Rampant crime, political corruption, corporate greed, and an alienated public; welcome to Gotham City. Following the success of their collaboration in 1989's Batman the dynamic duo of Tim Burton and Michael Keaton reunited for 1992's Batman Returns. Rather than acting as a mere return to form, the film ventured even further into the shadows that haunt Gotham's streets than its predecessor, and is all the better for it. Despite courting controversy amongst audiences and earning the ire of critics, the film has gone on to become a cult classic and set the standard for modern superhero movies along the way. Return to the gritty streets of Gotham City in all of their macabre wonder with Batman Returns.
The story picks up where 1989's Batman ended. In the wake of his break-up with love interest Vickie Vale, Bruce Wayne has fully immersed himself in his alter ego, living for the moment when the bat signal appears in the sky. At the film's start Gotham remains in the grips of a crime wave while its residents are on the lookout for the mysterious penguin-man rumored to be lurking in the city's sewers. Even as Batman attempts to reclaim Gotham's streets, Bruce is left to face its even more sinister threat in form of corrupt tycoon Max Schreck. Schreck has devised a plan to use a power plant to drain the city of its power and then resell it to residents at a higher price. After his plot is accidentally discovered by his secretary, Selina Kyle, he throws her from a window in an effort to ensure his secret remains safe. In a twist of fate his efforts lead to the creation of his own worst nightmare when Selina is resurrected as revenge bent vigilante Catwoman. When Schreck schemes to buy a place in city hall by launching the Penguin as a political candidate, Batman finds himself crossing paths with the Penguin and Catwoman just in time for some holiday hijinks.
At the time of its release Batman Returns was derided as 'a Tim Burton movie that Batman just happens to be in'. In some ways this assertion is true, and its this very fact that sets Batman Returns apart from the rest of the Batman franchise in all of the best ways. Burton uses his trademark visual style to bring Gotham to vibrant and visceral life with an atmosphere and scope that no other Batman film has. As a result, the film makes viewers feel as though they have been transported to the world of the comic books. Similarly, his use of German Expressionism in his lighting and sets perfectly sets the tone for the bleak world which the characters inhabit.
Perhaps what makes this film stand out the most is its focus upon its characters. While most superhero films are dedicated to action packed plots, Batman Returns acts as a character study of both its hero and its villains. The film follows Bruce as he struggles to come to terms with his double life and highlights the ways in which Batman threatens to fully consume him. Even as it portrays him at his most brooding, the film offers insight into the Bruce that might have been by showing him engage in moments of humor, charm, and vulnerability over the course of his relationship with Selina. Similarly, the film manages to offer up not one but two morally complex villains in the form of the Penguin and Catwoman. While the Penguin engages in truly reprehensible behavior, his tragic backstory of physical deformity, abandonment, and isolation make him both fascinating and sympathetic. As a result, viewers can easily understand his efforts to return to the city and his desire for vengeance on a society that rejected him. The film's depiction of Selina's story is nothing short of a revelation as it takes viewers on a journey that will have them hard pressed not to route for its anti-heroine. The film's depiction of her unfulfilled life that is marked by broken relationships, domineering relatives, and a toxic job is both heartbreaking and relatable. This glimpse into the person she begins as makes her near death at the hands of her abusive boss and subsequent psychotic break all the more devastating. Additionally, her justifiable need for revenge and morally murky actions make her an engaging anti-heroine who will test viewers' own moral gauges. The film even offers a twist in arguably its most straight forward villain, Max, by reminding viewers that all too often the most dangerous villains are not those who reside on society's margins but instead those who hold its levers of power. The film also doubles as an alternative take on the Christmas movie genre by exploring its tale of alienation and moral ambiguity against the backdrop of the holiday season. In this way, the film explores the sense of regret and inadequacy that many feel at the approach of a new year as its characters each struggle with the broken hopes of their pasts and their failed attempts to find their place in the present. Additionally, each of the characters is forced to confront their lost innocence and shattered illusions in the midst of what should be the most innocent and magical time of the year. This Christmas take a walk on the naughty list with Catwoman and Penguin in Batman Returns.
The film transports viewers to the gritty streets of Gotham City thanks to the mesmerizing work of its cast. Michael Gough reprises his role as Alfred and continues to serve as the franchise's conscience in his endearing turn. Christopher Walken is chilling in his performance as the equal parts magnetic and malicious tycoon Max Schreck. Danny Devito is electrifying in his larger than life portrayal of the Penguin and manages to infuse the grotesque villain with wounded humanity. Michelle Pfeiffer defines the role of Catwoman as she slinks through her scenes with an alluring mix of sensuality, steely resolve, and razor sharp wit. Simultaneously, she brilliantly portrays Selina's transformation from insecure, meek, and repressed good girl to assertive, seductive, but hardened woman with nuance and believability. Michael Keaton reminds us all why he was the face of Batman for a generation of moviegoers. In this outing he remains an imposing caped crusader, but lends a refreshing combination of humor, charm, and vulnerability to his depiction of Bruce Wayne. Together, Keaton and Pfeiffer exhibit a chemistry that is nothing short of smoldering.
In his second visit to Gotham City Tim Burton puts the 'dark' in the dark knight. Through his signature wicked sense of whimsy Burton offers up one of the most iconic entries in the entire Batman franchise. The script's blend of emotionally rich characters, moral conflict, and high flying action helped set the standard for adult super hero movies over twenty years before Christopher Nolan's infamously brooding Batman films. The film's star studded cast breathes fresh life into Gotham's infamous rogues' gallery and lends its hero a beating heart. This Christmas steal a kiss under the mistletoe with the caped crusader in Batman Returns.
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