BOB...GUN
I love the 1989 version of Batman just as much as the next person. But today, not having much else to do, I decided to watch it again. Upon doing so, I have to say that several events that take place in the last 20 minutes of this film raise several questions and deserves additional scrutiny.
- First, if you've seen the movie, you've already asked yourself this question. Batman's Batjet targeting system CLEARLY locks onto the Joker when he's standing on the streets, challenging Batman. But then, when Batman fires, the missiles don't seem to explode anywhere near Joker and the bullets only tear up the street. Why didn't they hit the Joker?
- Then, at the end of that same scene, the Joker pulls out that huge gun and shoots down the Batjet with one shot. The barrel of the gun was long, which would only improve the accuracy of the gun, not the power. So Joker was still firing some low caliber ammo that we're supposed to believe took down an advanced fighter jet? Both question number one and two lead me to believe that the Batjet was lacking in quality craftsmanship.
- After the Joker uses his acid flower to knock the giant church bell down and it plummets to the spire floor, it blocks the police's only way up to the top. Fine. But why is Commissioner Gordon, the oldest, least fit man on the police force, the only one who tries to move the giant bell when there are several Gotham cops standing around?
- When the Joker is ballroom dancing with Vicki Vale, why is she acting like she's drugged or unconscious? I mean, sure, she was just dragged up like a hundred flights of stairs, so maybe she's tired. Fine. But why doesn't she struggle? You're about to die Ms. Vale, you might want to consider fighting back. It's not like the Joker was some huge dude. Instead, she just flops around.
- And finally, when Batman gets to the roof of the cathedral, there are already a few Joker goons ready to do battle with him. How did they get there? Joker didn't even know Batman had a Batjet, so for them to plant these goons in the spire with the forethought that Batman was going to crash his jet at the cathedral steps and the battle was indeed going to end up there, seems like a huge stretch. There was absolutely no reason for them to be there.
6:35 AM
Hilarious. Reminds me of when K. Smith was on Leno (or Letterman) and he was commenting on writing the Superman script years ago. One of the scenes when Superman was at the Ice castle, the studio execs couldn’t have him there just doing nothing. So they wanted Smith to write about how evil snowmen appear, randomly, so Supes can fight them. Same process probably applies here. Some exec said to Burton, "Batman would dispose of the Joker in 2 minutes. Add some goons." top
1:39 PM
as for vicki's drugged state on top of the cathedral, my brother and i have posited endless theories about what the hell her problem is.
i think we finally agreed that perhaps she is trying to look submissive so he will count her out and she can escape.
because then she starts kissing his arm, remember, and talking all like she's in love with him even though she's clearly disgusted?
i think the whole act is her way of distracting him and waiting for her chance to escape- or delaying her own death- much like marion in raiders trying to drink belloq under the table.
however, that still doesn't explain why we see NO flash of that intention in her face, of her getting the idea- OR any subsequent action, i.e. an escape attempt.
maybe tim burton is just too complex a filmmaker for us all. top