Poor Jack gets dragged to his death in the first Batman film. Had to see this for whatever Batman meant at the time I had first watched this. I forgot that he had opened up to a sexy journalist. The mysterious Bruce Wayne did reveal his human side thanks to the butler who did not want to see his final years with a distraught master with unresolved issues. And the butler was his loyal companion and confidant until he met this photojournalist curious about who really was the more dangerous character in their evil city.
There is Jack Nicholson doing his zany acting as the joker and killer with an artsy side. Some of the better scenes in the film were all his, even when he comes back to get revenge from Dent for wanting to have him get killed. When he tries to capture the attention of the blond journalist in the gallery, the audience is convinced that the pasted smirk suits him well, in my opinion. Jack became the joker and gave himself the charge of competing for the same lady even though he could not really offer anything but a scare or two. Even the induced laughter accompanying the speed chases was well placed before the restoration of law and order. Amazing how the joker commanded the airwaves as well as he did though to make the mayor look tiny!
Truth of the matter is eventually Bruce finds out who killed his parents after reflecting over an old newspaper announcement over their death and gets his revenge. Gotham returns to some normality with the joker gone and the city can return to some real bicentennial celebrations.
