One the seventh day of Christmas-ish movies we watched the Tim Burton classic – Batman Returns.
The film that proved that comic book movies could be a thing and not just a one off experiment with a monster cast Michael Keaton returning as Batman, Danny DeVito as Penguin and Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman.
I just rewatched Batman Returns and was genuinely surprised just how fucking good it is. I’ve certainly seen it since but this is Tim Burton at top form. The practical effects are wildly good, the matte paintings, the stunts… it’s a true spectacle of a film that still feels different than the big tentpole action films of Nolan and the Russo’s. It’s hard to say if that’s 100% Burton or just that in 1992 films just used more real practical effects.
Batman Returns is clearly a Christmas-ish movie. The main story opens with Penguin first appearing to Gotham after 33 years of being raised by circus folk/penguins at the lighting of the cities Christmas tree. Like the reason for the season, Jesus, Penguin (played by DeVito in his 40’s) is 33. (Side note: Superman is 33 in both Snyder and Gunn’s Superman films)
The circus folk who attack Gotham at the Christmas tree lighting literally explode out of an enormous Christmas box, one flying into the Christmas tree.
There are themes of forgiveness and attempted redemption throughout. The beginning of the film has a Moses metaphor, Penguin is left in a basket to float down a stream/sewer… but that only confuses things.
ANYWAY – Batman Returns is 100% a Christmas-ish movie that should be rewatched by all this year. Maybe not for kids under 9 as there are (holy shit) a LOT of sexual innuendos that are not well hidden.
And I’m not talking about the BTS story of DeVito nearly getting his dick bit off by a monkey.
Batman Returns is streaming on HBO Max
4k:
Blu-ray:
Emerald City Video 
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