Batman Returns (1992)

If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

Great Film overall

While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

I know it may not be a popular opinion but I really enjoyed this film, almost as much as I loved the first Batman film. It is not very much like the new Christian Bale Batman films, which are much darker and more serious and awesome in their own way, but the first Batman film series started out awesome too, just in a more cartoonish-but-dark kind of way. Of course once Tim Burton left the series went off the rails and turned into complete garbage (Ah-nold as Dr. Freeze?) but this first one with Jack Nicholson's Joker was incredible, and the first sequel was also still very good. Michael Keaton was a great Batman too, and a better Bruce Wayne. Michelle Pfeiffer is also incredibly sexy as Catwoman, and Danny DeVito actually gives a pretty touching performance as The Penguin.

'Batman Returns (1992)' is worse than its predecessor solely for its lack of Jack Nicholson's 'Joker', who was perhaps the only part of the first flick that provided any actual interest or entertainment. His presence is keenly missed as the replacement villain simply spews saliva and waxes lyrical about his penguin parentage and other misfortune, a weirdly wishy-washy waste of an iconic villain who's usually dapper exterior would've fit much better with the 'running for major' plot he's placed into here. It's also actually this film that starts to take the nose-dive into camp curiosity, something furthered exponentially by its neon-infused follow-up 'Batman Forever', as there are just too many oddly out-of-touch elements to cohesively gel with the originally Gothic yet relatively grounded take that this universe prided itself on, elements not just limited to the bile-brewing buzzard as you'd expect. The piece is still just as dull as before, but sadly also lacks the interesting punch of its clown prince of crime. 5/10

I say that this film probably had the best depictions of death out of all the Batman movies, especially with all of catgirls deaths and the guy trying to take over the city. DeVito does a excellent job playing the penguin and he is probably the best villain in the series. However the dialogue is beyond painful and the performance from Keaton while great in the first film was not really all that good at all in the second one and honestly felt like he did not care at all. The action and effects also do not hold up at all. That being said, compared to its two sequels, this was a masterpiece of all cinema.

Not only is "Batman Returns" the best Batman film in the original anthology, it is also one of Tim Burton's best films. The sets are superb and dark-a vast improvement from the seemingly oil canvas backgrounds of Batman (1989)-Bo Welch and the set designers done a magnificent job capturing the vibe of Gotham City. The most impressive set is the Penguin's Lair, which contained several live Penguins and over half a million gallons of water; despite it's horror vibe it is the most familiar and aesthetically pleasing set. The exterior of Gotham is very reminiscent of Fritz Lang's Metropolis (1927).In typical Burton fashion, parents are presented in a negative light; this is seen at the start of the film-in the most memorable opening to a Batman movie, as well as Danny Elfman's superb track "Birth of a Penguin." Oswald Cobblepot is abandoned at birth for his grotesque, Penguin-like features, he is placed in a basket and thrown into a river which eventually leads him to the "Arctic World" beneath "Gotham Zoo." I suppose that's what happens when Pee-Wee Herman (Paul Reubens) is your father. The Penguin's abandonment has several similarities to the story of Moses featured in the book of Exodus in the Bible; this theme is further explored as Penguin's main plan is to capture and kill all first born sons of Gotham, by drowning them in the sewer.Danny DeVito's portrayal of the penguin is magnificent, he is funny, strangely charming, evil, psychotic and the viewer can not help but feel sympathetic for his character; i often struggle holding back the tears when his death scene arrives-yet again made better by Elfman's superb score.Michael Keaton reprises his role as Batman, he is even more brooding and impressive in this much darker sequel. Michelle Pfeiffer is amazing at playing Catwoman. She is seen at first playing the pathetic Selena Kyle until she is killed and "re-born" as Catwoman; the perfectly dark, sinister and sexy character for the Burtonesque Universe.Christopher Walken plays the shrewd businessman Max Shreck, his name is the same of the German actor who plays "Count Orlok" in "Nosferatu," this s also referenced in the film; before Shreck pushes Selena out of a window he looks as though he goes to bite her neck. His performance is so dastardly brilliant you can't help liking him, despite his evil persona.Batman Returns has an amazing cast, director, soundtrack, script, plot and set designs; every second is entertaining and the dark setting adds to the Gothic vibe. The colours used are very similar to those used in early silent German horror films-most notably "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari." Burton captures the true essence of Batman in this movie, it's even enjoyable if you're not a fan of the caped crusader.