I know it may not be a popular opinion but I really enjoyed this film, almost as much as I loved the first Batman film. It is not very much like the new Christian Bale Batman films, which are much darker and more serious and awesome in their own way, but the first Batman film series started out awesome too, just in a more cartoonish-but-dark kind of way. Of course once Tim Burton left the series went off the rails and turned into complete garbage (Ah-nold as Dr. Freeze?) but this first one with Jack Nicholson's Joker was incredible, and the first sequel was also still very good. Michael Keaton was a great Batman too, and a better Bruce Wayne. Michelle Pfeiffer is also incredibly sexy as Catwoman, and Danny DeVito actually gives a pretty touching performance as The Penguin.

(Flash Review)This felt similar to me from the original Batman movie with Keaton, Nicholson and Basinger, which was great thanks to worlds only Tim Burton can create and the wonderful score only Danny Elfman can dream up. DeVito was stellar as the visually repugnant Penguin living in the gruesomeness of Gotham City's sewers. He is the core of this film as he tries to learn who his parents are and why he was discarded soon after birth as well as being respected by the city he lives underneath with a political scheme accompanied by Max Shreck (Walken). Additionally, we learn how Catwoman (Pfeiffer) comes to be and she later joins Penguin in attempting to foil and frame Batman. So lots of fun characters in a realistic-feeling world, free from much(?) CGI, giving this movie an honest and gritty atmosphere. Keaton is the best Batman in my opinion and his dialog, along with the others, have amusing double meanings at times. This is a well-written, directed, scored, acted and visually creative movie with fun energy and tension. A classic Hollywood success.

Not only is "Batman Returns" the best Batman film in the original anthology, it is also one of Tim Burton's best films. The sets are superb and dark-a vast improvement from the seemingly oil canvas backgrounds of Batman (1989)-Bo Welch and the set designers done a magnificent job capturing the vibe of Gotham City. The most impressive set is the Penguin's Lair, which contained several live Penguins and over half a million gallons of water; despite it's horror vibe it is the most familiar and aesthetically pleasing set. The exterior of Gotham is very reminiscent of Fritz Lang's Metropolis (1927).In typical Burton fashion, parents are presented in a negative light; this is seen at the start of the film-in the most memorable opening to a Batman movie, as well as Danny Elfman's superb track "Birth of a Penguin." Oswald Cobblepot is abandoned at birth for his grotesque, Penguin-like features, he is placed in a basket and thrown into a river which eventually leads him to the "Arctic World" beneath "Gotham Zoo." I suppose that's what happens when Pee-Wee Herman (Paul Reubens) is your father. The Penguin's abandonment has several similarities to the story of Moses featured in the book of Exodus in the Bible; this theme is further explored as Penguin's main plan is to capture and kill all first born sons of Gotham, by drowning them in the sewer.Danny DeVito's portrayal of the penguin is magnificent, he is funny, strangely charming, evil, psychotic and the viewer can not help but feel sympathetic for his character; i often struggle holding back the tears when his death scene arrives-yet again made better by Elfman's superb score.Michael Keaton reprises his role as Batman, he is even more brooding and impressive in this much darker sequel. Michelle Pfeiffer is amazing at playing Catwoman. She is seen at first playing the pathetic Selena Kyle until she is killed and "re-born" as Catwoman; the perfectly dark, sinister and sexy character for the Burtonesque Universe.Christopher Walken plays the shrewd businessman Max Shreck, his name is the same of the German actor who plays "Count Orlok" in "Nosferatu," this s also referenced in the film; before Shreck pushes Selena out of a window he looks as though he goes to bite her neck. His performance is so dastardly brilliant you can't help liking him, despite his evil persona.Batman Returns has an amazing cast, director, soundtrack, script, plot and set designs; every second is entertaining and the dark setting adds to the Gothic vibe. The colours used are very similar to those used in early silent German horror films-most notably "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari." Burton captures the true essence of Batman in this movie, it's even enjoyable if you're not a fan of the caped crusader.

Movie Review: "Batman Returns" (1992)Warner Bros. Pictures presents this highly theatrical conceived sequel to their smash hit of 1989 "Batman" directed by visionary 1920s-Dr.Caligari-homaging director Tim Burton. By many considered in parts too dark for the common target audience due to visceral death scenes of skyscraper fallings over cold-blooded revolver shots to starving concrete-dropping creatures of the night.The character of Bruce Wayne / Batman, performed by keeping face actor Michael Keaton, must encounter the childhood-traumatized Peguin with Danny DeVito in-top form, portraying with utmost of delight and heartbreaking emotional outbursts due to a parents-abandoned child within, when the character of Selena Kyle transforms into Catwoman in skin-tight black-gloss costume performing actress Michelle Pfeiffer sending whippings and razor-sharp scratchings out to a final deadly kiss, when the picture in moments of complete full frontal character confrontations exceed its precessor, especially in the showdown triangle stand-off, including actor Christopher Walken as righteousness seeking politician Max Shreck, of ultimate emotional convictions to feel what it means to be split in two lives of existence.Director Tim Burton creates another uniquely received atmosphere of high end staging theater captured on film, when he is able with Warner Bros. provided production budget to build sets of signature-defined splendor that even with flaws in continuity-fighting scenes always turns the corner under an ultra-dark-matter score by composer Danny Elfman into emotions of awe and entertainment satisfactions.© 2017 Felix Alexander Dausend (Cinemajesty Entertainments LLC)