Director
Tim Burton
Tim Burton
Cast
Batman/ Bruce Wayne - Michael Keaton
Catwoman/ Selina Kyle - Michelle Pfeiffer
Penguin/ Oswald Cobblepot - Danny DeVito
Max Shreck - Christopher Walken
Michael Gough - Alfred Pennyworth
Pat Hingle - Commissioner Jim Gordon
I want to continue watching and reviewing more obscure, less talked about movies based on comic books and comic strips. This subgenre I started blogging about has been in a sort of limbo, on and off again, on my blog. And a handful of movies I've included are rather popular despite how bad they are.
Most of the "comic-to-movie" movies I want to watch and review are simply difficult to obtain. At this point, I'm taking what I can get. But I haven't given up on finding those hard-to-come-by movies.
The 1992 Tim Burton film "Batman Returns" is a sequel to his hit 1989 movie "Batman."
"Batman" has a special place in my movie-loving heart. I saw it with my oldest brother at the Grand Lake Theater in Oakland, Calif., back when it was released.
I recall the theater exploding in cheers at the scene when Batman flies his Batwing (or Batplane) through the cloud cover causing it to silhouette against the moon before flying back down to attack the Joker as he releases noxious "Smilex" gas on Gotham City.
I was seven-years old at the time. The movie turned me into a little bat fan boy. In fact, the first CD I ever purchased (probably with my mom's money, of course) was the orchestral soundtrack to "Batman." I bought it new for $12 at Wherehouse Music at the Southland Shopping Center in Alameda, Calif. I still have that CD and it still plays.
"Batman Returns," release June 19, 1992, is also one of few movies in my lifetime, up to now, that I was fanatically eager to see. So much so, I had dreams about it before actually seeing it.
Back then, obviously the option to log onto the internet and look for any leaked images or trailers didn't exist. You had to go to the movies and hope a trailer for a movie you wanted to see would play before the feature film. Or you had to wait for a trailer to air on television. Occasionally, some popular films would gain their own TV featurette.
I recall some morning talk show claiming they were going to show an "exclusive clip" of "Batman Returns" later in their program. I watched the entire boring talk show just to see this one clip. And that clip was the scene in the film where Batman meets Penguin for the first time. We got to see first hand the new villains Batman would square off with, in all their reimagined glory.
Just days before the movie's release, my family and I had were on a trip in Southern California to visit friends.
During this trip, we visited Hollywood Blvd., and walked passed Grauman's Chinese Theater.
The front of the theater was decked out in Batman imagery, with a giant poster of the movie draped above the theater entrance. Barricades surrounded the front of the theater where celebrity hand prints are. And a red carpet was rolled out. The premier of "Batman Returns" was taking place that evening.
Michael Keaton had placed his hands in cement the day before - June 15, 1992. I took a picture of all this, including the wet cement with Keaton's prints. Sadly, I have no idea what became of those pictures.
I don't recall the last time I watched "Batman Returns" before watching it the other day.
I recall some morning talk show claiming they were going to show an "exclusive clip" of "Batman Returns" later in their program. I watched the entire boring talk show just to see this one clip. And that clip was the scene in the film where Batman meets Penguin for the first time. We got to see first hand the new villains Batman would square off with, in all their reimagined glory.
Just days before the movie's release, my family and I had were on a trip in Southern California to visit friends.
During this trip, we visited Hollywood Blvd., and walked passed Grauman's Chinese Theater.
The front of the theater was decked out in Batman imagery, with a giant poster of the movie draped above the theater entrance. Barricades surrounded the front of the theater where celebrity hand prints are. And a red carpet was rolled out. The premier of "Batman Returns" was taking place that evening.
Michael Keaton had placed his hands in cement the day before - June 15, 1992. I took a picture of all this, including the wet cement with Keaton's prints. Sadly, I have no idea what became of those pictures.
I don't recall the last time I watched "Batman Returns" before watching it the other day.
After seeing the recent Batman film "The Batman" I wanted to watch this sequel again.
The new Batman film has the caped crusader, played by Robert Pattinson, taking on the Penguin, also known as Oswald Cobblepot, played beautifully by Colin Farrell. It also stars Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle/ Catwoman. Sitting there in the theater watching this happen all over again took me back to "Batman Returns."
The film starts on a dark and very uncomfortable tone.
