Batman Returns captures the comic hero's manic depressive state of mind as well as the comic book's Gothic intentions.

Rating: 10/10 (1 February 2016)

BATMAN RETURNS: As the pitiful, orphaned psychopathic freak the Penguin and the power-hungry capitalist villain Max Schreck (named after the actor who played Nosferatu) plot to gain domination over Gotham City, the Caped Crusader battles an equally fatal distraction... Cat Woman.
The discussion topics - in Batman Returns An argument could be made for the value of mental health counselling: All masked characters in the film are presented as emotionally dysfunctional.
Batman, director Tim Burton was given free rein with its sequel. Batman Returns is more malignant in its style, atmosphere and feeling. Without a doubt Batman Returns will remain the best movie in the series.
Batman Returns was unlike any other film I'd experienced. If I had to think of four words that night to describe it, I'd have chosen
Bleak The wintry setting made the theater's air-conditioning that much colder.
Raw Like chapped winter skin, the character's emotions envelop you in a sheath of exposed nerve endings.
Vulnerable From the opening sequence to the final credits, there's an overwhelming sense of sadness that permeates nearly every frame.
Personal I'd never felt such empathy for heroes and villains alike. There are no winners here. Even in victory, there is loss.
Whereas other comic book films—X-Men, Fantastic Four, Spider-man—have taken the explosive, CGI, Jerry Bruckheimer route, Batman Returns is subtle, grounded, and real. Batman is a human consumed by the desire for justice. He has no super-human abilities far beyond those of mortal men. Batman's arsenal is made up of exceptional observation skills, a sharp intellect, finely honed physical skills, and the innate ability to emotionally detach from a stressful situation. Burton exploits this humanity as the foundation upon which the film is built.
The true power of Batman Returns is found in the character relationships
Before Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins, Batman Returns was the crown jewel in this hero's filmatic crown. Even now, it stands the test of time as one of Tim Burton's finest films and a character drama all comic book adaptations should aspire to. If you haven't seen it, now's the time.