What’s New in Gotham? A Hero, Sidekick, Villains, Humor

In “Batman Forever,” the Dark Knight (Val Kilmer) untangles his troubled past with help from an adoring psychologist (Nicole Kidman), takes on partner Robin (Chris O’Donnell) and confronts his nemeses Harvey Two-Face (Tommy Lee Jones) and the Riddler (Jim Carrey), who are plotting to steal the brain waves of Gotham City residents. (Rated PG-13)

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Bombarded with bat hype, kids who jammed theaters last weekend said they got just what they expected--the best “Batman” ever.

For many, the third Batman film was a perfect mix of the old (Batmobile, fiery explosions and at least one “Holy rusted metal, Batman!”) and the new (more and better fiery explosions, funny jokes and a red-haired Jim Carrey prancing and preening in a sequin suit).

“I didn’t think it would fit in with the first two, but it did,” said Jimmy Owen, 13. “It was a great movie.”

It was “better by far” than its first two versions, said Kyle Ganshert, 13. “The ones before were boring. It was all just action-packed and stuff. Now it’s action-packed and comedy.”

Not incidentally for the boys, it also featured Nicole Kidman in slinky black dresses. Her character has a crush on Batman but falls for his daytime personality, billionaire businessman Bruce Wayne. The mere memory made the boys giggle and stammer.

For their part, the girls complained they didn’t get to see enough of handsome, short-haired hunk Chris O’Donnell as Robin.

More minor quibbles arose over Batman and who played him better--current super-hero Val Kilmer or the big-screen original, Michael Keaton.

“I thought Michael Keaton was more masculine,” said Holly Robison, 14.

“Val Kilmer didn’t do as good a job in the Bruce Wayne parts,” said Charles Whitehead, 12.

On the other hand, Jason Musso, 13, preferred the cool, collected Kilmer.

“He had a better attitude about it,” Jason said. “He did basically the same things, but it was neat to see another person in [Keaton’s] place.”

Warning: Children had mixed reactions to the mayhem. One 9-year-old thought there was too much violence and too many loud explosions. While one toddler was carried out screaming after the first 10 minutes, a 3-year-old came out happily singing, “Batman, Batman.”

A scene that might disturb some children shows Robin’s acrobat parents falling to their deaths from the top of a circus tent. But one girl liked the realism.

“My favorite part was when Robin’s parents died,” said Jana Koontz, 12. “It makes you feel like you were kind of there.”

Contrary to popular belief, not all kids like Jim Carrey’s humor, but his fans loved his evil antics and quick wit as riddle-loving mad scientist Edward Nygma, a.k.a. Mr. E, a.k.a. E. Nygma (get it?).

“He can do a lot of impersonations and voices. It was cool,” Kyle said.

One 13-year-old girl, who preferred to remain nameless, gave the film a thumbs-down.

“It was dark. I didn’t like it,” she said. “I heard it was really good. It wasn’t as funny as it looked.”

But she was nearly alone among the throngs of bat-o-philes.

Said Kyle: “Just everyone wants to see it.”