Batman Forever (1995) - Movie Review

[@GoreyBits]

Jim Carrey plays a cartoon character, and somehow I enjoy it. Nothing beats Val Kilmer’s smile in that batsuit.

[@CyborgSodaCollects]

Ha ha it's so creepy.

[@danskyl7279]

And apparently I heard both Jim Carrey and Tommy Lee Jones don't like each other offscreen, but were still able to play entertaining duo villains if you will. I like Batman Forever, it's like a guilty pleasure movie for me, not the best but certainly entertaining.

[@anubusx]

Joygasm!!!

[@anubusx]

The Riddler in Gotham was really good.

[@biguy617]

He is trying to be his own version of the Frank Gershwin version of Riddler.

[@jonathancohoon]

I have nostalgia for this movie. I was born in 1992 and this is the first Batman movie I ever saw. I know it's a very flawed movie but I am still able to always find enjoyment in it.

[@wstine79]

I still love this movie. The sets were great, Jim Carrey was finr as Riddler, Val Kilmer was great as Bruce Wayne/ Fine as Batman. The story was alright.

[@creativeperson5858]

I thought Jim Carrey gave one of the worst performances I've ever seen

[@SK-qu4wo]

Jim Carey was terribly miscast as Riddler and it shows how little time the producers and director spent studying the source material. Hell all they had to do was watch one season of Batman The Animated Series and they would have been able to make a better movie.

[@RayNotCharles]

@@SK-qu4wo I agree. Like Cody, I loved these movies growing up. But now that I’m older and I’ve seen Christian Bales version and a little bit of Robert Pattinsons, (didn’t care too much for BatFleck), I appreciate what Schumacher and that crew was going for, but Bales and Pattinsons was much MUCH better. I still enjoy Kilmer and Clooney to a point, but it’s more of a guilty pleasure. As far as Jim Carreys Riddler, just like TLJ’s Two Face, it’s not their fault. They were just doing what they could with what they were given. I feel like if the crew had studied the lore much more extensively, they could’ve done it MUCH better.

[@bushello]

PURE NOSTALGIA. I loved jim carrey too! Didnt know how good or bad the movie was at the time lol but I sure liked it!

[@NoahTaylorWrites]

The only other time I can remember Batman kind of smiling was when Jack Napier tells him "nice outfit" at Axis Chemicals in 1989.

[@eddierivers3250]

This movie just brings back memories so many good memories as a kid I know it wasn’t the greatest depiction but these old 90’s Batman movies I will always have love for and still can go back and watch

[@samgott8689]

Haha! Nichole Kidman’s roll in this is to be absolutely *dripping* over Batman! 😂

[@angelaholmes8888]

Michael Keaton was asked to reprise his role in batman forever but he didn't like the tone that Warner bros and Joel Schumacher wanted to do

[@tekservices8699]

There is a wee bit more to the story of Tim Burton not wanting to do more Batman movies

[@StarshineGoomba]

Chris O'Donnell was 23 at the time and he *looked* it. I wasn't asking for a 10-12 year old Dick Grayson, but he could have at least looked more like a teenager.

[@randallrutherford1384]

Batman Forever deserves better than to share the reputation of Batman & Robin.

[@joeysmovieblog]

My mom's step dad uses one of those Batman Forever cups for his dentures.......

[@rawjones6849]

I grew up with this movie! I know it’s not perfect, but it truly holds a special place in my heart! I thought your review was awesome Cody! I love your content man! 👍👍

[@thischarminglovehound2376]

Same!

[@TheSoulWithin7]

Saaame, for whatever reason its so asthetically pleasing to watch, for the most part.

[@TheSoulWithin7]

@@oliverclothesoff8604 oh its trash, but its fun trash, B&R is where it gets to be just trash

[@rawjones6849]

@@oliverclothesoff8604 it’s still a lot of fun and nostalgic for a lot of us who grew up with. One person’s trash is another person’s entertainment

[@martinrenner2992]

"Holey rusted metal, Batman!" was the best part of this film.

