Batman Forever is a 1995 superhero film directed by Joel Schumacher and starring Val Kilmer as Batman/Bruce Wayne, Chris O’Donnell as Robin/Dick Grayson, and Tommy Lee Jones and Jim Carrey as the villains Two-Face/Harvey Dent and the Riddler/Edward Nygma, respectively.
The movie starts with Batman trying to stop Two-Face from robbing the Second Bank of Gotham. During the fight, Harvey Dent is injured, and his face is scarred, leading him to adopt the persona of Two-Face and seek revenge against Batman for his disfigurement.
Meanwhile, Edward Nygma, a brilliant but unstable former employee of Wayne Enterprises, becomes obsessed with Bruce Wayne and his alter ego, Batman. After being fired from his job, Nygma creates a device that can read and record people’s thoughts and uses it to exact his revenge on Wayne.
As Batman investigates Nygma’s activities, he meets Dr. Chase Meridian, a psychiatrist who is also obsessed with Batman. Batman and Robin team up to stop Nygma, who has now become the Riddler, from carrying out his plan to steal people’s brainwaves and take over Gotham City.
Throughout the movie, Batman and Robin struggle to work together as they each deal with personal demons and try to find their place as crime-fighting partners. In the end, they defeat Two-Face and the Riddler and save Gotham City from destruction.
The movie features action-packed fight scenes, colorful villains, and a more lighthearted tone than its predecessor, Batman Returns. While it was a commercial success, it received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising its energy and humor and others criticizing its campy style and departure from the darker, more serious tone of earlier Batman films.
Cast
The cast of Batman Forever (1995) includes:
- Val Kilmer as Bruce Wayne / Batman
- Tommy Lee Jones as Harvey Dent / Two-Face
- Jim Carrey as Edward Nygma / The Riddler
- Nicole Kidman as Dr. Chase Meridian
- Chris O’Donnell as Dick Grayson / Robin
- Michael Gough as Alfred Pennyworth
- Pat Hingle as Commissioner Gordon
- Drew Barrymore as Sugar
- Debi Mazar as Spice
- Elizabeth Sanders as Gossip Gerty
- Rene Auberjonois as Dr. Burton
- Joe Grifasi as Bank Guard
There are also some cameo appearances from notable celebrities, including Jon Favreau as an assistant to the Riddler and Ed Begley Jr. as the boss of Edward Nygma. Additionally, the soundtrack features contributions from several musicians, including U2 and Seal.
Production
The production of the movie was quite extensive, with filming taking place in various locations in the United States and the United Kingdom. The main filming locations were Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California, and Leavesden Studios in Hertfordshire, England.
The production budget of the movie was around $100 million, which was a significant increase from the previous Batman films. The movie was a commercial success, grossing over $336 million worldwide at the box office.
Despite its financial success, the film received mixed reviews from critics and fans of the Batman franchise. Some praised the film for its fun and colorful tone, while others criticized it for being too campy and lacking the darker edge of the previous Batman films. Nevertheless, Batman Forever remains a notable entry in the Batman film series and is remembered for its iconic cast and memorable soundtrack.
Reviews
Batman Forever (1995) received mixed reviews from critics and audiences.
Some praised the film’s more lighthearted and fun tone compared to the darker Batman films that preceded it, as well as the performances of the main cast, particularly Jim Carrey’s portrayal of the Riddler. The movie’s action sequences, visual effects, and Danny Elfman’s score were also praised.
However, many criticized the film’s campy and over-the-top style, which some felt was a departure from the more serious and gritty tone of the previous Batman films. The portrayal of Two-Face and the handling of Robin’s character were also criticized.
Despite the mixed reviews, Batman Forever was a commercial success, grossing over $336 million worldwide at the box office. The film’s success paved the way for a fourth installment in the series, Batman & Robin (1997), which was even more poorly received than Batman Forever.
Overall, while Batman Forever may not be considered a critical masterpiece, it remains a notable and entertaining entry in the Batman film series, known for its iconic cast and colorful style.
