Batman Forever

Batman Forever (or just Forever) (1995) is the third of the Batman movies which began with Tim Burton's 1989 version of the character, although it is a major departure from previous entries in the franchise, with the dramatic changes to such things as the cast, design and Danny Elfman's theme, which is scrapped completely (the music was composed by Elliot Goldenthal). It starred Val Kilmer as Batman, in his first and only appearance as the Dark Knight, and marked the series debut of Robin (played by Chris O'Donnell).

Cast

Val Kilmer ... Batman/Bruce Wayne
Tommy Lee Jones ... Harvey Two-Face/Harvey Dent
Jim Carrey ... The Riddler/Edward Nygma
Nicole Kidman ... Dr. Chase Meridian
Chris O'Donnell ... Robin/Richard "Dick" Grayson
Michael Gough ... Alfred Pennyworth
Pat Hingle ... Commissioner Gordon
Drew Barrymore ... Sugar
Debi Mazar ... Spice

Background

While the previous two films had been directed by Tim Burton, Batman Forever was directed by Joel Schumacher, whose changes to the established designs and thematics of the first two films -- Batman's costume includes latex nipples for example -- are regarded by many as being less serious than the franchise's previous two.

The villains in the movie are The Riddler, played by Jim Carrey, and Two-Face/Harvey Dent, a role played in the original 1989 movie by Billy Dee Williams, but assumed here by Tommy Lee Jones. Also in the movie is Dr. Chase Meridian, played by Nicole Kidman; the movie proved to be Kidman's breakout role and put her on the road to superstardom.

Picking up a few years after the events of Batman Returns, this sequel follows Two-Face's alliance with The Riddler and their resulting plan to destroy Batman. It also tells the origin story of Robin, who was not seen in either of the two previous films; As in the comic books, Robin is a circus performer whose family is murdered (although, in the film, his family is killed by Two-Face, rather than a gangster) and becomes Bruce Wayne's ward and Batman's partner in crime-fighting. The Riddler, meanwhile, is portrayed as a vengeful, obsessive former engineer who once worked for Bruce Wayne, Batman's alter ego.

At the time the third Batman film went into production it was initially going to be directed by Burton with Michael Keaton. Marlon Wayans was cast by Tim Burton as Robin for Batman Returns (as the character was originally to appear in a cameo, eventually Burton decided to forego the character and use Wayans' Robin in a third film) and he was actually signed for Batman Forever, Rene Russo as the love interest, Billy Dee Williams was to reprise his role (from the 1989 film) as Harvey Dent (also known as Two Face) and rumors claimed Micky Dolenz was the Riddler and that Robin Williams was offered the role, but turned it down, along with a possible return of the Catwoman character (who survived the events of Batman Returns). After initial casting with Marlon Wayans actually signed and costume tested for the film, Warner Bros. ultimately threw out Burton after they realised the tone of the film was to be similar to Batman Returns. When Schumacher came on board as the new director he threw out most of Burton's decisions and ideas, starting from scratch. As a result Marlon Wayans' contract was actually paid out in full by Warner Brothers and Chris O'Donnell was cast as Robin instead. Tommy Lee Jones was then cast as Two-Face to replace Burton's choice of Billy Dee Williams.

After some negotiating, Keaton left the film as he was unhappy with the script being lighter-in-tone and the absence of Tim Burton. Due to its huge success, Batman Forever was followed two years later by Batman and Robin (1997).

Critical reaction and box office

The film's budget was approximately States dollar|$" target="_blank" >^*90 - $100 million and earned $184,031,112 in total domestic sales and $152.5 million worldwide (according to ^*), making it the most commercially successful movie of the summer of 1995 and second-best of that year (next to Toy Story). It was also the third most successful Batman movie as of July 20, 2005 (after the 1989 original and 2005's Batman Begins).

