Batman Forever - 4K Ultra HD

Really nice packaging with cardboard sleeve. Picture quality is amazing and the movie looks like it was made this year.

The wildly successful third entry in the 80s/90s Batman quartet sees Joel Schumacher hastily take over the directorial reigns from Tim Burton - the result is a clash of sensibilities, as the attempts to maintain the gothic style of the previous films contrast violently with a more lurid, colourful comic-book aesthetic. Notoriously “difficult” actor Val Kilmer is The Not-So-Dark-Knight (who actually makes a pretty good stab at it it); Jim Carrey is wildly over-the-top as The Riddler in the role that cemented him as a megastar; cranky curmudgeon Tommy Lee Jones puts in a performance as Two-Face that can be most charitably be described as “misjudged” and Nicole Kidman smoulders in a role that started to get her taken seriously by critics. It’s a fun film that it bright and intoxicating, like being a first responder called to the scene of an explosion in a paint factory. The 4K copy looks amazing, with Schumacher’s garish colour palette becoming to life in a way never before seem outside of a cinema.

It seems to be a thing with superhero movie franchises that they are good for their first two entries, but then drop down with the third. And this is certainly true of Batman Forever because this was the entry where the accountants took over. Despite Tim Burton delivering Warners two excellent Batman movies which reclaimed the vengeful vigilante from the camp interpretation of the 1960s TV series, the studio suits decided his dark and increasingly expressionist adult approach was costing them lucrative toy deals and wanted to re aim the Bat at a more kiddie audience. Tim Burton had already been making tentative plans for a third Batman with Paul Ruebens as a frightening, snake like Riddler, when Warner executives persuaded him to assign Joel Schumacher to the director’s chair and take a back seat as “Executive Producer . ” In effect, they paid Burton off in order to keep his name on the credits to appease fans but, as soon as he handed the reigns to Schumacher, the proposed screenplay was redrafted to lighten it up, tone down the homicidal Riddler and squeeze in another super villain, and finally bring one the one character Burton had wisely avoided – Robin. Batman Forever packs in the action, an all star cast and underpinned affairs with an interesting sub plot concerning Bruce Wayne’s repressed memories of how he became Batman. Yet as enjoyable and visually impressive as it is, is a dumbed down affair, its whole being worth rather less than the parts that make it. Michael Keaton had originally signed to stay but quit when sensing the direction Schumacer was going to take, and Val Kilmer was brought in to replace him. Kilmer has the right look and mood for Bruce Wayne, but still tended to underplay the role in places. This was not helped by the presence of Chris O’Donnell’s Robin who diminishes the power of the Bat rather than adds to it. In short, he is Scrappy-Doo. Gotham City was reconceptualised with elements of post-war Japanese modernism punctuating the architecture and lit by unwelcome gaudy colouring. In fact the reintroduction of camp sits uncomfortably in the film, particularly the question of why would Batman suddenly have nipples on his costume? Schumacher not only failed to understand modern preferences their superheroes dark, flawed and complex but underestimated the Batman myth, settling for a visual comic strip without depth. Batman owes much to the Native American myth of the Bat being equated with the night and as a precursor to revenge, a creature that restores the balance after something terrible has happened. Burton understood this and made Batman the dark creature of shadow. Under Schumacher, the dark creature becomes a friendly neighbourhood Santa Claus. The Riddler and Two Face also suffer through having to share the same film. Having both ​ Catwoman and the Penguin in Batman Returns worked because the Cat is not really a villain but a maverick who function s in the space that exists between Batman and his arch nemesis. Having two main villains sharing the stage leaves no time to satisfactorily develop either, so Batman Forever gives the impression of being two films squeezed into one, a lot of vital material being lost in the process. Two Face’s origin is skimmed over with a television newsreel and Harvey Dent’s descent into his alternate personality is not touched on at all. In fact, the tragic and tortured Two Face is reduced to a clown and given little more to do than compete with Jim Carrey’s Riddler in a game of who can out outdo Jack Nicholson’s Joker, neither of them coming even close. At best Batman Forever is okay and can be enjoyed as a romp for the kiddies, because as a follow up to the two Tim Burton classics it is disappointing. It is telling the DC Comics are about to launch a Batman miniseries continuation of the Burton films carrying on where Batman Returns left off. One can only hope Warners follow suit.

Joel Schumacher takes over from Burton, who remains as producer, and that's a blessing. Burton's excessive weird darkness is toned waaay down. Kilmer does alright in lieu of an absent Keaton, and there's a definite move towards harking back to the '60s TV show, especially in the dialogue. Carey is actually fantastic as the Riddler, it's Lee Jones' attempt to out camp & out manic him that's embarassing. As a presentation it's flawless. The picture is the sharpest & richest I've ever seen it, and the sound is the clearest.