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

I actually really love this film

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.

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.

Michelle Pfeifer stole the show

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

"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.

Batman Returns is tim burton masterpiece

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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?

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

My fav Batman movie!

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

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

Before Anne Hathaway played Catwoman it was Michelle Pfeiffer

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

This movie is the Batman for us Emo 90s kids

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.

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

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! 😍

The story was weak and there were many "WTF?" moments such as bats jumping out of the batmobile.

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

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.

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..

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

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?

Danny DeVito Penguin is my fave villain.

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.

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

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

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

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.

Couldn't be more right Ebert.

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

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.

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

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.

"meow"

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).

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

batman and batman returns are completely visually inspired

Give me the first one.

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.

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

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

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."?

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

3:11 Dann and Devito lol

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.

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.

All my points are valid, when you adapt something you should at least show some respect for it. And as Ebert said there is no engine pulling this train infact it's a trainwreck. Don't tell me you weren't bored out of your mind?

my favourite christmas movie

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

@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?

Is that the same Danny Devito that recently play the Lorax character in the new Lorax movie?

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

I think Ebert really nailed it on this one.

Excellent movie.

I don‘t really understand Eberts opinion on both movies

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

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

Oh my God, I just noticed that vest Siskel's wearing.

It looked ridiculous seeing batman, catwoman and penguin standing around in these insane wardrobe pieces.

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

Never saw this review until now. But not surprised Siskel liked it more than Ebert! I did see their original Batman89 review first run. Interestingly, Batman Returns is a lot different from Batman89, but glad to see Mr. Siskel saw the value of the sequel. Either way, he was a great film critic!

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

Wow, you're so right... I couldn't figure out what was off about Nolan's film. But, that is totally it! It left me with the question as to why would a person do this... dress up in a bat costume! Because of the more realistic take... Thanks for you're comment.

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!!

Chris Nolan should give Burton lessons on A) how to properly do an adaptation, and B) how to properly construct a story.

Happy 20th Anniversary Batman Returns

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 .

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

@fecxor That being said, it's been a long time since I watched this film, & would be willing to watch it again & give it another chance.

We need another Keaton Batman movie ..

@ForgetaboutFreeman I'd like to think the original comics were the greatest source of influence to the Animated Batman. After all, some episodes are direct comic adaptations ("The Laughing Fish", for instance.) And I know Burton is an artist first, but that rarely excuses the fact that the screenplays he uses are made at a pretty low standard. It's no suprise that his two best movies are a biopic (which genrally don't have strict plotting) and a broadway adaptation.

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

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

I like this movie a lot. My main problem is that every set looks like a set, unlike the original

@TornadoIndy Very nice list. Thanks for sharing. For me though I included the Mask of Phantasm(even though its animated) cause its just very good. I also had Batman(1966) cause lets face it that was funny.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.