Swooping into UK cinemas from Friday 6th September for a LIMITED TIME ONLY is ‘90s comic book movie, Batman Forever. Directed by the late Joel Schumacher, the movie stars Val Kilmer, Jim Carrey, Tommy Lee Jones, Nicole Kidman, and Chris O’Donnell, and is part of a collection of Batman movies that are returning to the big screen to celebrate the Dark Knight’s 85th anniversary.
So, if you didn’t manage to catch Batman Forever in cinemas when it first landed back in 1995, now is your chance to take the kids, grab some popcorn, and dive in. As a quick reminder, the film is a loose sequel to Batman Returns, it is the third entry in the Batman Anthology (1989 – 1997), and it is the one with the Riddler and Two-Face as the villains.
In the movie, former District Attorney, Harvey ‘Two-Face’ Dent has escaped from Arkham Asylum and is causing Batman a few headaches. Meanwhile, Wayne Industries inventor Edward Nygma has developed an unhealthy obsession with Bruce Wayne, which is causing drama in Batman’s home life.
If all that wasn’t enough, criminal psychologist Dr. Chase Meridian has developed a crush on Batman while dating Bruce Wayne, and circus performer-turned-orphan Dick Grayson is staying at Wayne Manor and has discovered the Batcave. Oh, and as an added extra, Bruce Wayne is suffering from a series of unsettling visions and is questioning his role as the Caped Crusader.
All-in-all, there’s a lot going on in Batman Forever, and a lot to pack into the film’s two-hour runtime, including all of the above plus a killer soundtrack featuring artists such as U2 and Seal. However, director Joel Schumacher pulls it off marvellously and delivers a thoroughly entertaining Bat-flick!
In fact, Batman Forever is such an entertaining film audiences lapped it up during the summer of 1995 making it a huge hit in the process. The movie packed audiences into cinemas when it debuted and quickly became one of the biggest films of the year.
And it’s really not that surprising. The action sequences and scenes of spectacle are thrilling, the film is loaded with gags and memorable lines, and the script services most of the actors quite well.
Tommy Lee Jones’ Two-Face could do with a bit more screen time, but Jim Carrey’s Riddler is a hoot and makes up for the shortfall. Throw in some fun costumes and great set pieces and you have a dynamic picture.
Due to last year’s strikes, 2024 has seen a significant shortfall in new releases and a significant upswing in re-releases. As such, everything from The Terminator to Spider-Man has popped up at the local multiplex and this has helped to bring some old favourites to new audiences.
For many, Batman Forever falls into the ‘old favourites’ category, and if you’ve been itching to see it on the big screen, now is your chance. And keep your eyes out for Batman & Robin, The Dark Knight trilogy, and The Batman which will also be getting cinematic re-releases this month.
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Thank you for taking the time to read this review on It’s A Stampede!. For more reviews, check out the recommended reads below.
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