On Christmas day inside the Cobblepot mansion, Esther Cobblepot (Diane Salinger) gives birth to a new born baby boy off-screen while her husband, Tucker Cobblepot (Paul Reubens) waits patiently, gazing out a window, watching the snow fall gently against the night sky as his wife screams from labor pains.
The film starts on a dark and very uncomfortable tone.
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| Danny DeVito as Oswald Cobblepot/ The Penguin |
As screams of the new born baby join those of Esther's, Tucker rushes into the bedroom and wails in horror.
The scene cuts to the couple sipping martinis while starring out into the snowy, freezing cold night.
As they turn, a black crate with a small window sits in the middle of the floor next to a gorgeous Christmas tree. The child inside shakes the crate trying to get free.
The scene cuts to the couple sipping martinis while starring out into the snowy, freezing cold night.
As they turn, a black crate with a small window sits in the middle of the floor next to a gorgeous Christmas tree. The child inside shakes the crate trying to get free.
Two small gloved hands then reach out to snatch the family cat and pull it inside.
Cat screeches mix with the sounds of a grunting child.
Soon, Esther and Tucker take their child for a hasty stroll. They push their child in its carriage along an icy path towards a stream. When they get to a stone bridge over that stream, they look around to make sure they're alone. The then dump the basket with their first born child over.
They watch as the basket floats into the dark chasm of the sewers. One last childish screech is heard before the basket is gone from site.
They watch as the basket floats into the dark chasm of the sewers. One last childish screech is heard before the basket is gone from site.
After a while, a family of penguins - leftovers living underneath the abandoned Gotham City Zoo - discover the basket.
The story cuts to 33-years later. Rumors of a hideous "Penguin man" living in the sewers are circulating around Gotham City. The newspapers are running stories on people who claim to have had sightings of this alleged Penguin person.
Meanwhile, millionaire business owner Max Shreck (Christopher Walken), has plans to build a power plant in Gotham City. He claims his power plant will be able to supply the city with more than enough electricity. His dirty little secret, however, is that his proposed power plant will suck power in, stockpile it, and allow Shreck to take control of the entire city.
Shreck meets with Gotham City's mayor, (Michael Murphy) whose generally opposed to Shreck's outward plan.
Shortly after their meeting, Schreck gives a speech outside a department store he owns. It's quickly interrupted when the infamous "Red Triangle Gang" attacks, destroying businesses and threatening the citizens of Gotham.
In no time, Batman shows up to take on these criminals. But little does anyone know, amidst all the chaos, that Max Shreck is kidnapped and taken into the sewer.
There, he's confronted by the Penguin himself, whose real name is Oswald Cobblepot.
The story cuts to 33-years later. Rumors of a hideous "Penguin man" living in the sewers are circulating around Gotham City. The newspapers are running stories on people who claim to have had sightings of this alleged Penguin person.
Meanwhile, millionaire business owner Max Shreck (Christopher Walken), has plans to build a power plant in Gotham City. He claims his power plant will be able to supply the city with more than enough electricity. His dirty little secret, however, is that his proposed power plant will suck power in, stockpile it, and allow Shreck to take control of the entire city.
Shreck meets with Gotham City's mayor, (Michael Murphy) whose generally opposed to Shreck's outward plan.
Shortly after their meeting, Schreck gives a speech outside a department store he owns. It's quickly interrupted when the infamous "Red Triangle Gang" attacks, destroying businesses and threatening the citizens of Gotham.
In no time, Batman shows up to take on these criminals. But little does anyone know, amidst all the chaos, that Max Shreck is kidnapped and taken into the sewer.
There, he's confronted by the Penguin himself, whose real name is Oswald Cobblepot.
His hands are deformed and look more like flippers. He takes care of the penguins living below the abandoned zoo. He keeps an arsenal of weaponized umbrellas. And he's also the leader of the Red Triangle Gang.
Cobblepot asks Shreck to help him come out from under the streets of Gotham City and reemerge with a high social standing. He blackmails Shreck with incriminating evidence previously disposed of if he doesn't assist.
"Remember Max - you flush it, I flaunt it," Cobblepot says.
Later, Shreck's secretary, Selina Kyle (Michelle Pfeiffer) accidently discovers Shreck's secret files that expose what his true plans are with the power plant.
Though she swears she'll keep them a secret, Shreck pushes her out his office window several stories above the ground.
Moments after her body hits the pavement below, and her last breath dissipates in the winter air, a bunch of feral cats run up to her body start nibbling. This somehow brings Kyle back to life, and also gives her some kind cat fetish.
