Siskel & Ebert Review Batman Returns

[@blinkzone1]

I felt Michelle Pfeiffer played one hell of a Catwoman role imo.

[@chonconnor6144]

She was the only good part of the film. That and letting us all know how terrible Tim Burton films are.

[@ricardocantoral7672]

She is the only three dimensional love interest Batman had in any of the movies.

[@TheSoloTrooper]

I actually really love this film

[@theungreatkahli]

I do too

[@leonardHughes-iq3wv]

It's better than the other two that came after this one.

[@enriquesinghjr]

My favorite Batman movie, the scene where Bruce Wayne/Selina Kyle discover that they are Batman/Catwoman is one of my favorite scenes ever put on film.

[@leew1598]

That Batman/Catwoman stuff was my favourite bit of the film. Didn't all the stuff with the penguin flying around on an umbrella and coming up out the ground in a giant yellow toy duck bother you at all though now as an adult?

[@erfansvideos]

@@leew1598 No because not everyone watches movies with the expectations of seeing it in their reality. It’s a movie. Watch it, like it then go to sleep. Stop with the nonsense.

[@dariog36th]

Yes when Selina says “does this mean we have to start fighting “ and then Bruce replies “let’s go outside” I thought they were actually going to go outside and fight.

[@manuelmontiel5418]

Michelle Pfeifer stole the show

[@lw3646]

If they cut out all the silly child abducting circus freak stuff and underground army of penguins nonsense and just kept the focus on her and Michael Keaton you'd have had a much better film.

[@madhousestudios5214]

On the contrary. The film wasn’t intended to solely focus on the lesser extraordinary bits. The ridiculous Penguin was one of the highlights in my opinion.

[@bobthebear1246]

​@@madhousestudios5214 No, it was boring and stupid.

[@mariolancellotti4583]

I love burtons batman movies but it's true that batman does get overshadowed by his villains.

[@RatKing59]

You can’t overshadow Jack Nicholson.

[@natalieps2387]

True in a review of batman Leonard maltin said " theirs a problem when the villain is more potent than the hero " it's hard to overcome the joker esp when jack is playing him. Same with heath.

[@alosim1541]

Which is really only acceptable if it’s the Joker. Any other villain doesn’t deserve more screen time than Batman.

[@lw3646]

Tim Burton did focus far more in the antagonist. They,'re always much more colourful, better defined motivation, they're actions drive the story, they have more screen time and development too. You get the feeling that Burton found the Bruce Wayne character a lot less interesting.

[@LeoWhalen1933]

Yet its thoroughly enjoyable!

[@felicity4711]

This is where many people my age first took active notice of Christopher Walken. Siskel may have thought that Schreck was a throwaway character but Walken’s performance as Schreck blew us away.

[@owenmenning3878]

"Us"

[@seancollins312]

LOL what are you talking about? Walken did literally nothing of worth in this ridiculous trainwreck

[@JeanAriaMouy]

Max is the evil monster of the film. He's pure psychopath. Penguin and Catwoman (two victims of society) are both used by him. And schreck has one redeming quality : he loves his boy. I'm not sure we should over look his character. Plus he is the reverse mirror of bruce wayne.

[@DiabloSandwich59]

I think part of that is bc Schreck was originally intended to be Cobblepot's brother.

[@bobthebear1246]

It didn't blow me away and I love Christopher Walken.

[@trajoanmayberry8417]

Batman Returns is tim burton masterpiece

[@sha11235]

Ed Wood is his masterpiece.

[@leew1598]

How does the penguin know how to speak English fluently if he was raised by penguins?

[@seancollins312]

Christ almighty. Get help you delusional man-children

[@jameswilliams-zr8co]

no

[@malafakka8530]

​@@leew1598because they are American penguins 🤡

[@LeoWhalen1933]

This movie was dark and fun. A great combination! I COMPLETELY forget Danny Devito is Penguin and Pheiffer killed it as the vengeful feline. Siskel was right about Shrek. This was pre-Walken cult status days and he didnt do anything in this picture to move toward it. They both agreed on the scenery, which I thought it improved upon it from its predecessor. I would give it 3 stars out of 4.

