Val Kilmer as Batman and Chris O'Donnell as Robin in 1995's Batman Forever

Back in 1995, Tim Burton returned as producer for the 1995 Warner Bros. box office smash hit Batman Forever, starring Val Kilmer as The Caped Crusader. Director Joel Schumacher helm the flick, because Tim hired him to continue with the franchise he started after WB approached him about doing it while Joel was getting ready to film The Client (based off the John Grisham novel). Like Batman 89 and Batman Returns, it had the darkness, and like the original Bob Kane comic books, it had the brightness, and that's why the film had those tones, while the Schumacher Cut had some dark and psychological themes that're about guilt and shame. And like 89 and Returns, it focuses on Bruce's character growth.

Batman Forever is my all-time favorite, along with Batman 89, Batman Returns, and Batman & Robin.

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Hey everybody! Back in 2021, I've watched a video essay done by Ben Wan, the man who knows too much about Batman, on the Superhero Stuff You Should Know channel on YouTube called "The Myth of Tim Burton's Batman 3: Batman Continues Debunked." Some people on the internet believe that Tim Burton was going to do a third Batman movie called "Batman Continues," with Michael Keaton returning as Batman/Bruce Wayne, Michelle Pfeiffer returning as Catwoman/Selina Kyle, and Billy Dee Williams returning as Harvey Dent to be turned into Two-Face. It was going to have Robin Williams as The Riddler/Edward Nygma with a question mark shaved into his head, Brad Dourif as The Scarecrow/Jonathan Crane, and Marlon Wayans as Robin. We all know that it didn't exist. Batman Forever never started out as a Tim Burton project. It was always Joel Schumacher's baby from the very beginning.

It has revealed that Tim Burton's only involvement with Batman Forever as producer was to hire his friend Joel Schumacher as director, and helping out hiring Lee and Janet Scott Batchler as the screenwriters with help from Akiva Goldsman, and Tim gave Joel his input, despite never liked doing Batman Forever as much as he never liked doing Batman 89, and the actual casting for the third Batman film and the actual first person cast in the film is Academy Award winner Tommy Lee Jones as Harvey Two-Face/Harvey Dent. And it was Warner Bros. and Joel Schumacher who wanted Michael Keaton to come back and play Batman/Bruce Wayne, Renee Russo to play Dr. Chase Meridian, and Robin Williams to play The Riddler/Edward Nygma, with Joel and the Batchlers tailored the Forever contribute to Williams. Sadly, it wasn't meant for those three actors, and Val Kilmer stepped into the role of Batman/Bruce Wayne, Nicole Kidman was Chase Meridian, and Jim Carrey was The Riddler/Edward Nygma.

It was also Joel who wanted to bring in Robin/Dick Grayson for Batman Forever, played by Chris O'Donnell. And Brad Dourif was actually Tim's choice for Jack Napier/The Joker in Batman 89 before Jack Nicholson was cast. And it was also Joel who wanted to do Scarecrow, but for Batman Unchained, with him planning to cast Nicolas Cage, who starred in his film 8mm. And the character of Catwoman was never in any draft of Batman Forever, only in archive footage. And The Riddler with a question mark shaved into his head was actually an idea from Jim Carrey. An old Empire interview revealed that Carrey played around with an idea of The Riddler with a question mark shaved into his head, but decided not to, since he was going through divorce proceedings.

In batman returns, catwomans first in costume scene. She dramatically flips away yeah? Well it cuts away and it's assumed she flipped into oblivion. What do you like to picture her doing, 4th wall break, if the backfilling away just continues? Like... does she just stop and awkwardly sigh and scale a wall? Does she just... keep flipping? https://youtu.be/LmaG4d0O9Gg?si=l67u19trsws9E3eb Like.. what do YOU think she did when cameras cut? 😆

Which Burton/Schumacher Batman movie villain reigns supreme?

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I find that "Batman Returns" (1992) soundtrack holds greater appeal over the one from 1989. It is my personal preference due to its unique blend of darker, more ominous tones, which adds an element of moodiness and intrigue to the overall audio experience.

Alright, I'll be nice to the 1989 soundtrack. I must admit, it has a certain charm and a nostalgic quality to it. The opening theme is iconic, and Prince's contributions, added an interesting pop element to the score. The music fits the film's atmosphere well, providing the necessary suspense and action elements. Overall, while it may not be my preferred soundtrack, I can appreciate its impact and significance in cinema history!

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