Batman Forever

[DaRkVeNgeanCe]

OMG, i had that poster!! it was in my room behind my door when i was small!t:

What about 3 inches high?

 

[CFE]

I agree with Kev, 'Forever' was and still is quite enjoyable.

As an older fan, I appreciate Burton's tone more, but as a little kid into Batman I distinctly remember being super pumped for 'Forever'

From a physical standpoint, Kilmer was above and beyond Keaton or Clooney...I think Val looked the most Bruce Wayne-esque as far as the original franchise is concerned.

Kilmer's physicality, due also in no small part to Alex Daniels and the wonderful stunt team working on the film, seemed much more bold and comic book esque...as opposed to Keaton's cold and calculating movements which are also great.

IMO, 'Batman Forever' is the most 'comic book' ish of the Batman films without being too little (Burton/Nolan) or too much (B&R).

CFE

 

[Mr. Socko]

Well said CFE

Tommy Lee Jones is a great actor but I don't see why he was handed such a crappy script. If he had a better script he would've been able to pull off Two-Face perfectly. As for Jim Carrey, originally I hated him as the Riddler but the more & more I watched the movie the more & more I enjoyed the performance. As for Val Kilmer, he was the best Bruce Wayne of that franchise but I still think Christian Bale has them all beat as both Bruce Wayne & Batman but that's just my opinion.

That's cool, definitely. Most people like Bale best as both Wayne and Batman and I can see why. But here's why Kilmer remains my favorite Wayne: Michael Keaton's take on Wayne was great, but too far removed from the comics. On it's own, it was a really good and very interesting. His Bruce held a dark internal conflict, and it made him completely 'brooding.' Unfortunately, he was not really a playboy or public figure at all. Now to Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne, he did a great job, it's not his performance that I don't think is the best, it was the direction. In public, his Wayne was a playboy, but also came off as totally arrogant and self centered. His "I'm buying this hotel" and "You can all leave my home" scenes are the perfect example of how arrogant his Bruce Wayne came off. His public persona was that of a rich snob. It was an interesting take, I will say though.

Conversely to both Keaton and Bale, Val Kilmer's Bruce Wayne held a deep internal conflict making for a darker Bruce Wayne, but he was also a total playboy. He was a combination of those two. And as a public figure, Kilmer's Bruce Wayne was also a nice guy. He was the rich owner of Wayne Enterprises but not a snob, very down to Earth with everyone. So in a way, I actually think Christian Bale and Michael Keaton's performances were better, but I like Val Kilmer's portrayal/direction of Bruce Wayne a bit more.

 

[Cain]

Yeah I'd have to say that to me personally this one has the third greatest replay value of any of the live action films. The characterization of Batman is just so on point with my favorite incarnation (the 70's comics) that with each subsequent viewing I love it more and more. Yeah yeah we all know the potential of the villains was completely undermined but Bruce/Batman, Dick Grayson and Alfred were phenomenally portrayed IMO. It's a worthy sequel to Burton's films and could've been much much worse. I think in time people will see how good of a Batman adaptation it really was oh and I may be in the minority but I love the Gotham City from this film.

If I would change anything aesthetically in regards to Batman it would be the batmobile and the cowl on the sonar suit. Oh and I still don't like Bale's Batman all that much but his public Bruce was genius. A departure from the comics but a great departure I think it's more realistic for someone of that status to be a prick than to be an aloof socialite like Keaton and a lot of the 80's and 90's comics as well as animated series. As far as Bale's Batman is concerned I think TDK will change my opinion on him I love everything I'm hearing from this film inr egards to Batman himself.

 

[GoogleMe94]

What about 3 inches high?

i sense sarcasm, lol.

 

[Cain]

Conversely to both Keaton and Bale, Val Kilmer's Bruce Wayne held a deep internal conflict making for a darker Bruce Wayne, but he was also a total playboy. He was a combination of those two. And as a public figure, Kilmer's Bruce Wayne was also a nice guy. He was the rich owner of Wayne Enterprises but not a snob, very down to Earth with everyone. So in a way, I actually think Christian Bale and Michael Keaton's performances were better, but I like Val Kilmer's portrayal/direction of Bruce Wayne a bit more.

Val's Bruce is the closest we've ever gotten to O'Neill and Marshall Rogers' version so I could see why someone would prefer him the best, I also do so myself.

