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Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Director Tim Burton returns and ups the ante with Batman Returns. If you thought “Batman” was dark, Burton lets everything out of the bag with this darker and more violent version of Batman. Burton also takes his costume designs and villains to a new level with the introductions of the Penguin and Catwoman. Gotham holds many dark secrets that the world wouldn’t want to know. One that might affect the children of all of Gotham.
“Batman Returns” begins with the birth of a baby in a wealthy family. Things seem off when the father screams in horror. Seconds later, the baby is locked in a cage as the parents look on. The baby grabs the family cat and eats it. Having enough of the baby, the parents quickly rush off with the baby in the carriage towards the river. The parents pick up the baby basket and throw it in the ice-cold river. The baby basket slowly drifts down the river until it is met by two penguins.
The story picks up 33-years later and a year after the Joker has been defeated. Crime and terror still plague Gotham after the death of the Joker. At a Christmas lighting show with the Mayor of Gotham and Max Shreck, a wealthy businessman and industrialist known, a crime group known as the Red Triangle Circus Gang attacks and causes havoc around Gotham. Batman comes and saves the day as a man with flippers for hands watches. Max Shreck escapes the chaos only to fall through a trapdoor. He is brought to the underground lair of the Penguin and leader of the Red Triangle Circus Gang. The Penguin blackmails Shreck into helping him enter the world again and be accepted by Gotham.
Selina Kyle works as a secretary for Shreck. While having a horrible day, she goes back to her workplace to get the Bruce Wayne file for Shreck’s meeting. While working, Selina discovers Shreck’s plan to monopolize Gotham’s electricity. Shreck pushes Selina out of his window as she falls many stories to the ground. A group of cats descends upon her unconscious body, where she regains consciousness. She proceeds home and designs an outfit in black leather and a whip becoming Batman. During a speech by the Mayor, Shreck arranges for the grand entrance of the Penguin. One of Penguin’s goons kidnaps the Mayor’s infant son, allowing Penguin to “rescue” him. As a reward, Penguin is given access to Gotham City Archives. He learns that his name is Oswald Cobblepot.
Things begin to heat up when the Mayor, from the advice of Bruce, refuses to give Shreck a construction permit for his power plant. Shreck manipulates the Penguin to run for Mayor by having his goons ruin the Mayor’s reputation. Batman confronts Penguin when their conversation is interrupted by an explosion from Catwoman. Catwoman and Penguin form a partnership in framing Batman. With two villains after him, Batman will have the challenge of protecting Gotham.
The problem with “Batman Returns” is the focus of the story as with the original. Batman seems to take a back seat in the movie rather than being the focus of the film. This time around, the Joker has been replaced with Catwoman and the Penguin. Both characters steal the show once again from Batman. Selina Kyle/Catwoman especially steals the show. When Selina Kyle comes back from the dead, she becomes the focus of the movie. Your eyes are drawn to the woman in all leather and a whip. Penguin has the same effect. You are attracted by his evil ways for revenge as he waddles around in a top hat. The story is built around them. Even more so than the first movie, you will see the actual development of the characters. You will feel somewhat for them also. Selina is a lonely secretary treated horribly by her boss, who kills her, and Penguin was disowned by his parents. That’s pretty messed up.
Where “Batman Returns” excels is with the action scenes and actual story. The story is much darker than its predecessor. The tone is darker with the characters and violence. With two villains, Batman is pushed to the test. On one end, he has to battle against a criminal gang, whose leader has a personal vendetta. On the other end, he fights against a woman that he is physically attracted to. Both provide problems for Batman as he struggles to ward off both attacks from each side. Burton keeps the action up as it seems like Batman is always fighting against Penguin and his goon or Catwoman. One minute, he is saving Gotham at a tree lighting ceremony from a circus gang. The next, he is fighting against the same group that is causing chaos to ruin the Mayor’s reputation. Batman never gets a day off from the chaos. My thing is, how aren’t these people in jail when you know they are causing it and been defeated by Batman.
Where the movie strives is with the actual cast and the characters they play. Michael Keaton returned as billionaire Bruce Wayne and his alter ego, Batman. Keaton actually did better this time around than in the original. He still is the same troubled Bruce Wayne, but this time around, he is more of the aggressor while playing Bruce Wayne. He is not as monotone and lifeless as he was in Batman. He stands up to Max Shreck by evening, threating him. When he is with Selina for the night, you can tell that he is really interested in her. That there are genuine feelings between the two. That they recognize each other struggles.
The two actors that should get the most credit are Danny DeVito as the Penguin/Oswald Cobblepot and Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman/Selina Kyle. DeVito excelled as the crime lord Penguin. Looking at him sent a small tingle down my spine. The way he waddled like a penguin added to the effect of his character along with his pointy teeth and sharp nose. Burgess Meredith might have brought the character to life early on, but DeVito showed the role as a darker and more vengeful soul. When he gives his speech to his army of penguins to take all the babies in Gotham, you knew he wanted the people of Gotham to suffer as he did. Pfeiffer embodied Selina Kylie. In the beginning, Pfeiffer played Selina as a timid, shy, lonely secretary with absolutely zero sex appeal. When she was “killed” and brought back as Catwoman, she transformed into a strong, fierce, confident ad seductive woman. Pfeiffer displayed that in every way. It almost seemed like she had a split personality. The whole licking her catsuit and acting like a cat is moments in movie history. Another one, when she flips from the department store and says “meow” before the building explodes, is great.
Batman Returns is a film that beats its predecessor but only by the slimmest of margins. The film is a lot darker and far more violent. It does have some memorable characters. Danny DeVito and Michelle Pfeiffer make the movie watchable and add to the overall entertainment of the film. The Bat symbol still lives on.
