Batman Forever

Rating:
Summary: This Dark Knight Is All Right
Review: Batman Forever is easily the best entry in the series next to the original. It's obvious a lot different in tone compared to Tim Burton's original vision, but director Joel Schumacher takes it and makes it his own. The result is an astonishing gorgeous looking film. The plot centers around Batman/Bruce Wayne taking in a young charge named Dick Grayson, whose family was killed by evil villain Two Face(Tommy Lee Jones). Before you know it, Two Face has teamed up with a nutcase named Edward Nygma(Jim Carrey)who transforms himself into The Riddler, who has concocted a machine that'll take the life out of people. Far fetched?. Yes indeed. Dick Grayson finds out Bruce's true identity and wants to become part of the team. Val Kilmer is a decent Batman. He definitley looks more the part than Michael Keaton. He was a worthy choice. Jim Carrey does what Jim Carrey does best. He's manic and all over the place. The best, however, is Tommy Lee Jones. He really brings his nasty character to full, colorful life. Chris 'O' Donnell and Nicole Kidman are both equally plain and not interesting. Schumacher throws in gadget after gadget and colorful scene after colorful scene. It was a nice change of pace from Burton's gloomy Gotham City. All in all, this is one rip snorting, splashy, comic book adventure that's destined to please fans!. This film is colorful fun. A welcome break from the doom and gloom of the previous two.

Rating:
Summary: Not that Bad.
Review: Although Tim Burtons films were better and lets face it,Val Kilmer is not that good of an actor,but the movie was perfectly casted with Tommy Lee Jones as Two-Face and the hilarious although demented Jim Carrey as The Riddler.Now due to the fact that Tim Burton left the film the dark feeling of the first two films is gone with more of an upbeat and hip theme to it unlike Burtons,where it is dark and creepy.But the movie continues with Bruce Wayne a.k.a Batman fighting crime and still having those flashbacks about his parents,and after a demented scientist gets mad because of Wayne he becomes The Riddler and joins forces with Two-Face to catch Batman.When Two-Face sabotages a circus Bruce Wayne meets Robin whose parents were killed during the sabotage and they become partners.Honestly the film is good with good actors including Nicole Kidman as Bruce's girlfriend.The low of the movie is just Val Kilmer who wasn't cast right as Batman,but i give the movie a B- and the acting a C+

Rating:
Summary: The beginning of the end. An extra star only for Kilmer.
Review: It is clear to me why Tim Burton and Michael Keaton left the Bat franchise after Batman Returns. The constant interference of WB executives over creative decisions kept that film from being its best. Even though both were offered large amounts of money (Keaton was offered $33 million to retake the part) they both wisely declined the project to maintain their artistic integrity. WB then soon found someone who would compromise himself artistcally to give WB its vison of Batman: "Car Wash" director Joel Schumacher.
Batman forever is clearly the brainchild of WB executives and Director Joel Schumacher is only here to be a yes man that will give WB management exactly what they want: Camp, comedy, and over the top stunts. With their shill in place WB management began their wholesale demoliton of the Batman Franchise. Dark gothic visuals give way to bright neon lights reminiscent of Las Vegas. Batman goes from dark and mysterious to someone reminiscent of Adam West. Villains go from dark twisted psychopaths to cartoonish goofballs. A batmobile that lights up and we get Robin the 25-year-old boy wonder. And crotch shots. Lots and lots of crotch shots.
Val Kilmer's good performance is hampered by Akiva Goldsman's campy script. He does not deserve the unprofessional rap he earned while working on this film; Instead Kilmer should be commended for trying to maintain the artistic integrity of the Batman character; he does his best to make the character dark and menacing in the Saturday Morning cartoon envioronment he's thrown into. Kilmer was said to be clearly upset with the campy direction the film was taking and his frustration shows in some of his facial expressions as Bruce Wayne. He clearly thought he would be playing a dark brooding Batman, not some Adam West type buffoon. His anger at Schumacher's direction is justified, however it prevents him from seamlessly blending into the role the way Keaton did.
The supporting cast is not as strong this time. Sadly high priced stars replace high quality actors in BF. I missed the serious understated strong performances of screen veterans like Billy Dee Williams, Robert Wuhl, Christopher Walken and Jack Palance in the previous Burton films. Tommy Lee Jones is terribly miscast as Two-Face; the cartoonish way he portrays the character is reminiscent of the Joker instead of the tormented former Prosecutor turned criminal the character is supposed to be. Jim Carrey is way too over the top as the Riddler. The Riddler character in the comics has a manic exterior peresonality that hides his calculating arrogant interior personality; Carrey puts no dimension to the role and plays the Riddler like Ace Ventura on crack. Chris O'Donnell is awful as Dick Grayson and Robin.He doesn't even try to make either role work, he doesn't even try to act here. Nicole Kidman has nothing to work but her assets as the love interest. Debi Mazar and Drew Barrymore are just wasted as two face's henchwomen Sugar ad Spike. Most, especially O'Donnell regret getting involved with this career killing franchise.
The convoluted plot is nonexistent and is only used to move us from one big stunt to the next or the next visual effect to the next The Riddler creates a device that allows viewers to see TV in 3d but it also drains their brains into his. That makes sense to you? It didn't to me. Obsessed with Bruce Wayne (homosexual overtones abound) he seeks to find out the identity of the batman. Taking Two-face along for the ride they go on more car chases and blow up stuff good in a quest to find out the secret. Along the way Two-Face kills the Grayson family so that O'Donnell has some reason to become Robin and stay relevant in the film. The final battle is ridiculous and only for those with short attention spans.
When I was younger (23) I thought this movie was OK. Now that I'm older (30) and can distinct great movies from and good movies from bad ones I've grown to loathe this movie with the greatest contempt. It insults the source material and its creator Bob Kane. It makes a mockery of what Batman really is: A dark mysterious urban legend that protects terrified citizens from themselves. Here our hero is transformed into a commercial shill for the WB to sell merchandise. If Schumacher had the time he probably would have had Robin drive the batmobile down to the "Car Wash" So that the smiling Negro crew from his first film could give Batman's ride a wash and wax. But those were probably deleted scenses that will be available in the special editon. Avoid at alll costs.

