<p id=”par-1_45″>Tim Burton is known for wonderfully weird <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/movies/”>movies</a>. For example, he gave the world the single most unusual entry in <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/why-michelle-pfeiffer-put-a-live-bird-in-her-mouth-for-batman-returns.html/”>the <em>Batman </em>film franchise</a>. Despite this, few fans talk about the film anymore. When they do talk about it, it’s for all the wrong reasons.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-tim-burton-s-batman-inspired-1-of-the-oddest-sequels-in-hollywood-history”>Tim Burton’s ‘Batman’ inspired 1 of the oddest sequels in Hollywood history</h2>
<p id=”par-2_50″>The first blockbuster movie about the Caped Crusader <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/george-harrison-contrasted-the-beatles-a-hard-days-night-tim-burtons-batman.html/”>was 1989’s <em>Batman</em></a>. It was the darkest onscreen portrayal of the title character up to that point. It also showed off a different side of superheroes to a generation that had been raised on the campy 1960s show <em>Batman </em>starring Adam West.</p>
<p id=”par-3_91″>A sequel to Burton’s movie was inevitable. He gave us <em>Batman Returns</em>, an uncanny mishmash of disconnected elements. The film is about The Penguin, a deformed villain whose parents threw him into a river when he was a child because of his appearance. He ends up getting raised by penguins who live in the sewer (?). He grows up, runs for mayor of Gotham, and concocts a scheme to kill the firstborn sons of Gotham around Christmas. The references to biblical stories about Moses and Jesus seem incongruous for a supervillain.</p>
<p id=”par-4_42″>Meanwhile, a put-upon secretary named Selina Kyle is pushed out a window by her boss. This causes her to crack, and she becomes a nearly feral Catwoman. Despite its title, the return of Batman is the least interesting thing about <em>Batman Returns</em>.</p>
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<iframe title=”Batman Returns (Trailer)” width=”925″ height=”520″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/TlbtLfWvFbo?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-how-fans-remember-batman-returns”>How fans remember ‘Batman Returns’</h2>
<p id=”par-5_41″>Everything about <em>Batman Returns</em> is gonzo. The film reuses bits and pieces of the Bible, <em>The Phantom of the Opera</em>, and German Expressionist cinema without ever feeling thematically cohesive. It’s still fascinating, particularly due to Michelle Pfeiffer’s otherworldly take on Catwoman.</p>
<p id=”par-6_43″>However, because of The Penguin’s pathetic backstory and defeat, the film is usually described as “dark” rather than “strange.” It’s a real shame too. At a time when superhero movies are becoming more and more homogenous, <em>Batman Returns</em> feels more and more unique.</p>
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<iframe loading=”lazy” title=”Batman Returns (1992) – Meow Scene (5/10) | Movieclips” width=”925″ height=”520″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/kWrOmEtXk0k?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<div class=”related-article related-article–simple”>
<span class=”related-article-flag”>Related</span>
<p class=”related-article__title”>
<a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/tim-burton-asked-movies-stand-out.html/”>
Tim Burton Was Asked Why His Movies Stand Out </a>
</p>
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<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-what-tim-burton-thought-of-the-movie-in-retrospect”>What Tim Burton thought of the movie in retrospect</h2>
<p id=”par-7_45″>During a 2022 interview with <a href=”https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/tim-burton-on-batman-forever-nipple-suit-go-f-yourself/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Empire</a>, Burton discussed his retrospective view of <em>Batman Returns</em>. “It is funny to see this now, because all these memories come back of, ‘It’s too dark,’” <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/tim-burton-created-jack-skellington.html/”>the <em>Nightmare Before Christmas</em> visionary</a> said. “So, it makes me laugh a little bit.”</p>
<p id=”par-8_51″>Burton criticized the general consensus surrounding <em>Batman Returns</em>. “I’m not just overly dark,” he said. “That represents me in the sense that… that’s how I see things. It’s not meant as pure darkness. There’s a mixture. “I feel really fondly about it because of the weird experiment that it felt like.”</p>
<p id=”par-9_92″>After <em>Batman Returns</em> sparked controversy, director Joel Schumacher took the Batman series in a much campier direction, famously giving us a version of the Batsuit with nipples. “[Back then] they went the other way,” Burton recalled. “That’s the funny thing about it. But then I was like, ‘Wait a minute. OK. Hold on a second here. You complain about me, I’m too weird, I’m too dark, and then you put nipples on the costume? Go f*** yourself.’ Seriously. So yeah, I think that’s why I didn’t end up [doing a third film].””</p>
<p id=”par-10_13″>Love or hate <em>Batman Returns</em>, we haven’t seen another film quite like it.</p>