Batman Returns
1992
With the success of Batman, it was logical that there would be
a sequel right. Tim Burton reluctantly returned to give another
Batman movie. This time around Tim Burton gave "his" version of
Batman.
Its Chrismas time and everyone is in a good mood. Including
the Penguin. He is so happy that he sends his Red Triangle circus
gang to terrorize the people of Gotham. However the Penguin
appears as a savior when he later stages a kidnapping and plays the
hero. The Penguin is Oswald Cobblepot, a giant mutant of a man
with an oversized nose and flippers instead of hands. Oswald
tells the people of Gotham of how he was dumped by his parents
due to his mutations. He wins over everybody except for Batman
who has doubts. While this is happening, things aren't going to
well for Selina Kyle lowly secretary of Max Shreck. When Selina
discovers her bosses corruption, she is thrown out of a window to
her death but brought back to life by cats. She recreates herself
as Catwoman and sides with Penguin who is busy running for Mayor.
Together they discredit Batman by framing him for the ice
princess's death and rigging his Batmobile. Batman in turn
exposes Penguin for the fraud he is. Penguin tries to kidnap all
of the first borns of Gotham but is thwarted by Batman. He then
tries to get his penguins to bomb the city but is again stopped by Batman. In the end a battered Penguin dies of his
wounds. Catwoman fries her old boss but her whereabouts are
unknown.
Hmmmm... I couldn't wait to see this movie but when I did see
it, I was disappointed. The performances were wonderful by all people involved,
but the story was filled with flaws and stretched too far from the source
material. Both Penguin and Catwoman have been rewritten and not for the better.
Making the Penguin into a giant cold blooded psychotic mutant undermines the
characters true meaning. Making Batman kill was another no-no. There are also
several plot holes and questionable scenes such as the whole Batmobile subplot,
Batman removing his mask in front of not one but two villains and the fact that
Batman's name isn't cleared in the murder of the ice princess. Sadly Batman is
again underwritten and has to deal with three overwritten villains.
Rating: 1/5
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