Batman Returns

I watched a movie and it is called Batman Returns, directed by Tim Burton, released in 1992. It stars Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer and Christopher Walken. It is more a story about the “villians” of Batman’s rogues gallery, Penguin, played by Danny Devito and Catwoman, played by Michelle Pfeiffer and how they become who they are and how Batman fights them. It is darker (is that possible) that the 1989 Batman that came before it. It is a complex plot actually with many characters and how they interact with one another which I think turned a lot of people off when it was originally released. I saw this as a kid and it really didn’t resonate with me as much as the 1989 Batman for some reason. There is something off about this movie that kind of points to less creative control by Tim Burton and though the premise is great and it shows off more of Gotham and the Batman mythos on film, it still comes across as a bit over the top and not as memorable. The score is done once again by Danny Elfman who puts his usual spin on the strange music that is Batman and it fits nicely with the atmosphere. Devito is an interesting Penguin, as he is literally a freak and not just a deranged criminal as was in the comics and TV show of the 1960’s. He is also not very sympathetic despite being abandoned by his parents and mocked by society. Devito just makes you hate Penguin, which is fine but maybe too much. Michelle Pfeiffer is an interesting Catwoman and gets into the role completely. Before her transformation as Selina Kyle, she is quite mousy and you really believe how nerdy and awkward she is. She certainly didn’t need to be pushed out a window by the ruthless Max Schreck, played masterfully by Christopher Walken. Then again, it was just the push she needed to open up and become that person. Her costume is pretty interesting and put together in a unique way that hadn’t been featured in the comics yet (as far as I know) and having her “claws” actually come out of her glove and sticking into Batman’s body armor when fighting was a nice touch. Keaton is really toned down in performance in this one which is apparent but it is still solid as hell.
Overall, I think this movie is fair but you can already see a decline in quality and performance, on everyone’s part, trying to recapture the furor that was the 1989 Batman. It stands alone as a great and dark Batman film but when put against the others, it kind of sticks out terribly. Like I said, the concept of making the “villians” a main plot point was risky and they took that risk. It did establish some tropes that carried over into the Batman books but I think they had too many plot threads and not enough tied up.