'' (
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 ).
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
Nipple s for example -- are regarded by many as being less serious than the franchise's previous two. Burton, incidentally, was producer in name only.
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 .
Rumors at the time proposed that the third Batman film would be directed by Burton (though Warners never intended to let Burton direct another Batman film again) with Michael Keaton,
Rene Russo as the love interest, 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 some negotiating, Keaton left the film as he was unhappy with the script being lighter-in-tone. Due to its huge success, ''Batman Forever'' was followed two years later by ''
Batman And Robin '' (1997).
The film's budget was approximately $90 - $100 million and earned $184,031,112 in total domestic sales and $152.5 million worldwide (according to
{Link without Title} ), 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 th,
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 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-judgementally, that this film "didn't take itself as seriously" as the past films had.) Still others complained that Carrey's portrayal of the Riddler, and his obsession with Bruce Wayne, bordered on being too
Homosexual in nature. 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 bomb 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). 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.
''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.
- 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.
- One other name that was thrown out by Warner Bros. for ''Batman Forever'' was ''Batman Strikes''.
- Mel Gibson was rumored to be almost cast as Two-Face, and Micky Dolenz filmed a Screen Test to audition for the Riddler. Ironically, in 1956 , a 10- year-old Dolenz starred in the TV series "Circus Boy" with Robert Lowery, who played Batman in the 1949 Columbia serial '' Batman And Robin ''.
- Schumacher said he chose Kilmer for the part of Batman after seeing his performance as Doc Holliday in 1993 's '' Tombstone '', believing Kilmer had the good looks, the physicality and the acting ability to play both Batman & Bruce Wayne. Unfortunately, the working relationship between Schumacher and Kilmer during filming was said to be very, very tense, with the two frequently arguing over the film's tone and direction and, at one point, reportedly getting into a shoving match with each other (Kilmer reportedly wanted a more serious and dramatic tone as opposed to the more lighthearted one the film was boasting). Nothing of this reported conflict was mentioned in the making of documentaries for the Batman DVD anthology and, in his audio commentary, Schumacher even states that he thinks Kilmer was the best of the Batman actors from this era (though he doesn't talk much about Kilmer during the commentary), 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.
- Detective Harvey Bullock was originally set to have a small role in the film, but Warner Bros. thought he would be confused with Harvey Dent/Two-Face.
- Robin Williams had been cast as Riddler when Burton was attached to direct.
- Over 40 minutes of the movie was cut to make it more appealing and marketable to viewers with children. It was rumored for some time that this footage would be restored on the 'Director's Cut' DVD released in the upcoming 2005 boxset of the 1989 - 1997 films. However, Warner Bros. have declared plans for this were abandoned, although the Special Features on the disc will include some deleted scenes separate from the main feature.
- 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 , 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. Many fans have noted that they disliked Jones' manic performance and believed that Williams would have done a better job.
- In one scene, Two-Face is repeatedly flipping his coin, trying to get the result he wants. This has irked many comic book fans, who claim that it ignores the character's Compulsion , as portrayed in the comic books, to use the coin to decide whether to abide by the law or break it, and to accept whatever action a coin flip dictated.
- 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.
- Exploring alternative casting options, comedian Marlon Wayans was screen tested for the role of Robin.
- The movie is 122 minutes long, shorter than the Burton films.
- In the comics, Robin is a teenager; Chris O'Donnell was around 25 years old during filming. In the film, however, he still asks about Social Services after his parents were killed, implying that he was in fact a teenager.
- 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".
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 Harvery 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.
