Trying to recap the storyline underscores how much gets crammed into the pic’s two hours. Yet while Schumacher has largely accomplished the goal of delivering a cinematic comic book, he’s also left the movie hollow at its core - a distinction that may not trouble Saturday-night audiences but that nonetheless dulls the film’s impact beyond its sheer and unrelenting visual grandeur. Taking the reins from producer Tim Burton, director Joel Schumacher provides a visual style at times more reminiscent of “Dick Tracy” than Burton’s “Batman” in its explosions of vibrant color.Those hues signify a conscious decision to make this third adventure more light-hearted and humorous. In the resulting mayhem, some may wistfully recall the relatively modest Batman/Joker chords running parallel through the first movie - still the best of the lot. Such a glut of above-the-title stars presents a major creative challenge - what with juggling two villains while introducing Robin and a femme lead - and the strain shows. Casting has cleverly been calibrated to attract certain demographic constituents: Jim Carrey providing his brand of lunacy for juveniles, Chris O’Donnell solidifying his teen heartthrob credentials, adult love interest Nicole Kidman, and Tommy Lee Jones as a bad guy more recognizable to older folks.

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