Celebrating 25 Years Of Batman Returns: The 9 Best Moments From The Film

In 1992, Tim Burton delivered the second and final installment in his Batman series, Batman Returns. While the film was praised for its all-star cast, action sequences, and gorgeous design, the dark and gloomy tone resulted in Warner Bros. changing things up for 1995's Batman Forever. And, as we all know, it went to pot right around then. Looking back at the film now, it's easy to see why it was ahead of its time and not many people understood what it was trying to achieve. Burton refused to see these characters and stories as childish or purely for pushing toy sales, choosing instead to create something far more compelling that explored the psyches and motivations of each character. Even 25 years later, the visual narrative still holds up and you can enjoy it much like you did the first time you watched it. Batman Returns was, and still is, a phenomenal motion picture, and one of the greatest comic book movies of all time. In celebration of its 25 year anniversary, we've gone back and watched it again and identified the nine best moments. There are many more exciting moments, of course, but these are some of our favorites. So, put on the unforgettable Danny Elfman theme and join us in remembering this classic Dark Knight adaptation. The Birth Of The Penguin Batman Returns starts off at the beginning of Oswald Cobblepot's story. After having a fight with Twinkles the house cat, the Cobblepots decide to throw their deformed infant son into Gotham River, because that's what good parents do to naughty kids. In what's obviously a reference to the origin of Moses, a young Oswald floats down the river to an abandoned zoo, where a flock of penguins find and raise him as one of their own. How adorable of them, don't you think? It's a tragic origin tale, which obviously invokes sympathy for Oswald being a social outcast. Furthermore, it shows us that humans do indeed suck and animals are much better at this wonderful thing called life. I mean, if penguins can be nice to a human being, why can't we? Selina Kyle's Transformation If the Internet forums and social media had been around in 1992, Burton would've been crucified for meddling with Catwoman's origin story. Not only did he give her powers in the form of nine lives, but he also suggested that the Catwoman persona was a result of a dissociative identity disorder. Considering the above, it does sound rather ridiculous and stupid, but somehow it worked really well in this film. When Max Shreck pushes Selina Kyle out of the office window and she becomes a sidewalk omelet, it appears to be curtains for her. However, a group of cats swarm her unconscious body and use their abilities to bring her back to the world of the living. Reborn, Selina heads back to her apartment where she goes into full Charlie Sheen mode and trashes everything in sight. Then, she whips out the old sewing machine and kit and puts together the greatest black vinyl costume we've ever seen. The 'Hell Here' neon light shot at the end of the scene is also a nice touch by Burton. The Lighting Of Gotham City's Christmas Tree My fellow colleague briefly touched upon this moment in his article Swear to Me: The 10 Greatest Batman Movie Moments Ever. It's a long scene, however, and there's plenty more to savor - especially the kickass battle in the heart of Gotham City. When the Penguin's goons interrupt the lighting of Gotham's Christmas tree, the onus falls on Batman to teach the carnies who's the sheriff of the town. Using the Batmobile and his badass fighting skills, the Caped Crusader puts a stop to the chaos and smashes more than a few painted faces in. Lest we forget, this is also the scene where Batman saves Selina from the Red Triangle Circus Gang and she finds the taser, which plays a pivotal part in the film's climax. From a storytelling point of view, this is a crucial moment that shapes the rest of the narrative. The Penguin Takes Control Of The Batmobile Arguably, the most fun moment of the entire film is the Penguin assuming control of the Batmobile and taking it for a joyride through the streets of Gotham. Looking like the ultimate arcade ride, Oswald does what every single one of us has dreamed of doing at some point in our lives and becomes the Batman for a short time. As the Penguin goes Twisted Metal on other cars and pedestrians, Batman attempts to gain back control of the hijacked vehicle from his nemesis. Rather than enjoy the ride, though, Oswald degenerates into a typical cartoon villain, revealing his dastardly plans and thoughts to his greatest foe and all-time snitch of the GCPD. Predictably, his dumb actions come back to bite him in the butt later on, because Batman records his monologue and plays it for all of Gotahm to hear. Most importantly here, does anyone know where we can find a replica of the Penguin's Batmobile ride from the film? We're, um, asking for a friend who really needs it in his