Batman Forever

[Mr. Socko]

pix?

Rick Baker created a load of different ones for Two Face. Schumacher turned many of them down and said they weren't kid-friendly enough. Here's one of the later ones but still was modified.

If I was Joel Schumacher, I'd be pleased. No-one ever seems to post that they hate the storyline, or character development, editing, resolution, climax, etc. The important things. People mainly complain about details, like nipples, colours and jokes.

Character development, editing, climax, even things like production design, costumes, etc were all good IMO.

 

[Noir]

Forever was great, seconded only to B89 of the original films.
It wasn't so Avant Garde as Returns and it wasn't so Toy-centric as B&R.

 

[fabman]

Character development, editing, climax, even things like production design, costumes, etc were all good IMO.

Character development: Unfortunately lots of good stuff was cut from the movie, for example the Red Book storyline. Also, it doesn't make too much sense for a villain like Two-Face not having a detailed backstory. Seeing him as Harvey Dent first and then as 'Face, that's what makes him such a memorable villain. But, well, Tim Burton didn't even want to use the Dent character for Batman Returns...

Editing:

Climax: Well, you know, aside the Riddler's costume in the climax... it was a bit exaggerated, IMO, but couldn't live up to the opening action scene, which was overall better IMHO.

Production design: The ideas were good, I liked the Batcave. What I didn't like were all the giant statues, the Statue of Liberty (in Gotham!?), but overall I'd say it was good. Even if not everything looked good. But some sets really look great. So, it depends on the scene.

Costumes:

But I can tell you I'm really impressed with John Dykstra's special FX, which still look great after 12 years.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

The ideas were good, I liked the Batcave. What I didn't like were all the giant statues, the Statue of Liberty (in Gotham!?), but overall I'd say it was good.

It's not the Statue of Liberty, it's Lady Gotham.

 

[Two-Face]

Batman Forever will be shown on Five (UK) on Sunday at 8pm (Local time)

http://film.five.tv/films/tv/Batman-Forever

I will be watching this.

 

[Mr. Socko]

It's not the Statue of Liberty, it's Lady Gotham.

Are you serious or are you joking?

 

[Vile]

Thing i don't get about Forever is, for example the "ill get drive threw" line...

No worse than the "I'm going rock climbing this weekend" line.

Nice, Bruce. Batman takes the weekend off in a lame attempt to get laid while Two-Face is on the loose.

Yer right...super-villians can wait till monday.


Batman Forever is Batman and Robin Lite.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

No worse than the "I'm going rock climbing this weekend" line.

Nice, Bruce. Batman takes the weekend off in a lame attempt to get laid while Two-Face is on the loose.

Yer right...super-villians can wait till monday.


Batman Forever is Batman and Robin Lite.

That's an odd complaint. In just about every superhero movie, the hero engages in some form of romance while there is evil afoot.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

Are you serious or are you joking?

Serious. Look it up.

 

[Mr. Socko]

That's an odd complaint. In just about every superhero movie, the hero engages in some form of romance while there is evil afoot.

evil is afoot lol

 

[Vile]

That's an odd complaint. In just about every superhero movie, the hero engages in some form of romance while there is evil afoot.

True, but how many of them try to take off for a weekend in the middle of the movie? =)

It's almost like not only did Schumacher present us with a totally lame and un-threatening Two-Face but Bruce Wayne IN the movie felt the same way!

 

[Mr. Socko]

*Sigh* Two Face was so much wasted potential. Joel even had to hire a good actor to ruin the character.

 

[TwilightPro101]

lots of potential, especially in the original script. Strip away the neon Gotham, over anatomically correct suits, remove the glowing insides of the batmobile, take out some corny lines, add in more scenes with Bruce dealing with his parents death and his ultimate resolution and you've got quite the Batman movie

That's the way I feel about this one...and get rid of those stupid nipples.

Kilmer's second on my list as favorite Batman's in live action format.

As for Bruce's pick-up line to get Kidman's character. It's not stretching anything. It's a simple pick-up line with a non-Bondish flair.

Was he going to actually take her climbing? In Joel's word, I'd say likely. Besides he had other plans: "To get her out of the outfit....and into a black dress." lol Yeah, a stupid line I know but nowhere near as bad as B&R.

 

[Cassandra]

Batman Forever has its good points. I can enjoy the movie and I loved it when I saw it as a twelve-year-old in 1995, before I really knew anything about the comic book Bat world.

My only real complaints about the movie is that Two-Face came off as a poor man's Joker clone and that Bruce decided to stop caring that he'd become Batman because he'd had to, that he was now continuing to be Batman because he "chose" to be. The point of Bruce is that he is Batman BECAUSE of his parents murder. If you take the brooding away, it's not Batman. Oh, and Dick Grayson was just a little bit too old in the movie universe, but I can overlook that because Chris O'Donnel was quite good in the role, considering the scripts and direction he had to work with.

