Classic Batman scene: The “I’m Batman” moment still holds up

As fans, we can over-sensationalize scenes that we love. The first time we see them they could be everything we hoped for. Unfortunately, that doesn’t make them great. Sometimes we're caught in the moment.

Looking back at movies decades later can prove scenes don’t hold up like they used to. It's discouraging and can sometimes ruin moments that we love. Thankfully, this isn’t true for Michael Keaton’s classic Dark Knight scene in 1989’s Batman.

“I’m Batman.”

The first time we see the hero in a comic book movie can make or break the character. They have to look strong. In Batman’s case, he has to be intimidating too. If criminals were going to fear him, he needed to send a message that said obey the law or deal with me. That mission was accomplished in the first five minutes of Batman. 

After dispatching the first of the two criminals, Batman grabs the conscious one and tells him to tell his friends about him. Fearful for his life, he asks who he is. And, like the master actor he is, Michael Keaton delivers the, “I'm Batman” line perfectly.

Why was this great?

This scene sets the tone for the rest of the movie. We learned Batman’s method of attack, what he’s about, and how and why his lore continues to grow. That’s just in the movie. The line became iconic and helped make Batman a household name. Fans worldwide knew it even if they hadn’t seen the movie. A feat that happened before the internet existed. When the internet became popular, people still remembered and quoted that line. It's still used in comics.

Credit has to be given to the actors who played the goons. One of them had to maintain their toughness before Batman showed up. The other had to look as terrified as possible without overdoing it. They played their parts just right. The combination made this the intro fans needed to start Tim Burton’s movie.

Does it still hold up?

A debate can be made about whether or not  Batman’s costume looks dated. The bad CGI of Batman on the rooftop before he descends on the crooks was bad back then and looks worse now. Other than that, this is still a fantastic scene.

Future creators can look at this and see how simplicity can work better than overly done CGI (looking at you, 2023’s The Flash). Hopefully, the next time we see Batman he’ll have an opening line as memorable as this. Stay tuned to Caped Crusades to find out if that happens.