Batman Returns

Batman Returns is both the second Tim Burton Batman movie and the second Batman film starring Michael Keaton as the title character. This time Batman has to stop Catwoman, played by Michelle Pfeiffer, Max Shreck, played by Christopher Walken, and The Penguin, played by Danny DeVito. It was released in theaters on June 19, 1992. The score by Danny Elfman creates Gothic atmosphere by combining strings and children's choruses. The film is considered the darkest installment in the franchise and contains most of the artistic, theatrical, and fantastic elements often attributed to Tim Burton.

Box office and reaction

This $80 million movie earned nearly $163 million domestically and $104 million abroad. Although it earned less than the original, it was nevertheless the most succesful movie of summer 1992 and third-best of the year (next to Aladdin and '). The overall critical reaction was mixed, but many consider it to be the best of the Batman sequels. Danny Elfman's music still obtained a favourable reception, and Danny DeVito and Michelle Pfeiffer brought the audience's attention with their chilling portrayals of the Penguin and the Catwoman and the movie's production design and special effects also made a positive contribution. But parents were still concerned with the movie's nearly black-and-white atmosphere, which was even more solemn and morbid than the 1989 original. Moreover, comic fans were upset by the significant deviations in character that Burton projected onto the movie. While Batman had been seen killing criminals on occasion in the 1989 original, Batman Returns showed him using lethal force regularly against his foes, a clear departure from the original character. Similarly, the transformation of the Penguin from an urbane, pragmatic thief into a deformed, enraged homicidal maniac upset many fans.

Related Topics:
Aladdin - Danny Elfman - Danny DeVito - Michelle Pfeiffer

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