Before I talk about the plot of the movie, YES, this counts as a Christmas movie! It takes place on Christmas; there's a giant Christmas tree; there's snow everywhere; the villain is a Penguin; and the film itself has dark twisted Christmas look and feel. So yeah, it's technically a Christmas movie. This movie is something that people either really love, really hate, or have mixed reactions. It seems pretty obvious that I'm probably going to give this film, the love or hate rating, but what are my thoughts on this movie? What do I think are the films hits, and misses? Well, keep in my mind, this is all opinion, and believe me, I'm sure half of you out there are not going to agree with me. Enough, wasting time on this introduction; An evil business man named Max Schreck (Christopher Walken) helps The Penguin (Danny Devito) become Mayor of Gotham so he can make it into a criminals paradise, along with the help of Catwoman (Michele Phiffer). It is now up to Batman (Michael Keaton) to foil the criminals’scheme, and save Gotham.
Before I talk about Batman, the villains, and the action, I'm going to talk about the films look. While the film does look cool, dark, twisted, and Gothic, mixed all together with the films Christmas look and feel, it for the most part looks extremely different to Gotham City in the previous film. Don't get me wrong, the original film looked very Burtonish as well, but it also managed to look like a comic-book at the same time. This film's look is way too Burtonish looking, than it does carry a comic-book look and feel like the previous film. I personally don't mind it, because as I said earlier, it looks really cool and dark, but with that said, it does at times feel very out of place and even at times distracting, especially when comparing it to the first movie. The Score by Danny Elfman, is just as big and epic as the first film, and since this is a Christmas movie, he creates a dark and twisted, yet whimsical Christmas feel.
One of the many complaints that I hear about this movie is Batman is barley in it, and that the film focus's more on the villains, than it does Batman. In all honesty, I strongly disagree with that! I think Batman and his alter-ego Bruce Wayne have a decent amount of screen-time. In fact, I think both identities get the same amount of screen-time as they did in the first movie. When you really think about it, in the first movie, we spend most of the time with The Joker, than we do with Batman, we actually see more of him as Bruce Wayne. Personally I didn't mind that all, because we get to sympathize with Bruce Wayne; we get to have fun with the villain; and when Bruce dresses up as Batman and starts fighting crime, we get an overly large amount of kickass action, from a very badass performance. For me, the less that these films show Batman, the more kickass and intimidating he is, and when you have great supporting characters, villains, and a secret identity to work with, it can be plausible. Getting to Keaton's performance, he's just as cool, smart, and intimidating as Batman as he was in the first film; and as Bruce Wayne he's just interesting, subtle, and tragic, as we saw him in the last movie as well.
The action sequences in this movie are just as awesome as it was in the first movie. The editing, choreography, and sound effects are all kickass! Most of the fights that take place in the movie are the fights between him and Catwoman, and the Penguins circus henchman, and man are they cool. While Batman has confrontations with The Penguin, he doesn't really fight him; he mostly just uses his brains and technical equipment to foil his plans, which is highly amusing. The gadgets that Batman carries in this film are really cool; the BatCave looks twice as amazing as it did in the first film; and the BatMobile is still just awesome as it was in the first film, as well as carrying new features. In fact, there's a sequence when The Penguin controls the BatMobile, and while being campy and goofy at times from Devito's performance, and the fact that he's controlling it from a Kiddie Ride of the BatMobile (where the hell did he get that from), its still a cool sequence and suspenseful sequence, and in all honesty, the campyness of the scene personally didn't bother me at all, because it has a good balance of camp, humor, suspense and action, much like the scenes with The Joker in the first film. Another thing people complain about is Batman kills people, when in most comics, films, and TV Shows he doesn't. I can see why people would get offended by that, but I personally don't mind it. None of the two films gave him a rule or established for him not to kill criminals, especially when considering that these two films are a different series and look on Batman. Also, he doesn't kill every criminal he encounters; he usually does that as a last resort. Hell, he even killed people in the original comics, so why are people complaining about it now, especially for the fact that his not to kill people code was never developed in these two films. People, especially parents hate the use of gore in the film, and I don't blame them! It doesn't bother me as much like the many people and critics who attack this film, but at times it doesn't feel needed, and is a bit out of place, not only for a Batman film, but the fact that there wasn't as much blood and gore in the previous film.
