fantastic squeal

Rating: 9/10 (29 August 2006)

It has been apart of all sequels to go bigger and better in an attempt to surpass or even match the original film. While many fail and fade away, their are those few sequels that hit all the right buttons and not surpass, but leaves the original behind. Tim Burton's return to the Batman franchise, takes it to an all new level.
The first Batman, a classic in its own rights, is a dark, Gothic tale of revenge. The visual aesthetic has a distinct tone; dark heavy shadows with deep pastels. Batman Returns shows Burton evolving and changing Batman's world. Batman Returns is a dark, romantic fairy tale; with a more monochromatic style working to this tale. Returns does follow steps like all sequels with hard challenges, more villains, fights are more stylised and happen more often, but Returns goes even further to bring a more interesting story.
Written by Daniel Waters, Batman Returns is better written and digs deeper into it's characters and reveals more layer in Bruce and Batman. Bruce still grapples with his parents death, but more focus on his love life and the problem he faces with his alter ego. Batman himself become more humane, falling for the wrong woman and hitting public despise. The villains themselves follow a different pattern. Penguin starts off as an animal with a hidden agenda, but he develops as he also tries to work into humanity and for people to accept who he is, and the forgiveness of his parents abandoning him as a child. Catwoman is one of the most interesting villains, as a sexy femme fatale. While she has a motive of revenge against Shreck, her ultimate goal is fun and exerting herself from her repressed and empty life.
Doning the black cape again, Michael Keaton brings an even stronger performance as Bruce and Batman. Danny DeVito is amazing as Penguin, really bringing an ugly side to Penguin, not just visually. Michelle Pfeiffer is sexy and sassy as Selina/Catwoman. Christopher Walken is greatly vulgar as Shreck.
One of the few sequels to surpass the original, Batman Returns is a fun dark tale.