Customer Reviews

Batman Returns

5 star:		(71)
4 star:		(44)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I adore the caracter of Cat woman & was fully satisfied with Michelle Pfeiffer in this role. The cast is outstanding with Batman, the penguin & cat woman... you must have this classic!

A mysterious "penguin man" surfaces and takes the city by storm, so much so that evil business tycoon Max Shreck, played by Christopher Walken, thinks he can turn Penguin into the city's new mayor. But Penguin is not all what he seems and he secretly controls the Red Triangle gang, who are wreaking havoc across the city.

Add to the mix is one Selina Kyle, Shreck's lowly assistant, er, secretary, who, after a bad night with her boss, becomes Catwoman.

The bat signal shines and the Dark Knight returns to once again rid Gotham of chaos and restore order.

Michael Keaton is back as Gotham's Guardian and brings to the role all the mystery and edge that made the '89 movie so popular. What's even better is that this movie actually has Batman in it and the vigilante appears, clad in black armor, more than just four times like in the previous flick.

Danny DeVito as the Penguin does a great job given what he had to work with. Though the Penguin in this film is not the same as the one in the comics, DeVito still did well portraying a man who was born...a little different.

Michelle Pfeiffer pulls off the dual role of Selina Kyle/Catwoman nicely. In fact, she plays four distinct roles in this film, all in one character: nerdy Selina, hip Selina, crazy Selina and Catwoman.

This film is filled with action, darkness and fun, all set in Tim Burton's eerie Gotham City, which was a character on its own in this film and its predecessor.

It's the hokey plot that's earning this film a lower rating than the previous one. Had the story been better, this movie had the potential to be one of the best superhero flicks ever.

Language warning: Cursing

in my opinion this sequel is as good as the first in all respects except for one one small complaint.well, actually enough of a complaint to lower the rating by half a star.the action is probably better with better fight scenes.Batman's costume seems a bit darker to me,which is a good thing.the acting is great as in the first one.Danny Devito is stellar as the homicidal Penguin and he clearly loved the role.Michelle Pfeiffer plays Cat Woman and is quite the sight to behold,in a good way.Michael Keaton returns as the caped crusader/Bruce Wayne and again brings a great understated broodiness to the role.the film is generally dark in tone,maybe more so than the first,and there is more a sense of urgency and jeopardy to it.occasionally,it slips into a kind of magical,almost whimsical tone,which is also good.there's a bit more chaos in this one.but not so much that it detracts from the film.but there is the one complaint i have.to me,Danny Devito(the Penguin) seemed to be wearing very apparent padding to make the character appear fatter than he was.this bothered me some and took me out of the movie,if only for brief moments.still,that was enough for me to give it half a star less than otherwise.so,in my opinion "Batman Returns"is a very strong 4.5/5

Batman Returns is the sequel to 1989's Batman. It has a lot of flaws, but I still enjoy it everytime I sit down to watch it. Keaton's back as Batman/Bruce Wayne. Wayne has a little more personality in Batman Returns, so he's not as boring as he was in the first movie. It would have been nice if the first action scene was longer, where Batman fights the (don't laugh) Red Triangle Circus Gang. You'd think that if some circus performers were tearing apart the city that they'd send in a SWAT team or a heavily armed riot control squad to restore order. But the cops don't really try to stop them. I guess they're lazy, and just leave all the hard work for Batman. The comic book Batman would never kill criminals. Burton's Batman has no qualms about it. That is sacrilege to most Batman fans, but it didn't bother me. I treat Burton's Batman movies the same way I treat a Batman storyline such as Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns. Comic purists will understand what I'm talking about. It's good to have a reinterpretation of old comic book heroes every now and then, but I found Schumacher's movies to be so offensive and uncool, that I detest the way Batman is portrayed.

The Penguin (Danny Devito) and Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer) are more formidable adversaries for Batman than the Joker. Unsurprisingly, they team up to take out Batman - and come up with a great plan. Batman blew through the Joker and his gang, but this pair give Batman LOTS of trouble. But the problem now is that Batman is overshadowed by not one, but TWO major villains in HIS OWN movie. Batman Begins also had two major villains, but they remained in the background - Bruce Wayne was always at the forefront.

