Batman Forever

Batman Forever
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Joel Schumacher
Produced by	Tim Burton Peter Macgregor-Scott Executive Producers: Benjamin Melniker Michael Uslan
Screenplay by	Lee Batchler Janet Scott-Batchler Akiva Goldsman
Story by	Lee Batchler Janet Scott-Batchler Comic Book: Bill Finger (uncredited) Bob Kane
Starring	Val Kilmer Tommy Lee Jones Jim Carrey Nicole Kidman Chris O'Donnell
Music by	Elliot Goldenthal
Cinematography	Stephen Goldblatt
Editing by	Dennis Virkler Mark Stevens
Distributed by	Warner Bros.
Release date(s)	June 16, 1995 (1995-06-16)
Running time	122 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	US$100 million[1]
Gross revenue	$336,529,844
Preceded by	Batman Returns
Followed by	Batman & Robin

Batman Forever is a 1995 American superhero film directed by Joel Schumacher and produced by Tim Burton. It is the third installment of the Batman film series and stars Val Kilmer as Batman. The plot focuses on Batman trying to stop Two-Face (Tommy Lee Jones) and the Riddler (Jim Carrey) in their villainous scheme to drain information from all the brains in Gotham City. He gains allegiance from psychiatrist Chase Meridian (Nicole Kidman) and orphaned ward Dick Grayson (Chris O'Donnell).

The film had a change in tone compared to the previous installments, more family-friendly, since Warner Bros. considered that the previous film, Batman Returns, underperformed at the box office due to its violence and dark overtones. Production was troubled, with many actors considered for the main roles, and Kilmer entering in conflicts with the director and the rest of the crew. Batman Forever received mixed reviews upon release, but was a massive success with audiences, outgrossing Returns with over $336 million worldwide and becoming the 2nd highest grossing film of 1995.^[2]

Plot

The movie opens with Batman (Val Kilmer) stopping a hostage situation in a bank caused by Two-Face (Tommy Lee Jones), who had once been Gotham City District Attorney Harvey Dent until a mobster threw acid in his face, scarring him and creating a split personality, who decides his every move by flipping a coin. Two-Face escapes after defacing Gotham's Statue of Liberty. Later on, Edward Nigma (Jim Carrey), a researcher at Wayne Enterprises, develops a device to beam television directly to a person's brain; Bruce Wayne rejects the invention, noting that it "raises too many questions". In response, Edward works after hours to perfect the device, but is caught by his supervisor. After testing the machine on him, Edward kills his supervisor, hacks into the security cameras to make it look like a suicide, and then resigns from his post.

After meeting psychiatrist Dr. Chase Meridian (Nicole Kidman), Bruce invites her to a charity circus event. While there, Two-Face and his henchmen storm the event in an attempt to discover Batman's secret identity, in the process killing a family of acrobats, The Flying Graysons. The youngest member, Dick (Chris O'Donnell), survives and throws Two-Face's bomb into the river. Bruce assumes responsibility for Dick and allows him to stay at Wayne Manor. Dick declares his intention to kill Two-Face and avenge his family's murder, and when he discovers Bruce's secret identity as Batman, he insists on becoming his crime-fighting partner.

Meanwhile, Edward has become obsessed with Bruce, and he begins to leave riddles for him. He takes up the mantle of "the Riddler" and approaches Two-Face with a deal: Two-Face will provide Riddler with funding for his experiments, and in return, the Riddler will find out Batman's identity for Two-Face. Using his invention that Bruce had rejected earlier, Edward discovers a way to read people's minds and steal their intelligence quotient (although it does not decrease the victim's IQ, only increasing Edward's). At a business party, Edward discovers Bruce's secret identity. Two-Face then attacks the party and nearly kills Batman, but Robin comes just in time to save his life. However, Two-Face and the Riddler later converge into Wayne Manor. The Riddler finds his way to the Batcave and destroys most of the equipment, while Two-Face flips his coin until bad heads and wounds Bruce with his pistol. He is about to shoot him in the head but Riddler stops him. The Riddler and Two-Face then kidnap Chase. They also leave Bruce another riddle. Alfred and Bruce together solve the separate clues-they are a number/alphabet riddle which spell "Mr. E" a pun on "Mystery" which is translated into "Enigma" (i.e. Edward Nigma).

