I hadn't seen this movie for years and years, but frankly, this movie was far too dark compared to the 1989 Joker movie, and that movie was infinitely superior. But I think among all the darkness, the Penguin was easily the most disgusting, evil, rancid villain ever. Ugh.
Why are you here if you haven't seen the movie yet?
Welcome, Foe. Batman Returns is the best Batman movie of all time.
RIP Gene Wilder. One of the funniest people of all time. RIP Robert Vaughn
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How many of you have actually watched Batman Returns recently? Seriously it doesn't hold up well at all. The camp factor is in full force just as bad as Batman & Robin. The only real difference is it's under the guise of a film that has a more serious tone. The dialogue is shit and pretty much any scene with The Penguin is awful as is the character's entire plot. Catwoman's entire origin is pretty cheesy too if you really look at it. Pfeiffer is hot as hell though. The film also looks completely fake and you can tell it was shot on a soundstage.
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It has some fantastic imagery. But it's hollow style over substance. Including the half ass excuse that the three antagonist are reflections of the title character. This isn't a Batman movie. This is a Tim Burton movie.share
Michelle Pfeiffer gives a dominant performance.
But the rest of them seem to be phoning it in. Particularly Michael Keaton who seems too comfortable in the role. Much too relaxed an apathetic in his scenes. Gone is the intensity. He gave much more effort in the first outing. Where shooting outdoors, and also being more determined to prove people wrong, he was forced to stay up late at night and look weary during the day. For the film and the character it worked better. It was fitting.
The Batman character in Batman Returns seems psychotic and homicidal. Even though he murders in the first one. It's more like inescapable collateral damage for the greater good. In this one he selfishly and sadistically murders without thought. And actually take joy in it throughout the film. He doesn't even make effort to save the Ice Princess. He's actually really unlikable or relatable in this flick.
In the original he avoided death at all costs. Only in certain context when it's inescapable, does it happen. The set design of Gotham in the original is far superior to the claustrophobic and overly Burton centric design and absolutely fake looking closed sets of the sequel.
The emphasis on Burton Goth and freakish characters aren't true to their origins of the source material. And only share vague similarities with the characters from the mythos it's based on.
While visibly darker. And a film without any true heroes. That ends on a depressing note. The film is actually more cartoony and camp here than the original. With no sense of real threat.
Penguin driving a giant duck mobile. Penguin just coming up with the schematics to control the Batmobile. Little penguins that follow orders and have missiles on their backs. And Batman with a giant ice mobile designed specifically to drive in the sewers is all over the top camp akin to the 60's series. Straight up cheese and goofiness.
It's a visibly beautiful movie. Albeit overdesigned and unrealistic. A total goth fantasy that focuses on being a freak rather than a dark, complex and complicated yet tortured hero. It's a depressing experience that I want to enjoy but just can't.
This was Tim Burton saying Eff You to studios, commercialism and the comic book mythos itself.
Just because it's dark doesn't make it Batman.
It's just as ridiculous as the two Schumacher films that followed. Hell, Burton campaigned to have it retitled Batman. Even though it was supposed to be a sequel and continuation.
B89 gets a 4/5, this gets a 2/5. Beyond some stunning visuals, Pfeiffer's performance, and some scenes between Keaton and Michelle ... this film is a HUGE let down following the titanic success its predecessor was.
Too little Batman, and too much Burton. This should've been called Burtonman. As it wasn't the sequel in character, setting, or story to the original 1989 film.
The Batman character being mysterious in the original is interesting and makes sense. Here it's either lazy, or all together lack of interest in the character itself by the script writer and director.
People have to stop blaming Burton for making a Tim Burton movie though. The blame should be put on WB.
They lured him back by offering him full creative control and he made a very unique take on the Batman mythos. You can't blame him for doing what he was getting paid to do and being passionate about it.
If you don't like this movie because it's "too Burton", blame WB for handing him the control just to get him back.
This is the best Batman movie ever. Danny DeVito was amazing as the Penguin. Much better than Batman '89 although that was great too. Jack Nicholson was amazing as the Joker.
shareGreatest Batman movie of all time. It's not even a discussion. Anyone who thinks otherwise, can go take a flying leap.
RIP Gene Wilder. One of the funniest people of all time. RIP Robert Vaughn
Without a great antagonist you can't have a great story. Nicholson destroyed the first film. Compare his Joker to what should have been an Oscar-winning performance for Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight. Bateman IS dark, you mutt. I have this movie in my library. You couldn't pay me to put the Nicholson Joker movie there. And Pfeiffer's Catwoman is bone-inducingly spot-on. Much better than Halle Berry's.
shareYou're not supposed to like the penguin. Or shrek for that matter. Really the only one you feel for is Catwoman/Selina Kyle--and this is because she is (as she refers to herself) lowly. She is a female yes in a man's world, but she is not treated with respect. Her having 'broken' through--careerwise comes later at a tremendous physical price.
shareIt does. Good post. Pfeiffer is the best Catwoman so far.
For someone who gave a 10 to The Huntsman II... I won't really take this post seriously.
shareI disagree. I saw both Batman and Batman Returns in cinemas when they first came out and I've always preferred Returns by far. It's my #2 Batman movie behind The Dark Knight.
"A big ball of wibbly wobbly, timey wimey stuff" The Tenth Doctor explains all.
It's my #1 favorite and then the Dark Knight, maybe for me.
RIP Gene Wilder. One of the funniest people of all time. RIP Robert Vaughn
Horribly good, yes.
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