MY rather disjointed review of Batman Forever

[Gotham Knight]

You'll notice though the Review seems quite long, I actually have very little say about Batman Forever. Because honestly..it was forgetable.

BATMAN FOREVER is the GREATEST BATMAN MOVIE...

NEVER made. (common Internet name, no..i'm not kidding)

I am of course, referring to Tim Burton's Batman Forever, which he worked on until WB executives decided to dump him. (Its rumored to have had a Riddler who had a question mark shaved into his head, and a returning Catwoman. Drools.)

When Batman Returns, the greatest Superhero film ever made in my opinion with Batman (1989) its only competition, hit theatres there was an immediate backlash from those who thought the film was too gothic, dark, gross, and not for children. And like the firing of Richard Donner (Superman, Superman II: Donner Version [On DVD, you gotta get it],) Burton was booted off the project (in favor of lightening up the franchise.) This proved to be the beginning of the end. Joel Schumacher, director of such great films as A Time to Kill was given the project.

At the very beginning, all seemed well, even after Burton left. Michael Keaton stayed with the project, and had come in for costume fittings under the new director. However, after he received the script to Batman Forever, he left. The studio offered him a rumored 6 million, (Unconfirmed) HUGE money at the time to return to the picture. He refused. Anyone see the dismal picture being painted yet, or the curse of "Third Superhero Film" establishing itself?

The Review:

I'm going to start with what's good about Batman Forever first because it's a very short list. In fact there is only two things in my opinion. Well, two and a half maybe

1. This film manages to carry the progression of the Batman character from previous films, as he takes in Robin. He continues to reevaluates his brutal methods when he sees the young Grayson taking the same path and in the only GOOD scene in the film warns him not to make the same mistakes.

"You make the kill...another and another."

2. The film manages at its basic structure to have a fairly sturdy plot, if completely overwhelmed by idiotic moments.

2?. The BEST lines in the film are a homage to Batman (1989)

"Your parents weren't killed by a maniac."

"Yes they were." Still gives me chills.

Now, the film's failures. So this doesn't turn into an incoherent rant, I'll break this up into the separate aspects, from cast to production design, to music.

The MIS Cast

Val Kilmer as Batman. He's a great actor. But in this picture, I saw no true darkness in Batman and no depth to Bruce Wayne. Kilmer essentially slept his way through the role. While I don't think he was the worst Batman, it is strange how he left no impression on me really. Even Clooney left an impression. A bad one. But it was still there...tangible

Nicole Kidman as Chase Meridian. Like all of Schumacher's theatrical over the top pieces, he showcases how he can't accurately picture or develop a woman character. Like his version of Christine Daae, the Kidman character is far too feminine. And she's a major hooker type. Lights up the signal so she can show Batman her boobs? Even in skintight plastic with a whip, Michelle Pfeiffer managed to be not only charming and sexual, but provocative, sympathetic, and a worthy love of Batman. Not another bimbo in the long line of Bond girls in Bruce's sack. A persistent, permanent lover. She didn't come off like some two bit prostitute. I like Kidman. She's a fine actress. Schumacher takes the fall on this one. Poor Poor direction.

Tommy Lee Jones as Two Face. Probably the only man actually right for his role. Well, a version of this role. Not the stupid cartoony version in the film. Complete waste of his talent, this was the saddest falter of the movie because Harvey has so many layers, and Tommy Lee could really bring them out with the right man behind the camera. I mean come on...issues with duality!!!! Shumacher didn't see that similarity in Bats and Two Face...Anyone could have picked up and exploited that. But alas, not Mr. Shumacher. Another Problem  is that we don't get ANY time with Harvey, to grow to understand and care about him. He appears as Harvey in a brief news story in the film. VERY brief. Other than that, the character looks awful, like some Club Kid from the 80's. Also, no disrespect to Tommy Lee, but wasn't Billy Dee Harvey Dent? If you replace an actor in the role of Harvey Dent Before harvey is scarred on screen YOU HAVE to get some time with that new incarnation before he goes trigger happy.

Jim Carrey as The Riddler. While I like the idea of Rids obsessed with Bruce Wayne, someone needed to give Carrey something to keep his feet on the floor. He over acts from the first time he opens his mouth. He jumps all over the place dropping one liners, basically owning the movie like one of his comedy vehicles such as Liar Liar or Ace Ventura. Quite frankly, I found him embarrassing to watch. Besides, Rids isn't known for his "wild humor". At best he deals in the cruelly ironic when trying on "humor"

Chris O'Donnell as Robin. I hate Robin. I've never liked his character and see him as the watering down of a legend. That said, I actually kind of dig the older version of Robin character, even though that would make him Nightwing. But, for some reason, I find him just oddly annoying in this film. Not sure why. To Quote Dr. Evil, "...a certain, I don't know what."

