Jones is asked why he goes on acting when it would appear he's happier in the real saddle:' The simple answer is it seemed liked fun. The complicate answer is it has to do with an enjoyment of and a necessity for a vital imagination. But I'm not that analytical. I'll stick with the simple answer. It's fun.'

Which is, he says, what 'Batman Forever' is all about.

There are all sorts of freaky and weird gadgets used by the same sort of characters. Jones talks of Harvey Two-Face like jut another other member of his repertory. He's simply ' Harvey '. And Jones/ Harvey like the movie:' The Batmobile drives into a wall and straight up it. I think that's pretty cool.'

'Arch' and now 'cool'. Another Budweiser? But Jones is wary of some items:' I don't want anything to do with the machine that robs people's brain waves. It transfers them directly to Edward NIgma's ( that's The Riddler's ) brain. I don't want that in my toy box.

'Acting silly and villainous was fun -- and playing this strange character especially jumping around with Jim Carrey.

'One day you're jumping out of the helicopter into an airbag. The next day a big steel ball is crashing through the wall. The next day you're speeding down an alley towards some blazing car crash. At other times your character is impersonating an old homeless lady pushing a shopping cart with a baby in it. I mean, pick any day. It was a lot of fun. Really.'

Nicole Kidman (aka Mrs Tom Cruise) changes style from a leggy redhead to a leggy blonde to play Batman's 'love interest' Dr Chase Meridian. The busty (it's a Wonderbra) doctor finds herself filling the space between Batman and Robin. Well, what is the relationship between Batman and the Boy Wonder?

'All I know is they're both terribly cute -- and I'm jealous as hell of whatever is going on between them.'

Jones' view:' I think it's Socratic. Batman is the teacher, leader. And Robin is a good student. Yeah, I think it's a very decent, all-American relationship.'

'Batman Forever' is expected to make something more than $400 million dollars at the box office. The expectation is that big. There will be pots of millions more from marketing including everything from Harvey Two-Face dolls to a fast food franchise link-up.

That, of course is, fun too for Jones.

He's more glee than threatening about that. And there will be a 'Batman 4' and he would like to be part of it:' I hope Harvey 's back, the Riddler's back. I hope all the villains are back. I feel certain that good will triumph over evil even if they are coming back. That's all I can say.'

So, in 'Batman Forever' what you see is, like Chinatown , not always as it seem? Jones does not reveal secrets except to say:' I want to play Two-Face in the next Batman.'

These days Tommy Lee Jones tends to have his wishes granted. And it can only be a bonus for the producers. He's safe hands.

Bill Wittliff was the writer-producer of 'Lonesome Dove' which was an enormous logistical undertaking. He recalled:' Tommy Lee is somebody you could trust with with anything. There is a saying in Texas : "He'll do to ride the river with." That's Tommy Lee.

'Smooth water, rough water, you can depend on him.'

Hollywood 's diving rod has got that message.

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