home. Catwoman Blows Up Shreck's Department Store After Selina's transformation, we couldn't wait to see what hijinks Catwoman would get up to next. Fortunately, we didn't have to wait too long to see her take out all her pent-up frustration on a mugger and then set her claws on Shreck's department store. Watching Michelle Pfeiffer move with such grace, menace, and seduction throughout the scene still remains one of the highlights of the film. She didn't just embody Catwoman as a character; she was the bloody Catwoman! As much as Hugh Jackman will always be Wolverine in the eyes of us all, so will Pfeiffer be Selina Kyle until the end of days. Also, who can forget Catwoman, the Penguin, and Batman's amusing interaction here? The Cat cartwheels out of the store, looks at a bewildered Pengy and Bats, and purrs a "meow" as the store blows up. This is Burton at his best, way before he decided to adopt Johnny Depp and make weird film choices. The Masquerade Ball It might not be an action-packed scene or as fun-filled as some of the others on this list, but it's an important one, nonetheless. At this point in the story, Bruce and Selina's relationship has grown beyond flirtation and infatuation. The two care deeply for each other, despite both of them keeping secrets. Through some clever dialogue and impeccable acting from Michael Keaton and Michelle Pfeiffer, the two lovebirds deduce each other's nocturnal identities during a dance at the masquerade ball. There's a real vulnerability and honesty when they both realize who the other person actually is. It's also an emotional moment, which could've easily swung the outcome of their relationship and their future actions had they decided to talk about what they'd just discovered. Give yourself a high five if you picked up the reference to this scene in The Dark Knight Rises. According to Warner Bros., Bruce and Selina love to dance. Must be the fighting spirit in them that has the happy feet. The Penguin Rescues The Mayor's Son After one of the Penguin's men kidnaps the mayor's son and dives into the sewer through the manhole, it sets the stage for Oswald to "rescue" the child. The shot of the villain rising up to the surface on his giant yellow duck is simply marvelous to behold and a perfect example of Burton's abstract filmmaking style at its finest. It's also in this moment that we first see Oswald as the great manipulator of events and his any-means-necessary attitude. Sure, he wants to know more about his birth parents, but he isn't afraid of twisting the truth to suit his needs, either. Speaking of this scene, has anyone else wondered if Warner Bros. still has the giant yellow duck lying around somewhere? It's not exactly something that you can store away in a closet. Catwoman Lives On At the end of the film, Alfred drives a somber and beaten-up Bruce home. On the drive, Bruce spots a shadow that resembles Catwoman and tells his butler to stop the car. He steps out and follows the shadow, discovering that it's actually a stray black cat, which he decides to take home with him. Like clockwork, the Bat-Signal appears in the night sky and Bruce answers its call, as we spot Catwoman watching on from a distance. It's a moment that lights up all our hearts, knowing that Selina didn't meet her demise after all and there's still a chance for her and Bruce to be together one day. That is, until Joel Schumacher came along and gave us two middle fingers in the form of Batman Forever and Batman & Robin. It's not a flashy sequence or even the best part of Batman Returns by any means, but it concludes the film on a happier, heartwarming note. If Burton had done it differently, we would've left the movie with heavier hearts and sheer disappointment. See? Despite what you may think, Timmy B isn't all doom and gloom in his flicks. The Army Of Penguins Not only is this the greatest moment from Batman Returns, but it's also one of the best in cinema history. When Oswald's jig is up, he elects to drown Gotham's first-born children and destroy the city as revenge. In order to do so, though, he forms an army of penguins with rocket packs strapped to them. The cute, feathered creatures waddle along like good little soldiers, ready to do their master's bidding and send Gotham straight to hell. In the sewers, it's up to Batman, in his trusty Batboat, to stop the missiles from blowing up Gotham. Being the smarty-pants he is, the Dark Knight redirects the penguins to fire on Oswald's hideout and the rest, as they say, is history. How can you not be excited by an army of penguins with rocket packs? This scene alone was worth the admission price and every single DVD and Blu-ray release since then. This movie might've been about Batman, Catwoman, and the Penguin, but it was the little penguin minions that stole the damn show here. That's all, folks! But tell us, do you agree with our choices? And what was your favorite part of Batman Returns? Let us know in the comments section below.