Batman Returns (1992)

10 out of 13 people found the following review helpful:

Mixed up

A Customer from London, England, 30th May, 2006

I thought I was ordering Batman Begins not this kite. Avoid.

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5 out of 5 people found the following review helpful:

Batman Returns

wolfenchild from from Croydon, England, 9th February, 2004

The bat is back!

Michael Keaton returns as the caped crusader in this 1992 sequel to Tim Burton's 1989 apadaption of Bob Kane's superhero. This time, Batman faces off against the twisted Penguin AKA Oswald Cobblepot (Danny DeVito) who emerges from the sewer with the help of corrupt city official and corporate villain Max Shreck (Christopher Walken) and tries to take over Gotham by running for Mayor and using his gang to bring Gotham to it's knees. If this wasn't enough, Batman also has to try and fend his way through the seductive claws of Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer) whose dual personality tries to seduce and destroy the Dark Knight.

In all, this is a decent sequel however I feel it lacks something that makes it as good first film. While DeVito does a good job as the disgusting Penguin, I don't feel there's any real chemistry between him and Batman, whereas in the original there was real history between the Joker and Batman. And really, the Joker was a better villain than Penguin. The relationship between Catwoman makes up for this slightly, although I don't feel it was developed as well as it could have been. It feels almost like a sidenote.

However, this is still a decent, fun (yet dark) film and worth watching even if it isn't as well done, and Burton takes Gotham down another twisted path like the previous movie.

It makes you wonder what the next movie would've been like had Burton been allowed to continue the franchise. Instead, Burton was removed and it was handed over to Joel Schumacher.

Oh dear.

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4 out of 4 people found the following review helpful:

Batman Returns!

A Customer from Surbiton, England, 21st August, 2006

Yes, thats exactly what it is, Batman does return in this classic comic remake. I remember watching this as a youngster and enjoying the Penguin & Catwoman getting in amongst the action but watching again, there actually wasnt as much action as I remember. Best for the youngsters who are into comics, but still a classic comic anyway, 3/5.

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4 out of 4 people found the following review helpful:

Far too many cliche's

A Customer from London, 29th June, 2006

I usually love Tim Burton's work, but not this time. the plot was too far fetched and so predictable. The acting too trite and even the camera work was less than inspiring. Too silly to be a decent film, give this one a miss.

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Holy Bats !!!!

Deanoson from , 18th August, 2010

well i thought this was a big improvement over Batman ...Michael Keaton again plays the title hero superbly and with Michelle Pfieffer as Catwoman and Danny Devito as Penguin we have enough going on to keep the caped crusader busy in Gotham City . Catwoman was never supposed to be a hero as some people think ...she was a whip weilding burglar and jewel thief ...she always had a love/hate relationship with Batman ..and that is how it is in this film ..Michelle Pfeiffer is perfect as Catwoman and also plays her role as Selina Kyle just as good ...going from under-noticed office nobody to super confident anti-hero . With Danny Devito giving a great performance as the Penguin ....Christopher Walken as Max Shrek and good old Alfred taking care of things for Batman/Bruce Wayne ..the action is much better and the story is as good as the first film ..so yes a great sequel .

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Even Bat-ter than the first one!

PJshadow from , 10th August, 2010

Absolutely fantastic sequel! This is classic Burton, outrageous characters, amazing scenery, beautifully crafted costumes and a rousing soundtrack. Keaton returns as our hero Batman and he has a few more gadgets to play with this time out. The plot revoles around the villainous Danny DeVito's Penguin running for mayor of Gotham City, whilst he has the public at large fooled by his charade as a hero it is left to Batman to put a stop to his plans. Michelle Pfieffer oozes sex appeal as the sultry Catwoman. Walking a fine line between good and evil she atracts the attention of both Batman and the Penguin. Even better than Burton's first Batman film, if only he'd continued as director in the series instead of Joel Schumacher.

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Batman Returns: Sublime

AxlReznor from , 10th August, 2010

As great as the original movie was, Tim Burton felt that there was too much studio interference in its creation - in particular, the church tower climax. After Warner Bros. inevitably asked him to return to direct a sequel, he agreed on the condition that he was allowed to do it his way. And do it his way he did... Batman Returns saw the franchise get even darker than the already quite dark original movie. Danny DeVito's Penguin was reimagined as a grotesque mutant thrown away as a baby and raised by penguins in sewers that inexplicably lead into the zoo. Michelle Pfeiffer plays a murdered Selina Kyle, resurrected by cats before becoming Catwoman - playing the part perfectly, as the half-nemesis, half-love interest of Batman, forever walking the line between good and evil (though she crosses that line a few times throughout the course of the movie). And a third non-comic book villain is introduced in the shape of Christopher Walken's Max Schreck... a business rival of Bruce Wayne's who has a grand masterplan to rob Gotham City of its energy. The result is a sublime modern day gothic fairytale that Tim Burton has come to be associated with, and whilst not a great adaptation of Batman, is still one of the very best comic book movies around. In fact, it would be the last great comic book movie until Blade in 1998. Of course, this darkness meant that parent groups hated it. As did the toy company's who didn't like that the movie was too adult-orientated to be able to sell their toys to children, resulting in Tim being axed from directing the third movie. But this movie is the director's vision like this type of movie had never seen, and wouldn't see again until The Dark Knight.

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A Wonderful Re-Watch

Sy85 from , 8th June, 2010

My fiancée and I watched Catwoman with Halle Berry a couple of weeks ago on TV and was utterly disappointed by it as I remember the Catwoman from Batman Returns and loved that character, so I added Batman Returns to my rental list. We ordered the Blu-Ray version which was absolutely amazing. I've always been a little sceptical about Blu-Ray on older movies, but Batman Returns was very impressive as a Blu-Ray. The movie itself has always been and will always be one of my favourite Batman movies. The cast involved in the movie are some of my favourite actors (save for Keaton, he unfortunately doesn't make me feel like he -is- Batman unlike others who have taken the role). DeVito plays the penguin perfectly; he really brings the character alive in the movie as he does most of his characters. Pfeiffer made for an excellent Catwoman, I always see her as the one Catwoman, nobody can play the character quite so well as her. On a whole it has an excellent cast which bring so many talents to the movie, along with a killer plot. I can't recommend this movie enough if your Batman lover.

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