Shubert-Film Noir?

        Tim Burton uses many elements of film noir in Batman. The first of these is his use of the seductive female character, or femme fatale if you will. Vicki Vale represents the femme fatale in Batman because she is a strong female character who is determined and seductive. However, although Burton is using the archetype of the femme fatale, he is also undermining it in that she is not exactly a femme fatale. He mixes the archetypes of the femme fatale and the damsel in distress. A femme fatale is generally a scheming woman who is trying to harm the anti-hero by getting him into dangerous situations. However, in Batman Vale does lead Batman into some dangerous situations but in a more damsel in distress way because she doesn't want to cause him harm. She shares some characteristics of the femme fatale such as being independent, glamorous, seductive, and scheming however she is not as dangerous as the "femme fatale" and she is not intentionally causing harm.
      Similarly, Burton uses Batman to represent the "anti-hero." Batman's past makes him "psychologically flawed or wounded." He also goes by his "own code of right and wrong." This is shown when he lets the Joker slip out of his hands and also when he finally kills him in the end of the movie instead of letting the police take care of it. However, although he shares these qualities with the "anti-hero," he is also his own Burton-esque character.  Burton again undermines the film noir genre and archetypes by putting his own spin on things.  He does this because Batman is a hero. In fact most people regard him as a superhero. By putting a hero in a role of an anti-hero Burton sets the archetypes on their heads. Batman is both a hero and an anti-hero.
     


                                              



           Burton also uses the film noir motif of the "urban modernity." Gotham City is sprawling with grime and crime. It truly is the "underbelly of corruption." Gotham City is almost a character all on its own and plays a significant part in setting up the film's mood and theme much like cities in the film noir genre but Burton creates a place that is so seedy and criminal that it is a little out of bounds of the usual film noir city.
        Overall, Tim Burton uses the similar characteristics and archetypes of the film noir genre but does what he does best and adds himself and his own unique spin to them. In this way he is using the elements of film noir but also undermining them at the same time in a way only he can.