Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Batman Forever (1995)


[an unwanted trip to the 60's]

Batman Forever (1995)
IMDB- 5.4
Rottentomatoes- 42
RJG Rating- 40

Two Face teams up with a crazy scientist by the name of Riddler to bring a reign of terror across Gotham.Can Batman save Gotham by himself?

Starring- Val Kilmer ,Nicole Kidman ,Jim Carrey ,Tommy Lee
Director- Joel Schumacher

Forever continues the tale of Batman from the events of Returns.After Returns failed to stand up to the studios expectation at the box office (the movie was a critical hit),and of complains that the movie was too dark and gritty ,Warner Bros. replaced Tim Burton with Joel Schumacher as director.Micheal Keaton refused to return without Burton,thus being replaced by Val Kilmer.

Val Kilmer as Bruce Wayne was great.He brings a certain charm to the role of Bruce Wayne.Even as Batman ,Kilmer is a good replacement for Micheal Keaton.But Kilmer is the only good actor among the main cast.Tommy Lee Jones as Two Face/Harvey Dent is awful.His take on the villain ,is a cheap imitation of the Joker.He certainly does no justice to the role.Jim Carrey as the Riddler was a perfect match.But the Riddler has no personality in the movie ,and thus it becomes another Carrey themed role (ex:Mask,Ace Ventura,any Carrey movie).Nicole Kidman stars as Bruce's love interest but her role is even more useless than that of _ as Vicky Vale in Batman 1989.Her role is just to look pretty and that ,Nicole has done remarkably well.Chris O Donnel as Dick/Robin is irritating.

The story takes a sharp u-turn from Burton's movies.It reminds one of the stories that used to take place in the 1960's Batman TV show.Its silly and cliched.The While the previous movies gave the development of villains an equal priority to that of Batman ,Forever makes no such attempt.Even the villainous idea of stealing the brain waves of people (??!!) seem so childish.

Joel Schumacher's direction is below average.His take on the Batman series erases the hard work Burton put earlier.If compared to the story filled Returns ,Forever is completely kiddish.Also the over use of neon lights ruin the look of the movie.The intensity that was present is replaced with cheesy lines.

Overall, Forever brings Batman to the campy feel of the 60's.While kids may enjoy it,others wont.

Acting- 1.5/5
Story- 1.5/5
Direction- 2/5
Action- 3.5/5
Drama- 3/5

Oscars
Nominated --3
Best Cinematography
Best Sound Effects
Best Sound

V/H/S (2012)

[another failed attempt at found footage]

VHS (2012)
IMDB- 6.2
Rottentomatoes- 52%
RJG Rating- 25

A group of vandals break into a house to steal a tape.While doing so they come across 5 different tapes each telling a horrifying tale.

Starring- Calvin Reeder,Lane Hughes
Director- Adam Wingard , Glenn McQuaid

VHS is yet another found footage /first person shot horror movie.

The actors are all new and they are all average.No one stands out due to there short roles and forgettable nature of the movie.

The 6 stories (including the story of vandals) are not upto the mark.The first (3 friends with a girl they pick up at a club) ,is ok and not too frightening.The second (a couple taking a trip) is just too vague and not even a proper horror story.The third (friends taking a picnic in a forest) never really gets to the horror part.The fourth (a couple webcam chatting) has a great concept and set up ,but disappoints with its vague ending.The fifth (friends going for a party) is the only good one of the lot.It has a terribly boring start but the story gets up and running soon.But it too isnt very scary.The sixth (main story of the vandals) is entirely predictable from the start.

The main problem with VHS is that these 6 stories have no connection with each other ,other than being a bunch of found footage.All the stories will leave you with a "what actually even happened" question lingering in your head.Also when a new story begins ,all the intensity raised by the previous story will disappear and again we have to sit through a boring 5-10min introduction of the new story.

Direction is extremely poor.As previously said ,none of the stories make any sense nor are connected.Added to this ,90% of this movie isnt steady.Every 5 sec ,the camera shakes and has various zoom ins that just just confuse the audience even more as to what is happening.

Overall,as a horror movie ,it fails.Although some had a good concept ,the director just fails to utilize any of them.Give it a miss.

Acting- 2/5
Story- 0.5/5
Direction- 0.5/5
Horror- 1.5/5
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...