[@keithspringston9283]

I absolutely love this movie. It's so unique its impossible to ignore!

[@silentreactor97]

Danny DeVito's Performance as The Penguin is highly underappreciated!

[@TheRyanpdaly]

This is my favorite batman film to date, and I loved walkens role in this movie

[@LeoWhalen1933]

My favorite besides The Dark Knight but and right before MOTP. I disagree with you on Walken, and agree with Siskel and Ebert. I didnt think he added anything to the picture and didnt have any memorable scenes except for when he was a zapped skeleton.

[@franchise5000]

"in this sequel, (batman) is more of an enigma than a leading man." Wow, Ebert completley summed up and pinpointed what I don't like about this movie. Something I could never quite put my finger on as a child when it came out, or as an adult randomly catching it on tv.

[@lw3646]

He's hardly in the film if I remember rightly. He's never really tested either as a good sequel can do like Spiderman 2, the Dark Knight or Captain America the Winter Solider did. Hes never pushed to his limits or anything like that. Also with the Joker it was personal so that added stakes whereas in this film he just doesn't like criminals. Less impactful therefore.

[@alphabetaxenonzzzcat]

@@lw3646 - Yes - also like Superman II where Superman has to choose between being human and loving Lois or being Superman fighting the General Zod and his minions.

[@ianward776]

Before Anne Hathaway played Catwoman it was Michelle Pfeiffer

[@michaelglover5474]

Ian Ward even after Anne Hathaway played cat woman it's Pfeiffer for me. although I liked Hathaway

[@cakestalker]

Actually between the two there was Halle Berry.

[@uppercutgrandma4425]

Hathaway wasn't iconic

[@CelestialWoodway]

Anne Hathaway was forgettable.

[@GrassValleyGreg]

Oddly, I like Dark Knight Rises more than Batman Returns, and generally liked Nolan's films more than Burton's. But I really liked Burton films, too- and in my opinion Michelle Pfeiffer was WAY better as Selina Kyle/Catwoman. The Halle Berry movie was crap. Top to bottom.

[@adamzanzie]

Once again, as with the first Batman movie, I'm with Siskel on this one. Ebert complains there's no cohesive story, but really, *none* of the Batman movies have simple stories. We don't go to superhero movies for three-act structures anyway. I should add that I also agree with Siskel about the movie's central flaw: how unnecessary of a character Max Schreck is. Why didn't Burton just bring back Billy Dee Williams as Harvey Dent instead?

[@inspectorspinda]

cause that would be three big villains and we'd get spiderman 3

[@allengreene9954]

Inspector Spinda Billy Dee only signed up for the first Batman.

[@zipgow]

Pretty much every Superhero movie is built around the 3-act structure. Even the first Batman is. Schrek wasn't necessary, but they should have removed the Penguin instead. The main reason this movie failed was that Batman foiled everything the Penguin does immediately. So they had a horror movie villain that was paradoxically nonthreatening at the same time. Burgess Meredith on the 60s TV show was more kid-friendly and presented more worthy obstacles at the same time.

[@zipgow]

@AnEn You should attempt to pen this argument in a fully-fleshed essay. I disagree with your statement that the three act structure is arbitrary; it is to storytelling what Introduction/Body/Conclusion is to essay writing. Structure isn't arbitrary; you have to know the rules to break them. I disagree--but this is more subjective--that this is Burton's best film. There are many interesting metaphors and parallels, sure, but the problem--my problem especially--isn't that the film is bland or lacking in ideas. It's that the plot is so convoluted that audiences lose interest, especially because the stakes are so ridiculously low. Batman had more challenging villains in the Shumacher films. That said, it was interesting enough to be a decent miniseries or novel, but Burton claims to have never read a comic book in his life, so I'm guessing he wouldn't have ever make the attempt.

