Batman Forever (1995)

Review by Bret Walker

While fans of the original Batman (1989) and its lead actor, Michael Keaton, may be disappointed in this film, they can at least say that it is not as bad as Batman Returns (1992).

The scene is still Gotham City, the dark and nightmarish metropolis of Bob Kane's imagination. The Dark Knight is tested once again by two foes. This time it is Harvey Dent, the prosecuting attorney who becomes disfigured in an attack and assumes the persona of Two-Face; and Edward Nygma (E. Nygma), a former employee of Bruce Wayne who is shunned for his ideas of mind control and becomes The Riddler in a plot to exact revenge on his former employer.

The action is excellent. There were a couple of moments when the absolutely unbelievable happened (a tiny little grapple holds onto some drywall to suspend an enormous bank vault in mid-air on the end of a thin cable…come on!). However, this is Hollywood, and super-hero movies are allowed to suspend disbelief every once in a while. That's the point.

Regardless, I was disappointed initially, as were many, that Michael Keaton did not return in the title role and that Tim Burton opted to produce rather than direct this offering. That having been said, Val Kilmer was tremendous in the role of the brooding billionaire bat. Tommy Lee Jones gave his all to the part of Two-Face and came away glowing like gold. It's true that the acting was stellar, but much has to be said for Joel Schumacher's direction as well.

Of course, one cannot mention acting without bringing up Jim Carrey in the role that really launched his carreer to the next level. It's as if The Riddler was created back in the 1940's in anticipation of Carrey playing the role in 1995. Carrey did what he does best: play the part of a lunatic on the fringe of sanity. His body language is unparalleled, and his mastery of his instrument cannot be questioned. Certainly, he deserves a lot of credit for bringing a ton of life to this otherwise morose panorama of revenge.

Joel Schumacher does a fine job of recreating the surreal texture of the city born of Tim Burton's twisted psyche in 1989. You can definitely feel Burton's presence as producer all throughout. The dark city, the strange and beautiful landmarks, the dementia in music, all weave a tapestry of the nightmarish world of vengeance and draw the audience into its warm tendrils with a wink and a nod.

Not quite as good as the first offering, Batman Forever certainly beats the pants off of the second in the series, breathing new life into the string of Batman films tossed up by Tim Burton. Lovers of the action genre, whether super or real in nature, will love this film on its face value.

Rating:

Trivia:

Chris O'Donnell and Drew Barrymore also appeared in another 1995 film together: Mad Love.

Tommy Lee Jones was Vice President Al Gore's roommate at Harvard University.

Although Tim Burton produced this film, he did not direct it as he did Batman and Batman Returns (1992). For this fact and this alone, Michael Keaton opted not to return as the Caped Crusader.

Paul Reubens, who played Mr. Cobblepot in Batman Returns, was originally considered for the part of The Riddler in this film, but the casting director was blown away by Jim Carrey's audition and cast him instead. Paul would have to wait until 1999's Mystery Men to return to the screen in an adaptation of a comic book.

Also considered for the part of The Riddler was Robin Williams.

Debi Mazar and Jim Carrey have a connection outside of this movie: Debi appeared in Empire Records (1994) with Rene Zellweger, who is currently dating Carrey (and appearing with him in Me, Myself, and Irene).

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