[@ScaredStraightProductions]

Huh? The ground it's all metal its full holes you know Holy! Oh.

[@Xehanort10]

9:29 And in some versions Bruce and Harvey were best friends and Bruce feels guilty about Harvey becoming Two Face and keeps trying to reform him. There's no hint of that here except when Harvey snaps out of the Two Face persona briefly before his death. Two Face is supposed to be obsessive compulsive about the coin and do things based on how the flip comes up. Here he just keeps flipping until it's the way he wants and shoots Bruce in Wayne Manor.

[@jasonhudson8336]

How can you say this isn’t a good Batman film? It delivered so much from start to end

[@stevester9148]

''So Jim, you are the Joker, the silly part. Tommy, you're also the Joker, the serious part but both of you dial it up to 11 aaaaaaannnnndddddd we have a Batman movie!''

[@THORSMEOWMEOW]

The kids scream at the end of the rzone commercial was him actually getting retina burn

[@philipdr88]

Thank You for reviewing this movie, Cody. Like you, I got to see this and Batman & Robin when it came out. I loved Jim Carrey as the Riddler. I had the toys and dressed up as The Riddler for Halloween that year, and my little brother as Robin. I consider Batman Forever my favorite movie of 1995. And I can't wait to hear about you talking about Batman and Robin. P.S. I'm curious to see the Schumacher cut, if we ever get it.

[@kevinriley6320]

I remember Kiss from a Rose by Seal from this movie than the movie itself.

[@kenplotzke86]

definitely the best part of this movie

[@BrandonJames2016]

I grew up with Batman forever and Batman and robin I still love those 2 movies I do like the campiness of these films plus the set pieces are really fun. Obviously not as good as the Tim burton films but I still love them

[@Luke101]

The Robin suit in the film, aside from the nipples, is one of my favorite superhero movie costumes ever.

[@adambouziden2729]

Nothing tops the weekend off better than a classic Cody review love it brother!!!

[@JoshAintSoCool]

I feel like Val Kilmer did a decent job. He got in and got out before It became an overly campy Arnold, bad one liner, bat credit card head bobbing Batman

[@croatiankid6595]

He was also doing crazy work back than I believe heat came out this same year which in my opinion is a masterpiece

[@Xehanort10]

2:07 I remember the VHS of Forever having an advert for the game. And I always remember the song. "You can't run there's no escape. You can't hide. That's his fate. He can fight with all his might but never win. When good battles evil the real game begins."

[@jimthar17]

I actually like the rusted metal line. It's one of the things I always remember about this movie. I thought it was a fun callback.

[@tylertheguy3160]

I'm pretty sure I heard Keaton didn't come back for this one because he thought the script was shit.

[@arzn253]

I've got fond memories of this movie. Before Nolan, MCU and everything else this was one of the only comic book movies that existed.

[@dalestrunk1749]

That intro… basically sums it all up

[@Xehanort10]

5:42 One of my favourite parts of this is Batman walking out of the fire when Two Face tries to burn him alive especially with the music playing.

[@midlevelmedia]

I had the entire McDonald's glass cup Collection. 😂

[@chrisvetor]

The first Batman I saw in theaters, I watched the Burton ones a lot that I wore the tapes out lol. I had the Batmobile for Batman Forever, I had the others as well, but for some reason I kept that one and still have it lol, probably because they made it a 3 in 1. Meaning it turned into the Bat Wing and Bat Boat as well lol.

[@Josh-pg3qb]

This is like the Dream Master of the Batman franchise. Cheesy and nostalgic but still watchable.

[@jaydominiqueprice2183]

It was good for what it was, the riddler was and will always be my favorite part of the movie.

[@Dekead1930]

Not a guilty pleasure for me, because I don’t feel guilty! Love this movie

[@brevonsflicksgames7450]

Watching this again recently makes me curious about how Paul Dano will do as Riddler

[@JPPW1982]

My best friend said it best about Forever and Batman and Robin just think of them as film versions of the 60's TV show.