 

[The Joker_1000]

Well said CFE



That's cool, definitely. Most people like Bale best as both Wayne and Batman and I can see why. But here's why Kilmer remains my favorite Wayne: Michael Keaton's take on Wayne was great, but too far removed from the comics. On it's own, it was a really good and very interesting. His Bruce held a dark internal conflict, and it made him completely 'brooding.' Unfortunately, he was not really a playboy or public figure at all. Now to Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne, he did a great job, it's not his performance that I don't think is the best, it was the direction. In public, his Wayne was a playboy, but also came off as totally arrogant and self centered. His "I'm buying this hotel" and "You can all leave my home" scenes are the perfect example of how arrogant his Bruce Wayne came off. His public persona was that of a rich snob. It was an interesting take, I will say though.

Conversely to both Keaton and Bale, Val Kilmer's Bruce Wayne held a deep internal conflict making for a darker Bruce Wayne, but he was also a total playboy. He was a combination of those two. And as a public figure, Kilmer's Bruce Wayne was also a nice guy. He was the rich owner of Wayne Enterprises but not a snob, very down to Earth with everyone. So in a way, I actually think Christian Bale and Michael Keaton's performances were better, but I like Val Kilmer's portrayal/direction of Bruce Wayne a bit more.

I thought that Bale's Waynme was only acting like a rich snob to further throw people off. When he bought the hotel, I could see him as being an arrogant *****ebag but when he told everyone to get the hell out of his house, I think he was doing that to protect them & probably to further throw them off of his secret but he still could've went about a better way of doing it. As of now, BF is my second favorite movie of the franchise but Batman (1989) will always remain as my favorite of the entire franchise because of the Joker & because of how well they portrayed both Batman's & the Joker's origins. As for Batman Returns & Batman & Robin, I don't really care for those two movies like I care for Batman (1989) & Batman Forever. I absolutely detest Danny Devito's Penguin & while Catwoman was very interesting to see, the performance could've been better. I actually prefer Halle Berry's performance even though that movie was pretty damn bad.

 

[Noir]

You don't care for Batman Returns

 

[The Joker_1000]

Not really, and it's because of the Penguin.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

Not really, and it's because of the Penguin.

The Penguin is superb in Returns.

 

[The Joker_1000]

Well, that's your opinion & that's fine but the Penguin is actually what ruined the movie for me, especially after I began watching TAS more. I've never been a big fan of the Penguin's character but he was portrayed better in TAS than in BR.

 

[DaRkVeNgeanCe]

I thought that Bale's Waynme was only acting like a rich snob to further throw people off. When he bought the hotel, I could see him as being an arrogant *****ebag but when he told everyone to get the hell out of his house, I think he was doing that to protect them & probably to further throw them off of his secret but he still could've went about a better way of doing it. As of now, BF is my second favorite movie of the franchise but Batman (1989) will always remain as my favorite of the entire franchise because of the Joker & because of how well they portrayed both Batman's & the Joker's origins. As for Batman Returns & Batman & Robin, I don't really care for those two movies like I care for Batman (1989) & Batman Forever. I absolutely detest Danny Devito's Penguin & while Catwoman was very interesting to see, the performance could've been better. I actually prefer Halle Berry's performance even though that movie was pretty damn bad.

WOW! Man give Michelle some more credit, she owned that role. Halle Berry didnt even look good in that ******ed excuse for a Catwoman costume, all the bouncing she did made it hard for me to concentrate on what she was doing, shes lucky she didnt "fall-out" at any point in the film. lol

 

[Superwoman Prime]

He's not obligated to give her any credit.

 

[The Joker_1000]

Thank you.

Btw, anyone think the franchise would've went on longer if they had kept Val Kilmer as Batman? Why was he recast anyway?

 

[Mr. Socko]

I thought that Bale's Waynme was only acting like a rich snob to further throw people off. When he bought the hotel, I could see him as being an arrogant *****ebag but when he told everyone to get the hell out of his house, I think he was doing that to protect them & probably to further throw them off of his secret but he still could've went about a better way of doing it. As of now, BF is my second favorite movie of the franchise but Batman (1989) will always remain as my favorite of the entire franchise because of the Joker & because of how well they portrayed both Batman's & the Joker's origins. As for Batman Returns & Batman & Robin, I don't really care for those two movies like I care for Batman (1989) & Batman Forever. I absolutely detest Danny Devito's Penguin & while Catwoman was very interesting to see, the performance could've been better. I actually prefer Halle Berry's performance even though that movie was pretty damn bad.