Other than those things, though, it's not a movie I find horribly offensive. It's actually quite a fun way to kill a few hours and I still watch it from time to time. It's not an ideal Batman movie but I still find it decent entertainment.

 

[Vile]

Oh, and Dick Grayson was just a little bit too old in the movie universe, but I can overlook that because Chris O'Donnel was quite good in the role, considering the scripts and direction he had to work with.

Indeed, his age was always an oddity in the film. Especially when Gordon gives the whole, "Nice of you to take him in...he doesnt have anyone" speech...

I mean, the guy looks to be in his mid-twenties...I'm pretty sure he could have made it on his own.

 

[Two-Face]

*Sigh* Two Face was so much wasted potential. Joel even had to hire a good actor to ruin the character.

You know I don't blame Tommy Lee Jones, the guy is excellent actor, if he was directed by Nolan or Burton he would nailed the character and it is shame like you said wasted.

 

[captain_jimbo]

^ Exactly. Everything else he's been in he's been superb!

 

[DocHoliday]

I like Batman Forever. I don't like Bat-nipples and some or the ridiculous camp but I think Val did a good job with Bruce Wayne.

 

[Hippy Parker]

Now I know that there is the blatant hate for all things Batman & Robin, and rightfully so, but for me Batman Forever is right up there alongside it almost. I've just decided to put it on about 5-10 minutes ago, so am now 5-10 minutes into the film. It really is just cringeworthy. Right from the opening line about The Bat grabbing a drivethru, it just bugs me. Then there is the damn damn damn damn annoying security guard who gets rescued from the safe full of acid. That guy just needs shooting. Then there is the whole character of Two-Face and the campness and over-acting of it all. I don't blame Tommy Lee, I think he's a good actor, just the way that Two-Face is written is shocking. The most poorly written of all of the Bat characters in all of the Bat films, barring possibly Bane. Also the whole Riddler infatuation with Bruce Wayne, that was just plain wierd. I liked Carey in the role, but I just don't know why he was infatutation with Bruce at the beginning.

I'm only about 15-20 minutes in now and it is already hard to carry on watching. I know I'm not making any groundbreaking revelations about the film, and am pretty much saying the same as a lot of people, but I had forgotten how hard this film is to watch for me until now.

 

[Bat-Mite]

Also the whole Riddler infatuation with Bruce Wayne, that was just plain wierd. I liked Carey in the role, but I just don't know why he was infatutation with Bruce at the beginning.

Because the Riddler is gay in this movie. I'm not even joking.

Spoiler

He stalks Bruce like a jilted lover throughout most of the movie, and Bruce even refers to his riddles as "love letters" when he goes to see the shrink. And she only seems to confirm that Bruce's stalker is in love with him and obsessed with him (though in a homicidal way).

 

[Why Are You Crouching Spock?]

ed: no matter

 

[Hippy Parker]

That's one idea I guess.

There are some good scenes in the movie, mainly involving Bruce and Dick, but everytime the villains are on screen then it is cingeworthy. Thing is, I know I've still got a lot of **** to get through before the end of the film, but once I start a film then I have to see it through, even if I have seen it God knows how many times.

 

[greenfront]

I agree with you, Hippy Parker.

In fact, here's a review I wrote of it earlier in the year: http://www.gordonuniverse.com/octopuscope/movies/batmanforever.php

 

[Darkfly]

I understand your frustration with it being embarrassing at times though still obviously not as bad as B&R but Warner Bros. wanted it to go towards the direction of the 50's and 60's comics, the more campier style if you will and that's why Burton didn't want to do the third film and also why after the script was done Michael Keaton left.


And I don't blame Joel Schumacher entirely since he did actually want to do a adaption of Batman:Year One but WB wouldn't let him since it would have been too dark plus they wanted the more campier style.

 

[Hippy Parker]

Very good read man. Gotta say that pretty much nailed it on the head for me. Also, regarding your mention of lack of "giving a ****" for Two Face, I also think that, aswell as basically skipping his origin, the change of actor from Billy Dee Williams hinders this too.

So we've seen 2 Batman films, our knowledge of Harvey Dent is that he is Billy Dee Williams and works closely with Gordon... then all of a sudden we're opening the 3rd Bat film with Tommy Lee Jones as some scarred villain who we've had no introduction too. Obviously we make the instant link and have instant sympathy for the awful events that have happened to Dent which we have just had to presume in our heads...

On a side note, have you done any reviews of any other Bat films or general superhero films and I found that an insightful, humourous read?