After solving the last riddle, Batman and Robin survive the Riddler's sea mines; evil frogmen and anti-aircraft beam and locate the Riddler's Lair, where both are separated upon reaching the island. Robin then encounters Two-Face and manages to beat him to the ground; Two-Face clings on for life, and realizing that he cannot kill him, Robin helps the villain back up. The villain is less than grateful, and captures Robin by pulling a gun on him. Meanwhile, Batman makes his way into the Riddler's lair and meets the Riddler himself; he reveals Robin and Chase, both bound and gagged, as hostages, and gives Batman a choice of saving one hostage, but not the other, showing that he cannot be both Bruce Wayne and Batman. He talks about it like a game show. Batman then asks the Riddler a riddle (the answer being "Bat"), which buys him enough time to destroy the Superbox with a Sonar Batarang. The brainwave device, being connected directly to the Riddler's brain, malfunctions and drives him mad in the process. Before he goes completely insane, he drops Chase and Robin into a pit of water and sharp metal. Once he rescues them and they climb onto a metal ledge, Two-Face appears out of nowhere and flips his coin. Batman throws several other coins in the air, and Two-Face struggles to keep track of his coin, therefore losing his balance causing Two-Face to fall in the pit to his death. The scarred and mad Riddler is finally sent to Arkham Asylum, and Chase is asked to consult on his case. Edward offers to reveal Batman's true identity to her – raving nonsensically that he is Batman. Chase then meets Bruce Wayne outside and tells him his secret is safe. The movie ends showing Batman and Robin running to a crime scene.

Cast

• Val Kilmer as Bruce Wayne / Batman: After coming across the journal of his father, he starts questioning his act of vengeance. Bruce struggles with his dual identity as a crime fighter, becoming romantically involved with Dr. Chase Meridian.
• Tommy Lee Jones as Harvey Dent / Two-Face: Formerly the good district attorney of Gotham City, half of Harvey's face is scarred with acid during the conviction of a crime boss. Driven insane, he becomes the criminal Two-Face.
• Jim Carrey as Dr. Edward Nygma / The Riddler: A former Wayne Enterprises employee, Edward resigns after his newest invention is personally rejected by Bruce Wayne. He becomes the villainous Riddler, leaving riddles and puzzles at scenes of crime.
• Nicole Kidman as Dr. Chase Meridian: A psychologist and love interest of Bruce Wayne. Chase is fascinated by the dual nature of Batman. She's held as a damsel in distress in the climax.
• Chris O'Donnell as Dick Grayson / Robin: Once a circus acrobat, Dick is taken in by Bruce after Two-Face murders his parents and brother at a circus event. Bruce is reminded when his parents were murdered when he sees the same vengeance in Dick, and decides to take him in as his ward. He eventually discovers the Batcave and learns Bruce's secret identity. In his wake, he becomes the crime fighting partner, Robin.
• Michael Gough as Alfred Pennyworth: The Wayne family's faithful butler and Bruce's confidant. Alfred also befriends the young Dick Grayson.
• Pat Hingle as James Gordon: The Police Commissioner of Gotham City.
• Drew Barrymore and Debi Mazar as Sugar and Spice: Two-Face's "good" and "bad" henchwomen; they were created specifically for the film.
• Ed Begley, Jr. as Fred Stickley: Edward Nygma's ill-tempered supervisor at Wayne Enterprises. After Stickley discovers the true nature of Nygma's invention, Nygma kills him and makes it look like suicide. Begley was uncredited for this role.
• Ofer Samra as Harvey's Thug.
• Elizabeth Sanders as Gossip Gerty: Gotham's top gossip columnist.
• René Auberjonois as Dr. Burton: Head Doctor of Arkham Asylum.
• Joe Grifasi as The Bank Guard: Two-Face's hostage during the opening scene.