The film obtained generally mixed reviews. Much of the negative reaction came from the drastic makeover of the franchise (most of it led by Joel Schumacher at the will of the Warner Bros. executives). Due to the fact that Batman Returns earned less than the original, Warner Bros. insisted the movie be aimed predominantly at children to improve merchandising turnover. This included deleting over 30 minutes of footage, including Two-Face escaping from Arkham Asylum, the resolution to the Red Book subplot, and a sequence in which Bruce confronts a section of the Batcave with a giant bat. Further editing rearranged the first half of the film to start it off with an action scene. This resulted making the third Batman movie with a feel that was more reminiscent to the 1960s TV show than its Burton predecessors.

Disapproval was also heaped upon Val Kilmer; critics charged that Kilmer, while physically fit to play Batman, more so than his predecessor Michael Keaton had been, gave a wooden performance as Bruce Wayne. Some fans, however, defend Kilmer's performance, insisting that he did the best he could with lesser material — as well as frequent clashes with Schumacher about the film's direction — and some even insisting that he surpassed Keaton. Interestingly, Batman creator Bob Kane said in a Cinescape interview that of all the actors to have played Batman up to that point, he felt Kilmer had given the best interpretation. Film critic Leonard Maltin (who heavily criticized the dark tone contained in Batman Returns) complimented Kilmer's portrayal when he reviewed the film for his expanding collection of film reviews, as well as being very favorable of the film as a whole. Others accused Jim Carrey and Tommy Lee Jones of giving cartoonish performances as the Riddler and Two-Face (Carrey himself even stated, though non-judgmentally, that this film "didn't take itself as seriously" as the past films had.) Many fans found Jones' interpretation of Two-Face to be ridiculously far from the brooding, intelligent way he is portrayed in the comics. Jones' Two-Face, while certainly criminally insane, spends the movie spouting one-liners and generally coming across more goofy than threatening. Another source of controversy is the introduction of nipples in the Batsuit (except for the suit used in the finale), as well as the humorous close-ups of Bruce Wayne while donning his suit.

A prominent criticism of the film's atmosphere centers on the constant use of neon lights, black lights, and glow-in-the-dark elements, which seemingly reaches its peak with the street gang Robin fights halfway through the film. These effects are regarded by some fans as slightly nonsensical. Another issue some fans have had with the film are the new gadgets. While Batman's technology has always been sci-fi and fantastical, some fans thought that the Batmobile climbing walls and a cape that melts into a fire resistant shell were pushing plausibility to its limit.

Batman Forever has been regarded by some as homoerotic, especially after Gary Willis, a conservative columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times, sardonically bashed the movie's campiness and perceived homoerotic motifs ("Batman Forever" is a Gay Old Time," Chicago Sun-Times, 1995). Incidentally, director Joel Schumacher is, himself, openly gay. Though not defending the film's cinematic merits, most view this analysis a groundless throwback to similar homophobic criticisms of the early years of the comic books and the 1960s TV series.

On DVD

Batman Forever was given a "bare bones" DVD release when the medium was introduced in 1997-1998. However, in 2005, the newest feature film, Batman Begins, spawned Warner Bros. to release a Two-Disc Special Edition set of all four Burton-Schumacher films in Batman: The Motion Picture Anthology 1989-1997. This included 14 of the 30 minutes of deleted scenes known to exist. The Region 2 DVD restores more than a minute of cut footage. The uncut version was certified 12 by the BBFC, higher than the cut version's PG.

