Even Burton’s darker Batman films are full of weird, wacky shit. You could argue that the balance is a bit wobbly and jarring, but it’s also an inherent part of Batman stories. With Batman Forever, director Joel Schumacher clearly seems much more interested in balancing the light and dark sides of Batman’s world. In this scene, you can feel the weight of Bruce’s history as Batman along with the gravity of Dick’s decision to fight behind a mask of his own.Ĭonsidering the emotional heft of this subplot, it feels unfair for the film to be lumped together with Batman & Robin. So you run out into the night to find another face … and another … and another … until one terrible morning you wake up and realize that revenge has become your whole life, and you won’t know why.”
You make the kill, but your pain doesn’t die with Two-Face. In a chilling monologue poignantly delivered by Kilmer, he says, “It will happen this way. Bruce tries to dissuade him from taking the same path he did. After Two-Face kills his parents, Dick becomes consumed with vengeance, much like Bruce was as a younger man. It does so most effectively through the subplot revolving around Dick Grayson (Chris O’Donnell), who eventually becomes Batman’s sidekick, Robin. Two-Face holds him responsible for his scars while Riddler’s beef is with Bruce Wayne, who refused to fund the development of his mind-manipulation device.Ĭontrasting with its colorful style, the film dramatically explores the theme of revenge. Both characters aim to exact revenge upon Batman. It’s funny that Jones couldn’t sanction Jim Carrey’s buffoonery as the Riddler considering he delivers an even more cartoonish performance.
The opening setpiece establishes Two-Face (Tommy Lee Jones) as the film’s main villain. As Batman (Val Kilmer) stands next to the Batmobile, Alfred (Michael Gough) asks, “Can I persuade you to take a sandwich with you, sir?” Batman’s deadpan response is, “I’ll get drive-thru.” Sure, it’s campy, but we’re nowhere near Batman & Robin territory yet. While the dark tone of Batman Returns led McDonald’s to shut down its Happy Meal tie-in with the film, Batman Forever opens with a dialogue exchange that feels tailored for use in a Mickey D’s commercial. Right off the bat (pun intended), the film seems to seek redemption for the decidedly less kid-friendly vibes of Burton’s efforts. Although it wasn’t my introduction to the Dark Knight’s mythos, you could argue that it’s a suitable entryway for a 4-year-old. Right from these opening credits, Batman Forever distinguishes itself from the style and tone of Tim Burton’s preceding Batman films. I recall getting goosebumps as the Warner Brothers logo morphed into the Bat symbol and each main cast member’s name cut through the black background in a vibrant color. Batman holds a special place in my cinematic memory, as Batman Forever is the first movie I remember seeing on the big screen.
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