[8]

Anything but ‘more of the same’, Tim Burton’s sequel dives into the troubled psyches of its headlining trio — Batman, Catwoman, and The Penguin.  Michael Keaton’s Batman still plays second fiddle to the villains, but what fascinating villains they are. Burton is careful to show us how they become their alter egos, giving each of them full character arcs complete with bittersweet resolutions. Danny DeVito’s performance as the Penguin is grating, and in the department of one-liners he can’t compare to Nicholson’s Joker.  I’d like to have seen a bit less of the Penguin and more of Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman. Once she pours herself into that latex suit and starts blowing shit up, she’s hypnotic. The relationship between Catwoman and Batman is pleasantly kinky, especially when they recognize each other’s secret identities during a masquerade ball and can’t decide whether to keep dancing or start fighting. Overall, Batman Returns is darker and less thrilling than the original, but it’s also more sophisticated and quite a bit more provocative. With Christopher Walken.

Oscar Nominations: Best Makeup, Best Visual Effects