Is Joker a problem with Batman Forever? The biggest problem of Batman Forever is the identity crisis. It is not what Tim Burton did in the last two movies or its curious tone. The new villains Tommy Lee Jones and Jim Carrey both tried to play the Joker. Both the guys ended up like confused cosplays of arch-nemesis. Hence the film is haunted by the ghost of Jack Nicholson’s movie villain.
Warner Bros had a particular way
After Batman’s Return release, Warner Bros has to bring a change in the direction. Increasing pressure and the anxiety to earn potential led to the downfall in the image of Tim Burton about Gotham. Batman and Batman Return both made a lot of money and fans. Warner Bros in the sequel could not however take the risk to eliminate all the fans and financial interests.
Following this, Batman Forever was set in the same timeline. It made the least reference to the past unless necessarily required. The Batman sequel was entrusted to Joel Schumacher for direction. The studio could still call on Tim Burton’s fans and took a new line keeping the things that worked.
Reconsidering Batman Forever only makes sense that the fans were just given their all-time favorite villain The Joker. He was the most recognized and iconic enemy. It has worked for Tim Burton in 1989 Batman. Joel Schumacher however, did not have any option rather than to consider the replace in kind after the Joker was killed by Burton. The identity crisis was that the movie had two villains- Two-Face and the Riddler playing like de facto Jokers.
Two Face to be like the Joker
Two-Face is egregious of the two. He cackles from the top trying to escape, ordering goons to wear harlequin masks is only on the nose close. The film has shown his origin in the courtroom. However, there is absolutely no sense in showing his tragedy or internal conflict. It’s just like a copy scene. The fans cannot be expected to be blind to the fact that his character is not there in the comics.
The Riddler is not even close to the comics
Similarly, Batman’s Forever Riddler is nothing close to the Comics. He has a desire to prove that he is better than Bruce Wayne. Where the comic character is a chess player and manipulates his enemies, the character here just feels easy to throw his enemies out of the window.
It is just a misunderstanding that his fundamental drive feels more capitalist than anything.
It is seen that Batman Forever seeks to give up what it had. At the same time, it has patently drawn things out of it. It gives a negative impression that Batman’s Rogue Gallery is limited. It has copied the Joker rather than letting the villains do their own thing. The performances cannot be blamed. The roles given to them were so limited built for getting some old pride. A movie that is rewatched so much, such a mistake cannot be ignored.