[@Donkeypuncher96]

Super happy with your content. I was a Cinemassacre watcher until I found this channel. Keep them coming. As far a Batman forever….it’s all nostalgia for me. I saw it in the theater when I was 6. Fun to randomly watch but not very good.

[@shadowleon659]

I actually enjoy this film despite its flaws.

[@skyofthelivingdead]

That Seal song from this movie is a banger

[@mjw1978]

This is my personal favorite of the original Batman films; also, "Batdick" 🤣😂 I almost died laughing at that

[@Merit2397]

I have a really, REALLY hard time trying to connect the Schumacher batman films to the Tim Burton ones, not just because of tone but also how there written. In fact, if you factor in the retcon of Batman blaming himself for his parent's death as well as his statement of "I've never been in love before", you could honestly buy that these movies take place in a different universe.

[@Weirdman20]

Same Alfred. Same Commissioner Gordon. Chase's sly comment: "Do I need skin tight vinyl, and a whip? I've done my homework." I'm sure you know which famous DC character wears this exact type. Batman: "I won't kill you." Two-Face: "Batman doesn't kill! Oh, that's a good one. It's too good to be true! What's that lethal curl of the lip? What's that homicidal need in the eye? YOU'RE A KILLER TOO, AND YOU KNOW IT!!!". Both lines from Batman and Harvey are from a deleted scene in Batman Forever and reference what happened in '89 and '92. Bruce: "I haven't had much luck with women." Vicki Vale and Selina Kyle. Dick: "All the pain went away! You understand?" Bruce: "Yes I do." Dick: "Good. Cause you gotta help me find him and when we do, I'm the one who kills him." Bruce: "So you're willing to take a life?" Dick: "As long as it's Two-Face." Bruce: "Then it will happen this way; you make the kill ( Joker ), but your pain doesn't die with Harvey. It grows, so you run off into the night to find another face ( Penguin ) and another ( Catwoman ) and another ( Max Schreck ). Until one terrible morning, you wake up and realize that revenge has become your whole life and you won't know why." Dick: "You can't understand! Your family weren't killed by a maniac!" Bruce: "...Yes they were." ( Jack Napier/Joker ) "Why are all the gorgeous ones homicidal maniacs? Is it just me?" Batman asked this question in "Batman and Robin" to Poison Ivy. Plus another reference to Selina Kyle. Alfred: "Do try and bring this one back in one piece, sir." The '89 and '95 Batmobiles were completely destroyed and that's how Bruce got the newer '97 Batmobile in "B&R".

[@clarkkent6507]

This movie had one of the greatest songs of all time Kiss From A Rose so that song made this movie iconic and I have a lot of Nostalgia from Batman Forever and I still like it to this day

[@arizonaFIREent]

I was 9 when this one came out and as a Burton-Keaton-Batman groupie I didn't care for it that much, but in recent times it's grown on me a little more... It's been at least 6 or 7 years since ive last seen it maybe I should give it a rewatch

[@jordansweet8054]

This movie gave us Kiss From a Rose and an awesome music video. 10/10 Nuff said.

[@ashleybounds8368]

Nostalgia?! You remember that they sold the glasses at McDonalds?? I still have one!

[@quentinross2104]

As a little kid this is the superhero film I watched the most cause of how fun it was but now as I’m older it’s so trash😂

[@nikobrien88]

When it comes to this film. It's a guilty pleasure. I can watch this film if I'm in the right mood. The stuff that brings me back to this film is The production sets, Chris O'Donnell as Robin, and Jim Carrey as The Riddler. Val Kilmer was a good Bruce Wayne but his Batman performance is not my favorite. Tommy Lee Jones fucking sucked as Two-Face. After the passing of the director. WB Realese The Schumacher Cut!!!

[@WilliamDuhamel2]

This is my favorite Batman movie

[@PhilLeotardosGhost]

Gee, Gotham PD couldn't see the bright green brainwave lines in the sky and just follow them to Claw Island and bust The Riddler and discover he's Edward Nygma? Movie was cheesy AF but watchable.

