The Official Batman & Robin Thread

Freeze constantly made bad jokes and had no depth, and Robin was 25. This movie sucked, and has no redeeming qualities.

 

"You're not sending me to the cooler"

"Sing, sing!"

 

It has 2.

1. It ended.
2. Shumacher apologized for it.

 

It's an atrocious film and I love it. In fact, I watch it once a month, and it never ceases to cheer me up.

 

I watch B&R over the Adam West series any day. Some people say this is the "wrong kind of camp", but they don't know what they're talking about. It's fun, hilarious, and the visuals are awesome.

 

Its funny the guy that played Bane died shortly after the films release because he overdosed on some sort of steroids.

 

I always say Im gonna sit down and watch B&R, but every time I put it on I can never get more than 30 minutes into it.

 

and ppl thought he was gay.

 

It was a good film, not the best of the series though.

 

I am the exact same way, usually right after the part with the shuttle... I have to turn it off.

 

Redeeming qualities:

1: Michael Gough

Finest performance in the film, and his best of the series.

2: Pat Hingle

Might not have done much, but still welcome to see him.

3: Elle Macpherson

Might not have done much, but still welcome to see her (wink, wink)

4: More Batman Mythos

Nolan might be doing it now, but Schumacher was the first (both in BF and B&R) to introduce key elements of the mythology, such as Wayne Enterprises and Arkham Asylum. And, IMO, Schumacher's Arkham (visually) kicks the ass of Nolan's Arkham.

5: A Message of Family

Is it forced? Absolutely. Is it important? Absolutely.

6: Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy and Bane in the Flesh

Burton wouldn't have done it...Nolan won't do it...Through Schumacher's films we were finally given big budget live action versions of Mr. Freeze (yes I know he was in the 60's series, but still) Poison Ivy and Bane. Quality is arguable, especially with Bane...but it's still cool to see a live action rendition.

7: Paul Dini's "Freeze" Origin.

It was one thing in the TAS episode 'Heart of Ice' for producer/writer Paul Dini to create this fantastic new origin for Mr. Freeze. It's another for it to be so completely amazing that the live action realm embrace it. So add "Live Action Nora Fries" to the list from number 6.

8: A Bat Film for Kids

Contrary to belief, Children make up the bulk of the fanbase, and I'm with Joel...I don't see the harm in giving the kid-fans a Batman movie of their very own.

9: Cinematography
10: Costume Design
11: Visual Effects
12: Editing
13: Production Design
14: Sound Design
15: Score

Because despite the arguement over the literal and creative side of the film, NO ONE can argue that for what it is, it's a film that was well put together.

----

CFE

 

For sure, CFE.

 

Well, Joel has stated repeatedly that he wanted a dark Batfilm. The fact that he returned knowing that B&R would be a kiddies film doesn't persuade me that he wanted to give kids a Batfilm of their own, but that he wanted the paycheck.

Despite that, I agree with all the redeeming qualities, except for editing. I found it semi-professional at best. Plus, some of the shots were VERY odd and looked amateurish (see Freeze's gun flying on top of a statue in the Museum, or when he grabs the vine to get to the diamond during the charity ball attack. Just... bad).

 

I knew of Joel's interest to do a 'Year One' style film, but that's not what Warners hired him for. So given the job he had to do, he did it well, did what Warners wanted...and in retrospect, even though he would've prefered going darker given his work on 'Lost Boys' and 'Flatliners,' I'm sure once he got into the spirit of 'Batman & Robin' he didn't see what trouble it would do to go brighter for the kids.

Next, I think factors like the gun flying onto the statue and Freeze's uncanny ability to fly at the diamond auction fall under the category of 'Stunt Work' which even I'll admit was shotty, ranging from Practical Effects Stunts to Wire Work...and thusly why I didn't include it to the list of filmmaking factors.

And I do agree with a handful of questionable shots...the reversed shot of Robin coming up from the water and then back down during the final fight with Ivy comes to mind right away.

CFE

 

Stunt Work... Fair enough. And yes, I forgot that shot of Robin from the Ivy fight.

It's just strange, since BF was well shot and B&R suffered from problems like those. If I remember correctly, BF was one of the highest grossers of '95.

 

$184,031,112 domestically for 'BF'

I know it was in the Top 5 for the year.

CFE

 

Well, what the hell where they thinking in B&R?
Had it not been for those problems, I'd have actually enjoyed B&R more than BF (believe it or not).

 

I agree with everything you have stated. I especially am in agreement with Arkhman Asylum.

 

It's entertaining, and it does have a few redeeming elements, namely the family elements, Alfred's role, and some of Bruce's interaction with Alfred. And yes, the movie did include much more of the mythology than any previous film did. Most of the stunts and action were pretty well done. It's pretty much just pure entertainment in the vein of the 40's, 50's and 60's Batman comics. I don't think "good" and "bad" apply to it, though it was clearly a leap in the "wrong" direction.

I maintain that the Batman franchise could have been salvaged after this. Just like the comics, Batman had a dark period of films, then lightened up, and he could have gone back to being a darker character. I wrote a sequel to BATMAN & ROBIN a long time ago called BATMAN TRIUMPHANT that featured The Scarecrow and made an attempt to take the lighthearted franchise back in a darker direction.

 

Its funny you guys say you cant get past the film after the first 30 minutes, I can watch the whole thing and laugh my ass off the whole time. I remember how dissapointed I was after seeing it in the theaters, I was in 8th grade so the content was a little childish for me to take serious.