The first Batman film directed by Tim Burton really warranted a good follow-up. Sadly, this isn’t what anyone hoped for. The portrayal of Batman by Keaton would have been better served with more seriousness and intensity, rather than silly jokes. It's not terrible, but don't anticipate anything special.

It’s hard to think of another Batman film that reaches this level of quality. There's less emphasis on action sequences, yet it remains a truly excellent piece of cinema.

The studio rushed into making a follow-up to Batman (1989) after its huge success pulled them back from financial ruin. For this one, Tim Burton had full artistic freedom, and that’s evident throughout. Batman Returns amplified the bizarre elements present in the first film, which the studio had previously kept in check. The narrative prioritizes Danny DeVito's Penguin and Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman, to the point w…