Batman Forever

Rating:
Summary: Better than it is reputed to be
Review: Before director Joel Schumacher ruined the Batman film series with 1997's Batman & Robin; he made his Batman directorial debut with Batman Forever. With original director Tim Burton (who stayed on as producer) gone along with star Michael Keaton, the film allready had a lot going against it, but on it's own it is a solid action comic themed blast. Val Kilmer plays the caped crusader this time around, and he faces off against the Riddler (Jim Carrey) and Two-Face (Tommy Lee Jones) and eventually teams up with Robin (Chris O' Donnell) while wooing the oh so hot Dr. Chase Meridian (Nicole Kidman). Kilmer proves to be a good Batman, but he isn't as convincing as Keaton was. Carrey is great as the Riddler, and I can't picture anyone else (Robin Williams was originally considered for the part) playing him. Jones overacts quite a bit as the maniacal Two-Face, and O'Donnell seems a bit wasted as the boy wonder. The film boasts gorgeous, albeit overdone, set pieces and cinematography, and all together Batman Forever was the last good Batman film before the ludicrous and utterly terrible Batman & Robin.

Rating:
Summary: GARBAGE, GARBAGE, GARBAGE.
Review: THIS ONE OF THE WORST MOVIE EVER MADE. TWO VERY BAD THINGS HAPPENED IN THIS FLICK, THE FIRST ONE IS THAT TIM BURTON DID NOT DIRECT THIS ONE AND THE LAST IS ONE IS THE WORST MICHAEL KEATON DID NOT RETURN, INSTEAD WE GET VAL KILMER HE SUCKED AS BATMAN TOTALLY, CHRIS O'DONNELL BOO HE SUCKED AS ROBIN, BUT TOMMY LEE JONES AND JIM CARREY DID A GOOD JOB BUT IT COULD NOT SAVE THE MOVIE.

Rating:
Summary: Holy Bat-Flop!!!!!
Review: What where they thinking giving the script for this movie the green light? Obviously Warner bros. Where just cashing in on the franchise and decided that casting the movie with big names will make it sell, but don't worry about finding a script for it.

Val Kilmar replaces Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne/ Batman. And he obviously never bothered to watch how Keaton portrayed Batman because he went in a completely wrong direction and made the Bruce Wayne character stiff and almost lifeless at times. The main character of Gotham City is the main focus of the Batman franchise, why cast such a boring actor to drain the life out of character?

Tommy Lee Jones as Two-Face and Jim Carrey as the Riddler you would think would make a great combination, Tommy as a great actor and Jim bringing the humour to the film, however both of them turned out the worst performance of there acting career's if you ask me. Tommy Lee Jones may have acted like a character he had never been seen to do before, but that doesn't make it good. And Carey did not bring what he should have either, and his acting was horrible too.

Nicole Kidman playing the physiatrist to Batman also turned over a new low and created her worst performance too. Her character had no thought and no life behind it, just a familiar face to see on screen.

The only actor in this whole film apart from the guy who returned to play Alfred is Chris O'Donnell. But even O'Donnell's excellent portrayal of Robin couldn't save this movie. At least he got to reprise his role in the next Bat-movie and be in a movie much better then this garbage.

Please, forget about the cast, I know this movie has a lot of well-known actors, but please, forget that for one moment and take a look at the acting. Take a look at the plot, I was more interested to watch how bad the CGI was in backgrounds then I was in trying to find a good thing to say about this god-awful film. This film was sold on the cast alone. The Big name stars where all that was needed to sell this movie and to cash in on the franchise, and I wish that was a crime, because all it does is produces bad movies and major Hollywood rip-off's that make way for similar cheap scams and ideas by these companies to see what they have got to cash in on.

The overall movie's plot could have been interesting with a few tweaks here and there, but instead it has become one of my personal "worst movie of all time" contender choices. The movie also murders the realism the first 2 movies had, as far fetched as some things where, at least you could believe it was somewhat in the same reality as the one we live in. Where as this movie and in the 4th one Gotham City has gone from a realistic city to the worlds oldest, most historic and gigantic city in the entire world where all crime bosses and villains seem to be lured to or they are created there. (Must be something in the water?) And like I was saying, the movie also goes from a reality feel into a comic book likeness. They may as well have given Riddler a talking cartoon ninja cat as a sidekick.

Rating:
Summary: Decent fun and 10 times better than Batman & Robin
Review: I wonder what Tim Burton would've done with this movie. The script probably would've been a lot better for one. Plus if he had Jim Carrey and Tommy Lee Jones as Riddler and Two Face. I highly doubt he would've had them acting like villains from the 60's tv show. Plus Batman is cooler and more mysterious without Robin. So if they have a new trilogy after Batman Begins they should never bring Robin and Batgirl into the picture. Val Kilmer gets more of a chance to prove himself as Batman than George Clooney did though.