Rating:
Summary: A New Look For The Bat
Review: "Batman Forever" isn't a top-tier comic-to-screen flick. What it is, however, is the best of the three subpar sequels of the "Batman" franchise so far. It's nowhere near as dark or moody as the first two movies, primarily due to the director, Joel Schumacher. It's a different type of film more akin to the cheesy TV series with Adam West. Don't get me wrong, it's still a fairly serious movie, but the mood of the film, from costumes to Gotham City, is more lighthearted than the first two films.

Val Kilmer has been knocked often for playing "Batman." Honestly, I think he does a fine job. Expectations weren't as high for Michael Keaton, and when he pulled off the "Batman" character with style, audiences were blown away. Kilmer was merely considered too average. Playing Bruce Wayne wasn't considered much of a stretch for him, but he more than sufficed.

The story runs along at a fairly decent pace. We're given the origins of "Robin," "Riddler," and "Two-Face." Once again, "Batman" has to fight two baddies at once, which is my largest complaint with all of the "Bat" sequels. Why do we need more than one villain in order to make a story interesting? As far as I'm concerned, there was no need for the "Two-Face" character. He was boring, out of place, and simply used to usher in the appearance of "Robin."

The "Riddler" character was fun. A little over-the-top, but not annoying, Jim Carrey did a good job. I was actually worried about him going too far with the character.

The rest of the cast is boring. The story is moderate, and the visuals are nice to look at, but that's all. Once again, effects have replaced the plot in order to drag in the largest demographic possible.

In closing, "Batman Forever" is eye candy. It's cool to look at and fun to watch, but when all is said and done, you've witnessed a marketing tool to push toy and t-shirt sales. It's the best of the worst, so lets hope that a new sequel comes soon that will do the "Batman" franchise justice.

Rating:
Summary: Batman Forever?
Review: When Michael Keaton and Tim Burton had had enough of the Batman franchise after two excellent films, Val Kilmer and Joel Schumacher stepped in to make Batman Forever, a far cry from the first two films being a more colorful, comic book-type adventure. To start with acting, Val Kilmer is good as the new Batman/Bruce Wayne, and Chris O' Donnell is okay as Robin, though I could have gone another film without Robin for certain. Nicole Kidman is also okay as Dr. Chase Meridian, a psychologist who wants to know what makes Batman tick. As for the villains, Tommy Lee Jones plays his part very well as Harvey Dent/Two-Face, but the script makes him closer to the Joker, taking away the toughness and gruff from the animated series' Two-Face. Jim Carrey goes overboard as Edward Nygma/The Riddler, Two-Face's partner in crime. Though he is very amusing too watch, he needs to have a bit more intelligence, cool, and confidence. It is also very funny to watch these two colorful criminals work to conquer Gotham with a brain-draining device and destroy Batman.

