Batman Forever is a 1995 comedy adventure film directed by Joel Schumacher replaces Burton as director, while Burton is given top-billing producer credit.
Synopsis[]
In Gotham City, local vigilante Batman defuses a hostage situation orchestrated by a criminal known as Two-Face, formerly district attorney Harvey Dent. Two-Face was disfigured with acid by mobster Boss Sal Maroni, which Batman failed to prevent. Two-Face is planning a heist at the second bank of Gotham and it was on the second anniversary of Batman catching him. Little does he know, Two-Face wanted him come and tries to kill him with acid while locked in the vault, but Batman escapes and even helps the guard. Even after a helicopter chase/crash and surviving, Two-Face gets away. The next day Edward Nygma, an eccentric researcher at Wayne Enterprises, approaches his employer, Bruce Wayne (Batman's civilian identity), with an invention that can beam television signals directly into a person's brain. Bruce rejects the device, concerned the technology could manipulate minds. After killing his supervisor and staging the death as a suicide, Nygma resigns and plots revenge against Bruce, obsessively sending him riddles; criminal psychologist Chase Meridian diagnoses Bruce's stalker as psychotic.
Bruce invites Chase (who is obsessed with Batman) to a circus performance. During the show, Two-Face and his goons hijack the event and threatens to detonate a bomb unless Batman surrenders himself, Bruce tries to fess up but Two Face cannot hear him over the crowd. Acrobat Dick Grayson, the youngest member of the Flying Graysons, manages to throw the bomb into the river, but Two-Face kills his family. Bruce persuades Commissioner Gordon to have the orphaned Dick live at Wayne Manor as his ward, especially since the boy has no other family and the circus has already left for Metropolis. Dick isn't enthusiastic at first but after seeing all of Bruce's cars and bikes, he decides to stick around. While he is exploring Wayne Manor he discovers Bruce is Batman. While Bruce is at a dinner date with Chase, Alfred calls him to say that Dick has taken the Batmobile for a joyride, and has saved a girl from a gang. Batman saves Dick from thugs. Determined to avenge his family, Dick demands to join Batman in crime-fighting, hoping to kill Two-Face, but Bruce refuses. He then tells Dick firmly that if he does kill Two-Face, his pain will only get stronger, but Dick tells Bruce he is a part of this no matter what he says.
Nygma, inspired by Two-Face's raid at the circus, adopts a criminal persona, the Riddler, and allies with Two-Face after uncovering his hideout. While Two Face almost kills the Riddler for invading his hideout, he is able to persuade Two Face into helping him steal production capital to start his empire. In return for helping Nygma with his master plan, he'll help Two Face uncover Batman's identity. They commit a series of robberies by stealing diamonds from the jewelry store to cash from the casino to finance Nygma's new company and mass-produce his brainwave device, the "Box," which secretly steals information from users' minds. To make matters worse, Batman was unable to stop these robberies from happening. Nygma hosts a party where he goads Bruce into using the Box, before Two-Face unexpectedly arrives. As Batman, Bruce pursues Two-Face and is nearly killed, but Dick rescues him. Back at the Bat cave, Bruce is not happy with this and does not want Dick involved anymore but he won't listen to Bruce and even has his costume placed with the other bat suits. Even though Two-Face is unhappy that Batman survived, The Riddler has discovered that Bruce Wayne is Batman.
Batman visits Chase, who explains that she has fallen in love with Bruce. He invites her to the manor and will reveal his secret identity, and even declares his days as Batman are over. Dick, who is unhappy about Bruce abandoning a promise he made, runs away after taking parts from one of Bruce's Batsuits to build his own suit. The Riddler and Two-Face, having discovered Bruce's secret through the Box, arrive and blow up the Batcave, shooting Bruce and kidnapping Chase. As Bruce recovers, he and his butler, Alfred, use the riddles to deduce that Nygma is the Riddler. Bruce dons a new Batsuit, and Dick joins him as Batman's partner, "Robin."
