Batman Returns — My Favorite Superhero Movie
“I don’t know about you, Miss Kitty, but I feel so much... yummier.”
Date watched: July 1st, 2020
Date released: 1992
Director: Tim Burton
Writers: Daniel Waters and Sam Hamm
Memorable cast: Michael Keaton (Batman/Bruce Wayne), Danny Devito (Penguin/Oswald Cobblepot), Michelle Pfeiffer (Catwoman/Selina Kyle), and Christopher Walken (Max Shreck)
Awards (This film was nominated for 2 Academy Awards: Best Effects, Visual Effects and Best Makeup)
I am in awe with this movie. I’m not a big superhero fan, but watching this felt like childhood. I did see the Batman TV Show from 1966 a few times as a kid, but the only thing that stuck with me was how much I liked Penguin’s submarine. The main reason why this felt so nostalgic to me was due to Burton’s direction. Tim Burton is one of my all time favorite directors and he has had an immense impact on my childhood. I could feel his presence in this movie, especially compared to Batman (1989) I watched last night which also was directed by Burton. Something just didn’t feel right watching that movie, and I couldn’t place my finger onto what it was. There was great acting (Jack Nicholson’s Joker was phenominal), some great shots, and I felt like the world that was created was good. From the first few minutes of Batman Returns, I could see that the missing piece was Burton’s style. It seemed as though in Batman there was too much emphasis on trying to keep its comic book qualities and not the creation of a separate body of work. In Batman Returns, it’s clear to see how Burton took this already existing world and made it his own, to his benefit.
The story follows Batman as he battles Penguin and Catwoman to save Gotham. The acting was incredible. Danny Devito as Penguin is the most unexpected yet perfect match. I couldn’t tell how impressive Devito’s acting is until seeing him in this role because it is truly unlike anything else I’ve seen him in. Michelle Pfeiffer was absolutely amazing as Catwoman and brought so much charisma to the role, making it a performance I won’t forget. Michael Keaton’s preformance was good too, but Devito and Pfeiffer just truly stole the show. I don’t think this comes as a surprise, but the shots were great and pretty much every scene was compositionally pleasing. Like most Burton films the coloring was beautiful: lots of blues, pinks, and blacks. The makeup also felt in his style, at times the characters appeared doll-like (deeply accentuated contours of the face) which felt like one of his claymations. The costumes added a lot to the story and I thought looked really good. The music also felt so nostalgic because it too in Burton’s style, but more importantly it was just a film that was audibly pleasing which I think is pretty rare. Especially since I’m normally not as observant of audio and music in films as I should be. I was constantly impressed and there was little I didn’t like.
Just watching this film I was constantly engaged and if there were brief moments that were slow, the scenes would immediately pick up in pace. I didn’t feel forced to watch it or that I was wasting my time, I didn’t even want to take notes because I just wanted to experience it. That’s what this movie brought to me that is so special, an experience. It transported me to a world and fully immersed me in it, which is not normally what I feel as I watch most superhero movies. It wasn’t all about the action, but about the characters, plots, and the beauty of it all.
Speaking of characters, it’s nice to see the powerful icon that is Catwoman. Especially with everything going on in the world, to have a badass female superhero/villain is so refreshing. I did not appreciate her greatness very much before and seeing Pfeiffer’s depiction of her, she truly a favorite for me now. But, Penguin does probably have to be my favorite superhero villain. I’ve loved him since I saw his submarine in the TV Show, and while that might be the only thing I remembered, it made him have a special place in my heart. Now despite his lack of submarine in this film, I still did love the character and personally think he’s a better villain than the Joker. I know, very controversial. Wanna talk really controversial, this movie felt very similar to real world events that I wish it wouldn’t. The character of Max Shreck felt eerily similar to one Donald Trump, that is before becoming president. I didn’t wanna take the assumption there and wouldn’t have included this in here if I wasn’t the only one who thought so. If you’re interested IGN put out an article in 2009 that talks about it.
Back to the main point, I think what makes this such a great superhero movie is that by today’s standards it goes beyond a superhero movie. Today, I think most superhero movies have kinda lost the point. It has become so much about the special effects, that the heart of these stories is lost. So for this movie to have more heart, less special effects, great acting, and it to be beautiful piece of art makes this movie outstanding. For die-hard superhero comic book fans, this might not be your favorite movie. But for me, someone who is not as interested in that style of art, this is incredible. And on top of all that, it manages to be a Christmas movie too.
Rating: 9/10
This is on my all time favorite movies list.
July 1, 2020