Batman: 80 Greatest Ever Moments

4. "I’m Batman." - Batman 1989

Batman 1989 I'm Batman
Warner Bros.

Tim Burton's Batman conjured one of the Caped Crusader's most iconic incarnations. Although some fans churlishly decried the casting of Michael Keaton as Gotham's preeminent protector, both actor and director would prove them wrong by giving the Dark Knight a modern uplift - at least on the big screen.

There's been a tendency to overestimate Batman '89's contributions in modernising the character, but it certainly proved to mainstream audiences that he was serious business. Even today the film still holds up, rocking a beautiful composition from Danny Elfman and a now somehow underrated performance from Jack Nicholson as the Joker.

Regardless of its positives, the moment Keaton made his grand entrance as Batman in the film's opening is surely the film's most iconic moment. Is it too late to hope it serves as a lesson for Bat-fans not to jump the gun on castings?

[EP]

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