Batman Forever

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Myself

Ahhh I might as well finish off what I started.

Nipples on Batman. A catchphrase we still hear in geek talkback forums all over the internet today. It's just a step in the wrong direction.

Joel Schumacher's first try out has some successful moments. It does. I quite like Jim Carrey as Riddler. I also actually quite like Chris O'Donnell even though I don't think Robin needs to be included in the films. Hell, even Nicole Kidman isn't half bad.

But there is a push to a lighter tone. I do not enjoy the bizarre neon/black-lighting makeover Gotham City has had. And so many giant human sculptures. Every shot is a dutch angle. It doesn't make it more comic booky, it's just annoying.

Elliot Goldenthal makes a great new theme for the new films. I did not know he was married to Julie Taymor. One of the many pieces of trivia I learnt from Schumacher's commentary.

As much as the first two films aren't Shakespeare they at least gave the characters some kind of inner turmoil, a duality of identity they are wrestling with. This one doesn't have much of that, despite Kidman's character being a criminal physciatrist.

Drew Barrymore and Debi Mazar are in this! Do not remember that. Also, future comic book super hero director Jon Favreau makes a blink-and-you'll-miss-it walk on appearance in the background of one scene. Perhaps that's where he learnt what not to do.

Compared to the next film this one is a huge success, lord knows it made enough money. But you can see the downfall of the series has already started.