'Batman'

Tim Burton's 1989 installment of the brilliant Batman pop culture mythology was one of the first films I ever purchased. I probably watched that VHS tape 75 times and probably another 50 on TV or DVD. It's one of my all-time favs.

Watching and appreciating it today as an adult is interesting because there's probably three dozen things that I totally didn't understand because it was a series of complex relationships that we as the audience are thrust into with no explanation.

Often, as a kid, I would fast forward the film to the part where Jack Napier falls into the vat of chemicals because it only got interesting once The Joker came around and started terrorizing Gotham City.

Burton's Batman is nowhere near the creation of Christopher Nolan's latest films in which Batman is given his proper depth, duality and persona.

Still, here's 10 questions I always had as a kid that are answered (kinda) as an adult about Batman:

Who Was Grissom?
Jack Palance played Boss Grissom. Again, his scenes are ones I typically fast forwarded through because they were boring. Grissom is in fact a mobster. A very powerful mobster and the guy who signed Napier's paychecks.

What Was The Deal With Alicia?
At the beginning of the movie, it's clear she's Jack's girl. Later, we see her walk into Grissom's lair with shopping bags. As an adult, I realize the look she gives Jack and that Grissom noticed this look, too. She was cheating on Grissom with Jack. Late, after Grissom is murdered, The Jocker intentionally deforms Alicia's beautiful face. Then we learn that Alicia "threw herself from a window." It's unclear whether this was Jack's doing or suicide. It's equally unclear as to their relationship or whether Alicia was a dumb bitch.

Why Did The Joker Kill Grissom?
As noted, Alicia was cheating on Grissom with Jack. Once Grissom realizes this, he sends Jack on a fool's errand to ransack Axis Chemicals. The crime lord sets Jack up to be murdered by tipping the police officers on his bankroll. Of course, Jack falls into the chemicals with thanks to the Batman. Knowing he'd be set up "over a girl," The Joker kills Grissom.

Did The Chemical Bath Turn The Joker's Skin White Or Normal?
Throughout, The Joker is applying and re-applying (or wiping off) make-up from his face. At times, it looks like he's applying white make-up, but others he's applying the skin-toned make-up. It's clear now that his face was white (shown on the hand reaching out of the chemical sludge and when Vicki Vale douses his face with water).

Why Did Bruce Wayne 'Disappear'?
Following the evening of love making with Vale, she invites the multi-millionaire to a day of festive boyfriend-girlfriend frivolity. The sleepy Wayne initially agrees only to remember that he has a business meeting and will be leaving town and be gone for sever days. Upon leaving Wayne manor, she references the leave with Alfred, who dismisses the lie. We learn that Wayne actually goes to an unspecified corner of Gotham City where he mysteriously lays down a pair of red roses.

Minutes later, Wayne and media members congregate in front of city hall where local mob bosses discuss Boss Grissom when The Joker attacks. Vale, of course, sees Wayne there. Trying to confront him, he speedily dashes away. Why not say, "Hey, I've got something going this afternoon. How about dinner?" when it's pretty clear that you're not going out of town and, in fact, will be clear in the public.

Why Did Wayne React To The Joker's Attack At City Hall?
Once The Joker's minions begin shooting things up (dressed as mimes), Batman's biggest foe walks to a waiting car to be driven away. Wayne, unperturbed by the blaze of machine-gun fire buzzing around him, is agog at The Joker's presence, eyes ablaze, shocked.

I thought it was Wayne remembering it was Napier who had killed his parents. I know now that Wayne was shocked to see The Joker (or Jack Napier) alive considering the last time he saw him, the guy was sinking into a cauldron of boiling chemicals.

How Did Wayne Now The Joker Would Shoot Him In The Chest?
In Vale's apartment, Wayne is over trying to apologize. The Joker ruins everything. Wayne disappears into the ajoining room placing a silver serving dish underneath his jacket. He re-enters the room, antagonizes The Joker until he is shot. Luckily, the silver tray blocked the bullet. Why this was significant is a mystery. Why The Joker didn't shoot him in the head is another myster.

Why Did The Joker's Balloons Inflate Once The Poisonous Gas Was Released?
Still not answered.

Did The Joker/Jack Know He Had Killed Wayne/Batman's Parents?
Surely Jack read the newspaper. After Mr. and Mrs. Wayne were murdered, he had to have known what he done. The Wayne family being very popular people, everyone had to have known that Bruce was aliving and kicking. Any time Jack/The Joker ran into Wayne or vice versa, wouldn't the former realize he'd killed the latter's parents and that Wayne might be a little pissed off about this? Was he that oblivious.

In the final scene where The Joker and Batman fight, The Joker claims that Batman "made" him by dropping him in the chemicals. Batman counters saying that Jack had killed his parents, thus, making Batman. The Joker then admits that "he was a kid" when he killed his parents. It was a long time ago. So, did The Joker know that Batman was Wayne? If this is realized, when did it happen and why didn't Jack/Joker realize this the previous 20 random meetings?

Did Batman Know Jack Napier Killed His Parents?
I refuse to believe that Wayne didn't know who killed his parents. He had to have found out and it looks like the youngster got a pretty good look at the guy that murdered his ma and pa. But how many times had Wayne the opportunity to get to Napier and exact his revenge? Why did Wayne seemingly have no idea who had killed his parents and eventually figure out that Jack had done it, 30 years later?