Roger Ebert Reviewed Batman 1989 The Same Way Modern Critics Write About The DCEU

Movie critic Roger Ebert expressed great displeasure in his review of 1989’s Batman, which bears a striking similarity to criticisms leveled at the DCEU. Numerous movies in the DCEU timeline received harsh criticism upon their release, many of which echoed Ebert’s Batman review – establishing a dismissive critical precedent that still plagues the superhero genre. In fact, these criticisms arguably prompted the franchise’s reboot – which will hopefully foster a warmer reception for the DCU’s future.

Rober Ebert (1942-2013) was a renowned American film critic and journalist. He co-hosted Siskel & Ebert with Gene Siskel, popularizing film criticism for a broad audience. Ebert wrote for the Chicago Sun-Times newspaper for over four decades, earning a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism in 1975. His reviews, known for their accessibility and insightful analysis, made him one of the most influential critics in the industry. Ebert authored several books and contributed to academic film studies as well as mainstream publications. Despite his respected and broad knowledge, however, Ebert lambasted one of the greatest superhero movies ever made.

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Roger Ebert’s Batman 1989 Mirrors Modern DCEU Criticisms

Roger Ebert’s review of 1989’s Batman was decidedly unfavorable. Ebert was incredibly critical of many aspects, only bestowing the movie a two-star rating. One line in particular, however, will be strikingly familiar to DCEU fans. Ebert described Batman as “a triumph of design over story, style over substance – a great-looking movie with a plot you can’t care much about.” This opinion was also levied at many early movies in the DCEU, most notably Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Man of Steel, and Suicide Squad.

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Of course, Ebert seems to be in the minority decades later. Batman is now considered one of the most influential superhero movies and was instrumental in shaping the genre landscape moving forward. The summer of 1989 was often called the “Summer of Batman,” yet the movie clearly didn’t land for everyone. Ebert’s opinion is reminiscent of Martin Scorsese’s controversial comments on superhero movies – which likened their spectacle to theme park rides rather than “pure” cinema.

Everything Else Rogert Ebert Hated About Batman 1989

There was not much Roger Ebert didn’t dislike about Batman. Ebert decried the sound design as “ear-shattering” and suggested the movie used a “jackhammer” editing style. Though these are prime examples of facets that would later become synonymous with the superhero genre, and for which Batman was praised for pioneering. Ebert additionally criticizes Kim Basinger and Michael Keaton’s performance, the latter of which proved so iconic that he returned decades later in The Flash.

Ebert also disliked Batman‘s serious tone, suggesting that the movie was depressing, with no characters that audiences would care about. Ebert did praise Gotham City’s design and the movie’s slick style, but he quickly noted that these were superficial. Overall, Ebert seemed to dislike the majority of Burton’s Batman and could be the first major critic to levy these stereotypical criticisms of superhero movies – which the DCEU repeatedly encountered.