Merry Christmas!
Just kidding! Today we are reviewing a horror film that also is a Christmas movie.
And for this year we are doing something special: Sleuthing Sundays.
Each Sunday I’ll post a film with a super sleuth! Our fourth and final film is:
Yes, it time for our annual Tim Burton film. Last year I reviewed Batman, and decided to cover the sequel.
Some of you might not think this counts for a horror film, as it is a superhero film but I say it does.
I mean we have a psychotic deformed killer.
And a zombie cat woman:
So I grew up watching this film and I just love it. When I think of Batman, to me it is always Michael Keaton or Kevin Conroy. There is no other Batman (although I do recognize Adam West, I just never watched his show until I was older) This is an absolutely amazing film and Keaton is an amazing Batman and Michelle Pfeiffer is the best Catwoman.
Originally Tim Burton and Michael Keaton hadn’t signed for a sequel, but were convinced when the script met all of Burton’s demands and Keaton only agreed to do the second film after a serious increase in his salary. Thank goodness for that or who else would we have had?
For me this movie is the end of the original film series as after this we had Val Kilmer and George Clooney take over, neither of which was very good in my opinion.
It’s Christmastime and evil businessman Max Shreck (Christopher Walken) has committed many, many crimes. His secretary, Selina Kyle, discovered this and was murdered by him. Luckily, she was revived by the stray cats she’s been feeding. I kind of like that they never really answer the how and why. Sometimes it is better to leave it open-ended then to explain it strangely like in Catwoman. It pays to be a catlover.
From Breakfast at Tiffany’s
After she is revived she runs about Gotham and she is a fantastic character as she wants Shreck to pay, but other than that she has no real plan and just goes about-sometimes nice and sometimes cruel, like a cat. I love the scene when she saves the lady who was attacked in an alleyway but then gives her an angry lecture-that’s cattitude right there, or at least it makes me think of how my cat can be nice and then strike out at you.
Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot (Danny DeVito) was born deformed and tossed away by his parentns, found ad raised by circus people. He has discovered what Shreck has been doing and blackmails him. Shreck tries to use him, when the penguin comes up with a plan to make every parent and family pay.
The Penguin and Catwoman team up to take Batman down, when on the flipside Bruce Wayne and Selina have been growing closer and closer and falling in love. While Vicky was annoying, I really like them together. They have excellent chemistry and amazing timing.
Everything comes to a head at the Christmas Ball. Will Batman be able to stop the villains? Will Bruce lose another love?
I have to watch! {Picture from Ringu)
The filming is fantastic and the dialogue is amazing! Here are a few of my favorites: Alfred’s zingers
Alfred: Why are you now determined to prove that this Penguin is not what he seems? Must you be the only lonely man-beast in town?
After Selina has been revived and had her change of personality:
Selina Kyle: Honey, I’m home. Oh, I forgot. I’m not married.
Or when she sasses Batman:
[Catwoman is hit]
Catwoman: How could you? I’m a woman.
Batman: I’m sorry, I-I…[Catwoman hits him]
Catwoman: As I was saying, I’m a woman and can’t be taken for granted. Life’s a b****, now so am I.
And one of my favorite parts of the film:
Bruce Wayne: [working on the Batcomputer. Alfred sets down a bowl of soup in front of him. He picks up the spoon and takes a sip, only to spit it out] Cold!
Alfred: It’s vichyssoise.
Bruce Wayne: [stares, not knowing why it’s important]
Alfred: It’s *supposed* to be cold.
Bruce Wayne: [Eats it]
The costumes are great. The penguin is hideous and terrifying. Michelle Pfeiffer hated the costume as she was vacuumed sealed in it and had to take breaks as it constricted her so much she had trouble breathing. But it looks so cool. Deranged and cool.
A great film and I highly recommend it.
For more detectives, go to The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Meet Dracula, Part I: The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries (1977)
For more Batman, go to What Are You? I’m Batman!: Batman (1989)
For more Tim Burton films, go to Once, There Was Even a Man Who Had Scissors for Hands: Edward Scissorhands (1990)
For more Michelle Pfeiffer, go to Non-Austen Films for Austen Fans: Stardust (2007)
For more Christopher Walken, go to It was a Horseman, a Dead One. Headless: Sleepy Hollow (1999)
For more film-noir, go to This Is Fate We’re Talking About, and If Fate Works At All, It Works Because People Think That THIS TIME, It Isn’t Going to Happen!: Dead Again (1991)
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