BATMAN RETURNS (1992)

These young Marvel whippersnappers in the 21st Millennium really have no understanding of what a phenomena the first Tim Burton Batman film. Everyone, and I mean everyone, had Batman merch. Pop culture today wouldn’t be where it is because this Batman film legitimised the superhero as something other than a thing that kids consumed.

Sure the marketing that supports films like Avengers and Spiderman are like that now, and the #release the Snyder cut was a social media sensation, but when this film came out there wasn’t social media, so all the Batman hype was word of mouth supported by the single striking image of Batman’s emblem.

Of course, it’s crazy popularity spawned a sequel and just like Die Hard, Batman Returns is an even split action film and Christmas movie.

As I side note, the early 90s were such a dry time for horror and the promise of a Batman character on the cover of a magazine meant that even Fangoria, the cornerstone of all things horror at the time, put the Penguin on the cover in an attempt to garnish an increase in sales.

What was Batman’s latest adventure, well, hold onto your cowls!

Gotham City is thrown into chaos during the Christmas season when a deformed outcast known as the Penguin (Danny DeVito) emerges from the sewers, seeking revenge against the society that rejected him. Aligning himself with corrupt tycoon Max Shreck (Christopher Walken), the Penguin launches a campaign to become mayor while secretly plotting to destroy the city’s children. Meanwhile, Shreck’s timid secretary Selina Kyle Michelle Pfeiffer) is transformed into the vengeful Catwoman after a near‑death experience, setting her on a collision course with both Shreck and Batman (Michael Keaton), who has already been dealing with problems caused by the Curcus of Crime.

As Batman struggles to protect Gotham, he faces the dual threat of Penguin’s monstrous schemes and Catwoman’s unpredictable vendetta. The battle culminates in a showdown beneath the city, where alliances unravel, identities are exposed, and Gotham’s fate hangs in the balance.

As with the previous film, the look of this is something of a visual feast. Every look created in the first film by Anton Furst and Tim Burton was built upon to create an even more obtuse and impossibly gothic city.

The costume design reflects this as well. It’s this amazing mix of bondage gear and 19th century attire all via a mid 80s London gothic nightclub. The amazing thing is how all the costumes really reflect the inner workings of the characters, from the Penguin’s need to be accepted with his attempt an finery, to Catwoman’s fractured state and her badly stitched outfit that slowly falls apart as she descends more and more into madness.

Keaton still somehow kicks butt as Batman too. I must admit to being a hater of the idea of Mr Mom being the Bat in the first film but I was very quickly swayed by his performance, and it continues here.

I do have one massive problem with this film and it’s something that many superhero films do now, and that is they suffer from T.M.V.S.: Too Many Villain Syndrome and it makes the story a bit of a trial to keep tabs on all that’s going on. With a big team movie like The Avengers, that’s ok, but when it’s essentially one guy… and I reckon Batman works best as one guy… against so many villains with their multiple plots, it becomes muddy and the prime villain seems less of a threat.

Like many sequels, this film is nowhere as good as the first, but it’s still entertaining and a feast for the eyes.

Extras: Extras? You want Extras, you say? Well sit down and get ready for this cavalcade of stuff, and I’d just like to point out that this comes from a time when extras weren’t a couple of five minutes ‘behind the scenes’ stuff and a gag reel that clearly has nothing funny happen in it, and it’s generally the best acting any of the actors do with the film. I’ll also point out that on this disc a lot of the extras were shot on videotape so they look like shit.

There’s a Commentary by Tim Burton which are great to listen to as his love of the creative process is evident.

The Bat, The Cat and The Penguin is a behind the scenes look at the making of the film with interviews dozens with cast and crew.

Shadows of the Bat Part 4: Dark Side of the Night is the 4th part of a Batman documentary series that went across the Bluray releases for Batman, Batman Returns, Batman Forever and Batman and Robin. Really fascinating and altogether a real complete look at these four films. I will admit the best parts are the Joel Schumacher parts on the next two discs as the describe what a clusterfuck this franchise became when they realised what a marketing minefield it was.

Batman: The Heroes including Batman and Alfred, and The Villains, including The Penguin, Catwoman and Max Schreck are short dissections of the characters of the film by various writers and creators.

Gotham City Revisited is a fascinating look at the production design of the film.

Sleek, Sexy and Sinister is a fantastic look at the amazing costumes of the film.

Making up The Penguin looks at DeVito’s make up as this deplorable horror show that in the Penguin.

Assembling the Arctic Army discusses the wrangling and complicated methods needed to assemble the Penguin army.

Bats, Mattes and Dark Nights disassembles the special effects of the film.

Inside the Elfman Studiotalks to Danny Elfman about the music of the film, and I’m a big Oingo Boingo fan so I’m always happy to see interviews with him.

There is also the film clip for Face to Face by Siouxsie and the Banshees and, of course, and Theatrical Trailer… phew!

Film: 7/10

Extras: 8/10

Rewatchability: 8/10

This Bluray was purchased from JB Hifi