The first time around both directors got it right testing the waters with their own respective styles. With Batman and Robin he went too flamboyant just like Burton went too zany and weird with Returns. All Joel Schumacher did was set out to make a fun super-hero film with something for everyone to enjoy and I honestly think he succeeded with Forever. While Returns has a ton going for it, it really suffers from the same core problem as Batman and Robin the director getting too cute with creative control. It honestly baffles me to hear people rave about how great Batman Returns is and then go on to bash Batman Forever. This is coming from someone who's favorite film is Batman 1989 and a big Tim Burton fan.

If you watch it through that lens instead of judging it for what it's not you'll find that Batman Forever actually has superior continuity and pacing than any other Batman film except maybe the 1966 version. What is it you ask? Batman Forever essentially plays out like a live action cartoon and it does this very well. If you compare it to the more serious neo-realism of the Nolan films, again you're not gonna enjoy it. If you compare it to the darker and more gothic Burton films and are disappointed Keaton isn't still playing Batman, of course you're not gonna enjoy it. It's sandwiched between the fandom of the Burton and Nolan films while simultaneously blamed for leading to Batman and Robin. Batman Forever may be the most unfairly criticzed super-hero film ever made.

Download val kilmer batman batmobile