TMC-4 — 9 years ago(October 06, 2016 03:56 PM)

http://whatculture.com/film/ranking-every-batman-movie-final-battles-from-worst-to-best?page=7
4. Batman (1989)
Jack Nicholson's sheer maniacal presence as The Joker makes this one an easy sell, as long as you're prepared to accept some of Tim Burton's more off-the-wall flourishes (such as the Clown Prince of Crime dispersing his Smilex gas by way of balloons).
There's a strong operatic feel to the final showdown, as The Joker takes Vicki Vale (Kim Basinger) hostage and hauls her to the top of a Gothic cathedral, dancing with her when the Caped Crusader (Michael Keaton) finally arrives.
The fight itself may not last long, but it's surprisingly brutal, with The Joker's blood-soaked chattering teeth falling out, and there's plenty of psychological intensity as Batman confronts him about killing his parents.
It loses a few points because of the peculiar decision to have Batman flat-out murder The Joker (by tethering his leg to a stone gargoyle before he can escape by chopper), but the beautiful visuals, strong atmosphere and excellent performances make it extremely entertaining. Plus, it's aged surprisingly well.