Batman Forever premiered 30 years ago today. After working at a bar until well into the morning I took some friends to a 3am screening. When we came out, a local news team was interviewing people as they came out. Back then, 1995, movie theaters did that sort of thing for really big movies and this “new” Batman was all the rage. Is it a great movie? No, but I like it quite a bit. Kilmer is still my 2nd favorite Bruce Wayne and I still stand by my options from the video (I have the long hair- it was peak ‘90s). I am sure I have shared this on the board before, but I thought a revisit on the 30th anniversary might be fun. Enjoy
Batman Forever premiere reactions from 30 years ago today
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Jimmy L. 66
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Re: Batman Forever premiere reactions from 30 years ago today
If they'd gone with a kid as Robin and got someone else to play the Riddler this would have been the best rubber suit Batman film, IMO.
The idea that 26 year old Dick Grayson can't live on his own is ridiculous.
The idea that 26 year old Dick Grayson can't live on his own is ridiculous.
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Re: Batman Forever premiere reactions from 30 years ago today
It didn't help that Kilmer looked at least 10 years younger than Keaton, so he and O'Donnell seemed more like drinking buddies than guardian/ward.
I liked Val in the role and the lighter tone was welcome after "Returns." I was less enamored of Carrey, who was never my bag, and I wasn't crazy about Jones as Harvey Dent (or "Harvey Two-Face"?) either. In hindsight it may be hard to fairly judge this film without being influenced by the one that followed. "Batman and Robin" indulged in Schumacher's worst excesses and that retroactively paints "Forever" with the same sorry brush, since we can see strong hints of it here already.
Also, we begin to see the tendency to phone things in. After the '89 Batman film ends with the hero having to save Vicki from a fall with his grappling gun, this one ends with him having to save a falling girlfriend plus a falling Robin, and the next one will end with Batman, Robin and Batgirl all having to save themselves from yet another fall. With Joel, I feel like a lot more work went into the set design than the script. Plus, the very set-bound feel of Gotham is, 3 films in, making the series feel extremely claustrophobic and opening the door for Nolan to later prove there is, in fact, more to Batman's Earth than one city.
All these years later, it's funny the things I most remember: an "Easter egg" call-out to Metropolis, Bruce urgently traveling by pneumatic tube from his downtown office all the way out to the mansion just so he can drive back into town again as Batman (can't you just keep a costume in the office closet, Bruce?) and the unintentionally (?) hilarious sight of Batman sitting around in costume in a courtroom on the day Harvey gets doused with acid. It worked in the comics, not so much on screen.
Well, okay, and there was "Holey, rusted metal, Batman!" That was pretty fun.
Looking back, what stands out most to me is how low we were willing to set the bar for superhero movies 30 years ago. What passed as "close enough to good to celebrate" back then would be a hard pass today, when we enjoy an embarrassment of riches and even C-list heroes get their own films, let alone a top dog like Batman.
Having said all that, I still have my souvenir drinking glasses from McDonald's and will never part with them.
I liked Val in the role and the lighter tone was welcome after "Returns." I was less enamored of Carrey, who was never my bag, and I wasn't crazy about Jones as Harvey Dent (or "Harvey Two-Face"?) either. In hindsight it may be hard to fairly judge this film without being influenced by the one that followed. "Batman and Robin" indulged in Schumacher's worst excesses and that retroactively paints "Forever" with the same sorry brush, since we can see strong hints of it here already.
Also, we begin to see the tendency to phone things in. After the '89 Batman film ends with the hero having to save Vicki from a fall with his grappling gun, this one ends with him having to save a falling girlfriend plus a falling Robin, and the next one will end with Batman, Robin and Batgirl all having to save themselves from yet another fall. With Joel, I feel like a lot more work went into the set design than the script. Plus, the very set-bound feel of Gotham is, 3 films in, making the series feel extremely claustrophobic and opening the door for Nolan to later prove there is, in fact, more to Batman's Earth than one city.
All these years later, it's funny the things I most remember: an "Easter egg" call-out to Metropolis, Bruce urgently traveling by pneumatic tube from his downtown office all the way out to the mansion just so he can drive back into town again as Batman (can't you just keep a costume in the office closet, Bruce?) and the unintentionally (?) hilarious sight of Batman sitting around in costume in a courtroom on the day Harvey gets doused with acid. It worked in the comics, not so much on screen.
Well, okay, and there was "Holey, rusted metal, Batman!" That was pretty fun.
Looking back, what stands out most to me is how low we were willing to set the bar for superhero movies 30 years ago. What passed as "close enough to good to celebrate" back then would be a hard pass today, when we enjoy an embarrassment of riches and even C-list heroes get their own films, let alone a top dog like Batman.
Having said all that, I still have my souvenir drinking glasses from McDonald's and will never part with them.
"You were right again, Batman. We might have been killed."
"Or worse."
"Or worse."
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Ben Bentley
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Re: Batman Forever premiere reactions from 30 years ago today
Holy time-capsule! Also, two-tickets to the gun-show as well as Batman ForeverJimmy L. 66 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 16, 2025 9:01 am Batman Forever premiered 30 years ago today. After working at a bar until well into the morning I took some friends to a 3am screening. When we came out, a local news team was interviewing people as they came out. Back then, 1995, movie theaters did that sort of thing for really big movies and this “new” Batman was all the rage. Is it a great movie? No, but I like it quite a bit. Kilmer is still my 2nd favorite Bruce Wayne and I still stand by my options from the video (I have the long hair- it was peak ‘90s). I am sure I have shared this on the board before, but I thought a revisit on the 30th anniversary might be fun. Enjoy
Thanks for sharing this glimpse into your past JL!
Re: Batman Forever premiere reactions from 30 years ago today
What Ben said. Very cool glimpse.Ben Bentley wrote: ↑Thu Jul 17, 2025 12:07 pm
Holy time-capsule! Also, two-tickets to the gun-show as well as Batman Forever
Thanks for sharing this glimpse into your past JL!