batman forever

Review: Pick Up Arrow Films’ 4K UHD Release of Joel Schumacher’s FALLING DOWN

Joel Schumacher’s Falling Down is a film which manages to be as relevant and incendiary today as it was when it was first released back in 1993. It sees Michael Douglas play a man at breaking point, disenfranchised by society and feeling that the [...]

July 21, 2026

Obituary: Val Kilmer Dies Aged 65

I’ve been writing about movies for nearly 20 years and I’ve written many obituaries (too many) about filmmakers and actors that I have admired. Writing about Val Kilmer’s death is a tough one. I’ve been a fan for over 30 [...]

April 2, 2025

Notebook Reviews: BATMAN & ROBIN

Joel Schumacher – 1997 The film that killed the Batman franchise. Batman & Robin isn’t as bad as you’ve heard – and it’s enjoyable enough if you look at it like an updated version of the 1960s Adam West/Burt Ward [...]

March 20, 2023

Behind The Scenes: Val Kilmer & Stephen Hopkins On The Set Of THE GHOST AND THE DARKNESS

The 1996 release, The Ghost And The Darkness is something of an under-appreciated film. The Val Kilmer–Michael Douglas pic grossed just $38 million at the US box office when it was released, but as we know – box office isn’t [...]

July 12, 2022

Michael Keaton Is Back As Batman In BATGIRL Movie

It looks like Michael Keaton will be keeping on the Bat cowl for a little while longer. After a 30 year absence, Keaton has just completed filming a turn as Bruce Wayne/Batman in Andy Muschietti’s The Flash – and now he’s set to [...]

December 27, 2021

Notebook Reviews: BATMAN FOREVER

Joel Schumacher – 1995. Batman Forever sees Joel Schumacher taking over the directing reins of the Batman franchise from Tim Burton. This is an enjoyable entry, but it lacks the dark brooding nature of Burton’s films. Batman Forever is [...]

December 17, 2021

Remembering The Mighty Joel Schumacher

The mighty Joel Schumacher was born on the 29 August 1939 – the same year that Batman made his first appearance. As one of the all-time great directors, he helmed a wonderful selection of films that included everything from The Incredible [...]

August 29, 2021

Powerful Trailer For Val Kilmer Documentary VAL

From when he first came to prominence in the 1980s, Val Kilmer has always been an actor who was difficult to pin down. From Real Genius and Top Secret! to Top Gun, The Doors and Batman Forever and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Kilmer has always made [...]

July 7, 2021

Documentary VAL Set To Explore The Life & Career Of The Mighty Val Kilmer

The mighty Val Kilmer is set to be the focus of a new documentary titled, Val which was produced by A24 and acquired by Amazon Studios in the U.S. and Latin America. A24 will distribute the film throughout the rest of the world and there are [...]

May 28, 2021

Uncovering Curiosities: Stephen Rick’s THE SUPER

The great Val Kilmer takes on the title role in 2017’s The Super, a horror-mystery-thriller set in a high-rise New York apartment building. It’s great to see Kilmer back on form, offering-up a tremendously chilly performance as the [...]

March 17, 2021

Joel Schumacher’s BATMAN

In 1995 Joel Schumacher took over the directing reins of the Batman franchise from Tim Burton for Batman Forever. Recasting Batman and replacing Michael Keatonwith the younger and more athletic Val Kilmer – this version of Batman was more [...]

January 17, 2021

Joel Schumacher’s Unappreciated 8MM Starring Nicolas Cage

The late Joel Schumacher was a brilliant director who could jump around different genres and still make commercial films which felt very personal to his style and vision. He’ll probably always be best known for The Lost Boys, Batman Forever [...]

June 30, 2020

Obituary: Director Joel Schumacher Dies Aged 80

The mighty Joel Schumacher has died at the age of 80. Having quietly battled cancer for a year, he finally succumbed to the disease. Movies In Focus has always been impressed by Schumacher’s visual flair and technique for storytelling. [...]

June 23, 2020

Remembering Tim Burton’s BATMAN RETURNS

After the success of Batman in 1989, Tim Burton was given carte blanche for this sequel, and he delivered the most bizarre Hollywood blockbuster ever made– an $80 million German Expressionist summer action movie. Michael Keaton once again returned [...]

June 21, 2020

BIRDS OF PREY Trailer: Come Back Joel Schumacher, All Is Forgiven

Movies In Focus is getting serious Joel Schumacher vibes from this trailer for Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) – and not in a good way. The tone and the neon – it’s as if someone saw moments [...]

January 11, 2020

Review: Val Kilmer Dials Up The Creepy In Horror-Mystery THE SUPER

Val Kilmer returns to the screen in The Super, a horror-mystery-thriller set in a high-rise New York apartment building. It’s great to see Kilmer back on form, offering-up a tremendously chilly performance as the superintendent who appears to be [...]

October 6, 2018

BATMAN RETURNS 25 Years Later

Batman Returns opened on June 19th 1992 – an unbelievable 25 years ago. The film is still the greatest Batman film ever made. I remember the first sequence I saw from the film – it was from the rooftop fight between Michael Keaton‘s [...]

June 19, 2017

Did You Catch These Easter Eggs in THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE?

The Lego Batman Movie (read the Movies In Focus review) is chock-full of hidden jokes and nods towards other franchises, and even other incarnations of the Caped Crusader! As The Lego Batman Movie is now available on Blu-ray and DVD, let’s delve [...]

June 19, 2017