Bam Smack Pow
Fansided

Thanos, The Joker and the 25 greatest superhero movie villains of all-time

By Michael Patterson

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 22: A Joker costume from the 2008 film The Dark Knight worn by actor Heath Ledger and designed by Lindy Hemming is on display at the DC Comics Exhibition: Dawn Of Super Heroes at the O2 Arena on February 22, 2018 in London, England. The exhibition, which opens on February 23rd, features 45 original costumes, models and props used in DC Comics productions including the Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman films. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 22: A Joker costume from the 2008 film The Dark Knight worn by actor Heath Ledger and designed by Lindy Hemming is on display at the DC Comics Exhibition: Dawn Of Super Heroes at the O2 Arena on February 22, 2018 in London, England. The exhibition, which opens on February 23rd, features 45 original costumes, models and props used in DC Comics productions including the Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman films. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 26
Next
Marvel, superheroes, movie villains
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 22: A Riddler costume from the 1995 Batman Forever film worn by Jim Carrey and designed by Rob Ringwood and Mary Vogt is on display at the DC Comics Exhibition: Dawn Of Super Heroes at the O2 Arena on February 22, 2018 in London, England. The exhibition, which opens on February 23rd, features 45 original costumes, models and props used in DC Comics productions including the Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman films. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images) /

21. The Riddler

Film: Batman Forever

Another performance that outshone the rest of the film, Jim Carrey’s turn as Edward Nygma/The Riddler elevated 1995’s Batman Forever above a script that often got lost in its own broodiness. Now, given that the film in question was a neon-lit pantomime on-screen, a broody script just wouldn’t do – and that’s where The Riddler came in.

With bright orange hair, and a skin-tight one-piece bodysuit, The Riddler couldn’t have been more in-your-face if he tried. But as the villain had a history of being in-your-face (see: Frank Gorshin’s 1966 offering in the ’60s Batman TV series), he got away with it (unlike the film’s almost Joker-like portrayal of Two-Face). And this seeped into Carrey’s performance, as the usually wired actor was even more eccentric for this one – hamming up every motion, line and action with pure glee.

Humor aside, Mr. Nygma’s goals here were pretty solid, as he sought to read the brainwaves of everyone in Gotham City and ultimately become even more of a crazed genius than he already was – goals that are totally in-line with The Riddler’s M.O. and ones that would’ve been at home in a more serious film.

Though a major step down from Tim Burton’s Batman Returns, Forever was in a completely different league from its own sequel Batman & Robin and it’s a darn shame that it doesn’t receive the credit it deserves. A fun, lively film with plenty to love – it absolutely nails the Riddler for all he’s worth, allowing Carrey to produce a larger-than-life caricature that paid tribute to Frank Gorshin’s definitive portrayal.

Home/Movies