Oh okay, no problem

Thank you.

Btw, anyone think the franchise would've went on longer if they had kept Val Kilmer as Batman? Why was he recast anyway?

I believe because of the same reason that Keaton left, he didn't like the direction they were headed. I think he may have read the script for B&R and just turned it down. Either way, I think Clooney is the worst Batman we've ever had.

 

[The Joker_1000]

I absolutely hate Clooney for ruining B&R, I hope he never comes near another Batman film. He completely disgraced what Michael Keaton & Val Kilmer accomplished in the role of Bruce Wayne/Batman.

 

[Cain]

I thought that Bale's Waynme was only acting like a rich snob to further throw people off. When he bought the hotel, I could see him as being an arrogant *****ebag but when he told everyone to get the hell out of his house, I think he was doing that to protect them & probably to further throw them off of his secret but he still could've went about a better way of doing it.

You know something I didn't think it would ever be possible on a board filled with Batman fans for anybody to not understand that. I'm somewhat shocked I thought it was pretty much common knowledge amongst batfans that no matter the media whether comics, cartoons or even feature films the public Bruce Wayne persona is always supposed to be a facade that throws off people from ever assuming that he might be more than he seems to be. I got to disagree though I don't think he could've went about it any other way I really feel making him a prick as opposed to absent minded how he's always been portrayed was a great move on Nolan/Goyer and Bale's behalf to really differentiate this from previous incarnations and fits in with the neo realist vibe that they're going for with these new movies. As I said before it was a genius approach and I'm surprised it had never been attempted before after watching it.

 

[The Joker_1000]

The first thing that always comes to my mind when those scenes occur is that Bruce is brilliant for acting like such a prick just to throw off everyone. It's so genius that no one would ever even suspect him of being Batman. I also like how Bale's Bruce Wayne basically was more of a detective than previous Batmen because he walked around Gotham in disguise for him to uncover information.

 

[DX]

I absolutely hate Clooney for ruining B&R, I hope he never comes near another Batman film. He completely disgraced what Michael Keaton & Val Kilmer accomplished in the role of Bruce Wayne/Batman.

Blame the script, not Clooney.

If the script was written better, I think he could have been a great Batman.

 

[The Joker_1000]

I doubt it, I've always seen him as being a horrible actor.

 

[Eggyman]

I think Forever gets a very bad rep, simply because it was the first film by Joel. But it's really refreshing to see praise for it here

Kilmer was really good, IMO. Sure the villains were camp, and the colour pallette got brighter. But I think the main reason it gets the hate it does is because of what followed

 

[The Joker_1000]

I think Forever gets a very bad rep, simply because it was the first film by Joel. But it's really refreshing to see praise for it here

Kilmer was really good, IMO. Sure the villains were camp, and the colour pallette got brighter. But I think the main reason it gets the hate it does is because of what followed

I've never truly hated Forever because of B&R because I saw Forever not knowing there was even a sequel. I kind of like B&R because it stars Arnold Schwarzenegger who is always interesting to watch & because we got Robin again & Bane (even though he was nothing more than a muscled up servant). Everything else about the movie sucked.

 

[BatmanForNever]

Forever is my favorite out of the four. I am saying it's the best film or the best acted, no, but it's my favorite.

It has a perect balance of the dakr and light where Batman and BR were too dark and B&R was campy crap. It was a perfect balance.

 

[The Joker_1000]

Batman & BR were not too dark. Personally, the first Batman is my favorite because is stars my favorite Batman villain of all time who is the Joker which reminded me a lot of Mark Hamil's Joker.

 

[BatmanForNever]

Batman & BR were not too dark. Personally, the first Batman is my favorite because is stars my favorite Batman villain of all time who is the Joker which reminded me a lot of Mark Hamil's Joker.

I like Batman and BR I just thought they got too dark and quirky for there own good. Batman Returns is like a fairy tale come to life and I fall asleep halfway through when it gets slow. The focus was too much on his villains and not enough on what was going on inside the man.

Keaton was good but he didn't play Wayne that well IMO. Plus he wasn't physically "Batman" I'm not saying Kilmer played it better I'm just saying he looked the part more and Forever focused more on Batman's inner psyche.