The Bat Summer of '95

[CFE]

I'll go ahead and do an installment of this...very fun to look back on those memories. Post any and all stories related to the summer that saw the release of "Batman Forever."

CFE

 

[Symbiotic]

Now this, I'm a little more familiar with. I remember the tv spots, toy commercials, I got the Forever game for Sega Genesis. (Never did beat that thing.) I saw it with my dad and my uncle, and it was great. Just remembered I got a toy of the batmobile that lit up. good times, '95.

 

[Joker]

I remember having that tv special on the movie hosted by Chris O'Donnel somewhere on tape...I loved Forever when I was a kid...now...not so much...

 

[Two-Face]

The summers of 89 and 92 I wasn't interested in Batman comics let alone movies, anyway Summer of 95 was summer I do remember my friend was big Batman fan and so he said come watch Batman Forever with me I was blow away and i started to rent Batman 89,BR, started to collect BF stickers for my BF sticker album and watched BTAS, bought comics and rest is history I'm big fan since then.

 

[BatBruce]

McDonalds had a cool promotion for the film

 

[turtlefocker]

An enormous fun-house ride, the second "Batman" sequel succeeds on some basic levels while coming up short in others. On the plus side, the tone has lightened up after criticism of the last outing, Val Kilmer seamlessly slides into the Dark Knight's cape and the film boasts considerable action and visual splendor. In the negative column, that action isn't as involving as it should be, and there are so many characters the movie can't adequately service them all. In the final analysis, Warner Bros.' nattily attired champion has more to recommend it than not and the look of a $ 200 million monster, with not only wings but legs that should carry well into the summer. That forecast is based principally on the fact that "Batman Forever" is as much a finely tuned marketing/merchandising machine as a movie, down to the not-so-subtle McDonald's plug ("I'll get drive-through") after the opening credits.

said Variety back in 95

 

[K.B.]

I went with a friend of mine to see this and before the show he was running up the 'down' esculater and fell and tore the s**t out of both knee caps. If only the movie was as entertaining.

Not to long ago a friend of mine gave me her glasses that McDonalds were giving away when BF came out.

 

[Mr.E.Nygma]

In fact, as a kid, it's Batman Forever which confirmed my status of batfan! But my taste developped better through the years (elimination of the Schumacher series), although it was the first because I saw an ad in the newspaper, the official poster, and it thrilled me because JIM CARREY played a villain, the Riddler. since The Mask, I am a big fan of Mr. Carrey's work, and so it caught my interest to mix my favorite actor along with the batman I knew then (TAS and 1960's). Cute, isn't it? I was 5. A nice summer 95!

Funny thing is, I went incognito with my mom in a theater room showing BF, because we just went to see George of the Jungle or something like. A few days later, we paid to see legally!

 

[SHADOWBAT69]

oooh, how 'bout some "Riddler Green"?


Bewteen 92 and 95 alot of stuff changed for me, I kinda dropped from the "in the know" on alot of the Batman movie stuff. When I finally heard there was a new movie coming out and started reading up on it, I was pissed that keaton was gone. Val kilmer? Billy the Kid?! Real Genius? Okay, we'll see. Wait, Burtons gone too!!?? Schumacher? Lost Boys? Okay, cool, we'll see.

Wasnt that impressed with Forever as far as my personal taste was concerned, but I did enjoy the film as a summer blockbuster. It was Batman, not my particular version of Batman, but I can respect the different interpretations of the character. Forever did have more hype than Returns did. The Bat was back in a big way. All the promotions were there, all the merchandise, there was music on the radio again, even a cool U2 video. Actually, I think they overkilled some of the merchandise with Forever. I remember going into Hills the winter following its release and they had tons of Forever stuff reduced up to 75% - 80% off. It still offered alot of stuff to add to my collecting. Plus with this new vision it reinvigorated the franchise which ensured yet another Batman movie! Great news right?

I actually remember the VHS release was on trick or treat night and I didnt want to give out candy because I was gonna be busy watching it.lol

 

[ShaneHelms]

I remember staying up late one night and watching HBO and i happened to catch a TV spot for Batman Forever. I couldn't believe how excited i was.

 

[CFE]

Same here.

I used to LOVE seeing the "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" video on MTV.

That was a packed theatre, and "Forever" to me was the definition of 'Summer American Blockbuster.'

Everyone was talking about it. It was a great time to be a Bat-fan again, almost up to par with '89.

CFE

 

[Lazlo Panaflex]

I remember this one vividly, after the controversial Batman Returns with parent watch dogs I still knew that a third Batman movie was on the way.

On Entertainment Tonight in early 1994 when Michael Keaton was promoting his movie 'The Paper' Leeza Gibbons then asked Keaton about any news on Batman 3 (it's unofficial title) with Keaton replying that he's just waiting for that call from Tim Burton on when to start.

But in the summer of '94 it seems that a lot happened, with an article in the L.A. Times (which I still have) that stated that Val Kilmer was the new Batman with Linda Hamilton or Rene Russo as possible leading ladies.

I was shocked and curious since I only knew Kilmer from Top Gun and Top Secret but pretty much all throughout 1994 I was excited.

Early 1995 rolls around and the TV show Extra shows the first exclusive trailer to Batman Forever, I taped it and must have watched it a million times, Danny Elfman's music was incorporated well too bad he didn't score the actual film.

I think the hype was big, not as B'89 but more than BR'92 because of a new Batman and of course Jim Carrey was a rising star.

The film then premieres with critics either hating it or loving it, I had read the comic adaptation before the film so I was a little confused at some scenes that were out of place in the movie.