Production

Development

Even though Batman Returns was a financial success, Warner Bros. felt the film should have made more money and decided to make the film series more mainstream. Tim Burton, who had directed the two previous installments, was asked to restrict himself to the role of producer and approved of Joel Schumacher as director.^[3] Schumacher originally had in mind an adaptation of Frank Miller's Batman: Year One. The studio rejected the idea as they wanted a sequel, not a prequel, though Schumacher was able to include very brief events in Batman's past. Burton and Schumacher together hired Lee and Janet Scott-Batchler to write the script which 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 "lighted down." He hired Akiva Goldsman, whom he previously had worked for on The Client to write the second draft.^[4]

Production went on fast track with Rene Russo cast as Dr. Chase Meridian. Michael Keaton decided not to reprise Batman because he did not like the new direction the film series was heading in.^[5] Keaton also wanted to pursue "more interesting roles",^[6] turning down $15 million to appear in Batman Forever.^[3] Val Kilmer was cast days later, and the filmmakers decided that Russo was too old for Kilmer, replacing her with a different actress.^[5] Schumacher got interested in Kilmer for Batman after seeing him in Tombstone, and the actor accepted the role without even reading the script or knowing who the new director was.^[7] Before Val Kilmer was cast, Daniel Day-Lewis, Ralph Fiennes, William Baldwin and Johnny Depp were all under consideration to replace Michael Keaton.^[8][9]

Robin Wright Penn, Jeanne Tripplehorn and Linda Hamilton were in competition for Dr. Chase Meridian, with Penn appearing as the favorable choice. Nicole Kidman was eventually cast.^[10] Even though Billy Dee Williams took the role of Harvey Dent in Batman because he was looking forward to portray Two-Face in a sequel, the producers cast Tommy Lee Jones in the role.^[11] Jones was always Schumacher's first choice for the role after working with him on The Client. Jones claims he was sent the script and was very cautious to accept,^[4] but accepted the part because Two-Face was his son's favorite character.^[12] Robin Williams was considered to play the Riddler,^[13] but Jim Carrey was eventually cast.^[14] Robin appeared in the shooting script of Batman Returns. Tim Burton cast Marlon Wayans in the role at the time, but later decided there were too many characters in the film and dropped the minor scene from production. Wayans also signed on for Batman Forever. When Schumacher took over, he decided Wayans was not the right actor to play Robin for his production. Wayans was paid out and replaced with a different actor.^[15] Leonardo DiCaprio and Chris O'Donnell became the top two choices, with O'Donnell winning the part. Mitchell Gaylord served as O'Donnell's stunt double.^[10]

Filming

Filming started in September 1994.^[3] Schumacher hired Barbara Ling for production design, claiming that the film needed a "force" and felt Ling could "advance on it." Schumacher wanted a design that was not to be any way connected to the previous films, and instead was to be inspired by the images from the Batman comic books seen in the 1940s/early 1950s and taken from that of New York City architecture in the 1930s, with a combination of modern Tokyo. He also wanted a "city with personality", with more statues, as well as various amounts of neon. The Batmobile was also given a makeover, with two cars being constructed, one for stunt purposes and one for close ups with both showcasing a V8 engine.^[16]

Schumacher had problems filming with Kilmer, whom he described as "childish and impossible", reporting that he fought with various crewmen, and refused to speak to Schumacher during two weeks after the director told him to stop behaving in a rude way.^[5] Schumacher also mentioned Tommy Lee Jones as source of trouble: "Jim Carrey was a gentleman, and Tommy Lee was threatened by him. I'm tired of defending overpaid, overprivileged actors. I pray I don't work with them again."^[17]

Design and effects

Rick Baker designed the prosthetic makeup. John Dykstra, Andrew Adamson and Jim Rygiel served as visual effects supervisors, with Pacific Data Images also contributing with visual effects work. PDI provided a computer-generated Batman for complicated stunts.^[18] For the costume design, producer Peter MacGregor-Scott claimed that 146 workers were at one point working together. Batman's costume was redesigned along the lines of a more "MTV organic, and edgier feel" to the suit, as were the Batcave and Batmobile (which had been destroyed in Batman Returns). Various suits were designed for specific purposes, such as one where as Val Kilmer sits in the Batmobile and various others for stunts and close ups.^[19]

Music

Elliot Goldenthal was hired to compose the film score even before the first draft of the script was written. He stated he was told by Schumacher as not to listen to Danny Elfman's previous score, and instead compose a different orchestral piece.^[20] An album featuring over 40 minutes of Elliot Goldenthal's Original Motion Picture Score, was released two weeks after the soundtrack album.

