Furthermore, how does Keaton's Bruce Wayne compare to Kevin Conroy's version when it comes to the maintenance -- or fusion -- of multiple identities? How is Nicholson's Joker more destructive and dangerous than Hamill's? Listen to this special edition of the The Arkham Sessions and reminisce about Batman '89 in a whole new way.

As much as I might not like Tim Burton's Batman movies, I will always kind of love Michael Keaton. I mean, I saw Multiplicity in the theater. Twice. That's how much I love that dude. And as a result, I could not possibly be more interested in Birdman, a new film by Alejandro González Iñárritu starring Keaton as an actor best known for playing a superhero, a role that cast a shadow over his career and may be destroying his mental health. Also, the Hulk, Gwen Stacy and Snow Job are in it.It's pretty exciting.

ComicsAlliance's official position on Tim Burton's 1989 Batman movie may be a little more harsh than other people's, but even I can't deny its importance in bringing superheroes to life in movies. To this day, it remains a pretty fascinating film, and one of the biggest touchstones that comic books have to mass media, even when we're seeing movies like The Dark Knight and Avengers make a billion d

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Fan-favorite DC movies are getting the 4" action figure treatment from Mattel next year as part of the new Multiverse line. First among the films receiving figures will be 1978's Superman with a figure bearing the likeness of actor Christopher Reeve and a Batman 1989 figure featuring an alternate "Bruce Wayne" head bearing actor Michael Keaton's likeness. Villains will be joining th

Whatever your feelings toward Tim Burton's 1989 Batman movie starring Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson, there's one thing Bat-fans of all stripes can agree on: Hot Toys' has made super wonderful toys based the film. Set to arrive in the first quarter of 2012, Hot Toys' 12" Batman and Joker look a whole lot better than that totally spent, garbled Batman VHS you watched 100 times before you'

Each week, Chris Sims and David Uzumeri take a look back at one of the most successful and influential comic book movie franchises of all time, in ComicsAlliance's in-depth retrospective on the Batman films. David: Welcome back to Remedial Batmanology as Chris Sims and I tackle the second half of 1992's inexplicable summer blockbuster, Batman Returns, in which Batman returns...

Each week, Chris Sims and David Uzumeri take a look back at one of the most successful and influential comic book movie franchises of all time, in ComicsAlliance's in-depth retrospective on the Batman films. Chris: Welcome back to Remedial Batmanology, everyone...