She heads back to her lonely apartment and goes crazy (literally). In her fit on feline lunacy, Kyle makes herself a cat costume, and takes her cat nonsense to the streets.
Shreck and Cobblepot come up with a plan to lift him out of the sewers and gain the trust of Gotham City.
Cobblepot saves the mayor's baby from one of the Red Triangle Gang members - an attempted kidnapping that they set up to take place during a mayoral speech.
Cobblepot asks Shreck to help him come out from under the streets of Gotham City and reemerge with a high social standing. He blackmails Shreck with incriminating evidence previously disposed of if he doesn't assist.
"Remember Max - you flush it, I flaunt it," Cobblepot says.
Later, Shreck's secretary, Selina Kyle (Michelle Pfeiffer) accidently discovers Shreck's secret files that expose what his true plans are with the power plant.
Though she swears she'll keep them a secret, Shreck pushes her out his office window several stories above the ground.
Moments after her body hits the pavement below, and her last breath dissipates in the winter air, a bunch of feral cats run up to her body start nibbling. This somehow brings Kyle back to life, and also gives her some kind cat fetish.
She heads back to her lonely apartment and goes crazy (literally). In her fit on feline lunacy, Kyle makes herself a cat costume, and takes her cat nonsense to the streets.
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| Michelle Pfeiffer as Selina Kyle/ Catwoman. |
Cobblepot saves the mayor's baby from one of the Red Triangle Gang members - an attempted kidnapping that they set up to take place during a mayoral speech.
After doing so, pretty much everyone in Gotham City is willing to welcome Cobblepot into the community.
Once this part of the plan is accomplished, Cobblepot spends hours at the Hall of Records giving the appearance that he's researching his childhood, and trying to discover who his parents are.
Like Shreck, he also has an underlying plan - to kidnap all first born sons in Gotham City as an act of revenge for what his parents did to him.
In no time, Shreck pushes Cobblepot to run for mayor, which he easily agrees to do.
Once this part of the plan is accomplished, Cobblepot spends hours at the Hall of Records giving the appearance that he's researching his childhood, and trying to discover who his parents are.
Like Shreck, he also has an underlying plan - to kidnap all first born sons in Gotham City as an act of revenge for what his parents did to him.
In no time, Shreck pushes Cobblepot to run for mayor, which he easily agrees to do.
But Bruce Wayne remains skeptical of the Penguin. His first encounter with him is also his first encounter with Catwoman just as she destroys one of Shreck's department stores.
In no time, Catwoman and Cobblepot partner together to destroy Batman in order to easily carry out both of their evil schemes.
There's one line in the movie that still cracks me up.
As Batman is highly skeptical of Cobblepot's desires to look into his roots, Alfred asks him "Why are you now determined to prove that this Penguin is not what he seems? Must you be the only lonely man-beast in town?"
I have to mention, though it's been mentioned thousands of times before, that Cobblepot's parents have acted together before in an earlier Tim Burton movie - Pee Wee's Big Adventure (1985). Paul Reubens and Diane Salinger star as Pee-Wee Herman and Simone in that film.
I was 10-years old when I saw "Batman Returns" with the same brother that took me to see "Batman." And I recall being impressed by the movie, but not as much as I was with "Batman."
There's one line in the movie that still cracks me up.
As Batman is highly skeptical of Cobblepot's desires to look into his roots, Alfred asks him "Why are you now determined to prove that this Penguin is not what he seems? Must you be the only lonely man-beast in town?"
I have to mention, though it's been mentioned thousands of times before, that Cobblepot's parents have acted together before in an earlier Tim Burton movie - Pee Wee's Big Adventure (1985). Paul Reubens and Diane Salinger star as Pee-Wee Herman and Simone in that film.
I was 10-years old when I saw "Batman Returns" with the same brother that took me to see "Batman." And I recall being impressed by the movie, but not as much as I was with "Batman."
To begin with, Gotham City doesn't have the same feel as before, and I noticed it way back then. Shots of Gotham City in the first "Batman" were filmed at an outdoors at Pinewood Studios. For "Batman Returns," the movie was shot on two huge soundstages at Universal Studios. Gotham City feels more confined and compact compared to part one.
While the first film is known for placing a darker, grittier Batman in the public's eye, which it successfully accomplished with its well-written, captivating story, "Batman Returns" tries to keep that image going but with a lot more of Tim Burton's style and imagination.