The soundtrack was also hugely successful, selling almost as many copies as Prince's soundtrack to the 1989 Batman film. Only five of the songs on the soundtrack are actually featured in the movie, the rest are strictly 'inspired by'. Hit singles from the soundtrack include "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" by U2 and "Kiss from a Rose" by Seal, both of which were nominated for MTV Movie Awards. "Kiss From a Rose" (whose video was also directed by Joel Schumacher) reached #1 in the U.S. charts as well. The soundtrack itself, featuring additional songs by The Flaming Lips, Brandy (both songs also included in the film), Method Man, Nick Cave, Michael Hutchence (of INXS), PJ Harvey, and Massive Attack, was an attempt to (in producer Peter MacGregor-Scott's words) make the film more "pop".

Release

Batman Forever went through a few major edits before its release. Originally darker than the final product, the movie's original length was closer to 2 hours and 40 minutes according to director Joel Schumacher. There was talk of an extended cut being released to DVD for the film's 10th anniversary in 2005. While all four previous Batman films were given Special Edition DVD releases on the same day as the Batman Begins' DVD release, the version of Batman Forever released was the original, although some of the following scenes were in a deleted scenes section in the special features.^[21]

Many scenes were filmed but deleted from the film. These included:

• The escape of Two-Face from Arkham Asylum. Rene Auberjonois had more scenes filmed here, playing Doctor Burton but his role was reduced to a cameo in the final film. He encounters the escape with the psychologist killed and hanged in Two-Face's cell with his blood smeared on the wall, written as "The Bat Must Die." This was supposed to begin the picture but producers decided this was far too dark for a family audience. As this was cut, it made the editing of the final film somewhat muddled to the fans of the original script as later scenes were re-arranged. This scene appears in a rough edit on the Special Edition DVD. Segments of the scene also appears on the U2 music video "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me."
• The construction of NygmaTech was more in-depth. There were scenes shot that appear in publicity stills of Edward Nygma with a hard hat helping with the construction of his headquarters on Claw Island. This scene does not appear on the new Special Edition release but is shown in the sticker album published by Merlin Collections.
• Sugar and Spice, played by Drew Barrymore and Debi Mazar, try out the Riddler's device during the montage when it goes on sale. They are seated with The Riddler and Two-Face on the couch where Chase is handcuffed later in the film. This scene appears in the comic adaptation but not in the final film.
• The most known deleted scene involved further backstory to the film which many people, including screenwriter Akiva Goldsman, believed would have improved the quality of the film considerably. It involved Bruce waking up after being shot in the head by Two-Face, temporarily wiping a part of his memory; he has forgotten his origin and life as the Dark Knight. Alfred takes him to the Batcave, which has been destroyed by The Riddler. They stand on the platform where the Batmobile was and Alfred says "Funny they did not know about the cave beneath the cave." The platform then rotates downward to another level where the sonar-modification equipment is kept, from the special batsuit to the hi-tech weaponry. Bruce then discovers the cavern where he first saw the image that would make him become Batman — a giant bat. The bat appears and Bruce raises his arms and the shot shows that they are one. Bruce now remembers who he is and goes with Alfred to solve the riddles left throughout the film. Akiva admitted the scene was very theatrical on the Special Edition DVD and felt the scene would have made a difference to the final cut. The bat was designed and created by Rick Baker, who was in charge of the make-up of Two-Face, played by Tommy Lee Jones. This scene appears in a rough form on the Special Edition DVD and is briefly mentioned in the comic adaptation.
• The original ending paid homage to the first film. When Alfred drives Doctor Chase Meridian back to Gotham she asks him "Does it ever end?" Alfred replies, "No, Doctor Meridian, not in this lifetime..." The Bat-Signal shines on the night sky and Batman and Robin are standing on a giant gargoyle overlooking the city. This scene, with Kilmer and O'Donnell, was shot in front of a blue screen. A rough edit of the first half of the ending scene appears on the Special Edition DVD, but not in its entirety. The sequence with Batman and Robin at the end of this scene is not to be confused with a commercial for the video game, which is on the VHS release of this film (released in the UK on December 3, 1995), with Batman standing on a pillar looking ahead. Robin then comes into the shot and joins his partner. Batman leaps off the pillar, towards the camera. This commercial was filmed with two stuntmen dressed in Batman and Robin outfits on a small sound stage.

