Val Kilmer all the actors to have played Batman up to that point, he felt Kilmer had given the best interpretation. Film critic Leonard Maltin (who criticized the dark tone contained in "Batman Returns") complimented Kilmer's portrayal when he reviewed the film for his expanding collection of film reviews. Defenders of "Batman Forever" praised the film for portraying Batman as a more heroic, less ruthless, and more human character than in the Tim Burton films. The film also brought the film interpretation of Bruce Wayne more into line with his comic book counterpart, showing him as a socialite and a very public
Robert Downey Jr. filmography had a regular role in the television series "Ally McBeal" in 2000, which won him a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor. He was then cast in the 2003 films "The Singing Detective" alongside Robin Wright and "Gothika" with Halle Berry. In 2005, he starred in "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" with Val Kilmer; in "Good Night, and Good Luck" with David Strathairn and George Clooney; and voiced the character of Patrick Pewterschmidt in the animated series "Family Guy". The following year, he appeared in the animated science fiction film "A Scanner Darkly" and as Paul Avery in the 2007 film