Gotham City is under attack from all types of criminal underworld gangs, so up steps a dude in a bat suit (Keaton) to strike fear into their black hearts.  The love interest in this one is Vicki Vale (Basinger), a reporter hoping to expose the truth about who is behind the mask - I'll give you a clue, the guy behind the super-rich gadgets and super-powered car is the only super-rich guy in Gotham City.  On one of his early missions, Batman can't stop a bad guy called Jack Napier (Nicholson) falling into a huge chemical vat, disfiguring his skin and affecting his sanity.  He transforms overnight into a supervillain known as The Joker, who plans to take over Gotham City - and put an end to the mysterious Batman.

After the Joker kidnaps Vicki Vale and takes her to the top of the Bell tower, it is up to the Caped Crusaders to go it alone and rescue her.  Making his way up the hundreds of steps, he dodges a few huge cogs and then defeats goons at the top including the double-sword wielding henchman, while the Joker does a little serenade and dance with Vale.
  Without any more goons, they fight a little, before Joker cheats and Batman must rescue the annoying reporter from falling to her death. Joker prepares to make his getaway in a hovering chopper with his little friend Clarence, and slowly starts to climb the rope ladder.  Batman manages to snag his enemy's leg against a heavy cathedral gargoyle with his bat-rope device, which is too much for the Joker who hasn't hit the gym in a while, and he falls to crunch against the concrete many stories below. 
  When the cops enter the scene to check the Joker's pulse they find a little laughing-heart type pacemaker thing in his pocket.  But at least he's out the picture ... until 20 years later when Heath Ledger gives a much better and oscar-worthy performance.