A friend named Luc, suggested we go to theatre watch the new Batman movie.
At the time, I didn't really know what I was going to see. I knew a little about the character, I'd seen Burton's movies but with few memories, and then a few episodes of the cartoon tv show without really taking much interest.
We enter the cinema. The lights go down, the Warner Bros logo appears. The background music starts with deep brass notes, the WB logo is transformed into a bat symbol, its outline barely visible on a black background.
The names of the actors scroll by. Most of them were strangers to me. Except for Jim Carrey, who was undoubtedly the reason we went to see this film. We were still deeply affected by his performance in The Mask.
An abrupt transition: the intro features a series of short, dynamic, tight cuts showing Batman getting his costume on and picking up his gadgets. The actor's face is not yet visible.
Then he gets out of his cab, strides up the steps and goes to the Batmobile. This Batmobile will stay with me for the rest of my life, with its open bodywork revealing a luminous mechanism. It fascinates me as much as it frightens me. I have the sensation that it's alive, that it's going to come out of the screen and devour me.
We can see the Batman better at this point. An all-black suit reflecting the colored lights, a straight, elongated and imposing stance.
This is it. It was at this moment that my life changed for ever. I become a Batman fan.
The rest of the film is somewhat anecdotal, but what's certain is that the performance of its lead actor, Val Kilmer, made me fall in love with the character.
To this day, Batman Forever remains the film I've rewatched the most. The VHS suffered.
Even today, despite my more critical view of the film, I still get chills when I re-watch certain scenes. I still often stop in front of my miniature Batmobile to admire it. Always with the feeling that it's going to eat me up.
Without Batman Forever, I'd probably never have taken such an interest in the Bat universe. I might not have watched the animated series so assiduously. I might never have read comic books. I might never have taken up drawing. I might never have had the idea of telling my own stories. And Lady Wolf wouldn't exist.
When I heard the news of Val Kilmer's death, I was immediately overcome with sadness. Although I never really followed the rest of his filmography, he will always be my Batman.
Thank you Val, for-ever-ything.
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