Batman '89: Still Holds Up, But Let's Talk Grappling Hooks...

Okay, so I rewatched Batman (the Keaton one, duh) last night. Still love it. The whole gothic vibe of Gotham Tim Burton created is just chef's kiss. Jack Nicholson's Joker is legendary, no arguments there. "Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?" Iconic, right? Plus, the Prince soundtrack? Timeless. But as a practical stunt guy, I gotta nitpick a couple things... Specifically, Batman's grappling hook. It looks cool, especially when he's swinging around those rooftops, but the physics are kinda wonky, aren't they? Like, sometimes he's just rocketing upwards with no visible anchor point. I know it's a comic book movie, but even then, my brain is saying, "Wait, where's that hook attached to?!" The scene where he's rescuing Vicki Vale from the Joker's parade is a good example - like where's the rope going haha! Still a great action sequence though, just a TINY bit cheesy now. Despite the questionable grappling hook physics, the Batmobile chase scene is still a banger. Practical effects for the WIN. No CGI nonsense here, just a cool car doing cool stuff. Plus, Michael Keaton's Batman is just... believable. He's not overly muscled, he's just a dude who's really good at fighting and has a lot of gadgets. The fight choreography feels a little slow now compared to modern action movies, but it still gets the job done. The gothic look is the real star, it's so cool and different than anything at the time. Overall, still a solid watch. Burton nailed the visuals and Nicholson brought the chaotic energy. Imperfect but great. What are your favorite parts? Let me know!