Movies at Christmas: There has been much discussion in recent years over whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie or not due to its yuletide setting. While that has been covered enough elsewhere, I will instead be looking at other movies that use Christmas as a festive backdrop.

Cold-blooded murders, noses being brutally bitten and people running around in bizarre costumes are just a few things you can expect from Batman Returns. In other words, a completely normal Christmas dinner with the family. Batman Returns might be a weird Christmas movie but it is an even weirder Batman film. Though it spends very little time actually focusing on the Caped Crusader, it holds up pretty well and is my second favourite movie of the franchise after Batman Begins.

Considering that this is directed by Tim Burton, the snowy landscapes and sheer weirdness should come as no surprise. It has been well-documented how his vision for Gotham was too intense for some but its themes are still relevant. In many ways, Batman Returns could have been made today. Michelle Pfeiffer’s Selina Kyle is a young woman mistreated by rich, powerful men which feels timely enough without mentioning the Penguin’s vaguely familiar media campaign to become Gotham’s mayor.

What makes this worth revisiting are the fantastic performances across the board with Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman being one of the best Batman villains on screen. Her transition from put-upon secretary to unhinged feminist avenger is utterly believable. Danny DeVito’s Penguin is also as OTT as you would expect but there is a darkness here that makes him both pathetic and threatening. In terms of the title character, Michael Keaton is still one of the very best (and most intense) versions of Batman around.

Why should you revisit Batman Returns this Christmas? After all this time, it is still a Batman movie unlike any other. It joins a handful of superhero movies out there that manages to fit within its genre while having a genuine creative vision. Even though I have a soft spot for Batman Forever, it is still a pity that Burton never got one last go at a Batman movie. Holy Christmas movie Batman!

What makes this a Christmas movie? There is a ridiculous amount of snow, mistletoe and presents. What more could you want?

Will it brighten up your Christmas? Yes. Maybe. Almost certainly not.

Will your family enjoy it this Christmas? Yes, your grandmother will love it. Particularly the nose biting.

Disclaimer Notice: Any thoughts and opinions expressed here are solely my own. Any images (copyrighted or otherwise) have been used according to Creative Commons and if needed, have been referenced to the best of my knowledge.

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