[@zipgow]

@AnEn I have no "hang-up" about Burton's disinterest in the material; that was just an off-the-cuff statement about my idea that Returns might have worked as a comic-book, but its structure is antithetical to film. 1989's Batman was also a Pulp/Noir/Expressionist-horror that took place in an absurdist dreamscape, but it worked. It had more efficient storytelling and when the villain did something, it took Batman more than two minutes to solve it.

[@ch2010ize]

Don't know why Ebert is getting shit for giving it a thumbs down. All his points were perfectly valid.

[@8cire]

Because he and his opinion is shit! I never listen to these guys about any movie!

[@owenmenning3878]

@@8cire you realize an opinion can't be shit when it comes to movies? It's an opinion. It's subjective

[@Ian-hj4yt]

Nah, you're all just crazy conservatives

[@cchavezjr7]

@@8cire If you never listen to them about movies how do you know his opinions are shit?

[@nathan2683]

@@Ian-hj4yt weirdo

[@johnreese3797]

I always felt the Burton Batman films perfectly combined comic book with realism. They were the best representation of Batman and Keaton was the best Batman actor. All who have followed him have imitated his interpretation of the character.

[@mooseyman74]

True 👍🏻

[@EvaSlayAllDay334]

Max was the villain because Burton created Penguin as a misguided and tortured soul by Shreck from the start, and Catwoman was just an introverted secretary who was nearly murdered by Shreck. He anchors these two characters brilliantly.

[@mikecassell8953]

Ebert: “In this sequel, Batman is more of an enigma than a leading man”. Siskel: “Could be worse. My nose could be gushing blood…”

[@ecaepevolhturt]

My fav Batman movie!

[@bradensmith2907]

ecaepevolhturt Definitely! I thought I was alone in the world.

[@nickb9718]

2nd for me.

[@trekkiedave7910]

3rd for me!

[@lastguyminn2324]

Penguins waddling around with rockets strapped to their backs was this movie's "Martha."

[@mcgubbin]

At the end of the day Ebert said that he enjoyed batman forever and said its better than both of tim burtons batman ..................... fool hardy chump

[@benjaminordaz4041]

+Jack Hamilton he claimed he liked Batman Forever more than Batman Returns, not the original. He's right about that, too, none of the antagonists in this movie were near as compelling as nicholson's joker or two-face/riddler

[@shanekorn3600]

when did he say it was batter then the first Batman?....forever is a better movie then returns but returns is a better looking movie then forever.

[@toxin4609]

Shane KoRn your just repeating what evert said, get a mind of your own

[@PWNDpresents]

Toxin He's not allowed to agree?

[@owenmenning3878]

Opinions 3exist

[@efan2011]

Returns is in my opinion the best of the original series. It's so dark and dreary but that makes it work. It's a slow builder but when it get's going it is a great watch. Keaton was epic as Batman, Devito and Walken did well, and Michelle Peiffer stole the show. It's a shame because she deserved more screen time. That was about my only downside to the movie. I would have loved to see Burton's version of Forever because that would have been interesting to watch.

[@lw3646]

My favourite catwoman but otherwise this film hasn't aged so well I feel. Its too silly with all the Tim Burton crazy circus stuff, Batman is hardly in it, there's no explanation of how a baby raised by penguins can speak English. Again I did like Michelle Pfeiffer but overall its too stuffed full of villains.

[@jedijones]

@@betterversionn Only for someone who has a warped idea of what comic books are. Batman comics had gone far beyond the childishness and superficiality of this movie five years before it came out.

[@Ian-hj4yt]

Disagree

[@ricardocantoral7672]

Did you watch the movie? Oswald was not raised by Penguins, he was raised by the circus people.

[@VigilanteVegan]

Max Shreck should've been written out. He was the main villain here, with Penguin essentially being his henchman. Or they should've had Billy Dee Williams play that part as Harvey Dent.

