Billy Dee Williams (Dent in 1989’s “Batman”) does, and he shouldn’t have been booted from the role, although I don’t wish this script upon him. He’s miscast, as Dent is supposed to be suave and handsome Tommy Lee Jones isn’t ugly, but he doesn’t fit that bill. Harvey Dent/Two-Face is misconceived in every way. Chase Meridian is hard to take seriously since she specializes in analyzing human behavior yet is unable to tell – throughout the entire film - that Batman and Bruce are the same person. Granted, “Batman Forever” does play up the “partners” idea rather than the mentor-student relationship, but it gains nothing by messing with the formula.ĭr. It also messes up the traditional Batman-Robin dichotomy since the two are almost contemporaries. But Kilmer is solid it’s nice to see that at least one actor wants to make a respectable film.ĭick Grayson/Robin is miscast, as O’Donnell is 10 years too old for the role, making the teenage-style antics less forgivable. Chase Meridian (Nicole Kidman) and also has to decide if he’ll let Robin (Chris O’Donnell) into his circle or not. His arc is shallowly written, as he deals with being two prongs of a love triangle with Dr. People did go to “Batman Forever” in droves, but I think that says more about how going to blockbuster movies was the thing to do in the 1990s.Īs noted, Val Kilmer’s Bruce is in a serious movie, continuing nicely from Michael Keaton’s performance. Granted, it’s a jokey homage, but still.) Were “Batman” fans asking for it? I don’t think so. (Robin says “Holy rusted metal!” at one point. It’s remarkable to watch the bonus features for 1989’s “Batman” where everyone talks about how important it is to bring a serious version of the character to the big screen, and then to see that six years later, the campy style returned.
BATMAN FOREVER MOVIE REVIEW SERIES
And the soundtrack is the best of the series so far, featuring U2’s “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me” and Seal’s “Kiss from a Rose,” both of which got a lot of spins from me in 1995. The Bruce Wayne scenes feel like they’re in a different (better) movie, like when he daydreams about falling into a cave, seeing a bat and resolving to become Batman. W ith “Gotham” returning for its final season this month, I’m looking back at past “Batman” projects from the perspective of someone who enjoyed “The Animated Series” as a kid and now enjoys “Gotham.” Next up is “Batman Forever” (1995).