Batman Returns (1992)

Overall: B
Cast: C+
Plot: B
Special Effects/Stunts: C
Similarity to Comic: B
Director: Tim Burton
Comic Company: DC
Stars: Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer
Rating: PG-13
See the IMDB page
See the Rotten Tomatoes page

This movie was more of the same from director Tim Burton, it was abstract, dark, and off the wall.  It was true to the franchise but it wasn't anything mind blowing, it was simply a slightly better movie than the first.

The Good: The cast was almost as dreary as it was in the first film, except this time they didn't have Jack Nicholson to hold them up.  They did have Danny DeVito though.  He was hardly recognizable in his fantastic Penguin makeup and costume but he also played the character to perfection.  He was slimy, gross, and repulsive in every way and it was fantastic.

Unlike the first film this one was not so clean cut.  They expected to make more Batman films following this one, which is what led to this movie following the comic story lines much better.  Batman and Catwoman actually have a fling of some sorts and the Penguin had it out for Bruce Wayne as well as Batman, so I can't really complain about comic continuity very much.

The Bad: In what universe does someone like the Penguin have a chance at winning an election for public office?  I know this movie was supposed to be more abstract and less realistic but nobody in their right mind would vote for a mutant like the Penguin.  Even with Christopher Walken's character backing him I still can't see how his evil plan had any chance of working, a real villain would have come up with something else.

I might be in the minority here but I think Michelle Pfeiffer was a terrible Catwoman.  Catwoman is supposed to be pretty, seductive, and on the fence as to whether she's a hero or a villain.  Pfeiffer was none of those things, she played Catwoman like she was a nutcase.  No man in the universe would touch her with a ten foot pole given all of the crazy vibes she was throwing out.  She was also trying to kill Batman for the entire movie, there was no shred of an ethical dilemma in her character at all.  Bad casting choice, enough said.

The Interesting: This is two movies in a row that Batman has shared his secret identity with his love interest, although I guess it was kind of by accident this time, but still.  I though Batman was supposed to be trying to keep his identity a secret, but Michael Keaton went two for two.  Both times it has been written into the script well though, so it is what it is.

This film was funnier than the last one.  It had more jokes, more innuendos, and even things like the props seemed to have a little humor thrown in.  I'm not sure if the humor added to the feel of the movie or detracted from it, but it was there.

Conclusion: This movie is an improvement from the last, but it's still in the same mediocre category.  I've seen better movies, but at least it wasn't as bad as the early Superman movies.