[@alosim1541]

You feel one of two ways about this movie 1) You think it’s a mess but still kind of alright 2) You were a kid when you saw it and to this day believe it’s a masterpiece and the best Batman movie

[@nossenkanter]

Nah. The Penguin is excellent but the movie has flaws.

[@ricardocantoral7672]

I am in-between. This is a good stylish exercise with a surprisingly three dimensional love interest but nowhere near the best.

[@wet-read]

I saw it in the theater as a kid. I liked it more then and now see it in much the same way Ebert does. It's ok, full of visual delights, but on the level of narrative it is quite uneven.

[@gor9027]

Ebert and Siskel pinned down this movie's problems. Bruce Wayne/Batman doesn't have enough screentime and has zero character development. Christopher Walken has more screentime than is warranted. And the film has no narrative to support the characters and their personal problems. Having multiple villains with no similarities other than them hating what Batman stands for hurt the film too. Take out Max and Catwoman and just make it a Batman vs. Penguin story, and the movie would have been far better.

[@trojandarkhorse2022]

True, but no love/women interest? You're alienating half the population. That's why they always some type of love angle in every movie.

[@allengreene9954]

trojandarkhorse Michael Keaton preferred to be in the background and deferred to the villains. Plus characters like Max were in the comics all the time so it’s not like he was out of place.

[@camaradiop3731]

Rather, take out Walken's character AND the Penguin; with a story developed around the bat and the cat, it would be scintillating.

[@adagiobreeze8493]

This movie is the Batman for us Emo 90s kids

[@Maximillionaire666]

3:55 "Siskel...shame on you"

[@romans52345-cy3tq]

I agree with Siskel, As a kid i went to go see Batman Returns and see the three Prime characters Batman, Penguin, and Catwoman I have no idea what Purpose Max Shreck served in this Movie..

[@Super165i]

A lot of parental groups wrote into Warner Bros claiming that this movie was “too dark”. The reason why they thought it was going to be kid-friendly is because Warner Bros hired McDonalds to put Batman-themed toys in the Happy Meals

[@jonnyo2121]

I worked in a movie theater when it came out. As the credits rolled and people left they looked confused, as if they they were supposed to like it and didn't understand why they didn't. Ebert is right, it's just a collection of set pieces with too weak a narrative. You can look at any two minutes and think "that looks great", but when you watch the whole thing it's just loud and exhausting.

[@wet-read]

Absolutely. Saw it as a kid in the theater and liked it then (as you could easily imagine), not so much now. Great to look at, but very uneven plotwise.

[@gracemartin72]

Michael Keaton Was Amazing, Danny Devito is an *Beep*Hole, and Michelle Pieffer was Great.

[@brianrose8772]

Grace Martin And Christopher Walken?

[@fishintheocean-i4g]

everyones an beep hole scapegoating the other guy as the beep hole

[@jamesmuller1481]

Ebert is exactly right, these characters emerge, then there's no narrative. They just stand around, fight, and have cheap one liners. There's no interesting story. It's just a good movie to look at. It's one big costume party.

[@ricardocantoral7672]

BR has something that no Nolan or Schumacher film had, a three dimensional love interest.

[@wet-read]

​@@ricardocantoral7672 What does that matter given the points raised above?

[@michaelhuggler7673]

Love this film. Penguin and Catwoman are great. Burton at his best.

[@tthomaselli2]

Who hear agrees that when you see the Batmobile from 'Batman: 1989' in this film, as well, it gives you a warm sense of nostalgia?

[@supermanbatman4992]

Michael keaton is the best as Batman! The way he express himself in the suit, his facial expressions... HE'S JUST THE MAN!!! I LOVE HIM! 😍

[@coolsomeXD]

Danny DeVito Penguin is my fave villain.

[@ThePoreproductions]

+coolsomeXD what about Heath Ledger Joker?

[@coolsomeXD]

I like Nicholson's Joker better.

[@maksimvolkov5233]

This movie is dark, edgy, beautiful to look at, it's got Christopher Walken. What's not to love?

