I Watch Films: Batman Forever

 

Batman Forever

Batman (Val Kilmer) confounds an attack by Two-Face (Tommy Lee Jones), former district attorney turned villain after an acid attack disfigured him. Later Bruce Wayne, Batman’s alter ego, encounters a Wayne Corporation employee Edward Nygma (Jim Carey) who has invented a telepathy machine. When Nygma presses him to back it Bruce turns it down on ethical grounds. Using the machine, Nygma finds he’s able to absorb minds from others, and murders his supervisor, making it appear a suicide.

Bruce isn’t so sure, and Nygma, having quit, sends him anonymous riddles. Consulting criminal psychologist Dr Chase Meridian (Nicole Kidman), she suggests the sender is psychotic – and obsessed with Bruce. The two hit it off and Bruce invites her to a charity circus performance. Two-Face holds everyone there hostage, threatening to kill them unless Batman reveals his identity. Unable to tell Two-Face in the chaos, Bruce is forced to look on as The Flying Grayson trapeze troupe get rid of the bomb, all but the youngest, Dick Grayson (Chris O’Donnell) killed in the effort. Wayne invites Dick to his estate Wayne Manor rather than turn him over to Child Services. Dick’s dismissive and wants to leave and seek revenge but is initially convinced to stay by Bruce’s motorcycle collection and Alfred’s non-judgmental care.

Nygma takes on the persona of The Riddler, and teams up with Two-Face to fund his projects. As Nygma he launches a set top TV box that allows people to interact with TV shows, in their minds – which will secretly allow him to steal their thoughts. Alfred reveals Bruce’s secret (that he is Batman) to Dick Grayson. Grayson takes his advice not to pursue revenge more seriously when he knows he’s Batman, but still rejects it, wanting to join his crusade against crime. Bruce however is considering retiring, unsure if he’s making any difference.

Nygma’s launch party is interrupted by Two-Face. Bruce goes after him and is rescued by Dick Grayson. Visiting Chase as Batman she ends their flirtation, saying she’s chosen Bruce. Bruce reveals he is Batman. Having read Bruce’s mind at the party Riddler realises Batman is Bruce. They invade Wayne Manor, destroy the Batcave, kidnap Chase and leave Bruce for dead. Bruce and Alfred realise the clues from the riddles point to Nygma and Bruce finally accepts Dick’s help for the final confrontation.

The gloomy gothic Gotham City of the previous two films has become a neon-soaked wonderland. The Joker wouldn’t stand out here, not any more, with the Riddler painting the sky green, stealing every scene he’s in. Batman thinking of retiring because he’s finally met a (blonde) woman who picks him over the Batman falls flat, if only because the actor has been replaced. We still have Michael Gough as the faithful Alfred (also Pat Hingle’s non-entity supporting role as Commissioner Gordon). Kilmer’s not doing a Keaton impression – he’s more focused and competent, losing some of the distinctiveness of this version, and doesn’t quite convince as the man who finds revenge and crime-fighting unsatisfying, and wanting to turn others away and give up.

Watch This: Zany villain antics, and Batman forced to bring others into his world
Don’t Watch This: Even wackier Bat-nonsense