Batman and Robin reach Riddler and Two-Face's lair on Claw Island, where they are separated. Robin encounters Two-Face and nearly kills him, but he spares his life and is captured. Batman confronts the Riddler, who reveals Chase and Robin, trapped in containment tubes above a deadly drop, giving Batman the chance to save only one hostage. Instead, Batman destroys the Riddler's brainwave receiver with a Batarang, overwhelming the Riddler's mind and allowing Batman to rescue both. Two-Face corners the trio and determines their fate by flipping a coin, but Batman throws a handful of identical coins in the air, causing Two-Face to stumble and fall to his death.
Committed to Arkham Asylum, Nygma claims to know Batman's secret identity and is visited by Chase. However, it is revealed that the delusional Nygma now believes that he is Batman. Chase tells Bruce that his secret is safe before they part ways. Bruce resumes his crusade as Batman, with Robin as his partner.
Cast[]
- Val Kilmer as Batman/Bruce Wayne
- Tommy Lee Jones as Harvey Two-Face/Harvey Dent
- Jim Carrey as Riddler/Edward Nygma
- Nicole Kidman as Dr. Chase Meridian
- Chris O'Donnell as Robin/Dick Grayson
- Michael Gough as Alfred Pennyworth
- Pat Hingle as Commissioner Gordon
- Drew Barrymore as Sugar
- Debi Mazar as Spice
- Elizabeth Sanders as Gossip Gerty
- René Auberjonois as Dr. Burton
- Joe Grifasi as Bank Guard
- Philip Moon as Newscaster
- Jessica Tuck as Female Newscaster
- Dennis Paladino as Crime Boss Moroni
- Kimberly Scott as Margaret
- Michael Paul Chan as Executive
- Jon Favreau as Assistant
- Greg Lauren as Aide
- Ramsey Ellis as Young Bruce Wayne
- Michael Scranton as Thomas Wayne
- Eileen Seeley as Martha Wayne
- David U. Hodges as Shooter
- Jack Betts as Fisherman
- Tim Jackson as Municipal Police Guard
- Daniel Reichert as Ringmaster
- Glory Fioramonti as Mom Grayson
- Larry A. Lee as Dad Grayson
- Bruce Roberts as Handsome Reporter
- George Wallace as Mayor
- Bob Zmuda as Electronic Store Owner
- Rebecca Budig as Teenage Girl
- Don Wilson as Gang Leader (as Don 'The Dragon' Wilson)
- Sydney D. Minckler as Teen Gang Member
- Maxine Jones as Girl on Corner #1
- Terry Ellis as Girl on Corner #2
- Cindy Herron as Girl on Corner #3
- Dawn Robinson as Girl on Corner #4
- Gary Kasper as Pilot
- Amanda Trees as Paparazzi Reporter
- Andrea Fletcher as Reporter
- Ria Coyne as Socialite
- Jed Curtis as Chubby Businessman
- William Mesnik as Bald Guy
- Marga Gómez as Journalist (as Marga Gomez)
- Kelly Vaughn as Showgirl
- John Fink as Deputy
- Noby Arden as Trapeze Act
- Marlene Bologna as Trapeze Act
- Danny Castle as Trapeze Act
- Troy S. Wolfe as Trapeze Act
- Christopher Caso as Harvey's Thug
- Gary Clayton as Harvey's Thug
- Oscar Dillon as Harvey's Thug
- Keith Graham as Harvey's Thug
- Kevin Grevioux as Harvey's Thug
- Mark Hicks as Harvey's Thug (as Mark A. Hicks)
- Corey Jordan as Harvey's Thug (as Corey Jacoby)
- Randy Lamb as Harvey's Thug
- Maurice Lamont as Harvey's Thug
- Sidney S. Liufau as Harvey's Thug
- Brad Martin as Harvey's Thug
- Deron McBee as Harvey's Thug
- Mario Mugavero as Harvey's Thug
- Joey Nelson as Harvey's Thug
- Jim Palmer as Harvey's Thug
- Robert Powell as Harvey's Thug (as Robert Pavell)
- Peewee Piemonte as Harvey's Thug
- Peter Radon as Harvey's Thug
- François Rodrigue as Harvey's Thug
- Joe Sabatino as Harvey's Thug
- Mike Sabatino as Harvey's Thug (as Mike Sabatino)
- Ofer Samra as Harvey's Thug
- Matt Sigloch as Harvey's Thug
- Mike Smith as Harvey's Thug
Uncredited[]
- Ed Begley Jr. as Fred Stickley
- George Cheung as Guest
- Scott Cranford as Indian Drummer
- Michael Dane as Gotham SWAT
- Katrina Fisher as Wig Lady
- Nancy Gassner-Clayton as Solo Singer
- Mitch Gaylord as Mitch Grayson
- Timothy Guest as Lab Technician
- Jenny Inge as Showgirl
- Bob Kane as Guest
- Joe Kent as Two-Face Henchman
- Anthony Kopczynski as Cashier