The Penguin is a deformed (and lecherous) fellow. He was entertaining at first, but by the time he 'saved' the baby I began to find him irritating. Towards the end of the movie, he's INCREDIBLY ANNOYING. The low-point of the movie is when he gives a speech to the penguin army (yes, there actually is an army of birds with rockets strapped to their backs). It looked like Burton was trying to make the Penguin look like Winston Churchill or George S. Patton. As a huge Batman fan, that scene embarrasses me. The Penguin also has some amusing scenes, like when he makes everyone gasp at Shreck's party (after announcing his plans), and when he's screaming at Batman on a video monitor in the Batmobile.

Max Shreck (Christopher Walken) is a lousy villain, and he shouldn't be in this movie. His screentime should've been given to one of the other main characters. Max is trying to take over the city (*yawn*) and build a power plant that doesn't make energy - it STORES energy. So Max tries to manipulate the Penguin into becoming the mayor - then Max would be the 'power behind the throne' if he wins. But the whole bit about the Penguin running for mayor should've been cut - it would've been better if the Penguin was just a popular celebrity in Gotham City, who worked on fiendish plots behind the scenes. And why on Earth would Shreck use the head of Felix the Cat as his corporate logo?

Back in the day, the action scenes in this movie was what I liked best, but Danny Elfman's music during the opening credits always kept me spellbound. Elfman's music sounds even better than it did in the first movie. If not for the music, I'd enjoy this movie a lot less. The scene when the six penguins walk out near the end of the movie is one of the most preposterous sights in cinematic history, but Elfman's music does give the scene a degree of emotional power. The same can be said for the scene when Batman drives by the Hall of Records and stares coldly at the Penguin (as Batman doubts whether the Penguin is the saint he's being made out to be). And the music sounds great when the Penguin goes to the grave of his parents.

There were some really cool scenes, like the fights between the Catwoman and Batman. And when the Penguin fell through the skylight as the Arctic World was being destroyed. And when Catwoman tore apart her apartment after she was nearly killed. And the close-up of the Penguin's face as he sinks beneath the water. And when Batman went down on a harness to the Penguin's lair. And the noise of the Batskiboat as it approaches the Penguin's lair (and the look of dismay on everyone's faces). And when the organ grinder sees Batman's reflection, right before he gets yanked out of his seat. And like the first movie, there's a cool scene where Batman dons his suit, set to Elfman's awesome music. And no, Burton DID NOT film it anything like the way Schumacher did in Batman Forever.

Perhaps my favorite part of Batman Returns is when it shows Wayne alone in a darkened room, and looks to be deep in thought - he's in a pose that makes one think of Rodin's 'The Thinker' (does anyone actually sit like that when they're thinking?) Then a spotlight comes on, and the Bat Signal illuminates the room. Elfman's music suits that scene perfectly. But if I was Bruce Wayne, I wouldn't have a huge spotlight like that on my roof - it would look awfully suspicious.

Most people say Pfeiffer's Catwoman stole the show. But I didn't think anyone's performance stood out. If I had to pick someone, I'd say Keaton was the best in this movie. But I'm admittedly a biased Batman fan, so my opinion doesn't count for anything. I'd say Batman Returns features an incredibly talented cast stuck in a movie where the action is a lot more important than storyline or character development. But this IS an action movie, so what do you expect?

It really is. Unlike the first one this movie feels far more balanced then the first one. Even though again Batman is seen less than the villians, it just feels... better.

It honestly looks better than the first movie, The action is much better directed, and the ending is even more tragic. Keaton streches his Batman abilities here far more than in the first. I love it when we see Bruce Wayne in front of his fire place, brooding... What the hell else does Batman do in his time off?

I've watched this far more than the original. Simply because it is better. A solid film and entertains throughout it's running time as any good film does.

Wow, a follow up to Batman (89) by Tim burton as well? Nice! The first film is better overall, the main thing this film has going for it is the EVEN DARKER tone. It's much more 'Burton-y' than the first film. Great example is Penguin. For starters, it takes place close to Christmas. Christmas? in Gotham City? Sweet. If I could, I'd give this film 3.5 out of 5, and the first batman 4.5 out of 5. What's wrong with this film? Like Batman, this has minor flaws, although there are more of them this time around. there is barely any continuity between this film and the first. what happened to Knox and Vicki? And then there's big fact that Christopher Walken's character was supposed to be Harvey Dent, the DA from the first film. Would have made more sense. Overall, great film, though no as great as #1. Read the early draft of the script called "Batman 2" to go into further detail on why this film could've been better. still excellent.

