Impressive Sequel

Rating: 8/10 (2 July 2007)

Tim Burton has done a wonderful job in bringing another top notch Batman film. The film itself may be equal to the first. With Keaton as Batman returning, we get 2 new big villains, The Penguin and Catwoman! They are utilized brilliantly in this film. Batman Returns is a terrific movie!
Michael Keaton does a better job in this film with Batman! I get more of a darker interpretation of him in this film and I like it better than the first. Michelle Pfeiffer plays Catwoman and she does a fantastic job! She creates a sick and fiendish catwoman who is a joy to watch on screen. An excellent portrayal of the character on her part. Christopher Walken plays Max Schreck, a business villain. His character is nothing truly special but Hey, its Christopher Walken. I still feel as if there is a lack of supporting cast outside the big three in this film.
Danny DeVito plays the Penguin. Burton and the writers Daniel Waters/Sam Hamm take a different approach to the Penguin in this film. Rather than making him a simple mobster or ganglord like interpreted in the comics, Burton gives him the "insanity" characteristic that most Batman villains have. So now the Penguin can be similar to having the mental psyches of other villains like the Joker or Two-face. And best of all, he does it successfully. The character is terrific. The Penguin is portrayed as a troubled, angry, disgusting, and disturbed individual. And some of his characteristics are kept true. He still looks like an absurd villain and seems like a laughable villain. Yet the character gets a very serious approach taken to him and it is done very well. DeVito does a good job of playing that character created for him.
The story is very good! I love the opening scene and the opening credits! Although the movie seems really rushed at first in order to get the balls rolling! The action sequences are great in this film. And the special effects are even better. This Gotham City is even darker than the first one and it just expands the viewers imagination even more. The interpretation of this Gotham City is truly Gothic! A nice adjustment is made to Danny Elfman's original theme that gives the music a newer feeling.
Batman Returns is a good sequel to the first. Tim Burton did a great job handling these first two Batman movies. It urks me that he was taken away from the series because the industry thought his interpretations were to "dark" or "scary". That is what Batman is all about and Burton did a good job handling him.