BATMAN FOREVER (1995)
Reviewed by Jerry Saravia
Part of the problem is the horrendous casting of Val Kilmer as Batman/Bruce Wayne. As Bruce Wayne, he looks like a nerd with glasses who looks too fragile to survive in Wayne Manor or the Batcave. As Batman, he isn't bad but somehow not as suited to the Batsuit or the Bat nipples as Michael Keaton was.
Tommy Lee Jones gives the same performance he did in "Natural Born Killers" as Two-Face, a former district attorney who becomes a freak after acid burns half his face - he decides on a violent action by flipping a coin. Jim Carrey is at his zingiest and rubbery best here as the Riddler. And it is a welcome sight to see Nicole Kidman as Dr. Chase Meridian, a psychologist who becomes Bruce Wayne's love interest and has a keen interest in Batman's duality.
The movie drives at full-throttle overload with various action-scenes and overdone special-effects, especially the absurd climax involving a brainwave-collecting device. The villains steal the show while Batman's prowess and Bruce Wayne's past is kept to a minimum. And even more distracting is the appearance of Robin, the Boy Wonder (Chris O'Donnell), the former trapeze artist who becomes Batman's ally.
"Batman Forever" is too loud, too silly, too much-ness, as if Joel Schumacher is worried about his audience falling asleep. The movie is watchable and fast-paced enough but it is not as stimulating as the original 1989 film or as dark and subterranean as "Batman Returns" (though one can be thankful that this entry is not as unappetizing either). I suppose it will do for fans of the 1960's TV show, but not for fans of the Dark Knight graphic novels.
