Heroes. Villains. Triple threat.
Batman & Robin is a 1997 superhero film directed by Joel Schumacher, written by Akiva Goldsman, produced by Warner Bros., and distributed by Warner Bros.. The film is based off of various Batman comics by Bill Finger and Bob Kane. It stars George Clooney and Chris O'Donnell. It was not nominated for any Academy Awards. This is the fifth film in the Batman franchise, although the fourth and final film in the Burton/Schumacher quadrilogy. It was preceded by Batman Forever and followed by Batman Begins.
"What killed the dinosaurs? The Ice Age!" - Mr. Freeze
Plot
When a new villain named Mr. Freeze shows up in Gotham looking to launch the city in eternal winter, Batman and Robin must fight once again, this time watching out for the seductive Poison Ivy as well.
My Favorite Part of Batman & Robin
The final shot and production design are cool. And I didn't hate the plot line with Alfred.
My Least Favorite Part of Batman & Robin
Everything else. The acting. The writing. The story. The action. The characters. Batman & Robin is considered to be one of the worst films ever made, and for good reason. It doesn't understand Batman, Robin, Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy, Batgirl, or any of the other characters. It's excessive goofiness is cringe-worthy and feels so awkward. The plot and scenes simply aren't cohesive and make for a relatively boring experience. The dialogue is either extremely juvenile with all fo these puns or ridiculously over-the-top and Shakespearean. This movie sucks. I don't have a least favorite part. Pretty much everything is bad.
Why Batman & Robin Doesn't Work
The cardinal problem with this movie is Joel Schumacher's direction. The reason everything is bad is because of his direction. Yes, Akiva Goldsman's screenplay doesn't really do Schumacher any favors, but he just makes these characters seem so stupid. George Clooney and Uma Thurman are world-class actors, but they are atrocious in this film. And it's because Schumacher simply did not know how to direct them correctly. I give him props for the last shot. But everything else is just abysmal. Chris O'Donnell said that when he was making Batman Forever, he felt like he was making a movie. When he made Batman & Robin, he said he felt like he was making a toy commercial. And that statement pretty much sums up this film.
Final Score
Batman & Robin is a viewing experience I hope to never have again. It's easily one of the worst movies ever made.
I'm going Moldy here. Age range is 5+.
SWEET N' SOUR SCALE
Sweet (Great) Savory (Good)
Sour (Bad)
Moldy (Terrible)
"Batman & Robin"
Fun Factor: 3/10
Acting: 1.5/10
Characters: 1.5/10
Story: 0.5/10
Quality: 1/10
Directed by Joel Schumacher
Rated PG-13 for superhero violence and action, sexual content, thematic elements
Released on June 20, 1997
2 hours and 5 minutes
George Clooney as Bruce Wayne / Batman
Chris O'Donnell as Dick Grayson / Robin
Arnold Schwarzenegger as Victor Fries / Mr. Freeze
Uma Thurman as Pamela Isley / Poison Ivy
Alicia Silverstone as Barbara Wilson / Batgirl
Michael Gough as Alfred Pennyworth
Pat Hingle as Commissioner James Gordon
John Glover as Dr. Jason Woodrue / Floronic Man
Elle Macpherson as Julie Madison
Robert Swanson as Antonio Diego / Bane
Vendela Kirsebom as Nora Fries
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