Deep Satire, haunting personal ethos, desperate souls...

Rating: Null/10 (14 July 2001)

The Dark Knight returns, or arrives for the first time rather?... Michael Keaton, of whom the silent majority believe to be the most convincing and well acted Batman/Bruce Wayne, delivers a stoic performance that seems to become more gratifying a second or third stroll through Gotham City. Although he battles 2 arch enemies in this film, there is really a third, Max Schreck. Played to steely perfection by Christopher Walken, as quoted referring to Selena Kyle, "Bottom line. If she tries to blackmail me, I'll drop her out of a higher window." The Catwoman represents female repression and complete anger towards weak female characterization in film or real life. Both the Catwoman and Batman seem anchored to fear in a struggle to reconcile there desire to allow both sides of their personalities to exist in harmony. And thus a connection is made on both fronts...However, where Bruce Wayne is held at bay by Alfred the loyal butler and friend, Ms. Kyle has no one and her sanity slowly drifts out to sea. The Penguin, discarded at birth for being born "a little different," is used in effect to create sympathy within Bruce Wayne, whom has lived through parental tragedy as well. Both Penguin and Catwoman have very similar dark emotions as Batman. Which in the end is fabulous, because Batman makes no direct attempt to kill either character. He knows himself, and thusly knows that their own misgivings will create their own deaths...Although Catwoman has a few to spare I'm sure...Some people didn't like Batman Returns because it spawned sequels that needed more than one enemy...It must be said that in Batman Returns, Bruce Wayne's greatest fear was learning to deal with himself, making the ultimate sacrifice for his own humanity. I do believe that is why Keaton hung up the Cape. 10/10 STARS...A triumph in character development, satire of human relationships, and of freeing desperate souls.