Hmmm, I watched Batman Forever in its entirety on Blu-ray yesterday and I don't know that I'd eve bother plunking down the cash for a Kilmer Batman or Batmobile. The movie just didn't hold up in a full sitting the way it had as basic cable background viewing.
I also don't really see HT making a Batmobile from that movie anyway. The Burton car was a better design that was featured in two films. A lot of appeal and display options with that one.
That said
Batman Returns held up AMAZINGLY well. In fact watching it all the way through without such a critical eye there is just so much to like about Returns. It has the dreaded "multiple villain" thing going but to me it just helped to give the impression that Batman/Bruce has his hands full on all levels, both corporately and with regard to crime. Shrek and Selina in the office and Penguin/Circus Gang and Catwoman on the streets.
An incredible rock/paper/scissors of characters and subplots going on with each new encounter. The Batmobile sequences are some of the best in the series, including the Tumbler. I had also unfairly written off the Penguin as a loser who made Batman look lame, but he was actually kind of badass and the execution of his plot to frame Batman was undeniable.
To go from making the Ice Princess (or whatever her name was) fall to her death with Batman looking down as all the bats flood out of the tree to then immediately commandeer his fleeing Batmobile. And this was all only because Catwoman talked him out of just rigging the car to blow and killing him outright (which he obviously could have done.)
And Batman gliding down while everyone runs in terror from the swarm of bats, Nolan obviously like that scene because it was very reminiscent of Batman flying over the narrows when Scarecrow's gas was all over the place.
And I love how Batman just mans up and just takes everything that's thrown at him. No moping or freaking out over being framed, just immediately goes back to work at putting down the criminals. An odd, odd, odd movie that wears its absurdity proudly on its sleeve is now once again one of my favorite Batflicks.
Take that DiFabio!