[@jahdorose8659]

Cool been waiting on this review

[@paleaura2327]

The Genesis game was insanely difficult.

[@seansimpson317]

Lmao!!! That R-zone commercial definitely had me fooled

[@jacobbaranowski]

It was great for Jim Cary and Tommy Johns I really enjoyed it even though it sucked the most of the Batman movies 🎥...we should get a Batman Beyond movie 🎥, staring Michael Keaton as old retired Batman. In Batman Beyond

[@Merit2397]

Batman Forever and Batman and Robin were YOUR era??? Damn Cody, I'm sorry man. I'm truly am.

[@croatiankid6595]

Batman forever and Batman and robin don’t belong in the same conversation tho Batman forever is not a dumpster fire

[@dirty06maggot]

Hold me thrill me kiss me kill me was my gem!

[@drewmantia]

The whole soundtrack still jams! I keep my childhood copy of the CD in my car stereo to this day

[@ryanbaron8289]

I got a big ass Batman Forever poster recently. This is a good one 👍

[@hornmoviereviews8739]

Batman you say!!!! Coming for you ho ho ho bawww bawww. Immmm counting on it!!!!!!!

[@azmodandiablo3420]

I actually really dig the bat suit in this movie. It's my second favorite suit design in the series.

[@jahdorose8659]

Richard donner had is owned cut of Superman 2 also director cut of daredevil before the Snyder cut

[@jswatch9270]

The reason why the nipples were added is because it represents the armor from Rome and Greece and to let you know that the riddler's costume is a jumpsuit not pajamas.

[@robertparks7233]

At least Batman and Robin weren't wearing ice skates,that was a disgrace,in the next flick

[@jahdorose8659]

Thought you would of mentioned of two face killing Robin family

[@coopercurtis8502]

Where is Returns? Maybe I went on autopilot and missed something in the last review

[@wanderingbardagain6945]

Good review of this one Cody, and pretty fair I think. It is certainly a movie of its time, the 90s captured in a single film. Not a good film, but certainly an entertaining one. Story time! When this movie came out I hated it. For me Batman was the 1989 version and the one from The Animated Series. I grew up with those, and was in my late teens when "Batman Forever" came out. I remember a rumor (don't know if it was true) that Robin Williams was originally considered for the Riddler. And that sounded awesome, especially if they captured the version from TAS. But then I heard they cast Jim Carrey and all hope was lost. I was sick to death of Carrey at the time. When I saw the film in theaters, I hated just about everything about it, except for Kilmer as Wayne and how smoking hot Kidman looked. I worked at a video store at the time, and when the movie came out on VHS, we had that sucker running on the televisions non-stop for weeks. I just grew to hate it more and more - and especially Jim Carrey's manic performance and the horrible horrible puns. About five years ago a friend of mine who is a firm apologist for the film (and younger than me - this was HIS Batman film) encouraged me to watch it again. But see it through the lens of being inspired by the 1960s Batman show, with a huge 90s filter on it. And watching it in that way, suddenly the movie made a whole lot more sense. I could enjoy it for what it was trying to do (as you point out - sell toys to kids) and not what I wanted it to be. Jim Carrey still grates - but he is a lot closer to the 1960s version of the Riddler, even down to the outfits. And as you pointed out, it is a movie going for pure fun and entertainment - and it mostly succeeds in that way. I was also surprised by hints of a darker Wayne storyline that I had no memory of. Finally the score by Elliot Goldenthal is awesome stuff. A neat merging of Elfman's style with Goldenthal's own ability to capture unhinged energy of Carrey and the intensity of the action scenes. Anyway, I agree with you, a real mixed bag with this one. I appreciate it in a lot of ways, but it will never be a favorite. Keep up the great work!

[@eduardolanzasuazo8954]

I love this movie, I see it as a spiritual successor to the 60's series.

