Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1049 in DVD
• Released on: 1999-03-29
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Anamorphic, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 121 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
The first Batman sequel takes a wicked turn with the villainous exploits of the freakish and mean-spirited Penguin (Danny DeVito), whose criminal collaboration with evil tycoon Max Shreck (Christopher Walken) threatens to drain Gotham City of its energy supply. As if that wasn't enough, Batman (Michael Keaton) has his hands full with the vengeful Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer), who turns out to be a lot more dangerous than a kitten with a whip. As with the first Batman feature, director Tim Burton brings his distinct visual style to the frantic action but this time there's a darker malevolence lurking beneath all that extraordinary production design. --Jeff Shannon

Special Features
1.85 Wide Screen
English
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Dolby Digital 5.1
Interactive Menus
Production Notes
Scene Access
Arabic
English

Synopsis
In director Tim Burton's sequel to his successful BATMAN (1989), the Caped Crusader (Michael Keaton) is pitted against the demented, ravenous Penguin (Danny DeVito), a pitiful, orphaned psychopathic freak who once went on a baby-killing spree, and a 'power' hungry capitalist villain Max Shreck (Christopher Walken). As the two criminals plot to gain domination over Gotham City, BATMAN must plot to stop them. In the highly stylized BATMAN RETURNS--complete with dark, Gothic architecture and moody lighting--Batman (and his alter-ego Bruce Wayne) is thrown a third enemy, a terrible distraction: Catwoman (fearlessly and fabulously played by Michelle Pfeiffer). She is the slinky, sharp-clawed alter-ego of Shreck's secretary Selina. Batman must overcome his own dark past, and his present love entanglements, to rid Gotham of its evil enemies, this time with even more intricately designed sets and tongue-in-cheek humour, making BATMAN RETURNS an action-packed, darkly fun adventure.

Customer Reviews

Unlike other follow-ups of the saga this one is artistically and atmospherically superb,
What I extremely like about "Batman" (1989) bounces back again in "Batman Returns": schizophrenic characters (in "Batman" there were at least two super-schizophrenics - I shouldn't name them, should I? - but here there are distinctive three of them), enchanting atmosphere (the sets are beautiful, "gothically" menacing, and simply outstanding), cool acting (when I say "cool acting" I mean my absolute inability to poke finger at the characters with disrespect and contempt; quite the other way round: I do respect all the characters here, while they are never goofy, stupid, or over-sentimental), great action scenes (fighting against the hordes of clowns, great acrobatic stunts - I am especially happy with that scene where clowns are jumping onto the Xmas tree and bring havoc to the streets of Gotham, effective explosions, insane killing sprees, etc.), sharp black humour which reminds me of "Hamlet" (remember the trio wild chemistry?), fine music (it is far from being some monotonous junk or over-imposed opera pieces) and tons of other minor "Easter eggs".

By the way, I had a chance to watch "Batman Begins" one day - is it supposed to be good? No way, it is clumsy. They ruined the whole concept one more time. Why do people go for those "zero copies"? Wasn't "Batman and Robin" enough? I respect Mr Tim Burton for quitting the "Batman" project after this film. He's done more than enough for making the figure of on-screen Batman legendary. And when you think about comics as the source for the movie, you get the idea: this film is a damn impressive achievement.

10 out of 10 - it is as good as the original. Thank you for attention.

Dark & brilliant Batman
Batman returns is the second and last Batman film that was directed by Tim Burton. The film brilliantly dark and gothic, as you would expect from a Tim Burton film, and is easily the best Batman film after Batman Begins. Batman Returns has an excellent cast with Danny DeVito, Michael Keaton and Christopher Walken all giving great performances. The star of the movie, however, must be Michael Pfeiffer as Catwoman who just steals every scene she is in. The story is exciting and involving and the action is good. Batman Returns is the as good as Batman got in the 90's and although Begins is a better film this is still a brilliant adaptation of the Batman mythos.

Batman truly returns
I must say that, although out of the villains my favourite has always been the Joker, I feel that there sadly wasn't much of a plot asides from good guy vs bad guy in the first film, which is why (out of the first four, I'm not counting Batman Begins even though I do think that has been the best Batman film to date and am eagerly awaiting for 2008's The Dark Knight) I feel that plot-wise and character development-wise Batman Returns is my favourite. Keaton, once again makes a pretty good Batman/Bruce Wayne. Danny DeVito is brilliant as the Penguin and Michelle Pfiffer is sexy as Catwoman. Christopher Walken is good as the twisted and ruthless bussinessman Max Shreck.

Once again Keaton plays the lead role as a person who still suffers from the torment about being a typical billionaire playboy and being the person that criminals fear the most. DeVito plays the Penguin as a sumpathetic and bitter and twisted character. Pfiffer plays the role of Selina Kyle/Catwoman as a mousy shy and rather nerdy but sexy looking character and Christopher Walken does, what he does best, and plays his character as someone who people see as an icon but is really a nasty piece of work.

The plotline sees Batman tackling a gang of members of an old circus who seem to be led by a certain Mr Oswald Cobblepot, who's running for Mayor of Gotham City aided my a certain Max Shreck......On the way to solving this mystery he encounters the vicious feline Catwoman, who has her own agenda against Max Shreck....Whilst Batman is investigating he finds out that Cobblepot has more on his mind than just running for mayor and that for some reason all the first born suns of Gotham seem to be involved.....

Now, despite having the best plot of the Burton/Schumacher series, the film is very dark and grim, especially during a scene when the Penguin bites a man on the nose, and some may say that the film is a Tim Burton Wonderland film rather than a straight-from-the -Batman-comics-to-the-silver-screen. Some may also say that the film carries too much baggage and, as a result, some of the plotline points seen at the start of the film suddenly sink without trace.

Still if you've seen the original and enjoyed it then you'll enjoy this. If you've haven't then you'll probably enjoy it anyway. Be advised that the film is STRICTLY not suitable for anyone under 15.