Not a sequel, but a new movie.

Rating: Null/10 (8 June 2001)

This film is not only the best of the Batman series, but it is possibly the best film that Tim Burton has ever made. But when analyzing this movie, many people try to compare it to the original, saying it doesn't leave off at the same place, etc. That is not Burton's intent. He has not made a sequel, but a new segment of Bruce Wayne's life; a completely different movie.
The Academy Award winning Batman was certainly great movie, with excellent performances by Michael Keaton as the title role and Jack Nicholson as the Joker. But it lacks something that this movie picks up. It's prequel showed us that the world has many evils expressed in the villains who enter and destroy are lives, and how these evils are always triumphed over. However, Batman Returns explores this theme on a different level. It shows us that these evils not only exist in our peers, but they can also exist in our own hearts and minds.
All four principle actors, Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Christopher Walken, and Michele Pheifer, develop this theme beautifully throughout the movie. Walken especially, accomplishes bringing to this film the tyranny of villains to this film, developing the theme from Batman offering a contrast to the new aspect.
This movie offers so much more that the trash of the later series, and the masterpiece of the original. It helps the audience to reach into their souls to really consider their own mindset in this grim world.

10 stars out of 10!!