Batman Returns

Directed by Tim Burton

Cast:

Bruce Wayne/Batman - Michael Keaton:
Oswald Cobblepot/The Penguin - Danny DeVito:
Selina Kyle/Catwoman - Michelle Pfeiffer:
Maximillian 'Max' Shreck - Christopher Walken:
Alfred Pennyworth - Michael Gough

Production Designer – Bo Welch

The film opens with Gotham City shrouded in falling snow – a striking contrast of delicate soft white flakes against the gloomy menacing buildings. The story begins by introducing us to one of the main protagonists –“Oswald Cobblepot ”. His very birth is a horrifying event, especially when it is discovered that he is deformed and insane. His parents are horrified when he proceeds to eat the family cat from his locked cage on the floor. They take the baby outside in a pram and throw him into the water where he drifts through the derelict Gotham Zoo. Here he is saved by penguins (hence his new name) and lives as an outcast freak until he is able to take revenge on the City above and attempts to make himself mayor of Gotham City.

We are introduced to Selina Kyle, a woman who is far from happy in her life, let down by men at a frequent rate, with a difficult relationship with her mother, she has boring position as a secretary and comes home to a lonely life without any real love or stimulation. She is also a petty thief, stealing for the thrill rather than the need. Before Selina is transformed into Catwoman we see two contrasting sides to her personality – the bumbling nervous secretary at a meeting for her slimy boss shreck an industry giant, and a cunning thief smiling in excitement as she steals a weapon found on one of the Penguins insane followers. Selina has two very different personalities, one that she hides away from the world.

This film explores the idea of the dual personality in much more depth than its predecessor, in particular with the scenes between Batman and Catwoman. Both of them are enemies and yet they could never find more of a perfect match than each other. They both share the same dark secret; they both have an attraction to each other that is unmatched due to their similar dual personalities. In many ways Batman has found an enemy which he cannot help be drawn to, and due to this he cannot help but become weak when faced with her in combat.

Michael Keaton plays the mysterious Bruce Wayne expertly, a remote loner, hiding in his mansion preferring to stay away from human contact, unless he is fighting for justice in Gotham City, when of course he wears his mask.

Max Shreck, played by Christopher Walken, is Selina Kyles boss, he kills Selina when she uncovers a sinister plot, involving the local chemical plant. Selina is brought back to life by hundreds of cats. Her resurrection tips the balance of her personality toward her wild side for good. We see Selina in a mad rage – returning home pushing her cute toys through the garbage disposal machine with a ferocity which is rather funny. She then makes her sexy cat woman suit from a patchwork of pvc and, with her newly acquired feline powers, becomes Cat woman.

Catwoman and Batman meet congenially as both Selina and Bruce, and as fighting foes wearing their respective masks. The chemistry between the two is electrifying; Catwoman prowls and skips around Gotham City causing havoc and brandishing her whip. She is at once a seductive menacing presence and truly wicked and potentially lethal the next.

Shrek continues with his devious plans whilst using the penguin as a marketing ploy for his own ends. Batman is left to fight both of them the penguin and Shrek whilst dodging the seductive blows of Catwoman in between. The penguin wanders around bitter and filled with hatred with a strange blue liquid dripping from his mouth and continues to be obsessed with becoming the mayor. The film is a piece of brilliance, complicated with many layers within. Catwoman is definitely has one of Tim Burton’s greatest female characters, played masterfully and with great strength by Michelle Pfeiffer.

Bo Welch is the production designer – he also worked on Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice” and he created the magnificient backdrops for “Edward Scissorhands”. In Batman Returns he uses his diverse yet distinguishable talents to create a demoralising Metropolis that is perfect for the movie and a visual pleasure.

©2002 minadream.com