Val Kilmer plays Bruce Wayne as a man fighting his inner-demons who has flaschbacks of his past. Scenes like him having flashbacks of falling into a cave with bats is where the movie works the most. Plus he doesn't have bad chemestry with Nicole Kidman either. They're laidback in their roles when everyone else is hopping all over the place acting goofy. So their scenes together are refreshing and almost sorta engaging. This movie is a step in the wrong direction after Burton's films. Still it's fun and harmless and didn't kill the trilogy like Batman & Robin did. Hell it's a masterpiece compared to Batman & Robin.

Joel Schumacher was just wrong to do Batman though. I mean instead of worrying about having a good script he worried more about how to get a good shot of Batman's [...]. If he did another one, he'd probably start having close-ups of Alfred's [...] or Commisioner Gordan's. Focusing on shots of the super heroes [...] isn't exactly giving a comic the kind of respect it deserves. I mean you don't see Sam Raimi focusing on how Tobey Maguire's ass looks in the Spiderman costume. He treats the movies with respect and won't film a movie until he's 100% sure he has a good story to tell. So Joel Schumacher could've learned a lot from Sam Raimi on how to make a super hero movie.

Rating:
Summary: Jim's Madness
Review: There is no subsitute for the madness that Jim Carrey manages to bring out in the suit of the Riddler. Jim at his best. Though, he's given us BEST many times. One of the MOST TALENTED actors of all TIMES!
The movie? Well, it's Batman, so forget the plots. Enjoy the colors, motion and special effects. Batman is Batman. It's not Shawshank redemption. So don't expect, plots, dialogues and monologues. It's Batman! When you go see or buy a movie like this, forget plots and well-written dialogues. If they come, consider them as a BONUS.

Rating:
Summary: Can't take this stuff seriously
Review: In reading other reviews of this rather silly romp, I'm amused at how many people take this Batman movie stuff so deadly serious, whining about which parts of the film seem unrealistic or less believable than other Batman movies, the comics, etc.

C'mon people. We're talking about a guy with an average physique who, in costume, has the strength of ten men, can fly (or at least glide) and fall hundreds of feet safely, and can outdo a crowd of thugs with martial arts while wearing a thick rubber suit with a long cape. We're also talking about a world where the bad guys never get caught, construct elaborate hiding places and instruments of evil without anyone noticing, and take on outrageous personae like Penguin, Joker, Riddler, Two-Face, Catwoman, etc. Yeah, that's realistic.

In other words, this is FANTASY. It must be viewed as such, and must be judged on that basis. And with that in mind, "Batman Forever," although definitely a left turn from the first two "Batman" films with Tim Burton & Michael Keaton, is a fun film that doesn't take itself seriously. I think that's perfectly appropriate. It certainly doesn't go too far over the edge into camp, although there are a couple of nods to the '60s TV series that still brings a smile to most of our faces in spite of the groans of the purists.

Val Kilmer, admittedly, is not much of a Batman, and the fourth film, "Batman and Robin," found the series degenerating beyond repair, much like the fourth Superman film ruined that series. However, both villains here are perfect, including Tommy Lee Jones as Two-Face, who is clearly having a blast hamming it up in the role of the over-the-top attorney gone psycho. Nicole Kidman has some brilliant scenes, although the character is badly handled in general. And Chris O'Donnell just fits as Robin, and the story of his family tragedy just works, as does his character's response to same. Jim Carrey is obviously ideal both for the role of the Riddler and of his alter ego, Edward Nygma.

If you can take a chill pill as regards this film's relation to the comics, the first two films, and the TV series, I think you'll find it a really enjoyable part of the Batman mythos. Those who take these things too seriously, well, go back to your "graphic novels" and let the rest of us have a little fun.

Rating:
Summary: "Holy Rusted Metal, Batman!"
Review: In this 3rd installment of the Batman series, Val Kilmer has taken over as Batman, replacing Michael Keaton from the first two films. At first, I was disappointed, but Kilmer does a very good job in the title role. He is helped by a strong supporting cast, including Tommy Lee Jones as Two Face, Jim Carrey as Edward Nygma/Riddler, Nicole Kidman as Chase Meridian, and Chris O'Donnell as Dick Grayson/Robin.

