Batman Returns (1992)

Average rating

(65%)

Starring:	Michael Keaton \| Danny De Vito \| Michelle Pfeiffer \| Michael Gough \| Pat Hingle \| Pee-Wee Herman \| Michael Murphy \| Christopher Walken \| Andrew Bryniarski \| Pee-Wee Herman \| Christopher Walken \| Cristi Conaway
Director:	Tim Burton
Studio:	WARNER HOME VIDEO
Run time:	121 mins
Genres:	Action/Adventure \| Thriller
Languages:	English
Hearing-impaired:	English
Subtitles:	Arabic, English
Released:	March 29, 1999
Also available on:

In director Tim Burton's sequel to his successful BATMAN (1989), the Caped Crusader (Michael Keaton) is pitted against the demented, ravenous Penguin (Danny DeVito), a pitiful, orphaned psychopathic freak who once went on a baby-killing spree, and a 'power' hungry capitalist villain Max Shreck (Christopher Walken). As the two criminals plot to gain domination over Gotham City, BATMAN must plot to stop them. In the highly stylized BATMAN RETURNS--complete with dark, Gothic architecture and moody lighting--Batman (and his alter-ego Bruce Wayne) is thrown a third enemy, a terrible distraction: Catwoman (fearlessly and fabulously played by Michelle Pfeiffer). She is the slinky, sharp-clawed alter-ego of Shreck's secretary Selina. Batman must overcome his own dark past, and his present love entanglements, to rid Gotham of its evil enemies, this time with even more intricately designed sets and tongue-in-cheek humour, making BATMAN RETURNS an action-packed, darkly fun adventure.

Rating of 4 stars out of 5

Director Tim Burton refused to lighten up for the second of the Batman movies (we would have to wait for the Joel Schumacher-directed Batman Forever for that) and the result here is another moody, gloomy and occasionally perverse portrait of the dark knight. As with the first of the series, the sets are suitably stunning, and, while action may not be Burton's strongest suit, there are still some dazzling set pieces and a whole range of new gadgets. The only real problem is that, as in Batman, the villains bag all the best lines — Danny DeVito's tragic Penguin, Michelle Pfeiffer in that suit as Catwoman — with poor old Michael Keaton's Bruce Wayne left to look vaguely troubled while his alter ego Batman bashes the baddies. Even though fans of the 1960s TV show may reject its brooding atmosphere, this is still impressive stuff.

Rating of 2 stars out of 5
Halliwell's Film Guide

More comic-strip story-telling, done as a succession of set pieces, with the towering design of the city and its sewers overshadowing the performances.

Highest rated reviews

3 out of 3 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.

Read all highest rated reviews

2 out of 2 people found the following review helpful:

The hero is obfuscated.

www.gamufi.com from Wisbech, UK, 2nd July, 2005

In Burton's second Batman film, Bruce Wayne (played by Michael Keaton who is still playing the stoic Caped-Crusader with suitable lack of emotion) is struggling to obfuscate his true identity as he falls in love with Michelle Pfeiffer's Selina Kyle but little does he know that he knows his new love interest better as Catwoman. More trouble comes when Danny DeVito's Penguin emerges from the sewers and although he says he just wants to find his parents it quickly becomes clear that he has ulterior motives involving Christopher Walken's business boss, Max Shreck. The story drags at times as it lacks the focus of its supeior prequel, Batman, but most irritating is the lack of participation of Batman in all of the action. He seems to take a back seat through alot of the film as the brilliant enmity of Walken, DeVito and Pfeiffer steal the screen. In writing the film had potential, but by the time you reach the army of penguins climax you'll have completely forgotten that the film's main protaganist really should have been the Batman of the title.

Read all highest rated reviews

Most recent reviews

Best Bar 'Begins'

A Customer from Glasgow, 28th January, 2008

Batman Returns was the best Batman film for a long time, only surpassed by the series' recent re-imagining Batman Begins. The plot is incredibly dark and much less camp then the mediocre 'Batman Forever' or appalling 'Batman and Robin' that followed it. The villains are excellent, Michelle Phipher slinks around the screen as the darkly mysterious Catwoman, offset brilliantly by Christopher Walken's megalomaniac billionaire. But the true star of the show here is Danny De Vito, his tragic Penguin hobbling around the screen like a psychopathic Christmas pudding, cackling wildly at his comicbook plots for citywide doom. sadly the excellent villainy means Batman himself is left to brood quietly or occasionally show up to save the day, leaving us eventually just wanting more of the bad guys. The movie's tremendous fun and completely implausible all the way, a great ride and great family viewing. Definitely worth a look.

Read all recent reviews