Batman Returns: Still Holds Up (The Sound Design!)

Okay, so I rewatched Batman Returns the other night and man, Tim Burton was REALLY cookin' back then. I know we all have our favorite Batmans (Bale's growl gets me every time, not gonna lie), but this one is just…different. It's so gothic and stylized, almost like a creepy Christmas fairytale gone wrong. Keaton's Batman is brooding perfection, but honestly, Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman STOLE the show. That scene where she's reborn and literally sews herself up in that latex suit? Iconic. Her movements, the way she hisses and purrs... just brilliant character work. But what REALLY got me was the sound design. Like, I'm a tech guy, so I notice these things. The Penguin's gurgling, screeching cries are so unsettling, and the way they layered his dialogue with that almost metallic rasp... perfection! And during the batmobile chase scene, the batmobile's engine roar feels so raw and powerful, it rumbles through the whole room. The sound editing during the organ scene during the Penguin's campaign is also a highlight! I feel like people forget how important sound is to creating that immersive, slightly hyper-real world Burton nailed. Shreck was a decent villain, but Palance in the first one was better, let's be honest. I mean, Walken did his thing but he didn't have the same level of menace. Still, the overall vibe of the movie is just top-tier. It's dark, weird, and surprisingly complex for a comic book movie. Definitely worth revisiting if you haven't seen it in a while. Anyone else still appreciate this one as much as I do? What are your favorite scenes or sound moments? Let me know!