Movie-A-Day #91: Batman Returns

[Chaplin]

From IMDB:

Having defeated the Joker, Batman now faces the Penguin - a warped and deformed individual who is intent on being accepted into Gotham society. Crooked businessman Max Schreck is coerced into helping him become Mayor of Gotham and they both attempt to expose Batman in a different light. Earlier however, Selina Kyle, Max's secretary, is thrown from the top of a building and is transformed into Catwoman - a mysterious figure who has the same personality disorder as Batman. Batman must attempt to clear his name, all the time deciding just what must be done with the Catwoman.

IMO, this is the best of the 4 Batman movies. That is generally not a consensus, but think about it.

Although Jack was terrific as the Joker, and the original film was essentially a standoff between hero and villain, the second film has a lot more layers to it, thanks to Michelle Pfeiffer's turn as Catwoman--still, 11 years later, amazingly sexy in that black leather.

Perfect casting otherwise--Christopher Walken as Max Schreck (Burton's ode to Nosferatu) and Danny DeVito as the Penguin--has to be the best casting in a superhero movie, only rivaled by Bryan Singer's X2.

Tim Burton fully realizes a Gotham City that expands upon the gritty, urban streets he created in the first movie. Using sets and paintings, it is a film noirish world that he makes as real as your backyard--really an accomplishment.

And of course, who can forget Michael Keaton as Batman--still the best portrayal.

 

[mdamien13]

Good choice!

I need to see this again, as it's been many moons. If I remember right, I liked everything about it quite a bit except two things;

1.) There was too much going on. As a sequel this didn't flesh out the character of Batman any more nor did it give proper attention to Catwoman.

2.) I know Batman's one bad mutha, but I refuse to believe that he could punch through the bottom of his Batmobile.

Very well-acted movie, though. And yes, Michelle Pfeiffer is still the queen of the tight leather jumpsuit.

 

[Renz]

Agree about the casting, although I think the original choice for Catwoman (Annette Bening) would have been hotter.

Walken is good in everything and I also think Keaton was the best Batman.

Too bad Burton didn't direct all the films. If he had, maybe the franchise wouldn't have died off.

 

[Mr.Dibbs]

A very dark and erotic film. Burton rocks, as does Danny Elfman, the ex-Oingo Boingo singer who does all of Burton's soundtracks.

I heard that it was so dark that Elfman wasn't allowed to do the third one, which kinda sucked and didn't have Billy Dee Willams as the Mayor, like he was in the first one.

 

[mdamien13]

Originally posted by Oran
. . . and didn't have Billy Dee Willams as the Mayor, like he was in the first one.

I thought Billy Dee was originally D.A. Harvey Dent (aka Two Face)?

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Originally posted by mdamien13
I thought Billy Dee was originally D.A. Harvey Dent (aka Two Face)?

Yep.

Lee Wallace was the Mayor.

 

[Mr.Dibbs]

Originally posted by mdamien13
I thought Billy Dee was originally D.A. Harvey Dent (aka Two Face)?

My bad. They didn't bring him as Two Face. That's my gripe.