The mood and setting of this movie is different from its predecessors. In the first two movies, Gotham City had a distinctly dark and gothic look, while in this movie, Gotham appears much brighter. The action which made the earlier films so good is present here as well. Instead of battling the likes of the Joker and the Penguin, Batman has encountered two new enemies; the Riddler and Two Face.

Riddler, played by Jim Carrey, began as Edward Nygma, an employee of Wayne Enterprises, who developed a box which is placed on top of a television. The box can draw in people's brain waves, while strengthening Riddler at the same time.

Two Face, played by Tommy Lee Jones, used to be Harvey Dent, former D.A. of Gotham City. A terrible accident left Harvey severely burned, and he blames Batman for not helping him. Thus, as Two Face, along with his trusty coin, he's made it his personal vendetta to destroy Batman.

This movie also sees the arrival of Robin. Robin, aka Dick Grayson, played by Chris O'Donnell, was a member of the flying Graysons, a group of high wire circus performers. A terrible accident happens at one of their performances. Dick blames Two Face for the accident and he vows to avenge is family. He moves into Wayne manor, and after a period of adjustment, joins forces with Batman. Soon, the two caped crusaders are fighting evil in Gotham City.

I enjoyed this movie a great deal. The action is very good, and the acting, especially by Jim Carrey and Tommy Lee Jones, makes it even more enjoyable. Watch this fine movie and follow the continuing adventures of Batman.

Rating:
Summary: Batman Forever (1995)
Review: A neon change for Batman. Keaton isn't in this movie which makes a small impact on the movie for people who were expecting him. Val was okay. The Riddler stole the show just like catwoman did in RETURNS. Two-Face was a side show.

Rating:
Summary: "It's The Car, Right? Chicks Dig The Car."
Review: "Try a fireman. Less to take off." - Batman uses proper fire safety against the red hot Chase Meridian in "Batman Forever"

After "Warner Bros." showed Michael Keaton the exit, after negotiations for a bigger salary failed, & Tim Burton's reply, to the whole debacle, was declining to direct the film and coming back only as co-producer, "Warner" had a problem on its hands. The problem was solved with Val Kilmer signing on as The Dark Knight and Joel Schumacher directing. The result is "Batman Forever", the third installment in the bat-franchise that is lighter than the first two films but careens dangerously into camp territory in certain spots of the film (I cringed when I heard the line "Holy rusted metal Batman!" or how about the implossible scene where the batmobile blasts up the side of a building to escape Two-Face & his goons. I could have done without those scenes).

Batman goes up against, former District Attorney, Harvey Dent, who after getting acid sprayed on one side of his face, loses his mind and becomes the villainous Two-Face, deciding everyone's fate with a random toss of his scarred coin.

Things get worse when, former Wayne Enterprises, scientist Edward Nigma develops a gadget that can transmit T.V. signals directly to the human brain, with one big side effect - the signals also imitate brain signals, from the user, that are sent back to the transmitter's original origin. Nigma absorbs these brain signals to make him smarter & an ego-maniacal danger to Gotham City.

Batman gets some help this time around with the introduction of Robin, a former acrobat artist whose family all became victims under the wrath of Two-Face.

"Batman Forever" probably isn't a favorite among the die-hard "Batman" fans, but, I give the movie thumbs up.

The cast is decent. Val Kilmer does a great job as Batman (not as brooding as Keaton was). Jim Carrey is great as the Riddler, especially when destroying the Batcave (the role was originally rumored to be offered to Robin Williams, but, passed when Michael Keaton left the project). Nicole Kidman is smoking as Chase Meridian, the psychatrist trying to get under Batman's cape. Chris O' Donnell is passable as Dick Grayson/Robin & Tommy Lee Jones is nuts as Two-Face.

Schumacher is o.k. as director for "Batman Forever", and does a great job with the Dick Grayson/Robin plotline. But, there are some puzzling aspects to the film. Since when do gang members wear glo-paint on there faces? Nipples on the bat-suit?!?!

The DVD is, once again, a bear bones affair from "Warner" with produciton notes and nothing else.

Like the other "Bat" films this is in desperate need of a "special edition". Hear that "Warner Bros."? You jackasses.

Rating:
Summary: In terms of overall watchability
Review: this actually fares better than the first two. At least the storyline is more concise and far less disjointed. And Kilmer actually came off as better than Keaton; he's a better actor, like it or not. The only flaws: Tommy Lee chewing scenery when he didn't have to, and Carrey's usual over-the-top performance which ultimately made the Riddler about as interesting as Ace Ventura -- that is to say, stupid and tedious. But even with these flaws, it still held your interest. Robin has the best line of the film when they reach the Riddler's "lair."