Batman Returns 1992 Film Starring Michael Keaton
The Dark Knight is Back to Fight the Penguin and Seductive Catwoman
Sep 20, 2009
Gotham streets are still awash with crime and the police force is relying on Batman to deal with the criminal element. The Dark Knight has his work cut out for him when the Penguin rises up from the sewers and the mysterious Catwoman appears in Gotham.
Batman Returns' Plot and Characters
A deformed child is dumped into the sewers by his horrified parents, here he spends his life and grows up to become Penguin (Danny DeVito). He kidnaps corrupt businessman Max Shreck (Christopher Walken) and blackmails him into helping him discover who is real parents were.
Later, as the Penguin’s tragic story begins to make him a celebrity he runs for mayor. In spite of his claims Bruce Wayne/Batman (Michael Keaton reprising his role) doesn’t believe that his claims are innocent, and believes that Penguin and his gang are responsible for the murders of several children.
Meanwhile, Shreck pushes his secretary Salina Kyle (Michelle Pfeiffer) out of a window after she discovers that his new power plant will be draining power from Gotham instead of producing it. She is somehow resuscitated by cats and after returning home creates a costume in order to become Catwoman.
Matters for the Dark Knight become increasingly complicated when Catwoman and Penguin team up to rid Gotham of Batman.
Great Sequel to an Excellent Original
Sequels seem to be bashed out soon after a film has come out if that film has done well. It tends to be the trend that the studio is just interested in cashing in and have little to no concern about the story or character development. The Nightmare on Elm Street films or all the American Pie sequels (especially the last 3 which didn’t contain the stars from the original film) are good examples. Fortunately Batman Returns is not one of those sequels.
Batman Returns reunited Michael Keaton as Batman and Tim Burton directing. As before, Burton knows exactly what he wants to do with the characters and has cast actors that are perfect for their roles. Keaton is still the brooding hero, this time romancing Salina Kyle (he makes a reference to Vikki Vale from Batman but it is not revealed where she is or why they aren’t together). DeVito is also well suited to play the grotesque Penguin, who chomps down raw fish, and has a variety of weapons that look like his trademark umbrella. Once again it is the realism of the characters in the gothic Gotham City that makes Batman Returns such a joy to watch.
Pfeiffer’s portrayal of both Salina Kyle and Catwoman shows the audience the struggle between her normal life as she questions why she runs around the city at night, and her desire to get revenge on Batman and Shreck (both of whom killed her). She also looks very attractive in the skin-tight cat suit. However, in the comics Catwoman was a cat-burglar, and was something of a grey area with her sometimes helping Batman and sometimes hindering him. Here she is portrayed as a woman out for revenge which might set the comic book fans against her. However, once more Burton seems to be concerned with his own take on the Batman universe rather than following the comics.
Both Alfred Pennyworth and Commissioner Gordon (Michael Gough and Pat Hingle reprising their roles) feature again. Alfred once again serving as Batman’s ally, and this time Gordon is seen to have a rapport with Batman.
The overall feel of the film, along with the reoccurring locations and vehicles (Batman has the same Batmobile seen in the first film), allows the audience to believe that this is the same Batman seen in the original. He may have partially dealt with his personal demons (namely Jack Napier/Joker) in Batman but he is going to continue to protect his city as his masked alter-ego.
8/10
Excellent cast make Batman Returns a worth addition to the franchise and was the last gothic film (and realistic) adaptation before Joel Schumacher was given directing responsibilities
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