Review of Batman Returns (1992) by Ben T — 08 Apr 2016

Batman Returns is the sequel to the 1989 Batman with both director Tim Burton and actor Michael Keaton returning with Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer and Christopher Walken joining. Batman Returns should be great, it has some fantastic elements here but unfortunately this is a very mediocre film.

All of the acting is superb; Michael Keaton is still brilliant as Batman and is to this day the best Batman, even though Batman doesn't feel a lot like Batman here, Keaton is still great. Danny DeVito is perfect casting for the Penguin and he's great here.

Penguin is a great, creepy and disgusting villain and DeVito is obviously loving playing him. Michelle Pfeiffer is great as Catwoman, she's very sexually driven but she's very cool and a really good character.

Christopher Walken really does just play himself but he's still great as Walken is in everything. Tim Burton here I don't really think did a very good job at directing, this film less like a Batman film and more like a weird mash of goofy Burton characters and weird imagery.

Everything else about this film is very hit and miss. The action is okay, the fight between Catwoman and Batman is good but the rest of the action is underwhelming and the finale of this film is poor.

This film also went dark which could have worked but unlike in every other Batman film there's no fun and makes this quite a hard film to watch. Also while this film is about the same length of the first Batman film this movie just drags and is quite boring.

Technically though this film is brilliant with great cinematography and lighting. The editing isn't the best and the script is very padded and could've done with another look over. The Danny Elfman score is still great here and it's great to hear throughout the film.

Overall Batman Returns has some good elements but this is a boring and difficult to watch film with all over the place direction. Brilliant villains aside there's little to remember about Batman Returns.

C+.