Jokers Clothes

[riddler]

I have to admit, I thought Batman dropped Jack on purpose the first time I watched the scene because of the crazed look in Keaton's eyes. But after repeat viewings, I believe he dropped Jack by accident; as you could see he was struggling to hold onto his hand too.

Wasn't the crazed look because Batman was kinda recognizing/remembering Jack Napier from his childhood?

I thought the plot showed that Batman didn't recognise Joker from his past until he was later asked "Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?"; the same question Jack asked right after murdering Bruce's parents. That triggered Bruce's memory.

To me this is the definitive post in the topic. I don't believe Batman has figured out yet that Jack was his parents killer. Even when he does he doesn't try to kill him, he only kills him in the end out of necessity.

[KeatonisBatman]

^Yes, but I think to discount the notion or possibility that Batman might be beginning to recognize Jack Napier, in the moment he's holding him above the acid vat, is walking along the edge of willful blindness.  I say that because given Bruce Wayne's traumatic history with this man, it's more than reasonable to assume that a part of Bruce's subconscious is beginning to remember Jack, just as you would if you hadn't seen someone in 25-30 years, but you're certain that you had seem them before.  Just as you would if you were to recall the aged face of your own parent's killer.  I think that moment was meant to show that there was some connection between them, though Bruce doesn't fully put it together until the end of the film.  There's little other explanation as to the almost terrified look on Batman's face in that scene.

[Slash Man]

What is in the film is that Keaton has a sudden shift in expression when he begins to lift Jack, which leads to Batman dropping him soon after.

It'd be easiest to assume that it was just his weight that made Batman struggle to pull him up, but it could also be a look of sudden familiarity. We may never know.