Warner Brothers executives gave Burton more freedom to be more, well, Tim Burton in this sequel. And it shows. Unfortunately, I think he inserts itself too much which diminishes the story. In other words, we get more Burton, but with plot points that are too often weak.
"Batman Returns" isn't necessarily a bad movie. I love seeing Batman go against two villains at once. And the premise of Oswald Cobblepot running for Mayor is derivative the 1966 Batman TV series, season seven, episode two called "Hizzonner the Penguin" and the following episode, "Dizzoner the Penguin" in which the Penguin runs for mayor of Gotham City. As a lover of the campy T.V. series, I love this part of the story.
It was also a premise in the third season of the series "Gotham" with Robin Lord Taylor as Penguin - a series I particularly enjoyed watching.
Still, the writing seems hasty, especially when it comes to the villainous Catwoman. Her origin story in the film is simply strange and, for lack of a better word, too "Tim Burton-y." Catwoman is one character "The Batman" did right.
In "Batman Returns," before she becomes Catwoman, Kyle is already a woman on edge thanks to her busy work schedule, apparent loneliness, and underlying frantic nature.
While the first film is known for placing a darker, grittier Batman in the public's eye, which it successfully accomplished with its well-written, captivating story, "Batman Returns" tries to keep that image going but with a lot more of Tim Burton's style and imagination.
Warner Brothers executives gave Burton more freedom to be more, well, Tim Burton in this sequel. And it shows. Unfortunately, I think he inserts itself too much which diminishes the story. In other words, we get more Burton, but with plot points that are too often weak.
"Batman Returns" isn't necessarily a bad movie. I love seeing Batman go against two villains at once. And the premise of Oswald Cobblepot running for Mayor is derivative the 1966 Batman TV series, season seven, episode two called "Hizzonner the Penguin" and the following episode, "Dizzoner the Penguin" in which the Penguin runs for mayor of Gotham City. As a lover of the campy T.V. series, I love this part of the story.
It was also a premise in the third season of the series "Gotham" with Robin Lord Taylor as Penguin - a series I particularly enjoyed watching.
Still, the writing seems hasty, especially when it comes to the villainous Catwoman. Her origin story in the film is simply strange and, for lack of a better word, too "Tim Burton-y." Catwoman is one character "The Batman" did right.
In "Batman Returns," before she becomes Catwoman, Kyle is already a woman on edge thanks to her busy work schedule, apparent loneliness, and underlying frantic nature.
After falling to her death, to be resurrected by nibbling kitty cats, her personality splits. She goes from a frumpy, lowly secretary to a femme fatale who suddenly knows how to fight and use a whip. If she already knew how to fight, she didn't use her skill when she was grabbed by a deranged a member of the Triangle Gang, brandishing a stun gun, earlier in the movie.
Not only is she a poorly developed character, but her motives as Catwoman are unclear.
In the comic books, Catwoman does flip from being a vigilante who helps Batman in her own way only to flip elsewhere and turn to burglary. She helps Batman in the newest film. She also helps Batman in Christopher Nolan's third Batman movie "The Dark Knight Rises" where she's played by Anne Hathaway.
Pfeiffer's Catwoman hints at both sides of the character, but in a convoluted way. When the audience is officially introduced to Catwoman after she takes out a would-be mugger, she pins the mugger's victim to the wall and scolds her for expecting Batman to save her. Nevermind that the poor victim never mentions Batman nor her expectations that he would come to her rescue.
Not only is she a poorly developed character, but her motives as Catwoman are unclear.
In the comic books, Catwoman does flip from being a vigilante who helps Batman in her own way only to flip elsewhere and turn to burglary. She helps Batman in the newest film. She also helps Batman in Christopher Nolan's third Batman movie "The Dark Knight Rises" where she's played by Anne Hathaway.
Pfeiffer's Catwoman hints at both sides of the character, but in a convoluted way. When the audience is officially introduced to Catwoman after she takes out a would-be mugger, she pins the mugger's victim to the wall and scolds her for expecting Batman to save her. Nevermind that the poor victim never mentions Batman nor her expectations that he would come to her rescue.
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| Batman (Michael Keaton) takes on the "Red Triangle Gang" in "Batman Returns." |
When we see her next, she blows up one of Shreck's department stores, gets into a fight with Batman in a rooftop battle scene, and then is suddenly partnering up with Cobblepot to destroy Batman. Why? Is it because they had one fight? Or, is it because she wants to be replace the male vigilante hero in Gotham City with her female kitty self?
