Monday, September 12, 2011

Batman Forever Review











Batman Forever


Release Date: 29th June 1995 - Australia


Production Companies
Warner Bros. Pictures
PolyGram Filmed Entertainment (produced
in association with)


Genre: Action

Rating: PG

Runtime: 121 minutes


Budget: $100,000,000

Box Office Gross: $336,567,158 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
Batman has to defend Gotham City once more from the two united adversaries. Harvey Dent, a former district attorney who goes by his new name Two-Face and Edward Nygma, a former scientist and disgruntled employee of Wayne Enterprises, now called the Riddler. These two are for revenge, not just for Batman but for his civilian identity as Bruce Wayne. They inaccurately believed that he was responsible for ruining both of their lives. Meanwhile, Bruce is in love with a female psychologist named Dr. Chase Meridan. Even gaining himself a ward of Dick Grayson, a former circus acrobat whose family gets killed by Two-Face and later becomes Batman's new sidekick Robin.


Cast
Val Kilmer - Bruce Wayne/Batman
Tommy Lee Jones - Harvey Dent/Two-Face
Jim Carrey - Dr. Edward Nygma/The Riddler
Nicole Kidman - Dr. Chase Meridian
Chris O'Donnell - Dick Grayson/Robin
Michael Gough - Alfred Pennyworth
Pat Hingle - Commissioner James Gordon
Ed Begley, Jr - Fred Stickley (Uncredited)
Drew Barrymore - Sugar
Debi Mazar - Spice
Elizabeth Sanders - Gossip Gerty
Rene Auberjonois - Dr. Burton
Joe Grifasi - Bank Guard
Dennis Paladino - Crime Boss Moroni
Kimberly Scott - Margaret
Michael Paul Chan - Executive
Jon Favreau - Assistant
Ramsay Ellis - Young Bruce Wayne
Michael Scranton - Thomas Wayne
Eileen Seeley - Martha Wayne
Daniel Reichert - Ringmaster
Glory Fioramonti - Mom Grayson
Larry A. Lee - Dad Grayson
George Wallace - Mayor
Rebecca Budig - Teenage Girl
Don Wilson - Gang Member
Patrick Leahy - Himself (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Crew
Director - Joel Schumacher
Based on Batman Characters/
Project Consultant - Bob Kane
Based on Batman Characters - Bill Finger
(Uncredited)
Characters: Alfred Pennyworth, Robin &
Thomas Wayne - Jerry Robinson (Uncredited)
Story/Screenplay - Lee & Janet Scott Batchler
Screenplay - Akiva Goldsman
Script Supervisor - Sharron Reynolds
Associate Producer - Mitchell E. Dauterive
Executive Producers - Benjamin Melniker
and Michael E. Uslan
Producers - Tim Burton and Peter MacGregor-Scott
Casting - Mali Finn
Production Designer - Barbara Ling
Art Directors - Christopher Burian-Mohr
and Joseph P. Lucky
Set Decorator - Cricket Rowland
Property Master - Brad Einhorn
Costume Designers - Ingrid Ferrin and
Bob Ringwood
Designer: Robin Costume - Miles Teves (Uncredited)
Costume Coordinator - Randy Gardell
Costume Supervisors - Elaine Maser
and James W. Tyson
Lead Sculptor: Batsuits - Jose Fernandez (Uncredited)
Wrangler: Batsuit - Day Murch
Special Makeup Designer & Creator -
Rick Baker
Director of Photography - Stephen Goldblatt
Director of Photography: Underwater Unit -
Pete Romano
First Assistant Camera: Second Unit -
Gregory Irwin, Steve McLean and
Harry Zimmerman
Assistant Camera: Underwater Unit -
Wayne Baker and Eric Dyson
First Assistant Director - William M. Elwin
Location Manager - Laura Sode-Matteson
Second Unit Director - David Hogan
Underwater Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator -
Conrad E. Palmisano
Special Effects Coordinator - Thomas L. Fisher
Head Animatronic Designer/Puppeteer:
Rick Baker/Cinovation Studio Crew - Mark Setrakian
Head Sculptor: Rick Baker/Cinovation Studio
Crew - Matt Rose
Shop Foreman: Rick Baker/Cinovation Studio
Crew - Bill Sturgeon
Underwater Effects Supervisor - Gregory L. McMurry
Vehicle Production Supervisors - Charley Zurian
and Allen Pike
Visual Effects Supervisors - Andrew Adamson,
Eric Durst, John Dykstra, Boyd Shermis,
David Stump and Stephen Brand (Uncredited)
Visual Effects Supervisor: Pacific Data Images -
Richard Chuang
Post Production Visual Effects Supervisor -
Nick Davis
Supervisor: Grant McCune Design -
Grant McCune
Effects Supervisor: The Chandler Group -
Don Baker
Art Director: Visual Effects - James Hegedus
Visual Effects Directors of Photography -
Les Bernstein and Bruce Logan
Visual Effects Director of Photography:
The Chandler Group - Tim Angulo
Visual Effects Camera Operator - James Balsam
Model Shop Supervisor - Michael Joyce
Technical Supervisors: Pacific Data Images -
Philippe Gluckman and Wendy Rogers
Animation Supervisor: Pacific Data Images -
Raman Hui
Studio Head: Rhythm & Hues - John Hughes
Film Editors - Mark Stevens and Dennis Virkler
Supervising Sound Editors - John Leveque
and Bruce Stambler
Supervising Dialogue Editor - Becky Sullivan
Dialogue Editor - Kimberly Ellen Lowe
Sound Designers - Lance Brown,
Frank Kniest and Roland N. Thai
Re-Recording Mixers - Michael Herbick,
Donald O. Mitchell and Frank A. Montano
Music - Elliot Goldenthal


Awards

1996 Academy Awards
Best Cinematography - Stephen Goldblatt (Nominated)
Best Sound - Donald O. Mitchell,
Frank A. Montano, Michael Herbick and
Petur Hiddal (Nominated)
Best Sound Editing - John Leveque and
Bruce Stambler (Nominated)


Review
BATMAN FOREVER was a little dark yet lighthearted, fun and entertaining feature compared to the other movies in the franchise. It was the first Batman instalment from director Joel Schumacher, who almost quickly matched the standards of Tim Burton's interpretation of the Batman franchise. This neon and colourful style wasn't appropriate for the third movie as it bothered the fans' expectations that they prefer the same dark, grim and gothic world of Batman. Although Tommy Lee Jones's portrayal of Two-Face was too overacted and comical, Jim Carrey's acting as the Riddler smashed Jones' performance. While a bold casting decision, Val Kilmer has the looks and charisma to play Bruce Wayne. The remaining cast gave solid performances, including Nicole Kidman and Chris O'Donnell. Also, the soundtrack is a surprise addition to the movie with songs from Seal and U2.

My only grievance with the movie than the campier tone and Lee Jones' goofier portrayal of Two-Face is those darn nipples on the Batsuit. Other than that, this was an explosive movie with an all-star cast.

Star rating: (4/5) Good Movie

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