This could have been a great film.
The sets are amazing: Gotham City's towering, entangled, crazy skyline - the setpieces are fascinating: the weird circus, the vast public celebrations that you just know are going to end in mayhem - and the film does examine the dark side of Batman (and Robin). In total contrast, the witty one-liners are a welcome relief after the ever-darker first two films.
Jim Carrey manages to outdo Jack Nicholson in over-acting as the villain, and, despite some reviews, there is 'light and shade' in the film, with quieter moments interspersing the more manic ones.
But there is also a lot wrong. Two-Face really has nothing going for him compared to the Riddler - just flipping a coin is hardly fascinating. Val Kilmer is totally miscast as Batman (and Bruce Wayne), and makes the role uninteresting.
Nicole Kidman is brilliant as usual, but has to act within the limitations she is set - the greatest being that she somehow has to avoid realising Bruce and Batman are one and the same: a common flaw in superhero/secret identity tales.
All in all, good escapist entertainment - but it could have been so much better!
The sets are amazing: Gotham City's towering, entangled, crazy skyline - the setpieces are fascinating: the weird circus, the vast public celebrations that you just know are going to end in mayhem - and the film does examine the dark side of Batman (and Robin). In total contrast, the witty one-liners are a welcome relief after the ever-darker first two films.
Jim Carrey manages to outdo Jack Nicholson in over-acting as the villain, and, despite some reviews, there is 'light and shade' in the film, with quieter moments interspersing the more manic ones.
But there is also a lot wrong. Two-Face really has nothing going for him compared to the Riddler - just flipping a coin is hardly fascinating. Val Kilmer is totally miscast as Batman (and Bruce Wayne), and makes the role uninteresting.
Nicole Kidman is brilliant as usual, but has to act within the limitations she is set - the greatest being that she somehow has to avoid realising Bruce and Batman are one and the same: a common flaw in superhero/secret identity tales.
All in all, good escapist entertainment - but it could have been so much better!