Batman Returns (1992)

Batman soared back on to the screen in 1992 with Michael Keaton Returning to don the cape again, and Tim Burton once again in the director's chair. Decidedly darker in nature than the first movie, Batman had to face both the greusome Penguin(Danny DeVito) and the femme fatale Catwoman(Michelle Pfeiffer). The film focussed on the duality of its characters and how they cope with it. Danny DeVito as Tim Burton's take on The Penguin was a complete surprise to audiences - dark, foul and disgusting completely unlike the quirky sofisticated Burgess Meredith version of 1966. Michelle Pfeiffer was electrifying as Catwoman, and provided a high amount of sexual tension between herself and Batman. As Selina Kyle she filled the love interest slot, left vacant by Vicki Vale, for Bruce Wayne. Christopher Walken helped to round out the cast as Max Shreck a ruthless businessman with intentions of ruling over Gotham city. Because of the dark nature and large amounts of sexual tension and inuendo, the movie did not please parents who wanted to expose their children to Batman and caused problems with the movie's sponsor. Many Batman fans, however, feel this movie had the correct tone for a Batman movie.

Cast List:
Michael Keaton -- Batman/Bruce Wayne
Danny DeVito -- Penguin/Oswald Cobblepot
Michelle Pfeiffer -- Catwoman/Selina Kyle
Christopher Walken -- Max Shreck
Michael Gough (I) -- Alfred Pennyworth
Pat Hingle -- Commissioner Gordon
Directed By: Tim Burton



Plot:
The theme of duality plays an important role in the film, and is reflected in the storyline. Batman is still trying to deal with his double life and is much darker and pensive in this movie both as Bruce Wayne and Batman. The Penguin is running for mayor of Gotham city and using his gang to cause havoc in order to get the current mayor impeached. At the same time he is trying to get back at his parents for abandoning him as a child. The origin of the Penguin is the opening sequence of the film, and it is seen that he was raised by penguins. Max Shreck is trying to take over Gotham by building a power plant that sucks the power from Gotham city instead of producing it. He is helping the Penguin run for mayor in order to have control of him once he in office. Selina Kyle is Max's secratary and stumbles onto his plan. In the origin of Catwoman sequence, Shreck pushes her out of a window and thinks she is dead. Catwoman is trying to get back at the cruel world that created her. Bruce Wayne is involved with Selina and they discover each other's identities. The duality aspect can be seen for each character: Penguin has to deal with if he is a man or an animal, Catwoman is torn between Catwoman and Selina Kyle, and Batman is still dealing with his dual life while trying to work out his relatonship with Selina.





Pics:
Here are some pics from Keaton's sophomore outing as the bat:

Michael Keaton returns as the Bat
Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman
Close-up of that foxy feline Pfeiffer
The cat is relaxing
The cat strikes
The cat gets friendly with the bat
Danny DeVito as The Penguin
A striking pose as the call is made
A look at the haunting eyes of Keaton as Batman
Keaton once again as Batman
Keaton as a dapper Bruce Wayne
Keaton and Pfeiffer as Bruce and Selina
Keaton and Pfeiffer as their nocturnal counterparts
Danny Devito again as the foul bird
Devito says gotta fly
The cat and the penguin plan the downfall of the bat
The Batmobile arrives on the scene
Max Shreck and the Penguin prepare to run the city

Information about this movie can be found at the Internet Movie Database at: Batman Returns(1992)

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