- Patrick Leahy as Sen. Patrick Leahy
- Marshall Dancing Elk Lucas as Guest
- Gorja Max as Gotham Elite
- Velvet Rhodes as Hooker
- Dana Walsh as Hooker
- Harry Williams Jr. as Gotham SWAT
Production[]
The original script introduced a psychotic Riddler with a pet rat accompanying him. The story elements and much of the dialogue still remained in the finished film, though Schumacher felt it could be "lighte[ne]d down," and wanted it as a larger-than-life living comic book onscreen, while retaining the darkness of the first two films. Keaton initially approved the selection of Schumacher as director and planned on reprising his role as Batman from the first two films before Val Kilmer was cast. Schumacher claims he originally had in mind an adaptation of Frank Miller's Batman: Year One and Keaton claimed that he was enthusiastic about the idea. Warner Bros. rejected the idea as they wanted a sequel, not a prequel, though Schumacher was able to include very brief events in Bruce Wayne's childhood with some events of the comic The Dark Knight Returns. Akiva Goldsman, who worked with Schumacher on The Client, was brought in to rewrite the script, adding the red book subplot, which will be included in the as-of-yet released Schumacher Cut of the film. Burton, who now was more interested in directing Ed Wood, later reflected he was taken aback by some of the focus group meetings for Batman Forever, a title he hated. Producer Peter MacGregor-Scott represented the studio's aim in making a film for the MTV Generation with full merchandising appeal.
Development[]
Even though Tim Burton's Batman Returns was both an audience and financial success, Warner Bros. felt the film should have made more money and decided to make the Batman series more mainstream, (although many people believe that the reason Tim was asked to step down as director was because the said was too dark for the kids). Burton was allowed to remain a part of the film if he was the producer, not the director, and hired his friend Joel Schumacher as director and helping out hiring Lee and Janet Scott Batchler as the screenwriters.
Schumacher's intention was to have Michael Keaton returning as the title character, and Warner Bros. wanted two villains after Batman Returns, and Schumacher chose Two-Face as the main villain, and Tommy Lee Jones is the first one who's cast in the film as Two-Face. The Batchlers chose The Riddler as the secondary villain, and Schumacher asked Robin Williams to play The Riddler with the Batchlers writing it with his comedic delivery before Jim Carrey was cast.
Filming[]
Filming started in September 1994. There is no photographic evidence of Burton ever setting foot on set during filming, due to other commitments, but he did give Schumacher his input.
Reception[]
The critical reaction to Batman Forever was generally positive when it was released, the film even beat Jurassic Park's record for biggest opening weekend. However over the years the critical reception from many critics and fans has gone from positive to neutral/negative. While it was not the best film in this franchise, it is declared a better film than Batman & Robin.
Videos[]
Trivia[]
- While Tommy Lee Jones is the first one who's cast in the film as Two-Face, there were several casting choices for each of the main characters, several of which were big names at the time.
- The Batmobile was giving an update as were the Batman costumes and several new weapons.
- Akiva Goldsman had seen a workprint for Batman Forever called "Preview Cut One," which is dark and psychological that it's about guilt and shame, while the theatrical version had a good balance of bright and dark.
- According to multiple articles, making this film was a nightmare: Tommy Lee Jones and Jim Carrey did not get along as Jones told Carrey he hated both Carrey and his films, the worst feud was between Schumacher and Kilmer as at the time Val Kilmer was hard to work with.