Review of Batman & Robin (1997) by Sidney S — 24 Aug 2013

The film that killed a franchise...Batman & Robin. Joel Schumacher the producer and director of what is considered a nightmare to us Batman fans. The lighter tone and flashy aspects of Batman Forever are kicked up x50.The film has no darker tones to it what so ever and it is a Batman film! It was corny, campy and filled with ridiculous ice puns, a brainless plot and deviates completely away from what Batman is supposed to be.

First of all, neon everywhere! We were introduced to the neon look of Gotham in Batman Forever which was tolerable now its just plain over kill the city looks like Times Square on MDMA. The film unlike its predecessors is not a character study at all its just straight forward campy, cartoon style and action that is clearly aimed at children... Which is not at all what Batman is supposed to be about. George Clooney dawns the cape and cowl and while he is an extremely talented actor and one of the best, the screenplay really didn't give him a chance to be a great Batman. George could have been an awesome Batman, he practically is the real life Bruce Wayne, the bachelor, the big celebrity etc. and I will say that his portrayal of Wayne one that is more experienced and all was very good, his Batman wasn't all that bad either but its the script that made him not as dark or haunting as Keaton or Kilmer's. O'Donnell this time around was annoying as Robin, constantly annoyed with being in the dark knight's shadow etc. Arnold Schwarzenegger....I really like Arnold, I've seen all of his movies but, he is no Mr. Freeze, I don't know maybe it was the screenplay again but he was way too corny, too cartoony...thats not even fair actually in the cartoon (BTAS) Freeze is a badass. Here he is only given ice puns to say and have a completely outrageous plot that doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Uma Thurman as Poison Ivy what happened? she was an Oscar nominated actress for Pulp Fiction and she was flat out cheesy as Ivy, sexy and dangerous yes, but very cheesy. The story of Batgirl was completely butchered, she is supposed to be the Commissioner's daughter, not Alfred's niece from Britain who doesn't have a British accent?

Those were many things wrong with the film. The film is a great spectacle of effects, I didn't mind the new Batmobile but the first two were better, the statue chase scene was quite good, the Alfred is dying subplot was actually pretty touching and emotional, the action scenes and set pieces to look at the costumes were also great (nipples aside) but its so outrageous that at times it doesn't even take itself seriously. Like Batman making public appearances at parties? seriously he's supposed to be a vigilante from the shadows.... an outlaw, a terrifying figure not a party guest? bidding on poison ivy? a bat CREDIT CARD? what the hell happened here...biggest complaint....Bane was completely eradicated as a character! They completely threw away what is no doubt one of the best Batman villains, a cold and calculating strategist and now as seen in the Dark Knight trilogy a terrorist, but here he is a mindless thug that is a complete idiot and is Poision Ivy's bitch.

In conclusion the once great Batman film series becomes a mindless cartoon geared towards kids the darkness that was meant to be Batman has disappeared and has transformed into a throwback to the 60's campy tv series. I am not knocking George Clooney I think given the chance he could have been great, I blame director Joel Schumacher, writer Akiva Goldsman and Warner Bros for creating this disaster they wanted to call a Batman movie. The reason I give a generous 2 stars is I have fond memories watching it as a kid and overall despite its ridiculousness it is fun to watch if you put your brain on sleep. In a way the film was a blessing because it indirectly gave us what is the greatest achievement in modern film with The Dark Knight Trilogy.