Favorite Franchises: Batman Returns

Batman Returns (1992)
Starring: Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer
Directed by: Tim Burton


In less than 2 months, my favorite caped crusader will be back on the big screen. To get ready for it, I think it's time I cover the rest of the Batman movies. Here's where things get tricky. More than 2 years ago, I reviewed 1989's Batman as part of my 1001 Movies series, but it's time to cover the sequels. That isn't so bad, just pick up where I left off, and address this as one of my favorite franchises. That's easy. The Dark Knight Trilogy, there's the challenge. But on to Batman Returns. Batman had become a huge hit at the end of the '80s, so the door was definitely open to continue the series. Michael Keaton was on board to return, but how do you top Jack Nicholson's amazing portrayal of The Joker? An even bigger question is how Tim Burton could re-create a production design that felt familiar, but was still something fresh for the eyes. The idea was simple, you add more than one villain into the plot and you set the movie during Christmastime. How did Batman Returns fare out? Well, let's see.

Michael Keaton is back as Bruce Wayne and Batman. I still think Michael Keaton is the man and gives a strong performance as Batman. He's my favorite portrayal of the Dark Knight at this point and it's because of the little things. He uses the detective skills that don't show up that often in Batman movies, disguises his voice without giving himself a sore throat, and if you separated the two as individual characters, it would actually be difficult to figure out that they're one in the same. Not to mention he's able to be a main part of the story, while also looming in the shadows, allowing newer characters the time to get introduced and fully developed.

We're given two main Batman villains for the price of one in this film, starting with the mysterious Penguin, played by Danny DeVito. Give the makeup crew some serious credit for this one, because they took a character in the comics and completely reinvented him for the modern age. Instead of making him a sophisticated gangster, they make him some mutated, disgusting, penguin-looking creature. And if you listen to interviews, Danny DeVito was the first choice and for good reason. He absolutely OWNS every scene he is in. He's the highlight of this film. And we also were given Catwoman, played by Michelle Pfeiffer. Um, she's a, well...sorry, lost my train of thought. But look at that photo, how could you blame me? She added some raw, sex appeal to the role that made her one of the ultimate femme fatales of the comic book movie genre. Pfeiffer's chemistry with Michael Keaton is another strong highlight of the movie, and is probably the best romance I've seen played out in any Batman movie. The combination of both Catwoman and the Penguin in the movie make this one of the most memorable chapters in the Batman film legacy because they are well acted and visually striking. Once you've seen their performances, they stay with you forever.

And then we are given the bonus of a third villain, businessman Max Schreck, played by Christopher Walken. Oh Walken, how I love thee. He's just so good in how awkward and nonchalant his delivery is in every role he's done. I really like him as Schreck. If it was anyone else, I don't think the character would have worked as well. I mean, this guy has to work scenes with men dressed as bats, women dressed as cats, and a man that physically looks like a penguin. He has to have an out there kind of personality on Donald Trump levels to compete with that and Walken accomplishes that really well.

The two characters that tie the Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher Batman movies together are Alfred and Commissioner Gordon, played by Michael Gough and Pat Hingle. Alfred is one of the best cast characters in the franchise, always knowing how to take care of Bruce, while also assisting Batman in his crime fighting and detective work. He's a kind, older gentleman that offers the occasional, well placed quip when the opportunity presents itself. No offense to Michael Caine, but I think Michael Gough was the definitive Alfred in these Batman movies. Now the ball is in Jeremy Iron's court, so we'll see what he can do with it, and I might touch base on that when I review Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice. Gordon on the other hand, is one of the most useless characters in these movies, at least when he's portrayed by Hingle. This guy doesn't do a gosh darn thing to even remotely help Batman. If you see The Dark Knight Trilogy or even Batman: The Animated Series (which I'm currently reviewing on my television blog), you'll see that Gordon is a competent commissioner that feels like both an ally and an equal to Batman in his crime fighting. This Gordon springs onto the scene whenever Batman has already done all the dirty work. I'm surprised they never tried to recast him. He's not exactly an important character in these movies, so I don't think he would've been missed or even widely noticed had he been recast. I'm done with my rant, let's end on a more positive note.

Now THIS feels like a Batman movie made by Tim Burton. It's much darker than the first film, using much more bizarre imagery and creativity. The production design is definitely at a higher caliber than the first. The Danny Elfman score is in full capacity, using the iconic score from the first film, while adding new songs to it. It's a movie that feels like it belongs in Burton's filmography. So why did a lot of people think Batman Returns was a bad movie? They said it was too dark and didn't appreciate it at the time, but I definitely think it has caught some traction over the decades and is a strong contender for one of the great superhero sequels. Not as iconic as the first, but definitely worth your attention if you're a fan of either Tim Burton or Batman. Or both, both is always good too.


Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Dark and brooding, but with that proper Tim Burton humor, Batman Returns is a very well-made sequel. The characters are great, the production design is both haunting and whimsical, and I'm left here wondering what could have happened if Burton would have stayed on to do a few more Batman movies. Definitely worth your time if you love the Caped Crusader.

Batman Returns and movie images are copyrighted by Warner Bros.