[@Abr022575]

Some cool scenes but this movie is just too bizarre--to the point of distraction.

[@goodep2]

"Goldie Hawn's latest" - three words unspoken for years.

[@gspendlove]

Once again, Oswald was not "raised in the sewers by penguins." He may have been _found_ by penguins (_not_ in the sewers, but in Gotham Zoo's "Arctic World") , but some time after that, he was discovered and taken in by a member of the Red Triangle Circus troupe and raised by _them_, and performed in the circus's freak show. Which is how the Penguin recruited the members of the Red Triangle Gang. The sewers of Gotham are only where he's hiding out at the beginning of the movie (and apparently where he's been hiding out for awhile, because he produces all that damning evidence against Max Schreck).

[@5eurocups2005]

Thanks for the info.

[@scottwilliam3470]

It’s was very dark film for the standards for kids back then but it worked, even today it’s still very dark, and it’s still standing the test of time, very few films can accomplish that.

[@virgogaming6488]

Batman Returns is more of an arthouse Burton film than the first Batman. It's more about the supporting characters being pieces of Bruce/Batman's psyche in a claustrophobic Gotham setting and how they all become undone by the end.

[@ratonmagico]

Batman Returns is another classic, even better than the first one. Danny DeVito's performance is amazing, very underrated. I disagree with Ebert again here.

[@samlerf]

Oh thank god, I thought only I didn't like this movie (Nothing against the People who do).

[@enriquesinghjr]

Having Christopher Walken in your film at any capacity makes the movie better... these guys didn't know anything... this show today would be just another youtube channel.

[@JH-qy8no]

As an 8 year old I had "goopy goblin brain" which means I only cared about the action scenes. As an adult I actually appreciate it so much more. I think I subconsciously adopted Michael Keaton's Bruce Wayne manerisms. Especially the way he interacts with the Vickey Vale and Selina Kyle.

[@michaelkrolewski7406]

You got to admit, I played this stinkin' city, like a harp from Hell! Ha,ha,ha,ha,!!

[@yaywhewclips242]

interaction between Pfieffer and Walken, best part of the movie. Penguin controlling the batmobile was straight from the 1960's series.

[@yaywhewclips242]

oh yes the set direction brilliant, Pfieffer was excellent

[@yaywhewclips242]

meant set design

[@rangers94ism]

@twooffour I did not understand the direction that the movie went. In the first movie Harvey Dent was the mayor. What a great storyline that Burton could have went if the villain was already in charge of Gothum. Plus whatever happened to Knox? I really liked that charector and he was not followed up on. Also circus performers as the evil army?

[@yauyuso]

I have no idea what they are talking about. Tim Burton's Batman movies were always about characters first. It almost felt like they were talking about a different movie - The Dark Knight Rises "with set design, character design, costume design, " "but no narrative".

[@michaelniemeyer5116]

I get what Ebert is going for but to dock it two stars? That's nuts.

[@wet-read]

2.5 stars at MOST is all it deserves.

[@jcr8834]

3:11 Dann and Devito lol

[@movieman104]

a problem is the makers cared more about rather if the movie looked good than if the plot made sense has was explained good

[@DJRitty]

This movie should have KEPT Harvey Dent (Billy Dee Williams) instead of max schreck so at the end when he gets fried he becomes two face leading PERFECTLY into Batman Forever. Imagine that ridiculous courtroom scene replaced by a two face dream sequence/flashback...much better. I also would have shortened the character's part a bit to seem more behind the scenes and POSSIBLY given that screen time to robin cameo. Forever worked out fine (storywise) and Robin saving batman in a jam in alley seems silly. Walken is great in this but Harvey Dent would have been almost perfect. To make it perfect that HORRIBLE cd scratching scene has to come out. One of the worst scene I've ever seen.

[@k-slay4407]

Damn! I never thought about that, but you're right. Harvey would have been perfect for this movie. 👏🏾

[@tymanning2832]

Couldn't be more right Ebert.

[@nickb9718]

You mean wrong!

