Nostalgic Review: Batman Returns

People may have the 1989 Batman film as there main childhood memory of this particular superhero.

But for me, this was the one that introduced me to the Dark Knight.

It remains to be my favourite of pre-Nolan Batman's. The structure of the plot seems more solid, it's more appealing and the interplay between the three main characters is gripping viewing.

It would be easy just to call this a simple comic-book action movie. However, this sequel is much more complex then that. It is more of a Gothic tragedy and the premise of good versus evil is not so black and white as you would think. Yes the action sequences are fun to watch and has vintage Batman moments. But that is just a minor part to a story between three well written characters with many struggles.

The opening really sets you in the mood beautifully. It shows you that we are going to see a totally different type of story.
Like with the 1989 installment, the story is more about the villain then Batman, or in this case villains. Burton and his team have gone for the well known villains Penguin, and Catwoman.

Danny DeVito as Penguin was a brilliant choice. I definitely would not have even thought of him as a possibility. But he manages to give a troubled character with a sad story that we actually end up sympathizing for.

But the star of the show for many was Michelle Pfeiffer's portrayal of Catwoman. A pretty flawless performance that many including see as her best ever performance. Her great mix of sexy and crazy works so well in what we have always associated with both Catwoman and Selina Kyle. Her transformation scene is quite disturbing. Her possessed/zombie like face amplifies the scene really well. Also, the look of Kyle has reminded of Camren Bicondova's portrayal in the current Gotham TV series. I recommend you watch it just for Bicondova's performance as it is clear to see that she has done her homework on this character.

While Keaton is solid throughout, he does play third fiddle too our main villains. However, his on-screen relationship with Pfeiffer's character is a particular highlight of mine. Another performance worth mentioning is Christopher Walken's performance as the sleazy Max Schreck. Definitely a chilling coolness about him.

For me, this is the one that Burton truly cast his magic spell on. His ingenious interweaving of various stories makes this captivating viewing. It sees Batman take a back seat whilst we see the struggles of Penguin and Catwoman.
The dialogue does get a bit mature for the rating that it has been given. But that was the beauty of 90's films back then. You definitely would not see the same film being made now. The production design might not be as impressive as the one that won their only Oscar in 1989. But it is still an impressive set that define the tone of Gotham City. I cannot forget the Danny Elfman score that manages to stand-out from its predecessor. It felt slightly more like a vintage Burton movie whilst also having Batman vibe as well.

You can also make a cheap excuse for watching it at Christmas, which is always a nice bonus.

Whilst also being as a strong popcorn movie for the general audience, there is also a tragic story with well-rounded characters for the hardcore fans to enjoy.

Rating: 8/10