12 Reviews of Christmas - Batman Returns (1992)

         Hey guys, Chuck here. Last month, I reviewed the first Tim Burton Batman movie, and I gave that film high levels of praise. Well, today as part of 12 Reviews of Christmas, I'm taking a look at the first sequel to that film, which is 1992's Batman Returns. Actor Michael Keaton and director Tim Burton are both back, and are joined this time by Danny DeVito as the Penguin and Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman. So, let's take a look at Tim Burton's Batman Returns. 

        The movie opens around Christmas time at Cobblepot mansion in Gotham, where the Cobblepots are horrified by the deformed nature of their newborn son, Oswald. Fearing how society will treat him, the Cobblepots take young Oswald to the local park, and toss him into the sewers, where he grows up being raised by Penguins underneath the abandoned zoo. 33 years later, and it's Christmas time once more in Gotham. While the city is celebrating the holiday season, industrialist Max Shreck is discussing his plans for a new power plant with the Mayor of Gotham. After their brief meeting, Shreck and the Mayor head down for the festivities in the city square. The event is then attacked by the Red Triangle Gang, a disgraced former circus troupe, who abduct Shreck and take him dowm to the sewer. Many members of the gang, however, are fought off valiantly by Batman. Shreck, meanwhile, meets the leader of the Red Triangle Gang: the Penguin, who reveals his desire to know who he is by learning who his parents are. After three blackmail attempts, Penguin convinces Shreck to help him in his endeavor. Some time later, Shreck's secretary Selina Kyle heads back to the office for some files Shreck needs for his meeting with Bruce Wayne the next morning. After learning that Shreck's power plant will actually syphon power rather than supply it, Shreck throws Selina out of a window, where she lands on the ground dead, only to be brought back to life by a bunch of alley cats. Returning to her apartment, Selina puts together a skin tight suit and becomes Catwoman. 

        The next day, Penguin makes his presence known by rescuing the Mayor's infant from a staged kidnapping attempt. Penguin, after gaining access to the Hall of Records, visits the grave of his parents, and reveals his identity of Oswald Cobblepot to the people of Gotham. Bruce, meanwhile, is highly suspicious of Oswald, and does his best to prove something's amiss in Gotham. Meanwhile, Bruce and Selina really hit it off after their first meeting, and start to spend more time together. Batman, meanwhile, does his best to stop Oswald and the Red Triangle Gang, all the while both men run afoul of Catwoman, who dukes it out with Batman on a Gotham rooftop. Oswald, with Shreck's help, makes a bid to run for Mayor of Gotham, as part of Shreck's plan to overthrow the current Mayor and get his power plant built more quickly. However, Bruce secretly turns the people of Gotham against Oswald, who attempted to turn the city against Batman. And, I really need to stop here, because I really don't want to ruin any more of this movie. 

        So, Batman Returns was definitely darker in tone than the first Batman, but it's still a terrific film. Michael Keaton is excellent once again as Bruce Wayne/Batman, and both Danny DeVito and Michelle Pfeiffer are terrific as the Penguin and Catwoman. However, as much as I enjoy Danny DeVito as the Penguin, I think I still prefer Jack Nicholson's Joker as the better Batman movie villain. Christopher Walken, who plays Max Shreck, is great here as well. However, the grotesque nature of the Penguin, some of the more adult humor, and a scene where Catwoman licks Batman on the mouth are among the many things in this movie that might push this movie over the edge of being less family friendly than other Batman movies, especially the two films that would follow the release of Batman Returns: Batman Forever and Batman & Robin.   Now, as to why Tim Burton went with a Christmas setting for the film, hence the reason I'm reviewing it for 12 Reviews of Christmas, my guess is because the Penguin is a major villain, and penguins live in the snow, winter was a smart time to set the film. And what is commonly associated with winter? Christmas. 

        Overall, while not as good as the 1989 Batman, Batman Returns is still entertaining, and it's one that I definitely enjoy watching every year around Christmas time. I'm going to give Batman Returns a rating of 4.5/5. This is Chuck signing off. Tomorrow, we head back to the festive world of Whoville as 12 Reviews of Christmas continues with The Grinch.