[@thesleepingcolossus]

Christopher Walken in a Tim Burton picture?.....Amazing! :D

[@romans52345-cy3tq]

Happy 20th Anniversary Batman Returns

[@jamie5659]

I think Ebert really nailed it on this one.

[@christianlorre]

He said in the print review that the problem is batman lives in a film noir universe. You can't have a happy ending in film noir, and at the end of the film batman seems to learn this.

[@Robbinson98]

yeah, when Tim Burton directs as an art film, he can botch it up

[@JoeyArmstrong2800]

I do agree with Roger. It looks and sounds great but the story is weak.

[@sha11235]

I felt the plot wasn't as focused this time as the original 1989 film was. It's interesting that Sean Young wanted to play the role of Catwoman. Wonder if after seeing this film, she thought, "Glad he didn't pick me after all."?

[@ricardocantoral7672]

The '89 film had no plot.

[@sha11235]

@@ricardocantoral7672 It had a plot. Same here, just not as good. At least in the original we did see how Batman started, which is repeated in many other films.

[@ricardocantoral7672]

​@@sha11235 Not really. The film was just Batman fights the Joker.

[@totterdell]

Michelle Pfeiffer role as Catwoman was just as good as heath Ledgers joker role that's how good she was

[@leew1598]

Dark Knight is without a doubt the better film. The story is very tight, it really pushes Batman to his limits both physically and mentally. You have a great score, great supporting characters, well shot action. I especially loved the way Fox and Alfred are written as Batman's moral conscious and support. It's also got real stakes too, the Joker is not messing around, he is a deranged killer, all through the film you get the sense that Rachel, Dent and Gordon are probably not all going to make it and Batman's probably not going to be able to protect them. Batman Returns has nice art and production design, an amazing score and the chemistry of Keaton and Pfeiffer but those were all the positives I could think of really. The story is a bit of a mess, it's a revenge story basically but revenge for Catwoman, Batman is hardly in it and it just gets progressively more absurd in terms of the costumes and props.

[@ricardocantoral7672]

The Dark Knight really doesn't have a story. All that's happening is Joker conveniently getting away with all his antics and everyone is just running around trying to stop him. Also, the dialogue is either exposition or ham handed monologues that are there to hammer in the obvious themes.

[@Fazzel]

It would have been better if it were just Batman vs Catwoman. The other movie did just fine with Batman vs Joker.

[@TheRealBirdmann]

I liked Walkens character a lot! But I like almost all of Walkens characters; Blast from the Past, True Romance, Pulp Fiction, the cowbell guy lol

[@aliali-ce3yf]

Batman Returns is my favorite Batman movie and the best of the comic book genre IMO. The characters are fascinating coupled with the art design .

[@BB-gj8ck]

This is an example of a sequel being better than the original.

[@DavidWilliams-so6sc]

Ebert and Siskel are right, Max Shreck isn’t needed in this film. The Penguin could of been a dodgy businessman/gangster, not a mutant. Tim Burton just got very self-indulgent. Maybe Christopher Walken could of played Harvey Dent if they weren’t bringing back Billy Dee Williams back and maybe get injured halfway through the film. At the end he would swear revenge on Batman and this would set up the third film.

[@arzn253]

This was better than The Dark Knight Rises by a mile.

[@Xayjohns]

Well I like both of them but I can definitely say that The Dark Knight Rises wasn't nearly the movie as the two films that preceded it were. Especially The Dark Knight. But in regards to this one I think it's pretty good as well.

[@TheNerdMan2]

thank u

[@campinatorxbox1610]

Definitely

[@fmbloo]

Absolutely not

[@AndrewVallows]

Lmao hell no

[@VigilanteVegan]

Siskel has a point. I love Returns, but there was no need for Max Shrek character. Max Shrek is basically the main villain and Penguin and Catwoman, two iconic villains, are reduced to playing Max Shrek's henchman. Shrek should have been written out, or at least, should have been Harvey Dent instead.

