Batman Forever

While this Batman movie received mixed reviews when it was first released in the mid-90s, it did have a few positive aspects. I saw Two-Face as some sort of Joker rip-off for some reason. Val Kilmer was really good as Batman. I had a bit of a small 'crush' on Nicole Kidman from this movie. Regardless, this may considered to be an underrated Batman movie that had a few 'hidden' positive aspects.

great movie and came on time and in excellent condition.

Never ages

The media could not be loaded.  On a postive note, Amazon actually sent me a "Brand New" copy with the slipcover. Onto the movie, unlike the Tim Burton films, WB kept this one a more preserved state with little to no changes aside from some sound mixing during action scenes. The audio and picture quality are phenomenal. They punch up the green and blues which make sense in this case because the riddler is the main focus. While not the best batman movie, this version is worth owning.As a side note, at this point I wouldn't hold my breath, Joel Shumacher before his passing said an alternate cut exists, but I doubt WB will be strongarmed into releasing another director's cut of a movie they helped mangle.

I have to admit that this is what a comic book version of Batman would be like in a movie. But despite its flaws, I consider this to be a guilty pleasure for me. I just can't help it. This movie just has a place in my heart.Okay, to explain what I mean, lets go over how the movie is and I promise to keep my spoilers to a minimum.Before we go into this movie, lets review the first two movies that were presented. The very first movie in the franchise was "Batman" (obviously), which was released in 1989 and was a directed by the legendary Tim Burton. Thanks to the dark theme of the story and Michael Keaton's performance as Bruce Wayne, aka Batman, the movie was a huge hit. The second movie. "Batman Returns", was released in 1992, with both Burton and Keaton returning. Like the first movie, it was dark and Keaton was praised once again as Bruce. The only problem was that the movie was more for adults and was a little too dark. Warner Bros. decided to do a third movie, this time with a new director, one who could present a more child-friendly movie for kids. With Burton and Keaton not returning, Joel Schumacher and Val Kilmer took their places as director and as Bruce Wayne. Now with that said lets move into the third movie and see how well it does.To start off, this movie has a place in heart because it was the very first live-action Batman film I have ever seen. It caught my attention and allowed me to enjoy Batman, along with the villains he faced. This is more of a guilty pleasure, but hey, we all have those.The graphics are okay and not that bad, considering it could be worse. The music was epic and it felt more like Batman, just without the dark atmosphere to it. The action was great and provided the type of stuff that kids like. The atmosphere of the storyline was more light, but it did have a little bit of dark to it as well.Val Kilmer may not be Michael Keaton, but he isn't that bad as Bruce Wayne. However, it was hard to identity with him and to see the pain that he is in. Sure, we can see it in his memories, but it is hard to actually see the pain in his performance. Not to mention that sometimes it is hard to take him seriously in that costume. The villains are done very nicely too. Jim Carrey does an amazing job as the Riddler, bringing the character to life and actually bringing out the funny side to him as well, not to mention the killer side too. I remember laughing at some of his jokes and stunts. Tommy Lee Jones does an okay job as Two-Face (although Aaron Eckhart did better in "The Dark Knight"), but I had a hard time taking him seriously with that purple side of his face. However, despite that, I still thought his "crazy" side was pretty entertaining and fun to see. Seeing Robin enter the world of Batman was amazing addition to the series. I love how he is a teenager, instead of the small kid from the comics. Not to mention that he is badass in the movie as well. Heck, even his costume is upgraded to look badass and awesome. Nicole Kidman does a sexy job at playing Dr. Chase Meridian, the love interest for both Batman and Bruce Wayne. Unlike other love interests from the other two movies, this one actually seemed to fit the bill for Bruce. And as always, Michael Gough does very well as Alfred Pennyworth.Now, is this movie as good as the previous movies from before. In a way, "yes". But when it comes right down to the actual story of Batman, the older ones and the Nolan versions do better. But despite all of that, I say that this movie makes a great children's movie and is a good guilty pleasure to have.I say buy it. But only do it for the family and for your kids (if you have any).

Fun

Product arrived on time in good packaging but disc freezes and stops playing about 30 mins into the movie. Tried on two different players with the same result at Chapter 17. Unfortunate, but this would be hard to catch without letting the movie play in its entirety before selling. Bonus features still work.

