Some props fromBatman Foreverhave recently been put up for sale, and I can’t help but be tempted by theDC Universelisting for The Riddler’s costume. WhileBatman Foreverwas not the greatest of thelive-action Batmanfilms,it did something special in marrying the campy styles of the 1960s Adam West iteration with the dark, Gothic style of Tim Burton’sBatman.With bright neon lights and rubber suits, director Joel Schumacher presented a genuinely unique look at the city of Gotham.
Batman’s rogues galleries in Schumacher’s films were refreshingly strange adaptations, translated from some of the wackiest ideas from the comics. Using a scarred and theatricalversion of Two-Facewith Tommy Lee Jones contributed to a brash villain that celebrated his own duality.Nothing like the Paul Dano version ofThe Batman, Jim Carrey’s Riddler went even bigger than Jones’ Two-Face, becoming one of my favorite villain iterations ever. Now, I can’t stop thinking about buying his uniquely strange outfit.
Jim Carrey’s The Riddler Costume Is Up For Auction
The Batman Forever Outfit Is Being Sold By Warner Bros. Discovery
A number of Batman props are currently set up for auction onPropstoreAuctionto commemorate Batman’s 85th anniversary, withThe Riddler’s costumegoing up beginning on Friday, December 6.The opening bid for the costume is set at $6,000, and it is expected to sell for between $12,000-$24,000.While he’s divisive, there are some who believeJim Carrey’s Riddler to be the bestiteration of the villain, and interest is sure to be high in this costume, which is a lime green unitard decorated with question marks, along with a matching bowler hat.
The costume is one of several from the film, although it is perhaps the most memorable.As Carrey’s Edward Nygma transforms into the villainous Riddler, his style becomes wackier and more cartoonishas the film progresses. This uniform is confirmed to not be a replica, but comes from the actual production, and will be shipped with a certificate of authenticity. Warner Bros. Discovery also has committed to make a donation to You Gotta Believe after the auction is over.
Jim Carrey’s The Riddler Costume Is A Fun Reinterpretation Of The Comics
Carrey’s Riddler Is Not Always Faithful, But Is Always Compelling
In the comics, The Riddler has often had a more high-class look than this uniform, although Jim Carrey also did wear fancier clothing in the film. However, the green suit, sometimes imprinted with question marks and sometimes not, was the more common look for The Riddler. In the comics, too, the villain has trended a lot darker, like withRiddler’s backstory inThe Batman, makingCarrey’s take and outfit look more closely aligned with the Frank Gorshin iteration from the 1960s series and filmrather than the comics.
More than anything, Jim Carrey’s Riddler and his style were built to be a vehicle for the movie star himself.Releasing in the year followingThe Mask, Dumb and Dumber,andAce Ventura: Pet Detective,Carrey was on top of the world, and the role was largely modeled around his abilities and look. With Carrey’s zany humor, slim build, and wacky madness, the comic book Riddler was reinterpreted to fit Carrey’s persona, resulting in what I believe to be an incredibly satisfying version of the iconic Batman villain.
Jim Carrey’s The Riddler Is A Seriously Underrated Batman Movie Villain
This Unique Riddler Is One Of The Brightest Spots In The ’90s Batman Films
Unfortunately, I’ve found thatBatman Foreverand its best qualities are often forgotten after the failure ofBatman & Robin. WhileForeveris far from a perfect film, it does provide one of the bestlive-action DC villainsin Carrey’s Riddler in a way that feels true to its era.Schumacher’s camp and style provide a refreshing and original vision, and the big-budget draw of giant actors like Carrey and Jones to the stylistic villains is a lot of fun. Carrey however, has left a real mark on the character with his interpretation.
Jim Carrey’s Riddler is silly, strange, and a lot of fun to watch. Like with his other ’90s hits, Carrey brings his distinct style and charm to the unusual supervillain role inBatman Forever.With his bonkers plan to control brain waves, and his violent madness imprinted on his signature humor, the villain feels dangerous in a new and compelling way.I’d rate him among some of the most memorable villains of the entire Batman franchise, crafting something that is both faithful enough to the source material while genuinely being a product of its time.
Where Are The Batman Forever Cast Now, 29 Years Later
Batman Forever had quite the star-studded cast for its time. Over 29 years later, its fascinating to see where some of the film’s actors ended up.
Jim Carrey has a tendency to inject a lot of himself into his roles, as has been made especially evident recently with his villainous turn inSonic the Hedgehog.His role as Dr. Robotnik is actually quite similar to his turn as The Riddler.Fortunately, Jim Carrey is such an appealing performer that his distinct charm continues to work in this fashion over and over, no matter the role. If money were no object, I would buy everyBatman Forevercostume that is on sale in this auction, and I would likely verify to buy The Riddler’s first.
Batman Forever
Cast
After Tim Burton’s plans for a third Batman film fell through, director Joel Schumacher took over the franchise with 1995’s Batman Forever. Replacing Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer stars as Bruce Wayne opposite to Jim Carrey and Tommy Lee Jones, who play The Riddler and Two-Face, respectively. Batman Forever also marks the first time Robin appears on the big screen since Burt Ward reprised his Boy Wonder role in 1966’s Batman: The Movie.