Barbara Ling's production design is very good, especially at Claw Island yet Gotham City is too bright and neon colored to give the sense and and look of darkness and awe that the original and second Gotham City had. John Dykstra's (Star Wars, Star Trek-The Motion Picture) visual effects are excellent, once again primarily at Claw Island. Dennis Virkler's (The Hunt For Red October, The Fugitive) film editing is also well-done. Oscar nominations for Best Cinematography, (Stephen Goldblatt-The Prince of Tides) Best Sound, (Donald O. Mitchell, Frank A. Montano, Michael Herbick,-Under Siege, The Fugitive, Clear and Present Danger and Peter Hliddal) and Best Sound Effects Editing (Bruce Stambler and John Leveque-Under Siege, The Fugitive, Clear and Present Danger, The Ghost and the Darkness). No wins for Batman Forever.

Despite some good action scenes (four slightly hokey yet nonetheless entertaining scenes- the opening, Batman driving up a skyscraper to escape Two-Face, the NygmaTech party crash, and the Wayne Manor break-in), great new vehicles including a redesigned Batmobile, the Bat Boat, the Bat Plane, and the Bat Sub, and plenty of new Bat hardware, the movie is hurt badly by a very disappointing climax at Claw Island. Though very lavish, the climax is dulled due to lack of fighting, not enough light and too much GREEN lighting (you still can't see well enough). A chilling yet funny ending at Arkham Asylum. Overall, not as well-done as the first two Batman films but is entertaining, lavish, and has a case of overload. I wished the next film would be more like the first two but...... P.S.- 3 1/2 stars for Batman Forever.

Rating:
Summary: UNBEARABLE - EVERYTHING IS AWFUL
Review: There isn't anything "fun" about this car wreck of a film, there are no standout performances, there is no original "take' on Batman. Kilmer is ridiculous in the lead role (the bat signal isn't a beeper!), Jim Carrey is positively unfunny - not one good joke, or riddle for that matter. Two face is so over the top and disgusting it eliminates any pleasure to be had with the character. Robin is so luaghable bad (you have to go out and fight monsters Bruce!) The action : moronic (a grappling hook swinging a bank vault into a skyscraper), the plot: beyond compare. The only decent thing in this movie is the U2 song. Hey, the Burton films aren't very good either, but compared to this...

Rating:
Summary: Gotham gets a facelift.
Review: The 3rd Batman is a mush of the vibrant cartoon show, and the black and dark Burton style we are used to seeing. Fist of all, this film would've been nothing without its stellar cast, Kilmer, Jones, O'Connel, Carrey, and Kidman, what an A list lineup. This time Val Kilmer replaced Batman, and I think he rivals Keaton's performance. The villians are played with such malice and insanity by Jim Carrey and Tommy Lee Jones, and Nicole Kidman plays the ultimate bombshell girlfriend to Bruce Wayne. DC comics should be proud and so should any critic. See this film.

Rating:
Summary: Batman Goes Hollywood
Review: Batman is a big star and boy, does he know it. All the eye popping special effects of the first two Batmans but without any distracting plot or acting to get in the way. Jim Carrey is a lot of fun as the Riddler. Tommy Lee Jones embarrasses himself and any discerning viewers. Val Kilmer brings nothing to the the role. When will he learn he lacks the personality and likability to be a leading man? All in all a disappointing but not devastating entry in the Batman series.

Rating:
Summary: schumacher = hack
Review: This movie's worth can be gathered from looking at the box; notice how many faces are on there (five). That's exactly how this movie plays out, like five stars trying to get their shots in. Kilmer didnt seem that bad nor did Kidman, but I don't want to watch a movie featuring the joker and two-face. The series is based on Batman but I felt that Batman is a side-note in films 3 and 4. Films 3 and 4 just prove how much of a genius Tim Burton is.

Rating:
Summary: Gone Batty
Review: Batman Forever was, even at the time of its release, a sign of the begining of the end of the series. Val Kilmer wasn't really all that bad as Bruce Wayne/Batman. He looked the part of a playboy millionaire. But Chris O'Donnell's Dick Grayson/Robin was a disaster. He was too old for the part, too old to need a guardian. The movie repeated what was now becoming stale. The hero (Robin's) parents being killed by the villain (Two-Face)of the movie. They had to trot out yet another blond heroine who discovers Batman's secret identity. They couldn't be satisfied with just one villain, they needed two, like in Batman Returns. Jim Carrey was suitably deranged for the part of the Riddler, but I wanted to yell yes when he asks at one point, "Was that over the top?" He was undoubtedly the reason the movie was so popular, although the introduction of Robin could've been a factor. The color scheme of the movie was a disco from hell look. By the time the Riddler and Two-Face were destroying the Batcave, I felt like I was watching the old Adam West series. What's happened to the Batman who's a detective and a master of disguises?