[@Terminatorfan-2016]

Good review. I was very disappointed when I found out that Burton's possible third and final Batman movie was going to be canceled. And when Keaton left I was even more bummed. All we knew is that it was going to be a sequel to Returns, it was going to have Keaton, Pfeiffer, Marlon Wayans as Robin, and Billy Dee Williams as Two-Face. Of course the same actors for Alfred and Gordon, but because of the Returns controversy and McDonald's, parents, and etc, Burton had ideas he proposed but WB basically nudged him out of the franchise and sadly we ended up with this movie and the even more horrible Batman and Robin. Glad they've retconned the Schumacher Batman's and the Batman 89 comic that continues on from Returns and is based on some Burton's ideas and actors plus written by Sam Hamm who wrote Batman 89 is definitely awesome.

[@nickdorenkamp959]

Well technically Hamm (who also wrote the story for returns) has stated that the Schumacher films take place on Earth 97. In other words comic book logic where not retcon just an alternate reality. That said I honestly do hope warner animation considers adapting Batman 89 comic kinda like how they expanded the 66 batman universe.

[@Terminatorfan-2016]

@@nickdorenkamp959 Absolutely. Bring Danny Elfman back for the score and have the actors do the voices if they're able to. Make it look and feel a lot like the Burton movies. I doubt Burton will come back so might as well have somebody who respects the guy and his style and do their best to do a faithful animated film.

[@nickdorenkamp959]

@@Terminatorfan-2016 Definitely bring Danny Elfman back to do the music. As for the casting, definitely bring back Michael Keaton, Billy Dee Williams, and Michelle Pfieffer while for characters whose actors are no longer with us I would cast who ever the current voice actor is. As for Burton you know what seeing as how he's returned to properties he was at one point involved with (i.e. in 2013 he was supposed to direct a stop motion addams family movie until it was canned only to be years later to be currently working on the upcoming Netflix addams family series Wednesday) I can definitely see him coming back as a producer.

[@carterslade8771]

I absolutely want that Schumacher cut. My favorite Batman film is Batman Begins, this one doesn't make it to the top three, unfortunately. But I still think it's a lot of fun, wildly underrated. It plays like a fusion between Burton and the Adam West series, and yet somehow it's a vision that's unique to the film maker, something far too many modern super hero films just can't say.

[@skullduggery1385]

I watched this movie after watching the Tim burtons movies about a year back. I can attest to the tonal whiplash, Also Seal!

[@liam03talksmovieswaytomuch]

Awesome review I always had a soft spot for this movie in my heart

[@BTBAM310]

I grew up with the 60s Batman show, so I LOVED the holy rusted metal line - the one thing I actually remember about the film (I haven't seen it since it's original theatrical run)

[@DesiSJ]

HOLY...SHIT...the glasses. I had forgotten about the glasses until you showed them right here. I was obsessed with these movie when I was a kid. Val Kilmer was one of my first puberty crushes and I so wanted to have hair like Nicole Kidman. As I've gotten older I can't really deal with this one that well, but as a kid, I loved it. Also...I nearly spit coffee at your opening. Also Also...I did truly enjoy the soundtrack to this one.

[@Layne618]

When the kid in that commercial yells while the announcer says, "You better not blink," he sounds like he's being tortured! LOL! 3:21 You're lucky, because I've heard those things sold out completely in two days!

[@lawvere]

This movie could have been so much more psychological. The bat in Bruce's brain/childhood memory reappeared in a deleted scene as a giant representation of Bruce's "other-side". That scene when Riddler is beat and screaming his head off at the end of the movie, it shows the bat again. That scene means so much more when you see the deleted bat scene. If you haven't seen it, look it up here on youtube.

