Released: 1992
Starring: Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Michael Gough, Pat Hingle, Michael Murphy
Director: Tim Burton
Distributed by: Warner Bros.
Rated: PG-13 (UK – 15)
“The Bat, the Cat, the Penguin”
Batman returns to deal justice!… For 20 minutes of screen time… at Christmas!
Batman Returns is Tim Burton unleashed on the character with Michael Keaton (Mr.Mom Jackie Brown, Birdman) reprising his role as the titular stiff-necked dark knight, now with not only one villain but two. Oswald Cobblepot (Danny DeVito; Be Cool, Twins) is abandoned by his parents and cast into the Gotham river as a baby for his physical deformities, later emerging as the Penguin under the streets of Gotham with the sewer system his stomping ground and true home.
In another segment of Gotham, far above the decrepit dominion of the Penguin, stands Max Schreck (Christopher Walken; King of New York, Seven Psychopaths) whose new secretary is the very meek and weak-willed Selena Kyle (Michelle Pfeiffer Scarface, Stardust). During an altercation with Schreck, Selina is thrown out a skyscraper window only to be resurrected by cats (it didn’t make any sense at the time either) and becomes the beguiling Catwoman.
Penguin kidnaps Max Shreck and blackmails him into assisting the Penguin’s ascension from the sewers into Gotham under the guise of trying to find his birth parents. Bruce Wayne, suspicious of the events leading to the Penguin’s introduction, returns to his batsuit and begins investigating. What follows is essentially character deconstructions of Tim Burton’s (Nightmare before Christmas, Mars Attacks!) versions of the DC comics characters.
Batman Returns is dark, goofy at times, and overtly sexual. When the Penguin sees Catwoman lying on his bed, he grunts and says “Just the pussy I was looking for.” Not long after, Catwoman says “Maybe I will give myself a bath right here.” and begins to clean herself like a cat by licking the back of her hand and rubbing her face. There are many other moments filled with innuendo and blatant sexuality.
Tim Burton obviously never read a Batman comic or even looked at the source material, as Catwoman and Penguin are portrayed as straight up lunatics. This revision of Catwoman and Penguin work both for and against the plot. The development of Catwoman contains some interesting aspects depicted through her actions in the story and her interactions with Bruce Wayne. This interaction between the characters culminates in a party scene where neither character is wearing a costume while everyone else is. The dialogue between the unmasked characters in this scene really showed the actors’ talents and chemistry.
Penguin’s own interactions and especially his monologues are engrossing. His costume design is jaw-dropping. It makes the traditionally goofy character look and feel more intimidating and terrifying, but his plot and antics soon get out of hand as he makes a run for mayor at the behest of Max Schreck. This plotline becomes very camp and full of slapstick. Both characters doubled down on their gritty look and dark on-screen feel, and DeVito’s Penguin one of the actor’s best performances.
However, we quickly see the common issue in all of Tim Burton’s films. Batman Returns plot is paper thin and the motivations of each character are seemingly written at a kindergartener’s level. The overarching plot collapses on itself at the beginning of the third act. To really emphasize the Tim Burton blemish on this picture, I have to go a little deeper (those who enjoy a brief review skip a few paragraphs).
Tim Burton wouldn’t sign on for another Batman picture unless he had full control in both the script and direction. This film is almost entirely a Tim Burton piece and it shows. Author and filmmaker Susan Sontag (Promised Lands, Unguided Tour AKA Letter from Venice) once argued that mixing both the serious and frivolous themes in one product cannot be done. Essentially if a piece of work won’t take itself seriously, then it can’t turn back and expect the viewer to take it seriously. I myself would beg to differ on that matter. Examples of this occurring in films include many of the old James Bond flicks or even films the likes of Blacula, and for the best combination of camp humor and serious story with very serious consequences see Hideo Kojima’s masterpiece Metal Gear Solid 3.
At some point, while developing Batman Returns, Burton thought to bring about erotism and stage-like, broadway dramatics to this picture. Lavishly decorating every character with massive exaggerations to both body and landscape. This worked in synchronicity with the groundwork already laid out by the Batman mythos. What didn’t work was the serious tone Batman Returns tells you to take and then it slaps you in the face for taking it so seriously. The balance is seriously off. Later in Burton’s career, he would strike a finer balance with films like Mars Attacks! and The Nightmare Before Christmas. The unfortunate side is this unbalance could be averted by a good, understanding editor and a hands-on film producer.
