Review of Batman Returns (1992) by Sidney S — 24 Aug 2013

Batman was a classic and set the bar for the character, Batman Returns is a sequel that can be considered on equal ground with the original film. Batman Returns is much more darker and edgier than the first film in terms of its story, dialogue and depth. Dark to the point where this became Burton's final time in the director's chair for a Batman film.

Michael Keaton is back as Batman and he is as dark and haunted as ever. Keaton's Batman once he puts on that mask is a psychopathic nightmarish creature who even goes as far as kill thugs when he deems necessary! Bruce Wayne is given a new love interest in the form of Selina Kyle played by Michelle Pfeiffer, who survived a tragic fall at the hands of her boss, a corrupt businessman played by Christopher Walken, following this she becomes Catwoman and is no doubt purrfect for the role. She is deceptive and plain weird. However it is this counterpart that gives Keaton's Bruce Wayne almost a mirror and someone that the Batman could be with, two people so different yet so similar, their chemistry is great and brings out great performances from both Keaton and Pfeiffer.

But the true menace arrives once Danny DeVito takes the screen as the Penguin. This version of the Penguin is a significant departure from his comics counterpart, Burton takes the liberty of making the Penguin a tragic figure since childhood, raised in the sewers and grown up to be a demented, deformed repressed mad man bent on at first becoming Gotham's mayor before opting to destroy it. He was truly perfectly cast as this version of The Penguin.

The city itself may look less dark and more brighten up due to new design but its story is darker than ever and at times outright disturbing. The film while having the look and style of the comics is also very much a Tim Burton film with its gothic structure and the Elfman score returning and all. Batman Returns may have taken liberties for characters like the Penguin and Catwoman that depart from the comics but however it is never the less an awesome adaption of the material. This is Keaton's final performance in the cape and cowl and he is as excellent as ever. Batman Returns is terrific.