Batman Returns

"Mistletoe can be deadly if you eat it."

"But a kiss can be even deadlier if you mean it."

With Christmas around the corner, corrupt businessman Max Shreck (Walken) is trying to convince Gotham City officials to approve his new power plant.  He teams up with the Penguin (DeVito), who has lived in Gotham sewers since childhood when he was abandoned.  The Penguin saves the Mayor's (Murphy) son and is called a hero.  He uses his newfound fame to learn his real name, Oswald Cobblepot.

Meanwhile, Shreck's secretary Selina Kyle (Pfeiffer) discovers the truth behind the power plant and is killed.  She is revived by a pack of alley cats and becomes Catwoman to destroy Shreck.  Bruce Wayne (Keaton) is not convinced that Shrek and the Penguin are being completely honest and begins investigating.  He and Selina are attracted to each other, while their alter egos have a bitter rivalry.  Can Bruce save the city and get the girl?


After the success of the 1989 Batman film, Tim Burton and Michael Keaton were approached to do a sequel.  Burton did not want to make a direct sequel, so Vicki Vale (portrayed by Kim Basinger) did not return for the sequel, although she is mentioned a few times.  The only actors to return for the film were Keaton, Pat Hingle as Commissioner Gordon, and Michael Gough as Alfred.

Once again the writers used iconic Batman villains from the 1960s TV show.  This time Danny DeVito put his own spin on the Penguin.  Burgess Meredith was the Penguin in the show and 1966 film.  DeVito takes a much darker spin on the character, who has not appeared in any subsequent Batman films, although he is a main character on TV's Gotham.  Michelle Pfeiffer is perfectly cast as Catwoman.  Catwoman was portrayed by 3 different women on the show: Julie Newmar, Lee Meriwhether, and Eartha Kitt.  She also appeared on the WB show Birds of Prey, along with every cartoon version of Batman, and was played by Anne Hathaway in The Dark Knight Rises.  She is a beloved character, and Pfeiffer is one of the best parts of the film.

This film is even better than Burton's first Batman film, but much darker and more gruesome.  The film might have worked better with only 1 villain, and potentially setting up future villains (the script originally featured Harvey Dent and setup his transformation into Two-Face).  Or maybe it needed less emphasis on Max Shreck, who is a new character.  Christopher Walken is good, creepy and calculating, but he could be better used elsewhere.  A decent Batman film, although it ushered in 2 terrible Batman films (Batman Forever and Batman and Robin).

Batman Returns (1992) 126 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for brooding, dark violence
Director: Tim Burton
Starring: Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne / Batman
Danny DeVito as Oswald Cobblepot / Penguin
Michelle Pfeiffer as Selina Kyle / Catwoman
Christopher Walken as Max Shreck
Michael Murphy as Mayor of Gotham City
Pat Hingle as Commissioner James Gordon
Michael Gough as Alfred Pennyworth