Nice write up, and it's made me want to dig those out and watch them again. I wonder if I ever bought the
second one on anything other than VHS tape?

I haven't seen the Tim Burton Batman's in years and years, I also really need to revisit them.

Batman Forever was a fun direction to take things in. It had a lot to like about it, especially as a change of pace from this dark, moribund approach, which was surely unsustainable moving forward. Batman and Robin was irredeemably terrible, however.

I don't know, when was the last time you tried to watch it? While Burton's Batman movies have their flaws, Batman Forever was truly cringe-inducing the last time I tried to watch it -- and I really liked it when it was first released.

BTW, does anyone know what Burton was thinking with the "revived by alley cats" origin for Catwoman in this movie? What was the deal with that?

He was thinking, "I'm a death-obsessed weirdo who likes weird things. What should I do?"

They ripped off that whole scene in an episode of Gotham this season.

Ha! Fair point - it can't have been within the past fifteen years

On the plus side, Nicole Kidman is beyond gorgeous in this movie.

Other than the nipples, Kilmer's bat-suit really looked good. I wish they could have found a half-way point between Burton and Schumacher for the 90s Batman movies.

They really didn't need Two-Face for this one either. Carrey could have carried the movie as the lone villain.

My only real complaint regarding Forever, is Tommy Lee Jones' continual over the top acting. He's playing Two Face. While the scene chewing was perfect for the "Bad side of Harvey", he needed to tone it down for the "Good side". There should have been a balance between the two. (There were a couple of scenes, especially at the end when Batman reminds him about his coin, that came off really well.)
And, they cut most of the Father's Diary sub-plot. Which was crucial to the whole "I'm not Batman because I have to be, I'm Batman because I choose to be." (another brilliant part of the story)

I liked Forever more than either of Burton's movies, and I still do. Mostly because Burton's style annoys me. Other than Ed Wood and Mars Attacks, I find his movies unwatchable (and yet I frickkin love those two movies).

I remember a scene in Batman Returns where a line of white-faced freaks pause an act of crime to perform a little parade while waving their hands in the air that encapsulates everything I hate about Burton's work.

This is true.

Yes, because he didn't like Carrey, it had to be jealousy.

'I cannot sanction your buffoonery.'

"He's a phenomenal actor though. I still love him."

I used to really dislike Jim Carrey's acting, and it still isn't my favorite, but of late I am really amazed by how positive he is. He never seems to have a negative thing to say about anything or anyone.

I absolutely feckin despise the Ace Ventura movies and his gurning, bonkers schtick so I can see where Tommy Lee Jones was coming from BUT I liked Mask, his turn as the Riddler, Cable Guy, Dumb and Dumber and particularly (because he was playing against type, perhaps) The Truman Show. And in that interview, despite his affected 'there is no me' actor bullshit, he does come across as a likeable - if borderline psychotic - guy.

I find Carey mostly repellent as an actor, but his performance in BATMAN FOREVER is perversely a big part of why it's my favorite film from that series. I also liked ETERNAL SUNLIGHT OF THE SPOTLESS MIND.

A friend of mine worked on a movie with Tommy Lee Jones, and he told me one day when he approached Tommy and the director for some reason, Tommy didn't realize my friend was standing there and absently spit tobacco juice all over him. Jones kind of gestured absently to indicate he realized it happened, but with neither a contrite air nor an outright apology as he stayed engaged in the conversation which so occupied his attention. At the wrap party he approached my friend and told him, "The reason I didn't apologize is I thought you'd have a better story that way."

I would say The Mask and Dumb and Dumber are my favorite Carrey movies.

Eternal Sunshine was cool, too, although I don't remember it very well (which I suppose is appropriate).

I can see how Jim Carrey might get a bit annoying to be around, especially in his younger days.