Review of Batman Forever (1995) by Alden S — 27 Jul 2014

Well what can I say that hasn't been said already about this film. Okay,. seeing as Tim Burton is no longer directing the franchise (howevdr he produced this), it's not a bad effort and not the crap film. That crap film was the next one to follow: Batman and Robin.

Anyway this is where the franchise started going downhill though because Warner Bros wanted to make it appeal to younger children, they introduced some overly-campy humour. Most of it comes from the films two lead villains, Two-Face and the Riddler. Two-Face is meant to be a tragic and confused character with multiple personalities whereas the Riddler is meant to be an reclusive evil eccentric. Here they behave like naughty little schoolboys. The plotline is ok but a little cheesy.

The plot involves Batman/Bruce Wayne (Kilmer) struggle with his identities and seeking therapy from beautiful Dr Chase Meridian (Kidman).

As this occurs, three members of a family of acrobats are murdered by the newly escaped Two-Face, leaving their youngest son Dick Grayson (O' Donnell, who isn't too bad actually) to survive. As a result Bruce takes Dick in and Dick soon finds out who Bruce is. Whilst this is occurring, one of Bruce Waynes disgruntled ex-employees Edward Nygma is creating a successful bussiness of his own and has invented an invention that makes t.v. programmes become reality for the viewers whilst secretly sucking out bits about peoples private lives from their minds whilst they are in their hypnotic trance.

The acting is mixed. Val Kilmer makes a good Bruce Wayne but isn't too scary as Batman. Nicole Kidman is rather wooden. Chris O'Donnell is okay as the grieving and vengeful Dick Grayson. Jim Carrey is his usual manic self and Tommy Lee Jones is way too over the top as Two Face.

It's okay but not great. Still it could've been worse as we've all learned. ***.