Trivia

This is the second time Val Kilmer and Michael Gough were in a movie together. The first movie was the 1984 comedy Top Secret!, in which Kilmer made his debut.
When it was announced that Tim Burton would not be directing Batman Forever, future Spider-Man director Sam Raimi lobbied to direct the third film, but was rejected in favor of Joel Schumacher, who was better known and more successful at the time than Raimi.^*
The title of the movie as shown onscreen (without the Batman logo) is just Forever.
One other name that was thrown out by Warner Bros. for Batman Forever was Batman Strikes.^*
In his audio commentary for the DVD anthology, Schumacher states that he thinks Kilmer was the best of the Batman actors from this era, and also complimented him on the opening fight sequence between Batman and Two-Face's thugs, citing that Kilmer did most of that fight himself, even while wearing a 50-lb. rubber bat-suit.
In one early 1993 draft, the villains were originally set to be Two-Face and The Scarecrow. Brad Dourif was set to play The Scarecrow. Incidentally, he was also considered for the role of the Riddler.^*
Tim Burton intended to direct the third film in the franchise, but it became clear that Warner Bros. didn't want him to do it. According to the audio commentary on the 2005 Batman Returns DVD, Burton admits that he didn't exit the series, but rather, was asked not to return.
Commissioner Gordon (played by Pat Hingle) was originally going to be shot and killed by Two-Face in an early draft, but the idea was turned down when WB wanted a family-friendly Batman film that children could go to.^*
Chris O'Donnell, Corey Feldman, Corey Haim, Rikki Lee Travolta, and even Leonardo DiCaprio auditioned for the role of Robin in Batman Forever. Ultimately, O'Donnell won the part over DiCaprio, supposedly because Schumacher thought that audiences would believe the former throwing a punch over the latter. Christian Bale, who played Batman in Batman Begins, was also considered for Robin.^*
Billy Dee Williams agreed to play Harvey Dent in the original Batman, hoping that the role would guarantee he would be playing Two-Face himself in a sequel. However, he was eventually bought out in order to recast the role with Tommy Lee Jones.^*
In an editing mistake during a flashback scene (in which Harvey Dent becomes Two-Face when a criminal throws acid in his face), the "acid" visibly hits Tommy Lee Jones completely in the face before he could cover the one side which would stay normal.
When Dick is talking to Batman about superhero names he could use, he says Nightwing, which is his current identity in the comics.
Seven-time Grammy nominees En Vogue played hookers in the film. Martial-arts expert Don "The Dragon" Wilson played a gang leader.
In one scene, Bruce Wayne mentions that the travelling circus has moved onto Metropolis, a clear reference to the fictional city of another DC Comics character, Superman.
In the original script, Two-Face's female servants, Sugar and Spice, were known as "Lace" and "Leather", respectively.
In this film, Two-Face is referred to as "Harvey Two Face".
Damon Wayans was considered for the role of The Riddler^*
Dean Cain was also considered for the role of Batman but didn't get the role as producers felt he was too well known as Superman to play Batman.^*
Clint Eastwood was considered for the role of Harvey Dent/Two-Face

Soundtrack

Hit singles from the soundtrack include "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" by U2, and "Kiss From a Rose" by Seal, both of which were nominated for MTV Movie Awards. "Kiss From A Rose" (whose video was also directed by Schumacher) reached #1 in the US charts as well.

The soundtrack itself, featuring additional songs by The Flaming Lips, Brandy (both songs also included in the film), Method Man, Nick Cave, Michael Hutchence (of INXS), PJ Harvey and Massive Attack, was an attempt to (in producer Peter MacGregor-Scott's words) make the film more "pop". The soundtrack was hugely successful, selling almost as many copies as Prince's soundtrack to the 1989 Batman film.

In 1996, "Kiss From a Rose" won 3 Grammies for best male pop vocal performace, best record and best song.

Track listing

"Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" - U2 – 4:46
"One Time Too Many" - PJ Harvey – 2:52
"Where Are You Now?" - Brandy – 3:57
"Kiss from a Rose" - Seal – 3:38
"The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game" - Massive Attack & Tracey Thorn – 4:06
"Nobody Lives Without Love" - Eddi Reader – 5:05
"Tell Me Now" - Mazzy Star – 4:17
"Smash It Up" - The Offspring – 3:26
"There Is a Light" - Nick Cave – 4:23
"The Riddler" - Method Man – 3:30
"The Passenger" - Michael Hutchence – 4:37
"Crossing the River" - Devlins – 4:45
"8" - Sunny Day Real Estate – 5:27
"Bad Days" - The Flaming Lips – 4:39

External links

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