Following my viewing of Batman yesterday, I decided today to watch Tim Burton's followup entry, Batman Returns. If you read the previous post, I mentioned that I quite enjoyed Batman and found the world building and atmosphere to be really interesting, something really managing to pull me in as someone that typically doesn't bother with superhero films. I'm sure I have seen these films before, but back when I was a child, so they're almost entirely new to me with these viewings. I haven't really had any idea of what to expect from them, which I tend to quite enjoy going into a film. Especially in a genre that I typically go out of my way to avoid. Having remembered that Tim Burton was the director of the first film, I did go into Batman Returns with a more generalised idea of what to expect. That gothic sort of atmosphere his films have, the love for gritty, darker environments and character design.
Though, I don't think I enjoyed this one as much. I feel it sort of lost some of its charm from the first film while still having many interesting moments and areas of atmosphere. Primarily, this is a result of having many characters introduced in the film compared to the first, which mostly just focused on the introduction of the Joker character. Here, we have two characters coming together to go after Batman, causing all kinds of chaos: the Penguin, and Catwoman. Due to this, I feel the story had a little too much going on at all times, and not really enough of the downtime that made the first film seem more realistic and interesting. In the first, I really enjoyed the presence of the reporters, which sort of grounded the film more as we saw perspectives from regular people, over cartoonish villains with, ultimately, highly unrealistic stories.
I don't mind these elements added, but it did feel a bit overwhelming. And I feel it could've been better focusing on just one of these villainous characters that appeared. It felt like the usual sequel problem: trying to be greater and more action packed than the last. Despite the title, I still enjoyed it, just not as much as the first film. I'd still recommend it, it's certainly better than the more modern entries under the Batman name.
Batman Returns
Michael Keaton returns in, well, Batman Returns! Though in this entry he doesn't really have much of a presence. This film is more focused on the villains than Batman, which I didn't really mind. But there were so many that it was a bit of a struggle to keep up and care. Christopher Walken, Danny DeVito, and Michelle Pfeiffer take over the screen for the majority of the runtime, as each of them are pulled into the public eye and existence. Primarily, the film is about Penguin and Catwoman, with the Penguin being a weird child that was thrown not a river due to his freakish nature, abandoned by his parents and living in the sewers for all this time. Now deciding it is time to return to the surface, which is actually welcomed by society as the media takes his story as some tragedy; an innocent child returning to find his parents, now he's an adult. Though he remains twisted, and serves as the villain as his madness just doesn't really fit in with society. Catwoman comes into fruition as a result of being pushed out of a window and then, I guess, cuddled by cats in the snow. The story follows the two as they mostly cause havoc on Gotham; and the Joker we saw previously has no presence.
Burton's atmosphere remains, with the story taking place around Christmas. It's a really nice event that adds to some different set designs as a result of the holiday, showing again a more realistic idea of Gotham as it celebrates that time of year. I really liked this aspect of the film, the mixture of interior and exterior decorations around Christmas made the city look different the first title which took place in a regular setting. With the Christmas atmosphere comes a generally more welcoming society, also. A group of people happy as a result of Christmas cheer, perhaps a little incapable of seeing the broader picture as someone like the Penguin suddenly climbs out of the sewer all pasty and disgusting, with webbed hands. DeVito portrays this character quite well, short and rather large. Very penguin-like features of course. Michelle Pfeiffer and her performance as Catwoman was also fine, don't get me wrong. I enjoyed the presence of these characters, but felt the story was too scattered as it alternated between the two for the most part.
I do think the film was saved by the world it crafted. I loved the look of Gotham at night, the bending streets and the tall buildings. It actually looks like quite a cozy city to live in. Of course with many resemblances to New York City; but with more density, though funnily probably quite similar levels of crime! I think the lack of Batman's presence was reasonable, it didn't really bother me as a result of having a more ambitious look at Gotham, especially as mentioned before with that festive setting. Tim Burton is certainly the man for the job for these more stylised, atmospheric comic book titles. I think I mentioned yesterday that it is crazy to me that others haven't tried to follow in that direction. The use of music and sound effects, maintaining true to the somewhat silly world of Batman, while making it look real. From a filmmaking perspective, I loved it. Such attention to detail with such little reliance on special effects to get the message across. Instead, shot on 35mm film stock, and with everything crafted to as close to authentic as it could be. Down to the streets and the buildings, their lights. The gadgets used. The stunts performed. It never feels as if it cheapens out.
Perhaps my title seems a bit unreasonable. Maybe a little clickbaity, but I would say it is the truth compared to the first. But this is still a very enjoyable, fun superhero film that takes its characters seriously. Being more on the adult side while still having the comic book moments of silliness. Clown gangs and goons, cat-women, penguin-men that live in the sewers. It's as true as it gets. And I can't fault it for that. I definitely recommend both titles. And I'll be watching Batman Forever knowing it is highly likely to lose all charm without Tim Burton's creativity behind the directing.
