The crass crusader (Batman Forever (DVD))

Member Name: moronboy

Product:	Batman Forever (DVD)
Date:	24/10/00 (11 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: None

Disadvantages: Stupid, boring and flashy

While the makers of 'Batman Forever' clearly knew what they didn't want (something as weird as 'Batman Returns), they seem to have only sketchy ideas as to what they do want. This isn't as camp and knowing as the TV series starring Bruce Wayne, but it's infinitely brighter and lighter than Tim Burton's pair of superb gothic fantasies.

Val Kilmer is hopeless as either incarnation of the hero, and he's faced with two wholly ridiculous villains (a camp Jim Carrey as the Riddler, and a 'what am I doing here' Tommy Lee Jones). The biggest miscalculation - after making this film at all without Burton - was to ressurect Robin, the silliest aspect of the Batman story. Presumably intended to lighten the tone, the introduction of Robin throws a huge element of homoeroticism into the mix which couldn't have been intentional, but is impossible to ignore.

So while the dynamic duo spend the entire film eyeing each other's rubber clad musculature, Carrey and Jones try to distract the audience by overacting in front of some vast sets. Nicole Kidman is just lost in the wilderness as Bruce Wayne's babe, and without the gothic magic, there's nothing to keep you awake.

Summary: