Val Kilmer's Batman

[Kevin Roegele]

You must be joking

Nope. I know you won't, but I suggest you actually read the script by Lee and Janet-Scott Batchelor, or atleast the novelisation by Peter David. A great script doesn't mean the film itself will be great.

You know, in the script it doesn't say, "Jim Carrey be silly here," or "neon lights and giant naked male torso statue here."

 

[White_Howling]

Kilmers batman was pretty good.. but the surrounding cast.. now thats another story

 

[Dr. Fate]

Looking back on the documentaries of the Batman anthology, Tim Burton keeps mentioning that he felt he had to cast Michael Keaton in part because Keaton wasn't an "obvious choice", not tall, muscular, semi-muscular or even stocky, not dashingly handsome, not square jawed... Tim kept going on and on about how those big muscle types don't need the theatrical effect of looking like a giant bat in order to frighten enemies, something someone of Keaton's size apparently needs. So now I try to imagine what it might have been like, Burton working with Kilmer, a more "obvious" choice...

TIM BURTON: "Okay Val, you're looking too tall in this scene, I want you to slouch and shrug your shoulders so you don't look as imposing."
VAL KILMER: "Tim, I can't help how God built me. Besides, shouldn't Batman be im-"
BURTON: "Shut up, it's my film, it's my vision. Also, we need to do something about that jaw of yours, it's too square."

KILMER: "It's the jaw that God gave me, Tim."

BURTON: "Shut up. Also, you're looking too handsome out of costume, so we're gonna have to do something with the hairstylists and the make up people to make you less attractive."

KILMER: "But Tim, with all due respect and modesty, shouldn't Bruce Wayne be-"

BURTON: "Shut up."

Then we get Burton in interviews about working with Val Kilmer...

TIM BURTON: "I never liked the decision to cast Val Kilmer as Batman. To me, Val never really inhabited the character. I always felt that Val was too obvious. He's tall, he's muscular, he's got matinee idol good looks, I just never felt that he needed to wear a bat-suit to frighten people. A guy like Val Kilmer doesn't need the theatrical effect of looking like a giant bat in order to frighten people. It really threw off my vision and-" [suddenly, the hands of Val Kilmer appear and grab Tim from behind, dragging him away, and we hear Tim screaming as he is dragged away]

 

[Kevin Roegele]

Looking back on the documentaries of the Batman anthology, Tim Burton keeps mentioning that he felt he had to cast Michael Keaton in part because Keaton wasn't an "obvious choice", not tall, muscular, semi-muscular or even stocky, not dashingly handsome, not square jawed... Tim kept going on and on about how those big muscle types don't need the theatrical effect of looking like a giant bat in order to frighten enemies, something someone of Keaton's size apparently needs. So now I try to imagine what it might have been like, Burton working with Kilmer, a more "obvious" choice...

TIM BURTON: "Okay Val, you're looking too tall in this scene, I want you to slouch and shrug your shoulders so you don't look as imposing."
VAL KILMER: "Tim, I can't help how God built me. Besides, shouldn't Batman be im-"
BURTON: "Shut up, it's my film, it's my vision. Also, we need to do something about that jaw of yours, it's too square."

KILMER: "It's the jaw that God gave me, Tim."

BURTON: "Shut up. Also, you're looking too handsome out of costume, so we're gonna have to do something with the hairstylists and the make up people to make you less attractive."

KILMER: "But Tim, with all due respect and modesty, shouldn't Bruce Wayne be-"

BURTON: "Shut up."

Then we get Burton in interviews about working with Val Kilmer...

TIM BURTON: "I never liked the decision to cast Val Kilmer as Batman. To me, Val never really inhabited the character. I always felt that Val was too obvious. He's tall, he's muscular, he's got matinee idol good looks, I just never felt that he needed to wear a bat-suit to frighten people. A guy like Val Kilmer doesn't need the theatrical effect of looking like a giant bat in order to frighten people. It really threw off my vision and-" [suddenly, the hands of Val Kilmer appear and grab Tim from behind, dragging him away, and we hear Tim screaming as he is dragged away]

LOL.

Burton: O'Donnell, you know I HATE Robin, so I naturally hate you for being cast as Robin.

O'Donnell: But....

Burton: Shut up.

Kilmer: Oh, Timmy, you're so fine, you're so fine you blow my mind. Hey Timmy!

O'Donnell: Hey Timmy!

Tommy Lee-Jones: Oh Timmy, what a pity, you don't understand, you take me by the heart, you take me by the hand. Oh Timmy You're so pretty, cant you understand? Its guys like you Mickey...

Kilmer: Oh what you do Timmy

O'Donnell: Do Timmy

Jones: Dont break my heart Timmy.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

I think Batman & Robin would have been somewhat better had Kilmer returned for the role. Even though he technically would have no control over the script, Kilmer argued with Schumacher about the seriousness of the role in Forever, and just the prescence of his Batman would have added some stability and grounding that Clooney's did not have.

 

[Two-Face]

Nope. I know you won't, but I suggest you actually read the script by Lee and Janet-Scott Batchelor, or atleast the novelisation by Peter David. A great script doesn't mean the film itself will be great.

You know, in the script it doesn't say, "Jim Carrey be silly here," or "neon lights and giant naked male torso statue here."

I agree, I read the script and I thought it was very good if Goldsman never touched the script and got different director I think the film would have been the best and would have passed Burton's movies or just as good as them.

 

[Brian Braddock]

I think Batman & Robin would have been somewhat better had Kilmer returned for the role. Even though he technically would have no control over the script, Kilmer argued with Schumacher about the seriousness of the role in Forever, and just the prescence of his Batman would have added some stability and grounding that Clooney's did not have.

Yeah, I think your'e right - the crazy bast**d wouldnt have stood for any crap from Schumacher!

Mind you, Schumaker was known to hate (is hate too stronger word -perhaps dislike) Kilmer after Forever (said he shouldve been in an asylum or something if memory serves) so you never know - if Kilmer had've stayed on, maybe Schumaker wouldve left.

That wouldve been interesting.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

Yeah, I think your'e right - the crazy bast**d wouldnt have stood for any crap from Schumacher!

Mind you, Schumaker was known to hate (is hate too stronger word -perhaps dislike) Kilmer after Forever (said he shouldve been in an asylum or something if memory serves) so you never know - if Kilmer had've stayed on, maybe Schumaker wouldve left.

That wouldve been interesting.

There are many suggested reasons for Kilmer quitting.

1. He didn't get on with Shumacher.
2. He didn't like the title change from Batman Triumphant to Batman & Robin.
3. He wanted Robert Towne to write the script.
4. He didn't want to shoot the movie in 1996 (which ultimately didn't happen anyway).
5. He was mocked for playing Batman on the set of Heat by De Niro and Pacino.

 

[Brian Braddock]

There are many suggested reasons for Kilmer quitting.

1. He didn't get on with Shumacher.
2. He didn't like the title change from Batman Triumphant to Batman & Robin.
3. He wanted Robert Towne to write the script.
4. He didn't want to shoot the movie in 1996 (which ultimately didn't happen anyway).
5. He was mocked for playing Batman on the set of Heat by De Niro and Pacino.

Wow, that one I hadnt heard. To be mocked for bein Batman by guys who starred in 'The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle' and 'Dick Tracy' respectively.

Double standards, if true, no?

 

[Mr. Socko]

Kilmer was good, but Kidman was GREAT!

 

[Kevin Roegele]

Kilmer was good, but Kidman was GREAT!

She was, wasn't she?

 

[El Payaso]

No, she wasn't. She was average and quite an airhead character.

Kilmer was good but his energy was very low.

 

[batmaluco]

Kilmer (and even Clooney) could have been a good Batman IF the direction didn't go so bad...

 

[Mr. Socko]

Was Clooney grey in B&R?

 

[batmaluco]

Was Clooney grey in B&R?

He was ghey.

 

[El Payaso]

Kilmer (and even Clooney) could have been a good Batman IF the direction didn't go so bad...

As God is my witness, as God is my witness they're not going to make me be a crappy Batman. I'm going to live through this and when it's all over, I'll never be a crappy Batman again. No, not for any gay director. If I have to lie, steal, cheat or kill. As God is my witness, I'll never be a crappy Batman again.

 

[TheFalcon]

I thought Kilmer was great as Batman and his Bruce Wayne was also great. Overall I think he was better than Keaton in the role.
If it wasn't for Schumacher I think he would've been much higher regarded.

 

[batmaluco]

As God is my witness, as God is my witness they're not going to make me be a crappy Batman. I'm going to live through this and when it's all over, I'll never be a crappy Batman again. No, not for any gay director. If I have to lie, steal, cheat or kill. As God is my witness, I'll never be a crappy Batman again.

lol

 

[El Payaso]

I thought Kilmer was great as Batman and his Bruce Wayne was also great. Overall I think he was better than Keaton in the role.
If it wasn't for Schumacher I think he would've been much higher regarded.

Well at least you got Schumacher wasn't great.

 

[Mr. Socko]

Better then Keaton? I'll pretend I didn't hear that.

 

[The Chairman]

Kilmer would've been great. Too bad Joel was involved. But he wouldn't have been as good as Keaton or Bale anyway.

 

[Thot]

I thought Kilmer was great as Batman and his Bruce Wayne was also great. Overall I think he was better than Keaton in the role.
If it wasn't for Schumacher I think he would've been much higher regarded.

Amen.................

 

[Thot]

Still my favorite Batsuit!! Begins is a close second.

 

[El Payaso]

Thing for nipples?

Hey, I can get, I'm liberal.

 

[cryptic name]

i don't like the sculpting on the neck. i can't really see bruce wayne treating the batsuit as such a detailed piece of art. the slight anatomical look is great, but chiseled collar bones and a tendonous neck is a bit much.