A badge of honor goes out to Michael Gough for busting out a rock solid performance. He was completely off the charts spectacular and it's a shame he got trapped in this.

Production design can be summed up as follows. A bad, zany acid trip in some techno night club.

Music. It sounds like they recorded about five minutes of score, and just kept repeating bits of it through the picture. Danny, where are you!!!

In conclusion, the worst thing about this film is its inability to hold up as a SEQUEL. It ignores everything Returns set up that obviously meant to continue. Like X-3 and Brett Ratners onslaught on every plot line that had been developing, Schumacher uprooted everything and trashed it. Hell even with all of Burton's changes to Gotham City from BATMAN to RETURNS..in ESSENCE it was still the same place and the same man. Yeah, Vicki dissapears, but you at least get some kind of explanation.

Look, I know it was Schumacher's vision, but you have to work within certain confines established in the film before. I hate that people insist on lumping the Burton films into the same continuity with Schumacher's. If I can only have one wish granted in the old Bats Franchise, its that a press conference is held to disjoin the Burton from Schumacher. It was two different stories. Period.

And did I mention the horrid way in which Batman has to share time with all the other characters. Returns at least made it aware of the fact that the three villains were a side of Bruce Wayne and on the same hand he was allowed to fall in love and GROW.  BATMAN FOREVER is a Jim Carrey movie because frankly, Kilmer's bat couldn't stand up to him and had no PRESSENCE. Something Michael Keaton's had in spades and why though o'l Jack took up quite allot of BATMAN 89, it is still very much a Batman Movie.

A few random thoughts.

I'll get drive thru...

Bruce get shots in the head and lives. What?

The Batmobile. Ugh

Brain Drain?

I'LL GET DRIVE THRU

Fin...

[Gotham Knight]

correction. WB offfered Keaton 35,000,000

[Paul (ral)]

35mil?

wow.

[Darth Vader]

Actors like Keaton deserve our respect. He cared about his own image and cared about the character enough to turn down some serious dough.

[Pfeiffer-Pfan]

Yeah but think how satisfying it must have been when Batman Forever came out for Keaton...

He made the right choice and had probably enough money anyway from the sequel alone!!

[Gotham Knight]

Actors like Keaton deserve our respect. He cared about his own image and cared about the character enough to turn down some serious dough.

agreed

[Keatonfan#1]

I actually liked Batman Forever it was not as good as the first 2 films but it was a good sequel and Tim Burton produced the film he also worked out the story with Joel Schumacher and the Batchlers.

I liked all 3 films

[shadowbat69]

I actually liked Batman Forever it was not as good as the first 2 films but it was a good sequel and Tim Burton produced the film he also worked out the story with Joel Schumacher and the Batchlers.

I liked all 3 films

No. Big misconception on these points. Burton was "producer" in name only. They kept his name on there for no real reason except for a "smooth" transition. Burton has even said himself that he didnt understand it.  He also did not work with them on the script. He had only one meeting with Schumacher when they decided to hand the franchise over to him. That was it. It was very brief and general, no real details were discussed. There was an intial draft that was done that may have had some of Burtons ideas that he had thrown out there before the 3rd movie was even in pre production but I highly doubt any of it was included in the final script for Forever. Most of this information can be found in written interviews and on the SE DVDs.

[Keatonfan#1]

Nope you are completely wrong Tim Burton was very much involved with Part 3 I saw a interview with Tim Burton and he said that he was happy with The 3rd film. The interview I saw was back in 1996 when he was promting Mars Attacks! Batman Forever was Burton's film and he did work with the batchlers on the script and a lot of his ideas were put in the film. I have this interview on tape so I know that I am right and that you Shadowbat are miss informed. In the interview he did say that he most likely would not have changed anything in the film, Michael Keaton just did not want to continue playing the role of Batman/Bruce Wayne, mainly because he wanted a change in his life so Keaton left the franchise and did the comedy film Multiplicity which he was more interested in rather than doing the 3rd batman film. So Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher both agreed that Val Kilmer would be a perfect replacement in the role. When Batman Forever was filming I remember seeing an interview with Tim Burton on entertainment tonight in 1994 and he said he stayed on board for the 3rd film because he was interested in producing the 3rd film but did not want to direct it so he pasted the directing torch to Joel Schumacher and stayed on board as producer and was very much involved. I remember Tim saying that Val was a great guy and a good actor.

[shadowbat69]

Im gonna have to call you out on this, as Im sure others will. What is this interview? Where was it aired? I have never heard of such an interview. Ever. Keaton left the franchise because he didnt like the script or direction the film was taking. This is very well documented in many interviews. It wasnt because he wanted a change in his life. He also had absolutely nothing to do with having Joel direct Batman. This was WB desicsion to replace Burton. Even in the SE's he sated they didnt want him at all for a third film. He was not on set for this filming. Seriously, you are the first person Ive ever heard saying this information.