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Batman Forever [1995]
![Batman Forever [1995]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51D9567PMVL._SL160_.jpg)
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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
When Tim Burton and Michael Keaton announced that they'd had enough of the Batman franchise, director JoelSchumacher stepped in (with Burton as coproducer) to make this action-packed extravaganza starring Val Kilmer as the capedcrusader. Batman is up against two of Gotham City's most colourful criminals, the Riddler (a role tailor-made for funnyman Jim Carrey) and the diabolical Two-Face (Tommy Lee Jones), who join forces to conquer Gotham's population with a brain-draining device. Nicole Kidman plays the seductive psychologist who wants to know what makes Batman tick. Boasting a redesigned Batmobile and plenty of new Bat hardware, Batman Forever also introduces Robin the Boy Wonder (Chris O'Donnell) whose close alliance with Batman led more than afew critics to ponder the series' homoerotic subtext. No matter how you interpret it, Schumacher's take on the Batman legacy is simultaneously amusing, lavishly epic and prone to chronic sensory overload. --Jeff Shannon
The most authentic looking film of the series
Review date: 2008-07-20 Rating: 8 out of 10
As above. I'm referring to the 1960s TV show, not the comics. The first two Burton spectaculars, for all their grand gothicness, missed this connection totally and didn't even introduce us to Robin. So this film was a welcome addition to the series and set its own tone completely. The viewers who don't like it seem to be mostly judging it on its breakaway from the first two movies, and not on its own merits. I think the director did a grand job and the casting was perfect. Kilmer made a great Batman, showing more human vulnerability and even naivete through his caped crusader guise than the stiffer, darker, more concealed Keaton did. Lee-Jones was right as Two-Face and Carey was the real star of the show as the Riddler, all theatre and facial expressions - a great performance that together with the lurid set design lifted (for me) this film above the good but far darker, denser, very different Burton movies. I recognised this version much more than the first two.
Similar Products
- Batman Returns [1992]
- Batman And Robin [1997]
- Batman [1989]
- Batman Begins - 1 Disc Edition [2005]
- Batman Begins - 2 Disc Edition [2005]
Reviews
Complete pap for kids only
Review date: 2008-07-14 Rating: 2 out of 10
There is not much that is good about this film. The music is over powering, the dialogue is predictable- cliched and contrived, the costumes and makeup are cheap and basic with black paint around the eyes..., the believeability is non existant, the character depth is non existant the lighting and stage builds are cheap and the batcave and all its gadgets are poor. The bat mobile has big bat wings that jiggle about and there is a pointless column of blue flame ejecting from behind that serves no purpose whatsoever as the car never seems to go beyond 15mph.
Jim Carey is overdoing it againa nd whatever the charcater is called played by Tommy Lee Jones just has the worst make-up ever. The baddies are all painted up and illumoinated by neon lighting and - well its just the most gawd awful film ever. Get the Tim Burton films instead - they are excellent!
Batman Forever was the second highest grossing film of 1995.
Review date: 2008-02-23 Rating: 10 out of 10
After "Batman" and "Batman Returns" made over half a billion dollars combined at the box office, it was clear it wouldn't be long before Warner Bros. green lit a third installment to the Batman franchise. After Tim Burton was released as director...due to the sexuality and violence of "Returns" not being marketable enough for big sponsors like McDonalds, Joel Schumacher of "The Client" and "The Lost Boys" was given a shot at the directors chair. Schumacher was hired primarily for his unique style and ability to balance the light and dark in a film. Michael Keaton decided not to take the reigns as star for a 3rd time around, so he was replaced by Val "Iceman" Kilmer. And Robin finally gets his first appearance as batman's sidekick. Here played by Chris O'Donnell, respectively. While the film may be flawed in terms of a few plot holes and a bit of overacting, it stresses a larger point to the Batman legacy, as did "Batman Begins". "Begins" teaches us why Batman is, and "Forever" teaches why Batman will always be.
The film begins with our hero (Val Kilmer) hunting after his prison-escaped nemesis, Harvey Two-Face (Academy Award Winner Tommy Lee Jones), the once crime fighting D.A. Harvey Dent. After failing to bring Two-Face to justice, Batman faces another challenge in the forms of Dr. Chase Meridian, a psychiatrist who is week in the knees for bad boys, and Edward Nygma, a maniacal employee of Wayne Enterprises. After Nygma proposes a new device that can allow the viewer of any television program to become one with the show, Wayne refuses, denouncing the idea of mind manipulation. Nygma, now rejected, vows vengeance. After receiving several disturbing letters in the form of riddles, Bruce Wayne engages the help of Dr. Meridian. Bruce, infatuated by Chase, asks her to join him at a Grand Circus, featuring all of Gotham's "well-to-do". Whilst there, Two-Face crashes the party, armed with 200 sticks of TNT. Threatening to leave the place in ruins unless Batman's identity is given up, the acrobatic stars of the circus, the Graysons, attempt to stop the bomb. In their gallant attempt, Two-Face executes them. The only surviving son, Dick Grayson, managed to escape that very fate to dismantle the T.N.T. Dick, now alone and orphaned, is taken in by Bruce. Having gone through a similar situation with the murder of his parents, Bruce takes Dick under his wing (forgive the pun). Eventually, Nygma transforms into an alter ego known as The Riddler, and joins forces with Two-Face. After establishing himself as a brilliant tycoon as Edward Nygma with the release of his 3-D Box, he takes advantage of all the images and information being sucked out of Gotham's brainwaves. He would eventually devise a way to read men's minds. Between the Riddler and Two-Face discovering his identity, Chase's infatuation with Batman, Bruce's true love for Chase, and Dick Grayson's wanting to exact vengeance on Two-Face, Batman has his hands full. These conflicts all culminate in a raid on Wayne Manor and then a final battle on the Riddler's Claw island fortress, in which Robin makes his first venture in heroism.
