DC Movie Review: ****^ Batman (1989)

 Watching Batman again reminded me how much I loved this movie the first time through.  Batman/Bruce Wayne (Michael Keaton struggles with his need to fight crime, after the murder of his parents at the hands of Jack Napier/Joker (Jack Nicholson).  Napier becomes the Joker after he is dropped into a bat of acid when the crime boss (Jack Palance) sets him up.  Batman befriends a photographer, Vicki Vale (Kim Basinger).  There relationship develops, but Joker also wants to possess her.  Joker does get even with the crime boss, and takes over as the boss.  He has developed a poison which makes laugh before they die.  He has plans for a city wide gassing at a party.  Batman interv ees and sends to balloons filled with gas into the atmosphere.  The Joker has a big gun with which he shoots down the Bat plane.  This leads to a big fight.
This movie is very good.  Nicholson is good as the Joker, and Michael Keaton is also very good.

Movie Review: Ride in the Whirlwind (1966)

This move was written by and starred Jack Nicholson.  Nicholson portrays Wes, a cowhand who is traveling with two of his friends.  They spend the night close to a group of bandits.  When the local vigilantes come to hang or kill the criminals, (those who surrender are hung) our three friends are caught up in the melee, with the only option of flee or be killed.  One of them is killed, and Wes and Vern (Cameron Mitchell) escape over the mountains up a boxed draw.  They make it over the top and meet a family, but insist on taking their horses to get away.  They are innocent, but being caught up in the situation they become murderers and thieves.  The father of the home wants to protect his animals, and shoots Vern, while Wes kills him.  This movie ends as Wes is riding away with a last chance of escape given him by Vern who gave himself up creating a diversion.
I think the theme of this movie is sometimes you are just in the wrong place at the wrong time.  The vigilantes were out for hanging and didn't care much who they got.