Batman's alter ego: Michael Keaton
BY BOB THOMPSON -- Toronto Sun

CHICAGO -- Michael Keaton doesn't mind talking seriously about the most talked-about
movie of the year. But he does get a laugh when reporters try to apply their dime-store
psychology to his character.

True enough, Tim Burton's Batman Returns - opening Friday - is darker and sexier than
the last one.

But that's probably because Keaton's Batman faces off with Michelle Pfeiffer's
domineering Catwoman - although Danny DeVito's vengeful Penguin is an evil piece of
work, too.

So, what about this Catwoman versus Batman thing? Tell us what it's like to fight a
woman?

``I'll do better than that,'' a smiling Keaton tells the female questioner, ``I'll fight you.''

He didn't, of course. But he did go a few good-natured rounds with the press on:

- Batman freaks loyal to the DC Comics Batman character: ``I call them DC
fundamentalists. I just don't relate.''

- The love/hate Catwoman-Batman relationship: ``It probably gets into some primal
elements.''

- The Batman get up: ``When suited up - as I was a couple of nights ago by the way - you
have to feel the power if you have anything at all going for you as an actor.''

- His on-set back problems: ``I was calling myself Backman.''

Actually, it surprised Keaton that he was on the Batman set at all.

Burton's return helped - ``his imprint is really on this movie'' - and the casting of Pfeiffer
and DeVito eased his sequel anxiety.

``I didn't want to get involved right away,'' says Keaton. ``But I had never re-done a role,
and I wanted to try it.''

He's glad he did despite the possibility of a severe case of typecasting.

``There are probably occasions where my name pops up for a role and they say, `No,'
because the character has such impact.

``But I would say that it doesn't happen often. There are four things I'm considering right
now, and it wasn't even brought up.''

In other words, Keaton isn't going to worry about it, or gripe about it. ``Guys who say
they hate repeating roles are usually on the set of Cannonball 7, or something, when they
say it.''

So, is there going to be a Beetlejuice 2? ``Unlikely,'' Keaton reports.

Right then. What about this Batman guy?

Doesn't it bother you, Keaton is asked, that this sexually confused, power hungry man
with a closet full of rubber suits has become a cultural icon?

``So far, I haven't heard anything negative,'' says Keaton.

No, but really.

``Well, really,'' adds Keaton, ``it's just a movie.''

Batman Return's Photo's Cont.