Batman Forever (1995)

Starring Val Kilmer, Tommy Lee Jones, Jim Carrey, and Nicole Kidman.  Cinematography by Stephen Goldblatt. Editing by Dennis Virkler. Produced by Tim Burton and Peter MacGregor-Scott.  Written by Janet Scott Batchler, Lee Batchler, and Akiva Goldsman.  Directed by Joel Schumacher.

The Batman franchise continues and is ready to dispose of two more of its more colorful villains.  This time Batman (played by Val Kilmer) is up against Two-Face (played by Tommy Lee Jones) and The Riddler (played by Jim Carrey). Two-Face, formerly known as District Attorney Harvey Dent, is now partially disfigured and bases all of his decisions on the flip of a coin.

The Riddler, formerly known as Edward Nygma, is a nerdy computer scientist turned lunatic. The Riddler has developed a system that will sit on top of everyone’s television sets and slowly drain the viewer’s brain power. The removed mental capacity is then harnessed and dumped into The Riddler’s head, making him the most intelligent and dangerous person on the planet. On top of all that, Bruce Wayne now has to deal with the newly orphaned Dick Grayson, who eventually becomes Robin (played by Chris O’Donnell).

Batman has now become Warner Brother’s largest franchise.  Tim Burton at one time had intended to direct the second sequel, and was going to pair up Batman and The Riddler for combat.  But the last Batman film, Batman Returns, was so dark and bleak that it was difficult to market. So in effort to “lighten” the film up, a new filmmaker was cast.

Joel Schumacher was offered the project one week before he started production on The Client.  Before accepting the job, Schumacher took Burton to lunch and asked for his permission to take over.  Burton gave it and accepted a role as co-producer.  With Burton out, Michael Keaton decided to follow his lead. He said that he did not care for the direction that Schumacher was taking the project, and the hunt for a new Batman began.  Tom Hanks and Alec Baldwin were considered, but in the end it was Val Kilmer that was moved into the Batcave.

The material was indeed lightened up, and a grip of money was made, but Schumacher seems to have a degree of irreverence to the material that Burton had so dearly respected. Schumacher felt that Batman needed to be more of a sex symbol and had the costume redesigned.  The new costumes included sculpted nipples and a tighter butt, which created a huge controversy over the homoerotic suggestions. Gothem City is still gloomy, but is redesigned to be more cartoonish. 

There are more jokes and cheesy one-liners.  The film alienated the Batman fans and ratings were poor. But in reality the film isn’t horrible.  It may be on a different level than the last two Batmans, but it has a lot of energy and is worth watching at least once.

Budget: $100,000,000

Total US Gross: $184,031,112

Genre: Action

Runtime: 122 Minutes

US Release Date: 6/16/95

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Awards:

Academy Awards: 
Nominated for cinematography, sound effects, and sound. 

Golden Globes: 
Nominated for best original song.

Tagline: Courage Now, Truth Always...

Quote: “Riddle me this, riddle me that, who's afraid of the big, black bat?”