So, instead of going with my usual top Christmas films of the now-overplayed Die Hard and people not talking about enough Lethal Weapon, let me tell you about another top-tier Christmas Holiday cinematic experience – Batman Returns. In this film, Tim Burton unleashed with Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne/Batman again – it barely cares about Batman as the main character. It’s about the foes he faces in this one.
First, we have Danny DeVito as The Penguin – a weirdly Burtonesque dark Moses figure as he’s cast off into a river. Oswald being born to Paul Reubens and Diane Salinger seeing his fin-like hands cast him out and ended up being raised by a group of Emperor Penguins in the forgotten zoo. Then you are the star of the film Michelle Phiffer as the supernaturally reborn Selina Kyle – the Catwoman. Her arc was so good in a DC movie they copied it badly in WW84 for Cheetah. Then, the real bad guy Christopher Walken as Max Shreck, the wealthy industrialist who wants to use Penguin as a puppet politician to get what he wants to do to the city.
Look, people, Bruce Wayne can’t just fix everything with his money because there are other evil rich people who need to be punched in the face. Gotham is snowy, there’s a dark version of Passover, evil circus freaks, Catwoman stunts on everyone, and Batman gets a Bae. Perfect Holiday fare!
(P.S. I also talked about this on Nerds of Color’s DC Multicast podcast on Christmas)
Want more from our Hostage Holiday Collection?
Catch up on the Although Things Explode It Really is a Christmas Movie series