NOTE - My actual star rating is "4 out of 5", but I originally felt 3 was more appropriate. My review is the exact same, but the star rating is just a notch higher. (><) SorryREVIEWI feel bad for this movie. For better or worse, it suffered the inevitbale comparisons to Tim Burton's blockbusters. I'm not sure if the mostly-negative audience really wanted to like this movie or not. I'll get to that later...What this entry in the "Batman" library is what any work of art is from a new artist - an interpretations. What Joel Schumacher and Akiva Goldsman (director and writer, respectively) saw the Batman character as, at least just judging from the movie, is an exciting hero who battles crime with a huge arsenal, and has a few emotional demons on the side. Is it as genius as Christopher Nolan's vision in "Batman Begins"? Certainly not, but for the summer of 1995 and even today, this concept is entertainment.Val Kilmer brings out the public businessman out of Bruce Wayne, but only falters in bringing the reclusive side that Michael Keaton played so well. As Batman, the crime-fighting hero, he gets the chance to display better fight choreography, but doesn't seem to invoke any plausible fear in the hearts of the villains. Even though Batman is a publicly-accepted figure, he loses some of the mystery. In short, Val Kilmer didn't live up to Keaton's strengths, but overcame Keaton's turn in areas that needed work.Chris O'Donnell is actually good here as Dick Grayson and Robin. He's eager and adventurous enough to convey that inner need for danger and thrills. I didn't feel enough anger in his role, but that's forgiveable. As Robin, he's actually pretty useless in this movie. The Bat-Boat is destroyed, he gets suckered into captivity by Two-Face, and is rescued by Batman. O'Donnell is a great Dick Grayson, but Robin's shortcomings weren't his fault, but instead the writers'.The villains are expertly-acted but not expertly-written. Tommy Lee Jones as Harvey Dent-turned-Two Face is very good here. He's maniacal enough to scare anyone, but his schemes to kill Batman are beyond ridiculous. I know that's his character, but that's where the presence of Jim Carrey's Edward Nygma/The Riddler comes into play. Nygma is a lunatic as well, but his menacing intelligence is more dangerous that the under-estimating Bruce Wayne realizes. The Riddler is a menace, but not a sadist. Many fans devalue the combination of Two-Face and The Riddler. You see, because Two-Face is gifted as a criminal but lacks a strong intellect, The Riddler is his perfect match. It could've been drawn out better, but it still works better than most might even realize.Nicole Kidman as Chase Meridian is interesting. She wants Batman, but Bruce Wayne doesn't really fascinate her too much until later in the movie. She's a sexually-hungry woman who knows how to delve into the human psyche. Kidman is perfectly-cast here, because she's beautiful and comes off as a well-read psychiatrist. However, she could've been given more to do as a doctor instead of just being gorgeous enough to pass.The setting of Gotham City, as many have noted, is a huge contrast between the moody, grim vision of Tim Burton. This Gotham is a neo-fantastical light-show with lots of colorful costumes, flashy buildings, and overly-elaborate sets. Realism doesn't have much place in this world. But that's the point I feel everyone misses. "Batman & Robin" was so obvious with its camp and silliness that it became annoying. This movie is so much more subtle. Just look at the Circus chapter. We are first drawn into the spotlight and extravaganza of the show, then given some subtext within the Meridian-Wayne date, as well as the trust between the Flying Graysons. Then, a dangerous battle of survival concludes safely, only to end with tragic consequences. To tackle all of those moods, paces, and angles is a very difficult task. This chapter does not unfold jarringly or unexpectedly, but is given a sense of control and care.There are quiet scenes of the troubled Bruce Wayne and of the frustrated Dick Grayson to counter the over-the-top action sequences. "Batman & Robin" used those scenes as fillers, but this movie does care about its characters. Even though the action and vision of the film is given more attention, the people who inhabit Gotham City are given texture.I don't think this movie could've avoided the negative reviews. I guess most of us like this movie, because the average rating is 3-out-of-5, which is my verdict. I like this entry because even though the movie is imbalanced, Joel Schumacher at least attempted to give some drama to contrast the action. But because he made it clear that this was to be just that - an action movie - I forgive the shortcomings better. Many claimed that this movie lost the spirit of the comic books, but so did Burton's two films. "Batman Forever" doesn't go too overboard, and is worthy of a purchase...and a spot in the "Batman" series.FINAL NOTE - This is already available on a bare-bones DVD, but I think that even those who hate this movie should look into checking this one out for the Extras. The commentaries and behind-the-scenes featurettes always give a film more appreciation. This is no exception. As for "Batman & Robin", view at your own risk.

Delighted to get this dvd. Top top service. Recommended.

I avoided the Joel Schumacher Batman movies due to the bad reviews. Batman forever was a pleasant surprise. Watching Batman from the sixties I have seen most movies of this superhero. My personal favorite is Tim Burtons Batman from 1989. Batman returns is not a Batman movie at all in my opinion. Christofer Nolans Batman has its moments, but is not my type. Ben Afflecks is interesting, but I don't like the supernatural enemies.Joel Schumacher went back to the comic books but more serious then Adam West. The atmosphere is very much comic book style. Beautiful scenes in Gothan city. Schumacher made a very erotic Batman. Look at the scene of the new Bat outfit. With doctor Meridian who has Batman as her love/lust object. Even the bat-nipples are in style.

Nach dem Wechsel von Tim Burton zu Joel Schumacher wurde dieser Batmanstreifen doch deutlich heller und freundlicher, als die beiden düster gehaltenen Vorgänger, die aber deutlich näher an der literarischen Vorlage waren als die beiden Schumacher-Filme.Val Kilmer löst Michael Keaton als Held ab, macht aber auch eine sehr gute Figur.Alles überstrahlend ist sicherlich Jim Carrey, der seine Mitspieler wie Nicole Kidman und Tommy Lee Jones regelrecht an die Wand drückt mit seiner Darstellung.Insgesamt gute Story, tolle Effekte und klasse Action machen ihn zu einem guten Streifen.Die Ausstattung der BD ist auch sehr gut: Umfangreiches Making-Off, viele Extras, wirklich sehr interessant, nicht nur für Batmanfans.

Well made movie and Val Kilmer gives a good performance as Batman. However every scene played by Jim Carrey is just too silly and completely over the top which spoils the movie.

Adoro questa pellicola. Mi ha sempre preso fin da quando ero piccolo ed ora ho deciso di aggiungerla alla mia collezione. Consigliato se non l'avete mai visto.