[@TheReelNerdyReview]

The memories man this takes me back

[@juangonzalezhernandez9882]

Ahh man the nostalgia, I got into this movie a year before the batman and Robin. My dad had brought the Spanish dub vhs so I watched it endlessly like any other kid that memorizes the line of all the actors I can still hear it in my the scene at the circus when Bruce yells in the circus “Harvey, Soy Batman” 😂 surrounded by so many ppl yet no one hears him 😂 thanks man for your video

[@JoelKellenProductions]

I wouldn't mind seeing the Schumacker cut. I know he got a bad rap with Batman And Robin, but after what happened with the whole Justice League movie being taken over by Whedon, something tells me Warner Brothers interfered quite a bit on both Forever and Robin.

[@renegadehero7393]

Great review. I also have nostalgia for this movie, even though it's not good. 😄 I still have fun with it. I agree about Val Kilmir, I thought he was really good as Bruce, but very awkward as Batman. I didn't care for Chris O Donnel as Robin, thought he was miscast. Jim Carrey was okay, pretty over the top. I hated Tommy Lee Jones in this, I thought he was terrible. I didn't remember that Rusted Metal line, that made me laugh.

[@ckclark77]

“1/2 champagne and caviar…..1/2 pig’s blood and pierced t-dies”. I snort laughed. Best description ever! 😂😂😂😂 I’m 💀🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@jerrygamer3828]

I love this movie. It's one of my favorite dc movies of all time

[@jswatch9270]

Fun Fact: Joel Schumacher had fun with batman forever but not with the followup batman & robin.

[@mikeramirez9609]

Now i feel like a fossil of the 80s and 90s. Lol.

[@shwonsh]

Too bad all of the Batman material that involves Robin is just irrelevant now. None of it fits in the franchise anymore with all of the great dark Batman movies we have now.

[@kevindobson6568]

This makes the Tim Burton movies a masterpiece lol

[@jswatch9270]

I wanna see the Schumacher cut of Batman forever to come soon.

[@bleakbanks]

It's weird this movie delves into duality as the main theme but the Riddler and everyone else is representing that more than Two Face.

[@DarthHemis]

As a kid who loved the 60's Batman (it played on my local kids cartoon lineup after school) i think Jim Carey is brilliant as the Riddler

[@PastaSauce.]

I feel like Jim really took inspiration from that version of the Riddler

[@DarthHemis]

@@PastaSauce. 💯

[@EthanTaylor1991]

I’m not gonna lie…that tommy Lee jones laugh was pretty damn legit and spot on!

[@4YrStasis]

U2 and Seal was the best part of the movie...and I think you know what I mean.

[@travisreininger]

Of course I liked it as a kid, but don't think I'd enjoy it as much now. I don't know how much a different cut of the movie would save it, but I am kind of intrigued by the past trauma/guilt subplot. There were a lot of promotional materials released with the movie (I had a movie book and trading cards) that describe and even had stills from some deleted scenes, including Bruce reading his father's diary and coming face to face with a giant bat. That terrified the hell outta me. Clips of the deleted scene made it into the Kiss From A Rose music video, but the entire clip is on KZbin (imagine on the Blu-ray too) .. this huge animatronic bat created by Rick Baker. It's so freaky and awesome.

[@chasevids14]

Back when I first saw it it was my favorite Batman movie but now idk what I was thinking.

[@lolitzhenni8771]

Batman forever has always been one of my favorite Batman movies lol. Power of nostalgia I guess.

[@markwalch6065]

I remember Johnathon Ross,s review. He actually said probably 1 of the greatest films ever made.

[@donkeydonk127]

That edit with batman smiling got me 🤣👍

[@brygojira4731]

12:46 I can't look at this scene the same way anymore. Lmfao

[@michaelhontz9218]

Chris O’Donnell should have gotten out with this one he might have been remembered better.

[@Plainview-tu7xn]

Tommy Lee Jones deserved a razzle for his performance in this movie.

[@santos8468]

I most definitely want to see the Schumacher cut of this movie.

[@SHARKTANKTOYS]

I think Cody hates that RZone more then he hates Freddy’s dead.

[@zef2101]

If you think the bat nips are bad in this one I send you my deepest condolences when viewing Batman and Robin