Reception

Box office

Batman Forever opened in 2,842 theaters in the United States on June 16, 1995, making $52.78 million in its opening weekend.^[1] This was the highest opening weekend of 1995.^[22] The film went on to gross $184.03 million in North America, and $152.5 million in international countries, totaling $336.53 million. Batman Forever was declared a huge financial success.^[1] The film earned more money than its predecessor Batman Returns,^[23] and was the second-highest (behind Toy Story) grossing film of 1995, in North America^[22]

Critical reaction

Batman Forever was released to mixed reviews. Based on 54 reviews collected by Rotten Tomatoes, 43% of reviewers enjoyed the film.^[24] The film was more balanced with 14 critics in Rotten Tomatoes's "Top Critics" poll, receiving a 71% approval rating.^[25] Metacritic collected an average score of 51, based on 23 reviews.^[26]

Peter Travers criticized the movie's blatant commercialism, but commented that "Batman Forever still gets in its licks. There's no fun machine this summer that packs more surprises. The script misses the pain Tim Burton caught in a man tormented by the long-ago murder of his parents."^[27] Brian Lowry of Variety believed "One does have to question the logic behind adding nipples to the hard-rubber batsuit. Whose idea was that supposed to be anyway, Alfred's? Some of the computer-generated Gotham cityscapes appear too obviously fake. Elliot Goldenthal's score, while serviceable, also isn't as stirring as Danny Elfman's work in the first two films."^[28]

James Berardinelli enjoyed the film. "It's lighter, brighter, funnier, faster-paced, and a whole lot more colorful than before."^[29] Scott Beatty felt "Tommy Lee Jones played Harvey Dent as a Joker knock-off rather than a multi-layered rogue."^[30] Lee Bermejo called Batman Forever "unbearable".^[31] Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert both gave the film mixed reviews, but with the former giving it a thumbs up and the latter a thumbs down.^[32] In his written review, Ebert wrote: "Is the movie better entertainment? Well, it's great bubblegum for the eyes. Younger children will be able to process it more easily, some kids were led bawling from Batman Returns where the PG-13 rating was a joke."^[33] Mick LaSalle had a mixed reaction, concluding "a shot of Kilmer's rubber buns at one point is guaranteed to bring squeals from the audience."^[34]

Awards

At the 68th Academy Awards, Batman Forever was nominated with Cinematography, Sound and Sound Editing.^[35] "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" by U2 was nominated for Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song,^[36] but was also nominated for the Worst Song Golden Raspberry Award.^[37] At the Saturn Awards, the film was nominated for Best Fantasy Film, Make-up, Special Effects and Costume Design.^[38] Composer Elliot Goldenthal was given a Grammy Award nomination.^[39] Batman Forever received six nominations at the 1996 MTV Movie Awards.^[40]

Merchandising

In addition to a large line of toys and action figures from Kenner, the McDonald's food chain released several collectibles and mugs to coincide with the release of the film. Peter David and Alan Grant wrote separate novelizations of the film.^[41][42] Dennis O'Neil authored a comic book adaptation, with art by Michal Dutkiewicz.^[43]

See also

• Batman Forever (score)
• Batman Forever (soundtrack)
• Batman Forever (video game)
• Batman Forever: The Arcade Game

References

External links

• Official website
• Batman Forever at the Internet Movie Database
• Batman Forever at Allmovie
• Batman Forever at Box Office Mojo
• Batman Forever at Rotten Tomatoes