Batman Returns

The incredibly dark atmosphere together with Danny Elfman's music deliver a true comic book experience. I dare to say that the second Batman movie is not only more skillfully directed, but also visually more impressive, more atmospheric, and far darker. There isn't as much action, with more emphasis placed on the characters. Batman's gadgets are once again presented in full glory and for the entire two hours, there’s no chance of getting bored. The magnificent production design makes us forget about Joel Schumacher's later colorful escapades. (24/12/2005)

The second part of Batman by Tim Burton is even better in terms of its atmosphere than its predecessor. The only thing missing is music by Prince, which managed to lift my mood a couple of times. But on the other hand, it offers Catwoman wearing a latex suit and a man-penguin and that’s not too bad, either. (21/02/2017)

For me, Tim Burton's second Batman is clearly better than the first. And for several reasons. First of all, I love the dark atmosphere, and Burton serves it up much more frequently and also more palatably (I'm not saying digestibly) here compared to the first. The sets and the production design are absolutely perfect, and every shot breathes sophistication and the incredible care with which Burton built each scene. I admit, and also agree with the opinion of others, that it may be harder to digest for some with weaker stomachs, as it is a bit scary at times. The lion's share of the slickness and quality of the whole film is due to Danny Elfman, whose soundtrack is absolutely phenomenal and matches all the features of the second Batman to a tee. If it weren't for Christopher Nolan, this would be the best Batman ever and could hardly ever be topped. But The Dark Knight is The Dark Knight.) (24/04/2009)

A Batman movie? Only this one. That’s because a celebration of fascist aesthetics, cut with art deco perfection, is a union of love. This is refined filmmaking with an admiration for the perfection of sculpture. This is the story of Catwoman and The Penguin. In the early 1990s, Hollywood was refreshed by a very interesting wave that drew inspiration from the 1930s, and as kindly as the remakes were with their return to the roots of Universal's classic monsters, Burton's team understood where to get the true delights. If they needed something comic for the decadent world of New Expressionism, they chose the Ice Queen, inspired by 1940s clowns such as Betty Grable. They clearly defined the beginning of bad taste and the end of goodness. I love Michelle Pfeiffer for her ambivalent Selina and Danny De Vito for the bird-like Oswald. Michael Keaton definitely entertained here more than he did in the first film. If you have a soft spot for Batman Returns, feel free to pick up the 2 DVD release. (03/02/2009)

If you want to make an adaptation of classic comic books, the biggest problem is how you want to deal with the fact that it was consumable material for the working class, basically commercial junk. They were naive stories with superheroes and villains, who look highly inappropriate in today's setting. Even though the action aspect is great in Nolan's trilogy, it seems out of place with its pathos and serious image. The vast majority of comic book adaptations suffer from schematism and an attempt to please the teenage audience. They try to impress, and they rely on effects. Burton's Batman is playful, visually polished, has a unique style and unmistakable poetics, and it is original and perfected to the last detail. Most comic movies have a problem with overkill, whereas this Batman is irresistibly ironic, evidently not taking itself too seriously. I don't think it's just the best Batman film, but also one of the best comic movies overall. Overall impression: 90%. (24/02/2019)