Batman Forever is a 1995 superhero action film directed by Joel Schumacher, best known for his work on films like The Phantom of the Opera and The Number 23. Despite the change in director, Batman Forever takes place in the same universe as the previous two Batman films directed by Tim Burton, Batman (1989) and Batman Returns. In this excessively quirky and off-beat take on the beloved DC comic hero, Bruce Wayne/Batman (Val Kilmer) must protect the city of Gotham from two major villains, Two-Face (Tommy Lee Jones) and the Riddler (Jim Carrey).
Although Batman Forever maintains the intriguing comic-book atmosphere as the other Batman films, a handful of questionable creative decisions makes it one of the more divisive entries in the franchise.
How to Stream or Download Batman Forever (1995) Full Movie Online
To stream or to download Batman Forever from a digital store of your choice you need to click on the Download button that you will find located at the end of this review. Check out also the previous two titles in the series – Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992).
The Movie Review
There’s a lot to be said about the storytelling in Batman Forever, but at first, it starts just like many other Batman films before it. Gotham City, an impoverished town well-known for its consistent eruptions of wanton crime, endures yet another psychotic bout of mayhem thanks to Gotham’s old Distract Attorney, Harvey “Two-Face” Dent. With one side of his body left horribly disfigured after an acid attack, Two-Face blames Batman for his problems and intends to make Gotham pay.
Meanwhile, the quirky research and potential sociopath Edward Nygma (Jim Carrey) tries to pitch an experimental brain-wave technology to his boss, Bruce Wayne. Worried about the inherent risk of brain-wave manipulation and Edward’s general attitude, Wayne rejects his idea, kicking off Nygma’s transformation into the unhinged villain, the Riddler. With Gotham packed to the brim with a new cast of charismatic and intriguing villains, Batman must gear up to save the day.
Batman Forever is a bit of a mess, in both a good and bad way. Visually, the movie is more representative of the exaggerated colors of classic Batman comics and films. Sets are extremely vivid and loud, with flashing lights and bursts of neon.
This comic style is further enforced by the wacky costumes, which work to mixed degrees of success. Action is often bombastic and highly cartoon-like, resulting in some truly ridiculous moments.
Unfortunately, the film in general is plagued with bad editing, including far too many cuts during action scenes. Shots are often shaky or filmed with a skewed camera angle, which makes the viewing experience disorientating. When you combine the eccentric visuals with the extremely chaotic camerawork, some sequences simply become unpleasant to watch.
In addition to the climactic encounters between Batman and Gotham’s latest villains, Batman Forever takes a bit of time to expand out the existing world and lore. Bruce Wayne is introduced to yet another blonde-haired love interest, Dr. Chase Meridian (Nicole Kidman), a psychologist staying in Gotham to study Two-Face’s actions. Sadly, the ensuing romantic sub-plot feels unbelievable and repetitive, due both to a lack of chemistry and the film’s overall goofy tone.
Batman Forever also debuts the fan-favorite sidekick Robin (Chris O’Donnell), who brings a bit of levity to the experience. Regrettably, Robin’s story arc gets lost in the mix, resulting in an underdeveloped and mostly missed opportunity.
The Bottom Line
Overall, Batman Forever might not be as great as its predecessors, but there’s still some fun to be had. Tommy Lee Jones and Jim Carrey continue the tradition of absolutely fantastic villain performances in Batman films, stealing the show as Two-Face and the Riddler.
Longtime fans of the comics will surely appreciate the introduction of Robin and the movie’s many homages, but might be thrown off by other plot elements. In short, Batman Forever trades the dark and foreboding atmosphere of Burton’s previous Batman films for an excessively eccentric and over-the-top attitude. For the most part, it’s a gamble that doesn’t pay off, resulting in one of the more disappointing entries in the Batman movie franchise.