Michael Keaton as both Batman and Bruce Wayne has a new-found air of confidence compared to his first run in the batsuit. He is quite enjoyable to watch and nearly steals the show at times. Even in his secluded Batcave, while watching events transpire on his television sets, his quiet and reserved tone is so on point to the character that Ben Affleck would later add it to his run as the Dark Knight. What is sad is that he never got to reprise the role again. I personally would love to see what he could have brought to the character in later years. Danny Devito as the Penguin is probably the best and (thus far) last on-screen appearance of the character. Devito’s Penguin was something so different and sometimes terrifying that as a child I was surprised and blown away by it. Even now it is still one of the best elements of this film. Catwoman has more interesting moments as Selina Kyle than she does as Catwoman. The woman bound in leather is far less interesting than the secretary who had a really bad day. This shows where Michelle Pfeiffer’s strengths lie, bound in leather making sexual innuendos and doing her best crazy act wasn’t for her.
The soundtrack by the returning Danny Elfman, but seems a bit more subdued and sometimes totally absent in some sections. His original work has more drumming bass beats that echo through you as you watch the caped crusader run and leap from rooftop to rooftop. This missing sound was such a let down during Batman Returns opening.
The cinematography and effects are some of the saviours of this film. During the opening, the credits appear over a long shot of Penguin’s wicker basket floating into the sewer. This is the first of many examples that this film is a swan song to older Hollywood filmmaking techniques. It uses miniatures, many many sets, stop motion, and set pieces before most of these things were made redundant by CGI. It is all expertly executed here. In some areas, the effects are noticeable, but most it blends so well into the film.
Batman Returns has aged very very badly. There is no other way of putting it. From the rigid Batman to the slapstick goofball goons, it all feels very dated in comparison to the respect the genre earned in the last decade. Which is so very sad as the intent here is fantastic. The twist on the characters is amazing. Yea sure, it falls on its face sometimes, but I can see the direction they wanted to take. Unfortunately, Batman Returns does not fit in today’s cinema at all. Fleshing out the background of the characters was relatively new and focusing the whole movie on them rather than Batman was an interesting angle. Batman himself was pretty one-note, but Bruce had a lot of variety to him. He had real feelings for all the characters. Christopher Walken made Max Schreck feel like a real villain. Even though there were more sequels, it wouldn’t be for a long time that someone dared to breathe new life into Batman with the Nolan trilogy. These films would make the villains the main stars of the show and expand the mindset of people who wear tights. In Batman Returns there are glimmers of that. It failed to really develop it, but the seed was planted here.
Rating:
Thomas C:
All said and done, there isn’t exactly a whole lot to watch here. Batman isn’t the front and center of this film. Aside from some good effects and two interesting if not brilliant villains, I wouldn’t waste your time watching this when there is so much better Batman media readily available. Hell, this year Batman even became an anime ninja. So unless you’re a student of film and wish to see great design and sets executed almost perfectly don’t watch this.
Further watching: Batman the Animated Series – What Batman Returns tries to do, the animated series does better way better, miles better. The art dedication, voice work, and narrative are what animated shows can only dream of being and such a well rounded Batman and rogues gallery hasn’t happened since.
Further Reading: Batman White Night – White Night only landed this year but it is strangely close to Batman Returns in a weird way. The plot centers around the Joker who has become sane and Batman is the villain. A very weird and different take on the character. If you want something almost exactly the same, but better art and worse writing, check out Batman Noel a festive read for the season!
Further Playing: Batman: Arkham Origins – on Christmas eve a plot conspires to assassinate the Bat. With the better part of the villains of Gotham hunting for Batman, only a deft skill at button mashing and detective skills will keep Bruce alive as he is pushed to his limits and meets his nemesis for the first time.
Jack Savage:
Batman Returns continues the departure of Batman from the campy 1960’s Adam West version. While some elements still linger from that era, they do not detract much from this fun and exciting Batman sequel. With spectacular performances from all the main cast (especially Danny DeVito’s portrayal of the Penguin), Batman Returns is still one of the better Batman films today.
“You gotta admit I played this stinkin’ city like a harp from hell.” – Penguin
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