The rivalry between Batman and The Joker is undoubtedly among the best in the world of comic books. However, not every movie adaptation of the rivalry has done justice to it. Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman film starring Michael Keaton was unarguably a step in the right direction to do justice to the relationship between the iconic characters.
Jack Nicholson as Joker in Tim Burton’s Batman
A key reason behind the film’s success was how well director Tim Burton depicted the vengeful relationship between the two characters. Even today, outside of the 2019 flick Joker, no movie has managed to grasp the craziness of the character better than Batman in 1989.
Also Read: “I wouldn’t have taken it”: Heath Ledger Revealed He Won’t Have Played The Joker If Tim Burton Would’ve Directed The Dark Knight
Tim Burton Explained the Central Theme of Batman
The rivalry between Batman and The Joker has always been fueled by the latter’s obsession with the former. Evidently, it has led to many viewing only The Joker as a freak.
However, Tim Burton made it perfectly clear in his book Burton on Burton (via Wikipedia) that his movie’s central theme was to depict a fight between two disturbed people.
The whole film and mythology of the character is a complete duel of the freaks. It’s a fight between two disturbed people.
Batman and Joker in Tim Burton’s 1989 film
Tim Burton added an interesting plot point to support the film’s theme. In the 1989 film, it was none other than The Joker, who killed Bruce Wayne’s parents.
At the time, the iconic villain was known as Jack Napier in Burton’s movie. It was certainly an unexpected twist for the audience, which they loved as it gave more depth to the rivalry between the two characters.
Also Read: “Batman was my first big movie”: Joker Actor Jack Nicholson is the Reason Tim Burton Stopped Doubting His Directorial Skills, Gave Us an Iconic DC Cult Classic
Tim Burton’s Joker Has Parallels to Todd Phillips’ Version of the Character
The Joker may seem like a complex character, but the reality is quite the opposite. In fact, Tim Burton pointed out in his book that Clown Prince of Crime operates on the darker side of freedom.
The Joker is such a great character because there’s a complete freedom to him. Any character who operates on the outside of society and is deemed a freak and an outcast then has the freedom to do what they want.
Burton believes that there is nothing stopping someone who views himself as an outcast. After all, it allows the said character to operate with no restrictions, and his hunger for freedom drives him to insanity.
Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker
Does this sound familiar? Well, these were the two primary principles of Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker in the 2019 film directed by Todd Phillips. It feels like Phillips took inspiration from Burton’s Joker to depict his version of the character as someone who believes insanity is equal to freedom.
Moreover, there is the subplot in the movie, which proves that becoming an outcast allowed the character to actually gain the freedom to do whatever he wanted.
At the end of the day, it is abundantly clear that had Burton not depicted The Joker as this insane character who is obsessed with The Cape Crusader, fans may have never seen the 2019 standalone film about the character.
Also Read: “It’s a pretty risky movie”: Joaquin Phoenix’s ‘Joker 2’ Cinematographer Claims Sequel Might Polarize Fans Even Further Despite Being Branded as a Musical

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