Batman Forever Review

Batman Forever

Release Date: 29th June 1995 - Australia

Production Companies

Warner Bros. Pictures (presents)

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 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

Phillip Moon - Newscaster

Jessica Tuck - Female Newscaster

Dennis Paladino - Crime Boss Moroni

Kimberly Scott - Margaret

Michael Paul Chan - Executive

Jon Favreau - Assistant

Greg Lauren - Aide

Ramsay Ellis - Young Bruce Wayne

Michael Scranton - Thomas Wayne

Eileen Seeley - Martha Wayne

David U. Hughes - Shooter

Jack Betts - Fisherman

Tim Jackson - Municipal Police Guard

Daniel Reichert - Ringmaster

Glory Fioramonti - Mom Grayson

Larry A. Lee - Dad Grayson

Bruce Roberts - Handsome Reporter

George Wallace - Mayor

Bob Zmuda - Electronic Store Owner

Rebecca Budig - Teenage Girl

Don Wilson - Gang Leader

Sydney D. Minickler - Teen Gang Member

Maxine Jones - Girl on Corner #1

Terry Ellis - Girl on Corner #2

Cindy Herron - Girl on Corner #3

Dawn Robinson - Girl on Corner #4

Gary Kasper - Pilot

Amanda Trees - Paparazzi Reporter

Andrea Fletcher - Reporter

Ria Coyne - Socialite

Jed Curtis - Chubby Businessman

William Mesnik - Bald Guy

Marga Gómez - Journalist

Kelly Vaughn - Showgirl

John Fink - Deputy

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 Director - Mali Finn

Production Designer - Barbara Ling

Illustrators - James Carson,

Robert Consing, Tim Flattery, Joe Griffith,

Sean Hargreaves, Martin A. Kline, David Lowery,

Peter Ramsey, Christopher S. Ross, Oliver Scholl

and Mauro Borrelli (Uncredited)

Art Directors - Christopher Burian-Mohr
and Joseph P. Lucky

Set Designers - James R. Bayliss,

John Berger, Sean Haworth, Peter J. Kelly,

Patricia Klawonn, Gene Nollman and

Brad Ricker

Set Decorator - Cricket Rowland

Property Master - Brad Einhorn

Costume Designers - Ingrid Ferrin and
Bob Ringwood

Designer: Robin Costume - Miles Teves (Uncredited)

Costume Supervisors - Elaine Maser

and James W. Tyson

Costume Coordinator - Randy Gardell

Lead Sculptor: Batsuits - Jose Fernandez (Uncredited)

Batsuit Wrangler - Day Murch

Special Makeup Designer & Creator -
Rick Baker

Key Makeup Artist - Ve Neill

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

Director: Underwater Unit/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

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)

Supervisor: Pacific Data Images - Richard Chuang
Post Production Supervisor: Visual Effects -

Nick Davis

Supervisor: Grant McCune Design -

Grant McCune

Effects Supervisor: The Chandler Group -

Don Baker

Supervisor: Warner Bros. Imaging Technology -

John Scheele

Supervisor: Batwing Underwater Sequence, 

VIFX - Gregory L. McMurry

Art Director: Visual Effects - James Hegedus

Directors of Photography: Visual Effects -

Les Bernstein and Bruce Logan

Visual Effects Director of Photography:

The Chandler Group - Tim Angulo

Camera Operator: Visual Effects - James Balsam

Model Shop Supervisor - Michael Joyce

Technical Supervisors: Pacific Data Images -

Philippe Gluckman and Wendy Rogers

Animation Supervisor: Pacific Data Images -

Raman Hui

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

Additional Re-Recording Mixers - Jeffrey J. Haboush

and Kevin E. Carpenter

Music - Elliot Goldenthal

Music Editors - Zigmund Gron and Joe E. Rand


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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