One of my happiest childhood memories is watching Batman Forever in theaters with my family. It is the first Batman movie I have seen in cinemas, and I thank the film, a VHS tape of Batman Returns, and Batman: The Animated Series on television for igniting my passion for anything Batman. And when I watched it several more times as an adult, well… yes, it is campy overall, but I would pick it over the other Joel Schumacher-era Batman film Batman & Robin primarily because of Val Kilmer’s portrayal of Bruce Wayne and Batman—serious, conflicted but not too dark which blends well with movie’s vibe.
That is why it’s heartbreaking to learn that Val Kilmer died of pneumonia last April 1. Another Batman is gone. Damn. To soothe the pain, I’m listening to Seal’s “Kiss from a Rose”, the second single from the Batman Forever movie soundtrack.
Rest in peace, Val Kilmer and Joel Schumacher. Thank you for the memories.
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Published on April 4, 2025 at 11:59pm. Edits were made on April 5, 2025 at 12:00am.
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