Batman Forever Details

Although it performed well at the box office, the critics were less than convinced by the gloomy turn taken by Batman Returns. So, when Tim Burton said no to a third outing, Warners brought in the flamboyant Joel Schumacher. As a result, this entry is nowhere near as dark as its predecessors, even though the brooding Val Kilmer took over the Dark Knight's mantle from Michael Keaton. However, it's easily the funniest and the fastest of the quartet to date, with the action hurtling along at a breakneck pace. Throw in stylish special effects from a team that includes the legendary John Dykstra and Oscar-nominated photography from Stephen Goldblatt, and you have a rousingly undemanding piece of popcorn fodder.

A high-camp sequel, with the tone set by the redesigned, ever-more fetishistic Batman costume, the arrival of Robin, and the unrestrained antics of The Riddler; it's fun for much of the time.