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Batman Forever

"Batman Forever" not only marked the point when the franchise, initiated by Tim Burton in 1989, switched hands, but also a sharp turn in style and approach.

Now in the hands of Joel Schumacher, a competent and bold director of films like “A time to kill” and “Phone Booth,” the bitter and tormented personality of Batman, which was never deeply explored by Tim Burton, lost even more ground for the action sequences, special effects and histrionic situations.

The silent and restrained personality of the Dark Knight present in the comic books was sacrificed for a more notorious one. While in Tim Burton’s Batman (1989) everybody still argues about the existence of Batman and the hero avoids being photographed, in "Batman Forever" the Dark Knight even poses for magazine covers.

The story brings two different villains, Edward Nigma, the Riddler (Jim Carrey) and Harvey Dent, the Two-Faces (Tommy Lee Jones). Nigma is a researcher of Wayne Enterprises and an admirer of Bruce Wayne (now played by Val Kilmer), trying to create a new way of three-dimensional television, an idea quickly discarded by Wayne because it involves the manipulation of brain waves.

Deciding to conduct his researches independently, Nigma allies with Two-Faces, stealing money to finance the device’s project, which by a side effect absorbs intelligence from its users, making the Riddler become more and more smart while sending his enigmas to Bruce Wayne/Batman.

A new love interest was introduced in the role of Dr. Chase Meridian (Nicole Kidman), a psychologist obsessed by Batman’s personality. Another character finally introduced to the franchise is Dick Grayson/Robin (Chris O’Donnel). A circus trapezist, whose parents were killed by Two-Faces during a performance.

Adopted by Bruce Wayne, Grayson ends up finding the Batcave and eventually becoming Wayne’s partner in the crusade against crime, seeking revenge against Two-Faces over the death of his parents.

Schumacher's creative choices favored more theatrical aspects than the story itself. The Batmobile was given a more bright look as well as the Batcave, but even so, they are still convincing. The strangest aspect was the addition of nipples in the heroes' suits, hopefully as an appeal for the female audiences.

More family friendly than its predecessor, "Batman Returns," "Batman Forever" was a relative box-office success, but the addition of Val Kilmer as Wayne was definitely a set-back, the droopy eyes under Batman’s mask gave the hero a sleepy mole appearance, rather than that of a vengeful bat.

Different from the previous films, the franchise’s third chapter makes the children cheer and the adults boo.

Written by: Edward Olivier

Reviewers Rating: 7
Reader's Rating: 9.00
Reader's Votes: 1

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