There are two types of people in the world: those who love Superman and those who love Batman. Count me in the latter; I love Batman. And if the original film is my favorite superhero movie of all time, then "Batman Returns" is my second favorite.

A few fans of the series will argue that this is the best film of the series and, in some respects, that's hard to argue against. The story is better than the first one and the vision is much more Burton-esque. Selina Kyle is, obviously, a much more interesting love interest than Vicki Vale. And Elfman's score is more boisterous than ever. I guess I just favor the first one for it's nostalgic value and Nicholson's performance.

None of the Batman movies are masterpieces, but the first two make for some amazing and sometimes deep entertainment. "Batman Forever" has the best story of the series, but the dark Batman mythos was toned down a bit to make room for those funky neon lights. And "Batman & Robin" was just goofy and bizarre. Here's hoping the new 2005 Bat-flick goes back to the basics.

Warner is really starting to get on the ball with the DVD format (check out the stuff they have in store for us in August). Wouldn't it be great if they finally gave the Batman series the treatment it deserves? The mere thought of how much great extras that can be included for the first two films is almost orgasmic. Maybe they'll do it next spring to hype us up for Nolan's vision of "Batman." Better late than never, I suppose. Cross your fingers, guys.

I forgot how much I love this movie.Batman Returns is a great parody to the comics let alone an awesome action/adventure film.This is one of my favorite films by Tim Burton.This is pretty much the last good Batman.The plot is great; I think it is stronger and darker than any of the others.I love Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman ; no matter what anyone says Michelle is the classic Catwoman and Halle Berry won't be able to live up to it.Michael Keaton, Danny Devito, and Christopher Walken also do a great job acting.The dialogue is pretty cool also.I really liked Gotham City in this one; it kind of looks like a Gothic city.I loved the final showdown in the movie.Make sure to check out this awesome movie.

In director Tim Burton's sequel to his successful BATMAN (1989), the Caped Crusador (Michael Keaton) is pitted against the demented, ravenous Penguin (Danny DeVito), a pitiful, orphaned psychopathic freak who once went on a baby-killing spree, and a "power" hungry capitalist villain Max Shreck (Christopher Walken). As the two criminals plot to gain domination over Gotham City, BATMAN must plot to stop them.In the highly stylized BATMAN RETURNS--complete with dark, Gothic architecture and moody lighting--Batman (and his alter-ego Bruce Wayne) is thrown a third enemy, a terrible distraction: Cat Woman (fearlessly and fabulously played by Michelle Pfeiffer). She is the slinky, sharp-clawed alter-ego of Shreck's secretary Selina. Batman must overcome his own dark past, and his present love entanglements, to rid Gotham of it's evil enemies, this time with even more intricately designed sets and tongue-in-cheek humor, making BATMAN RETURNS an action-packed, but darkly fun adventure.

"Darker, more brooding and weirder than the first Batman. It's also funnier and layered with more texture."
-- Chris Hicks, DESERET NEWS, SALT LAKE CITY

This movie needs Ritalin. Smart and well meaning but far too crowded with characters, subplots, sight gags, clever one liners and special effects to be able to calm down and tell an interesting story. I love Christopher Walken's personality and acting but there's just no reason for him to be in this movie. The villian should have been the Penguin OR Catwoman. One of those rare movies that suffers from too many good ideas. Almost ADHD in its refusal to pick a story and stick with it. The casting, direction and special effects are excellent. Michael Keaton does a great job with the difficult and enigmatic title character.

A sequel to the instant 1989 classic masterpiece " Batman", Tim Burton and his team made this 1992 blockbuster sequel into a winner.

Batman ( Michael Keaton) who had fought The Joker in the original has now two enemies this time, the sexy "Catwoman" ( Michelle Pfeifer) and the hideous " Penguin" ( Danny Devito) including corporate owner "Max Shreck" ( Christopher Walken).

A well made sequel with action, suspense, atmosphere, good Danny Elfman score and Michelle Pfeifer is definitely a knockout as the black leather beauty in which Halle Berry will take over the role as the feline sexpot in this summer's "Catwoman".