FIG

BATMAN FILM REVIEWS Part 3: Batman Forever (1995)

Though Batman Returns was a box office success, Warner Bros wanted the films to attract a wider audience. Tim Burton, who directed the first two films, was asked to step down to producer for the next film, Batman Forever. Burton agreed, and his replacement as director was Joel Schumacher. Schumacher intended for Batman Forever to be brighter and family-friendly.

Michael Keaton decided not to return as Batman because he did not approve of the new direction the film series was going. Instead, Val Kilmer was cast as Batman. Kilmer delivers a decent performance overall, but I felt his portrayal as Batman while in his suit was lacking compared to Keaton. When in the bat-suit, Kilmer comes off as rather boring. However, I do think he was solid when portraying the persona of Bruce Wayne.

The villains for this installment are Two-Face, played by Tommy Lee Jones, and the Riddler, played by Jim Carrey. Basically, the two team up to use a mind-zapping machine invented by the Riddler and steal people’s intelligence. With this machine, they also discover that Bruce Wayne is Batman.

I wasn’t a big fan of how these villains were portrayed in this film. There is hardly any explanation of Two-face’s backstory, and Jones completely failed at acting with the split personality the character is supposed to have. Jones really just acts like a lunatic who laughs a lot. He might as well just been the Joker.

Carrey, on the other hand, completely highjacks the film. I have nothing again Jim Carrey; in fact, I’m a fan of his. But I couldn’t separate the character from the actor. It’s just Jim Carrey doing his normal routine, displaying the same antics we’ve seen in a lot of his films like The Mask and Ace Ventura, only dressed as the Riddler this time. When the Riddler comes into the picture, Batman Forever suddenly becomes another Jim Carrey film.

Joining Batman in his efforts to stop the Riddler’s plot is Robin, played by Chris O’Donnell, making Batman Forever the first film of the series to include Batman’s young ward. Before becoming Robin, Dick Grayson was a young acrobat performing with his family in the circus. When Two-Face causes the deaths of Dick’s mother, father and brother, he is offered by Bruce Wayne to stay in his mansion. Dick’s curiosity leads him to discover that Bruce is Batman, and he is motivated to work by Bruce’s side so he can get the chance to kill Two-Face and avenge his family’s deaths. Bruce refuses to allow Dick join him at first but later accepts Robin as his sidekick as they spoil the plans of Two-Face and the Riddler.

Batman Forever is clearly a step down from the first two films directed by Burton. It leans towards the campiness of the 1960s TV series. That is not necessarily a bad thing, but for some fans, it was a disappointment. It was mildly entertaining for me, and I didn’t mind the lighter tone. However, I didn’t think the main characters were developed enough by their actors. Kilmer is boring as Batman, Jones fails as Two-Face, and Carrey just portrayed himself.

Batman Forever doesn’t appeal to me as much as the first two films did, but it isn’t a bad film. Wait until you see the next film!