Buy the DVD!: Batman Forever

 With Bat-mania back again (even if it is low-key), I might as well look back at a 'classic.'

In 1995, Joel Schumacher took over for Tim Burton (when his Films got too dark to sell McDonalds Toys) and made his first Film in the Series.

The most-recent DVD release has an Audio Commentary Track that's specifically the Director talking about the Film.  Why not give it a listen and see what I learn?

* It was his idea apparently to redesign Gotham to give it 'character' and to show it during the day.
Were there any daytime Scenes of note in the Burton Films?

* He finally got to cast Jim Carrey in a Film, after having to turn him down for D.C. Cab back in 1983.  According to Schumacher, Carry was 'too big of a personality' to make into just one of the Supporting Cast.  Not wrong.

* In 2 early Scenes at Wayne Enterprises, you can see a pre-fame Jon Favreau playing an 'Executive.'
He has no lines and isn't ever highlighted.

* He cast Drew Barrymore (hot off of Doppelganger) due to their decade-long friendship.  As a kid, she allegedly told him that St. Elmo's Fire (future Review) was 'her favorite.'

* He says that he's been accused of 'objectifying his Male and Female Stars' to which his reply is '...And?'

* Between the Cape and Suit, the Batman ensemble weighed around 100 lbs., so he gives kudos to Val Kilmer (who does one fight Scene in it) and the Stuntmen for working in it.

* In an Alley Fight, the painted-up Leader of the Blacklight Gang is Don 'The Dragon' Wilson!  He'd also be in Cyber Tracker 2 the same year that this came out.  Win win?

* To his credit, Schumacher jokes about how things don't make sense sometimes (like how Riddler built his base so quickly) or how physics are wonky.  '...but it's a Batman Film' is his constant rejoinder.

* He's less defensive and apologetic than he apparently is on the Batman & Robin Commentary (which I'll likely cover soon).

* Like Frank Gorshin before him, Jim Carrey couldn't get a double for his stunts says the Director.  Hard to argue.

It's honestly a pretty fun and informative Commentary Track.  He really talks up everyone that worked on the Film, so it's not all about 'look what I did.'

At one point, he laughs at something Carrey does and quickly points out that he's 'not laughing at my own Film.'  He seemed like a nice, genuine guy.

I guess I can forgive him for helping 'kill' the Franchise.