Shadows of the Bat: The Cinematic Saga of the Dark Knight - Dark Side of the Knight (2005 Video) User Reviews

Reflections on Returns

[TBJCSKCNRRQTreviews · 7/10 · 7 December 2007]

This is the fourth part of the Shadows of the Bat series of documentaries on the Batman series, this time focusing on Batman Returns(and it is featured on the recently-released DVD of that film). This talks about coming back to do a sequel, and reveals(though neither of them are actually seen saying it, we hear this from those who worked with them) that neither Burton nor Keaton were entirely certain about doing another one. Burton talks about working with new people, and seeing what more he can do in the universe of these films. Keaton talks about how he approached playing the same character again(which he tells us that he never had done before), and seeing Pfeiffer and DeVito going through what he went through a few years earlier. Tim also mentions how diametrically opposite the reactions were to, well, each other, how some would say that it was lighter, and others would say it was darker, than the first. This is half an hour long, and the length and pacing are fine. It's interesting throughout, and the anecdotes are good to hear(Sean Young has *not* had luck with these films... one wonders if she and Robin Williams curse this franchise into the ground, though she does appear in these to talk about it). Burton talks about how he created the back-story for The Penguin, how he developed a psychological profile for the character. Listening to him is always fun. The screen-writers, Waters and Hamm, both have interesting things to share. Pfeiffer and DeVito also add in their interview bits. There is also talk about the memorable final shot of the movie, and just how late that was added(and that they came close to the release date before being done with the film). Burton describes when he realized that the studio did not want him to helm any more Batman films… it's difficult to say what would have happened with the franchise if they had let him, but we all know how it did go). I recommend this to any fan of the film and the people working on it. 7/10