She tells Cobblepot, "Batman napalmed my arm, he knocked me off a building just when I was starting to feel good about myself. I wanna play an integral part in his degradation." That's the only motive she gives. This villainous side stems from little. Honestly, there's one line that really boils down Catwoman. After she goes crazy in her apartment, makes her cat suit, puts it on, and becomes the femme fatale I mentioned earlier, she says out loud to her pet cat, "I don't know about you, Miss. Kitty, but I feel so much yummier." Yet, she's not happy as the movie progresses. Catwoman is all around nonsensical and poorly developed.
Danny DeVito as Penguin really steals the show, despite the constant nasty black crud that coats his nasty teeth and drips from his mouth. That has Tim Burton written all over it.
DeVito puts in a lot of energy and unforgettable character into the Penguin. He's perfectly cast thanks to his energetic personality.
His Penguin character is a pitiful one. His impulsivity is driven by loneliness, anger, greed, rejection, and a desire for revenge. He's also drive by sexual frustration as he makes clear in one scene where he says, "I could really get into this mayor stuff. It's not about power, it's about reaching out to people - touching people - groping people!" He also tries to mack on Catwoman, but who wouldn't?
DeVito puts in a lot of energy and unforgettable character into the Penguin. He's perfectly cast thanks to his energetic personality.
His Penguin character is a pitiful one. His impulsivity is driven by loneliness, anger, greed, rejection, and a desire for revenge. He's also drive by sexual frustration as he makes clear in one scene where he says, "I could really get into this mayor stuff. It's not about power, it's about reaching out to people - touching people - groping people!" He also tries to mack on Catwoman, but who wouldn't?
With all this motivating him, his anger and desire for revenge intensifies. He's never been loved, so he doesn't return what he never received. He's not crazy like the Joker was in "Batman."
At first, after visiting the graves of his parents, the press are at the cemetery to bombard him with questions. Reporters refer to him as "Penguin."
At first, after visiting the graves of his parents, the press are at the cemetery to bombard him with questions. Reporters refer to him as "Penguin."
Cobblepot replies, "A penguin is a bird that cannot fly. I am a man. I have a name. Oswald Cobblepot."
Later in the film, after Batman shatters Cobblepot's public image, he returns back to the dank, cold sewers where he started with no way out yet again, thanks to Batman. He intends to exact his revenge on Gotham City, with more vengeance than before.
Later in the film, after Batman shatters Cobblepot's public image, he returns back to the dank, cold sewers where he started with no way out yet again, thanks to Batman. He intends to exact his revenge on Gotham City, with more vengeance than before.
One of his gang members calls him "Oswald."
He shouts back, "My name is not Oswald! It's Penguin! I am not a human being. I am an animal! Cold-blooded!"
The movie is quickly void of suspense. The moment where things start to become suspenseful and intense is when the Penguin unfolds his plans to kidnap and ultimately kill all of the first born sons in Gotham City. We then get a scene of his Red Triangle Gang taking children out of their homes and placing them into cages. That's quickly thwarted by Batman. As the Penguin sits in his sewer, waiting for the children to be brought to him, he's given a note (literally) written by Batman telling him the kids aren't coming. And, poof - the suspense is gone.
The movie is quickly void of suspense. The moment where things start to become suspenseful and intense is when the Penguin unfolds his plans to kidnap and ultimately kill all of the first born sons in Gotham City. We then get a scene of his Red Triangle Gang taking children out of their homes and placing them into cages. That's quickly thwarted by Batman. As the Penguin sits in his sewer, waiting for the children to be brought to him, he's given a note (literally) written by Batman telling him the kids aren't coming. And, poof - the suspense is gone.
His plans change quickly to arming his pet penguins with little rockets which he sends out to the streets of Gotham to blow things up - more of what we've seen already.
We end on a fight between Batman and Penguin, with Catwoman soon joining in to really get her revenge on Shreck.
"Batman Returns" is an entertaining movie with memorable visuals, fantastic makeup, superb special effects, and some decent and memorable dialogue.
With its story that's sacrificed in parts to make room for Burton to insert his visualizations and imaginings, it's clearly weaker than "Batman."
With its story that's sacrificed in parts to make room for Burton to insert his visualizations and imaginings, it's clearly weaker than "Batman."
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