[@I_am_Dane_Youssef]

Check out the original draft by Daniel Waters online when it was called BATMAN II. His character makes so much more sense there. They sort of wrote out so much of his character.

[@joecalahan4068]

batman and batman returns are completely visually inspired

[@xdmaster7888]

Even though neither of the two Tim Burton-directed BATMAN films are horror movies per se, they are both very dark and intense and violent. The fact that Gene liked both of them fits into his general view of violent/bloody films: he wasn't inherently fond of them but he approached them fairly and would give positive reviews of such movies (yes, including a bunch of horror flicks) on the show. I'm frankly surprised Roger didn't like BATMAN RETURNS.

[@BelatedCommiseration]

I disagree with the allegation that the first film does not 'show' Batman, he is just kept as more of an enigma and (whatever issues fans might have with the changing of the back story from the 1989 film to the comics) the 1989 film is about the psychopathic duality of the introvert versus the extrovert. But I have to concede, with Returns its not really a Batman movie. Its a dark Tim Burton fantasia on the Batman 'theme'. But, seen in that light, it is an interesting movie and I liked it.

[@user-dr2yz8um3d]

Batman Returns is 30 years old!!! Shame i didn't see it in theaters but it did make $162.83 million I did catch it later on vhs Tim Burton did his own thing creatively wanting nothing to do with the 1989 movie Love Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman and Danny Devito as Penguin, Pfeiffer still has that infamous whip to this day and she set the tone for future actresses to play the part going against injustice either men or women Many considered it too dark; a lot of people couldnt get on board with the overly depressing penguin and the cat woman Even the happy meal toy makers panicked by parents' reactions of the movie being demented and unpleasant for kids Since then, people haven't really known what to make of this film Naturally, it has its fans and its haters, but most people put it in the "I don't want to think about it because I don't know what to think about it" category It's a good movie and nostalgia critic says it is silly and all over the place, but it's also visually stunning, well-acted, and hilariously demented Lots of flaws are around the Penguin character it just needed to be less clumsy about it Burton focuses as much on what unites the trio as what divides them, specifically the power they find behind their assumed identities even if all they can't be saved A weird experiment he admits with it feeling overly dark but he embraces keeping Batman weird There are elements of German Expressionism that seep through the stylistic flourish Plus it's important to acknowledge that Reeves' "The Batman," and some aspects of Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight" trilogy, has been greatly influenced by Burton's vision, which is undeniably important to understanding Batman as a character I'm glad the movie overcame reports of behind-the-scenes creative disputes and mixed critical and fan response It's really cool too that Michael Keaton is reprising his role for The Flash movie and Batgirl

[@poppie267]

I still like these movies better than the trilogy from Nolan and the 2022 one these are waaaay more fun IMO.

[@virgogaming6488]

I agree, would much rather watch the first 3 over them.

[@hfxmusicman]

This is my favorite Batman movie. Michelle is EVERYTHING!!!!

[@sonic8005]

Unfortunately the novelization for Batman Forever is pretty dark in of itself. Not exactly "deformed baby being abandoned to die in sewer" levels of dark but Two Face's escape with the murder of a corrupted guard and writing in blood on the wall "THE BAT MUST DIE" gets to pretty creepy levels if you ask me.

[@fetuscassidy5479]

I always thought Ebert spent more time eating popcorn than actually paying attention to the movie. These old reviews pretty much validate that belief.

[@SteveJohnson-e8x]

I rewatched this movie for the first time last night in probably 15 years or so and I agree the Shreck character isn’t needed. They don’t even give much of a reason why he wants to do to Gotham City. He takes away the focus on Penguin and Catwoman to where they’re just minor players to him.

[@alcd6333]

I agree with Ebert: it lacks a strong story. But it's visually awesome, even better than Burton's first Batman movie.

[@TearYouApart360]

I love this movie. It's Tim Burton movie that just so happens to have Batman in it.

[@DoomsdayDoomOutkast]

Yeah, but that's animated. I was talking about the live-action pictures.