Between the dazzling special effects, the newly written musical score by Elliott Goldenthal (no where near as effective as Danny Elfman's haunting score, but still damn good), and the new and fresh performance as the Dark Knight/Bruce Wayne by Val Kilmer, this film is sure to please anyone who was disappointed with "Batman & Robin" or "Batman Returns". My final comments will go to the cast. While Kilmer was effective as Batman, giving us something both new and something we have seen in Michael Keaton's portrayal, I was surprised to see how well he fit into the role. His voice, his body movements, and especially his billionaire, corporate C.E.O. version of Bruce Wayne that Keaton had not shown us, are all pluses for his performance. Tommy Lee Jones was only given one side of the personality of Two-Face. Thus giving us a wildly over the top, hot headed, but ultimately cool Two-Face. From the first shot we see him to the final confrontation between he and the dynamic duo; Jones gives to Two-Face what Nicholson gave to the Joker, an unrelenting dose of delicious evil. Jim Carrey was the ultimate choice for the Riddler. His tall, thin structure and extraordinarily comical body movements gave the Riddler what Frank Gorshin had done in the 60s with the same character. From the twirling of his golden , question-mark-topped-cane, and the skin tight green suit encumbered with jet black question marks, Carrey proves one of the best of Batman's on screen adversaries. Kidman was sexy and refreshing. But, if people think Two-Face is over the top, try a criminal psychiatrist who is turned on by "the wrong kind of man". I kind of buy it, but over all I thought the best part of her character was when she decided to grow up and fall for a normal man (if you consider Bruce normal). Chris O'Donnell did hear what he should have followed up in "Batman & Robin". And that is to keep the bad boy image going, and abandon any Burt Ward impersonation. Luckily enough, Burt Ward is no where to be found in this film. This film shows us why Batman will always be, as "Batman Begins" showed us why he is. Wayne in "Begins" confronts what he must become, as Wayne in this, must confront why he must continue.
Big time hit and miss effort
Review date: 2007-12-14 Rating: 6 out of 10
Batman Forever is a big time hit and miss effort. At times it's fast hitting, funny, vivid and interesting and at times the humor and dialogue are beyond hope, the action is too silly and the characters are too shallow. The scenery is also hit and miss, running from nicely colored for a change to completely garish. I love Val Kilmer but he's completely dull as Batman, continuing the trend in the series of making the title character the dullest character in the movie. Jim Carrey as the Riddler is allowed to swing all over the place emotionally and is actually outstanding at times in a role that he's made for. His character is scripted as strangely feminine and there are times when he comes off as being incredibly creepy but he takes the part and runs with it. Tommy Lee Jones as Two Face is a major disappointment, not because of Jones but because his role is shallow, stereotypical and completely uninteresting. The psychopathic edge of Two Faces personality is replaced by a giggling goof who seems to be having just a little too much fun. All the torment that should have gone to his character goes to Carrey's strangely enough. Nicole Kidman as Chase Meridian should also have been interesting as a psychologist paired with Batman should be but she comes off too much as being just a giggling groupie, falling for both Batman and Bruce and calling mentally ill people wackos, something that psychologists never do. Chris O'Donnell as Robin is ok and does a good job of playing his role with whining immaturity. He comes up a little short on the dramatic moments though. The scene where he takes the Batmobile out for a spin is one of the best in the film. The opener is fun, the circus where Robin's parents die is actually done very well and the moments where Bruce opens up to Chase are also interesting. The villains running amok together range from pretty funny to very weird as one starts to question their relationship and the ending is somewhat unfulfilling. Batman Forever is a bridge movie between the dark and good Batman Returns and the horrible Batman and Robin. It's not great, not awful, takes itself much less seriously but entertains pretty well.
Where the franchise went wrong
Review date: 2007-09-15 Rating: 6 out of 10
The first two batman films are great, entertaining and involving with a nice dark touch to them. This third film however takes a dramatic turn for the worse, starting the rot that would cumulate in the film Batman & Robin and consign the Batman film franchise to the doldrums until Batman Begins brings new life to the Dark Knight. The film sees Tim Burton replaced with Joel Schumacher as director and Val Kilmer replaces Michael Keaton as Batman. Nether Schumacher or Kilmer can live up to their predecessors and much of the supporting cast is just as bad. On the plus side Tommy Lee Jones gives a good performance as Harvey Dent/Two-Face and Nicole Kidman is competent as Dr Meridian. Overall the film lacks the punch of Burtons Batman and Batman Returns, feeling far lighter and fluffier with little in the way of substance. Although not as bad as Batman & Robin this film still doesn't do the Batman franchise the justice it deserves.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Nicole Kidman
Jim Carrey
Tommy Lee Jones
Chris O'Donnell
Val Kilmer
Director(s):
Recording label: Warner Home Video
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
EAN: 7321900151009
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 1999-03-29
Number of discs: 1
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Audience rating: Parental Guidance
Region code: 2
Running time: 115 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1995-06-16
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: English (Subtitles For The Hearing Impaired)
Language: Arabic (Subtitled)
Language: English (Subtitled)