But in the end Batman Forever reinvigorated the franchise but the worst was yet to come.

 

[lollycop]

It was a cool year. The only thing I remember is seeing it with my uncle and seeing Jim Carry. Thats all.

 

[Blade90]

I quite honestly only remember having the Light-Up Batmobile(I think I sold it or gave it away) and Neon Armor Batman(Still have it, though the paint is somewhat worn and he only has the shoulder neon armor piece and cape). Then again, I was only 4-5 years old at the time, so I don't really remember that much.

 

[Nepenthes]

I took a 'date' to this movie and tried to put her moves her. i was 11 or 12 ha ha.

 

[Genosha]

I remember seeing the trailer in front of the movie Outbreak that year and really liked the look of it.

I was really angry at the non-Keaton/Burton aspect of it, but I thought I'd give it a shot.

Saw it the first day and remember that people were cheering when the names of each of the actors flew by the screen. Interestingly enough, Jim Carrey got the largest ovation. Even people standing up and cheering.

Carrey was so huge at that time (Still is to an extent).

I loved Two-Face and Riddler, but absolutely hated everything else. The action was terrible. And there was no epic feeling about it. I got goosebumps watching the first 2 films, but nothing was giving me that feeling here.

I ended up buying the video, but neglected to purchase this on DVD. Despite my still adoring love for the 2 villians portrayed.

 

[The Joker]

I remember how much I hated Forever after I saw it. I missed Keaton, the villains were stupid and didn't have the raw edge that Burton's villains did, and Robin was awful.

Summer of 97 was even worse needless to say.

 

[turtlefocker]

OT: BF will always have a special place in my heart but I would love to see a fan edit reinstating the deleted scenes (Harvey's Escape, Bruce manbat ect.) and removing the small things that irk fans ("ill get drive through", butt shots, ect.)

 

[deathshead2]

I was 5 when this movie came out. Dang. I don't remember anything from that year about batman.

 

[BatJeff7786]

My dad took me and the neighbor's son to see it on opening night. It was the first movie I ever stood in line for. The sound system was great and the theatre was packed. I remember liking the movie a lot (not so much now) but I was pissed that the Batmobile blew up. I also got the set of McDonald's Batman glasses (batman, Robin, Riddler, Two-Face), and I still have them somewhere.

 

[Joker]

I remember seeing the trailer in front of the movie Outbreak that year and really liked the look of it.

I was really angry at the non-Keaton/Burton aspect of it, but I thought I'd give it a shot.

Saw it the first day and remember that people were cheering when the names of each of the actors flew by the screen. Interestingly enough, Jim Carrey got the largest ovation. Even people standing up and cheering.

Carrey was so huge at that time (Still is to an extent).

I loved Two-Face and Riddler, but absolutely hated everything else. The action was terrible. And there was no epic feeling about it. I got goosebumps watching the first 2 films, but nothing was giving me that feeling here.

I ended up buying the video, but neglected to purchase this on DVD. Despite my still adoring love for the 2 villians portrayed.

how could you like the villains in it? Riddler was gay for Bruce, Two Face had no split personality, and they both acted like the Joker

 

[Genosha]

how could you like the villains in it? Riddler was gay for Bruce, Two Face had no split personality, and they both acted like the Joker

This is probably going to be tough to explain because most Bat-fans can't stand the villians in this movie, and maybe rightly so.

I don't know, I just really liked what Jim Carrey did with The Riddler. I remember him talking about sort of channeling Frank Gorshin, but adding his own spin to it and I just really liked that blending of styles he came up with.

I especially love the scene when he blows up the Batcave and Batmobile. Just the way that he speaks the dialogue, sort of with a stop-and-go motion.............it just was kind of fun to watch. And the way I'd like to see The Riddler portrayed. Sure, its completely over-the-top, but so is The Riddler.

Plus, Tommy Lee Jones really went psychotic with Two-Face and I liked that. I liked that he was slave to his coin and I know thats in the comics as well, but I though Jones really showed how psychotically hypnotized by the coin he really was.
Plus, he looked great as Two-Face. The make-up was veddy nice!


I know that isn't the best explanation, but it sort of shows my personal taste in my opinion.

 

[Attikus]

The summer of 95 was a special one for me in many ways...everything building it up to it was cenetered around Batman. I couldn't wait for it to come out! It was released June 16th, we went with a bunch of friends. In total we were at least a group of 15. The theatre was packed. It was a midnight showing at the Loews. Everyone was crackling with excitement. It was a wonderful thing. The credits rolled and everyone squealed. The names came flying at us. The score was big. Kilmer appeared on screen and he was Batman. No doubts. Keaton was a pale imitator (although, I loved B89, I always knew that Keaton was too scrawny to be Bruce)...the action was kinetic...hell Batman was running, jumping and moving instead of standing around like a statue in the first two flicks. The Kilmer Batman could fight a group of thugs and take them down. I looved that movie...even after all these years BF still has a special place in my heart. Yes it's deeply flawed but not more so than the first two. No Batman picture has been perfect (Batman Begins comes damn close!). I also met my longtime girlfriend exactly one week later and made her go see it. She loved it too. She was my first love. We were together a long time...nearly 12 years. We're no longer together, our careers seperated us but she is intrinsically linked to that special time when Batman Forever ruled the summer.

 

[Lienlien]

Courage now. Truth always. Batman Forever

 

[Penismightier]

how could you like the villains in it? Riddler was gay for Bruce, Two Face had no split personality, and they both acted like the Joker

I watched it recently for the first time since the late 90s. Holy crap I didn't realize how gay The Riddler was.