[@WoodenBench]

i love how that mask makes him seem like he's always bored

[@leew1598]

Defenders of the Batman Returns never really address all the outright ridiculous aspects of the film like the Penguin flying around with an umbrella or the child abducting circus freak miniature train scene or a baby raised by penguins that can speak perfect English or Catwoman becoming seemingly immortal after getting licked by a cat. There is some really cool stuff in the film like the score and the chemistry between Keaton and Pfeiffer, but a secrete underground army of penguins....I haven't seen anyone now even trying to defend that. I don't think it holds up as well as the original 1989 one did.

[@MiserableMovieMan]

Ebert having the complete opposite opinion of mine as usual. Sometimes I think he really was clueless. Shreck is absolutely needed to showcase that the true villain is someone in plain sight who thinks he is above the law. Someone to manipulate the “freaks”. He is the final aspect of Bruce Wayne’s “what could have been” personality explored. Also Penguin wasn’t raised by penguins, how stupid an idea is that. He was raised in the zoo and then joined the circus when he was young.

[@ilovebrandnewcarpets]

While I found the movie entertaining then and now, this was fair criticism by the guys IMO. Christopher Walken's character didn't need to be in the movie.

[@batsvsjoke123]

this was on last night on abc family... irony being it is wayyyyyyyy not a family film

[@Dakid015]

Man Roger Ebert was a tough cookie. But I disagree there were moments through the movie where we got to see the Penguin and Catwoman character behind just the villain. We got to see a lot of their vulnerable side. Especially with Catwoman, the part where Bruce and Selina dance at Max's costume party for example. But I agree the movie was more about the villains than Batman, but it's still great Tim Burton film nonetheless.

[@ricardocantoral7672]

Between the Burton, Schumacher', Nolan flicks, Selina in Returns is the best love interest Batman ever had. She actually came across as a three dimensional character.

[@jucurtis23]

I always thought 'Batman Returns' was the darkest and most twisted film in the series.....at least until 'The Dark Knight'........

[@WastedPo]

Danny Elfman's score for Batman Returns is one of his best, and I daresay the best score from out of all the "modern" Batman movies.

[@09tranm]

My favorite Batman movies in Order are The Dark Knight Batman Begins Batman(1989) Batman The Mask of Phantasm(I know its animated but its amazing) Batman Returns Batman(1966) Batman Forever Batman & Robin

[@deathgoddragon3698]

You are free to like or dislike the film if you want, but a lot of what roger ebert says is hard to fault. The plot is convoluted, portends at being dark, and has very few meaningful payoffs. The Penguin is played both as a tragedy and a complete villain, and the resulting portrayal falls apart under scrutiny. Max Shreck is pointless, as is his villainous plot. Not enough is done with Catwoman (the best part of the film), and Batman/Bruce Wayne gets very little screentime in a BATMAN MOVIE!!

[@gc3k]

I would have left out Penguin or give him a minor role with no origin story, and keep the story focused on Batman and Catwoman and Shreck

[@BROKENHOUSEFILMS]

I believe what keaton and burton wanted to do with batman is leave him without that much backstory and explanation to give him more complicated and dark. Much like how Michael Myers was much scarier when Rob Zombie went into his origin in the remakes. I like the more backstory for batman and his journeys of how he became batman....but i understand what they wanted

[@joeyp9524]

Returns was always my favorite out of the original series of movies (89-Batman & Robin)

[@iamnegan938]

my favourite christmas movie

[@AnubhavDasGuptaEsq]

"meow"

[@jedijones]

This was one of the worst experiences I've had watching a movie in the theater. It was a major disappointment after the marketing did a good job of making you want to see the "updates" on these characters. The Penguin was an absolutely horrible character. The plot was garbage. Almost everyone from the villains to the supporting characters to the cameo appearances does nothing but chew the scenery as if they were making a Naked Gun parody. Burton had absolutely no interest in making a superhero movie and it shows.

[@buddinganarchist]

Give me the first one.