Batman Forever

Batman Forever (1995) is the third film in the series of Batman movies which began with Tim Burton's 1989 version of the character. It starred Val Kilmer as Batman, in his first and only appearance as the Dark Knight, and Chris O'Donnell as Robin.

Critical reaction and box office

The film's budget was approximately $90 - $100 million and earned $184,031,112 in total domestic sales and $152.5 million worldwide (according to http://boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?yr=1995&p=.htm), making it the most successful movie of the summer of 1995 and second-best of that year (next to Toy Story). It was also the third most successful Batman movie as of 20 July, 2005 (after the 1989 original and 2005's Batman Begins).

Related Topics:
Toy Story - 20 July - 2005 - Batman Begins

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The film obtained generally mixed reviews. Much of the negativity came from the drastic makeover of the franchise (most of it led by Joel Schumacher at the will of the Warner Brothers executives). Due to the fact that Batman Returns earned less than the original, Warner Brothers insisted the movie be made into a kid-friendly cash cow.1. This resulted making the third Batman movie with a feel that was more reminiscent to the 1960's TV show than its Burton predecessors. Disapproval was also heaped upon Val Kilmer, who, though being physically fit for Batman, was widely criticised for his wooden portrayal of Bruce Wayne. Others accused Jim Carrey and Tommy Lee Jones's over-the-top performances as the Riddler and Two-Face, who, in contrast with past villains, were cartoonish rather than menacing. Another source of controversy is the introduction of nipples in the Batsuit (except for the one used in the finale), as well as the humorous close-ups of Bruce Wayne while donning his suit.

Related Topics:
Joel Schumacher - Warner Brothers - Val Kilmer - Batman - Jim Carrey - Tommy Lee Jones - Bruce Wayne

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A prominent criticism of the film's atmosphere centers around the constant use of neon lights, black lights, and glow in the dark elements, which seemingly reaches its peak with the street gang Robin fights halfway through the film. These effects are regarded by some fans as slightly nonsensical. Another issue some fans have had with the film are the new gadgets. While Batman's technology has always been sci fi and fantastical, some fans thought that the Batmobile climbing walls and a cape that melts in to a bomb resistant shell were pushing the plausibility of things to their limits.

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Batman Forever has been regarded by some as a homoerotic movie after a conservative columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times, Gary Willis, (not a movie reviewer) sardonically bashed the movie's campiness and perceived homoerotic motifs ("Batman Forever is a Gay Old Time," Chicago Sun-Times, 1995). Though not defending the film's cinematic merits, most view this analysis a groundless throwback to similar homophobic criticisms of the early years of the comic books and the 1960's TV series.

Related Topics:
Homoerotic - Chicago Sun-Times - Gary Willis - Homophobic

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