Here's how I would rate the live action films. Batman, a 6, Batman Returns, 10, Batman Begins, 8, The Dark Knight, 8, and The Dark Knight Rises, a 9.
And then there's Batman Forever. I believe it's a unfair to lump this in with Batman&Robin. That is infamous for being total crap, but if you watch Forever, with all it's flaws, which I don't deny there are, it bears little resemblance to it's craptacular sequel. Why? First off, there are actual characters here, and a story which holds them together. First, Val Kilmer as Wayne/Batman. Say what you want about some of his dialogue, of which there really is only but a few which are truly groan inducing, I really felt for his fascinating portrayal as a man deeply in
pain by his trauma and his wish to escape it and find some semblance of of happiness. And in costume, he just has the presence that I bought as being Batman, something I feel Bale lacked sometimes when he was in the costume.
Then there's Chase Meridian and Dick Grayson. The former actually felt like she contributed to the character of Batman, whereas Vicky Vale and Rachael Dawes sorta felt like they were thrown in to simply have a female character in the films. And unlike those two, Kidman and Kilmer had actual chemistry together. Then there's Robin. Yes, he's too old, no argument here. Aside from that though, I feel he does a really great job of being a mirror to Bruce, before he committed to his crusade and lost any semblance of normality and happiness in his own life. Plus, I just believe if Robin were to ever be introduced in live action, this was pretty much the best way it could be done, without film focusing more on Robin then Batman.
Before I move on the the biggest problems with the film, first let me comment on the look and feel of it. Most people are bothered by the over the top neon and campiness of the film. Yes, it's it overdone, but I feel for the most part, it serves it's purpose well. I feel that the neon and gaudiness represents Gotham's garishness and decadence, like Las Vegas on steroids. As for the camp, I'd just like to say the other films had it as well, just not to this extent. Batman Returns had rocket
penguins, Begins had bad gangster clique Falcone, Knight had the Russian ad all his lines, and Rises had Bane. I'm not saying they are all equal, just that none are free from it entirely, and at least Forever had some purpose behind it. Remember, Forever was just on the heels of Returns, which was extremely criticized for being too dark.
Now for what most people feel is this films biggest problems, the villains. yes, Two face IS pretty much indefensible, although he did have one or two decent scenes, like the circus. Luckily, I feel the Riddler makes up for it. Sure, a lot of the time it's just Jim Carrey being Jim Carrey but often there's a tragic and subtle menace to his character's obsession with Wayne and his overall narcissism, words which I feel perfectly encapsulate the Riddler as a character.
And I would just like to add, I feel this film has one of the best scenes of any Batman film, namely Bruce's flashback to the cave. So, with these thoughts, perhaps another look could be had to this, I feel, is an underrated iteration of Batman. Thanks for your time.