Tim Burton’s interpretation of the character in the 1989 Batman film and its sequel Batman Returns occasionally skewed too much towards a violent, high-functioning sociopath for my tastes, so Schumacher casting Batman and his faithful sidekick in a more positive light is a welcome change. Speaking of tone, Batman Forever also does a great job of presenting an out-and-out heroic take on both Batman and Robin. It’s like an updated version of the 1966 Batman TV show Yet despite these major drawbacks, there’s also a lot to like about the film (including not one, but two great tie-in songs), so read on for five reasons why Batman Forever is better than you remember! 5. Other shortcomings include plot holes big enough to drive a truck through (Riddler builds a big blender-thing that can suck visible brainwaves from people, and no one notices?) and several production design choices (Gotham City’s neon skyline, nipples on the Batsuit) which are beyond distracting. Seriously: those looking for nuanced performances have come to the wrong place. Then there’s Chris O’Donnell’s turn as Robin, which is obnoxious in a way only the ’90s could deliver, and Nicole Kidman’s love interest Doctor Chase Meridian, who shifts gears from sexually aggressive to emotionally nurturing so rapidly she’s at risk of whiplash. Both Jim Carrey’s Riddler and Tommy Lee-Jones’ Two-Face are so over the top they’re practically in orbit, while Val Kilmer makes for a disappointingly bland Batman and Bruce Wayne. On the acting front alone, there are plenty of sins to consider. Now, I’m not by any means suggesting it’s a great film, or even a good one. ![]() ![]() But trust me: Batman Forever has its good points. ![]() I suspect you’re rolling your eyes at the very idea of this, since it’s pretty much taken as a given that both Batman Forever and its sequel, Batman and Robin, are irredeemably terrible. This month marks 20 years since Joel Schumacher’s Batman Forever first swooped into theatres, so it’s high time for a re-evaluation of this much-maligned entry in the cinematic Bat-canon.
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