Next we have Michele Piffer as Catwoman who a lot of
people, including comic-book fans didn't like because she's not only different
to the comic-book character, but she's a mental case, than a neutral crime
fighter. Again, I can see why people would hate this adaptation of Catwoman,
but in all honesty, I actually got attached to this character, and not just
because she's hot. Before she even becomes Catwoman, she's this clumsy
unattractive loser secretary working for Max Schreck, who you'd never suspect
would become this attractive character. The origin for how she becomes Catwoman
is she gets thrown from the top of a 20 story building by her boss; survives
the fall after being revived by Cats; and then goes crazy from her near death
experience, thus changing herself from being an unattractive push-over, to
becoming Catwoman. Yeah, very unrealistic, and doesn't make a whole lot of
sense, but the way the scene was shot and executed, was done so well that I was still sucked to the emotion and terror of her breakdown! Besides the original film had unrealistic moments as well, which is
part of the charm and atmosphere to these films. Some wonder how she was able
to get 9 lives like a Cat, but I always thought that it was part of her
madness, like she's so crazy that she actually thinks she has 9 lives, and just
happens to survive all the abuse she takes. When she plays Catwoman, she not
only looks cool and sexy, but her struggle with her madness and insanity is
what I think makes her so interesting. Best scenes, are with her and Batman. As
Batman and Catwoman, they're enemies; but as Bruce and Selena they don't know
that their enemies, but they can relate to each other by their bad past and
emotions. Once, they find out that their enemies, Bruce realizes that they're
both the same, and tries to help Selena with her insanity. I found that to be highly emotional, and while I prefer the Catwoman that everyone knows and loves, I
still love this Catwoman as well. Now where's Bruce's previous love interest
Vicki Vale, I don't know, this sequel completely ignores the character, and
relationship that she had with Bruce. They mention her twice in the film, but
it's very brief.
Next there's Danny Devito as The Penguin, who is a villain
that many people love and hate, and personally, my thoughts are mixed with this
villains! The Make-Up on him is scary looking! Danny Devito at many points can give a very fun, and dark performance. However, here are my issues.
First off, we're lead to believe that he's this tragic misunderstood person who's shunned by society and his parents because of his monstrous form, and
wants to fit into society, and knowing Tim Burton, he does do an ingenious job with
tragic characters. But we find out that he's a villain all along, and was
just fooling the people of Gotham. I was
really disappointed by that, because I would have loved to see him try to
adapt to life and put away his life of crime, but then after some unfortunate
event, misunderstanding, or finds out that he was being used by Max Schreck, he
goes back to his criminal roots. That would have been a great and tragic
villain, but sadly he's a sadistic monster from beginning to end. Now I do at times enjoy how sadistic
this villain is, like his animalish behavior, his plan of killing babies, and even
making Batman look like a criminal, but at times, the film goes too
far with it. Sometimes he can be too disgusting; become perverted to the point
where it's creepy instead of funny; and some of his animalish and sadistic
behavior is taken way too far (Especially the scene, when he randomly bites a guys
nose). I also hate how this villain lacks the class and elegance that the villain
is known for. When I think of The Penguin, I think of his classy look and
personality, while being very animalish at the same time. This film didn't
give him any class what so ever. His henchman are a bunch of Penguin's with
rocket launchers on their backs, and a Circus gang, which I think is strange
and bizarre, but creative and cool at the same time. I also love the deadly
umbrellas he carries, and his giant and strange Duck-Mobile. Oh and by the way, his rich parents that abandon him
are played by Paul Reubens and Diane Salinger who were in Tim Burton's first
film "Pee-Wees Big Adventure" as Pee-Wee Herman, and Simone (No
wonder why Andy was so jealous).
Finally, there's Christophere Walken as the scheming businessman Max Schreck, who of course is named after the actor who played "Nosferatu". First off, it’s Christopher Walken, who always does any entertaining job in any film he's in, and seeing him play a Batman villain that was made specifically for the film is great. He's dark, he's greedy, he's classy, he's funny, and carries the Walken trademarks that we know and love. When you really think about it, he's the films main villain. He creates Catwoman; uses The Penguin for his selfish needs; murders people that get in his way; and even tries to murder Batman. However, I do like that there's a bit of a carrying side to his character. He'll give up his own life for his son, and when he hears about The Penguins plan of killing babies, he seems concerned that his plan might succeed. But there are a few issues I have with this character. He has a scheme of sucking the energy from Gotham with a new Power Plant, but sadly that's ignored half-way through the movie. Also if you’re wondering where Harvey Dent is, who had a big supporting role in the last film, he was ignored and replaced by Walken's character.
While, I really enjoy this film despite the issues I have with it, I still don't think it's a masterpiece or as great as the first film. It’s definitely not as bad as the Schumacher films, but it does indeed have many things that people will either love or hate.
RATING 3/5
OVERALL ON TIM BURTON'S BATMAN MOVIES
The first film (In my opinion) is a comic-book film masterpiece, while the second film is full of things good and bad. Michael Keaton as Batman and Bruce Wayne, is perfect for the roles with the emotional subtlety and intimidating approach in both films. His love interests Vicki Vale, and Catwoman are very interesting characters, and do have an engaging relationship with our main hero. Jack Nicholson as The Joker is fun and sadistic, and while DeVito as The Penguin is that too, his character and behaviors are exaggerated to the point where it’s gross and at times unnecessary. The films look and styles may not completely match both films, but it's still dark, creative, edgy, and surreal enough to suck you in, as well as being the first dark film take on Batman which inspired filmmakers and animators to go further with it. The action scenes are all great, and do bring a lot of thrill and excitement. Aside from Alfred, most of the supporting characters are sadly forgettable, downplayed, or forgotten in the two films, not to say that I don't remember most of them, they just don't leave a big impact on you (especially Commissioner Gordon and Harvey Dent). While it is my second favorite Batman series of all time, I simply can't give it a 5/5 because of the many mixed reactions that many people including myself have with these films, especially the second movie. However, I still think the Burton films are great enough to get my second best rating.
RATING FOR THE BURTON FILMS 4/5
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