Batman and Robin must stop Mr. Freeze and Poison Ivy from
freezing all of Gotham and starting life anew with plants. ACTION/CRIME/SCI-FI
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Batman & Robin (1997)Directed by Joel Schumacher
Written by Akiva Goldsman Starring George Clooney, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chris O'Donnell, Uma Thurman, Alicia Silverstone, Michael Gough, Pat Hingle, Jeep Swenson, John Glover Sequel to 1995's Batman Forever Based on characters from DC Comics |
Not many movies can claim the mantle of "so bad, it's good." Batman & Robin is one of those movies. Mr. Freeze is by far the most laughable movie villain in recent history, combined with Clooney's monotone and phoned-in Batman that does nothing for the movie. Not to mention Robin and his ungodly dedication to whining about EVERYTHING. There are very few saving graces in this movie, if any.
I've never seen more A-list actors collectively suck before. George Clooney is terrible. Ah-nold is terrible. Uma Thurman is terrible. It's like every actor decided to do their absolute worst. I do, however, think that Michael Gough continues to do his very best as Alfred, continuing to establish continuity with the Burton films (though at this point, continuity errors are the least of this film's problems). Still, it's criminal what the screenwriter did to Bane, turning a hulking genius into a giant mentally retarded mute. I hate how this film destroys some of my favorite Batman villains and even kills the image of the big man himself (Bat-nipples, anybody?). Batman & Robin killed any hope for the franchise for years until Christopher Nolan gave it a chance. It's fun to watch for laughs but as a Batman film, it's beyond a travesty. If you're a fan of cheap, nonsensical one-liners and violations of the laws of physics, you probably still won't enjoy this film. |
There have been many things said about the infamous final installment in the original series, Batman & Robin. The film that singlehandedly killed the franchise for years to come, at least until Batman Begins was released in 2005. It has been panned by critics and fans alike, going on to being considered one of the worst superhero films of all time. I fully agree with everyone else, with the only enjoyment being the laughter this film elicits from being so bad.
As my fellow reviewer stated, there has never been a film that seems to feature an A-list who all collectively suck in their roles. George Clooney is the least impressive Batman/Bruce Wayne to grace the screen. Chris O'Donnell is beyond annoying in his returning role of Robin/Dick Grayson. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Uma Thurman are the least convincing villains as Mr. Freeze and Poison Ivy, respectively. The script doesn't help matters, either. Instead of featuring any actual lines of dialogue, it is nothing but bad one-liners and puns. The weird art direction also continues in this installment, as Gotham City looks less like a city and more like its own planet. Of everything this film does wrong, the worst os what it does to iconic comic villain Bane. Whereas in the comic he is a brutal, highly intelligent killer; he is a mentally challenged idiot. Trust me, the Bat-nipples may be infamously known, but what they did to Bane can never be forgiven. The only thing Batman & Robin has going for it is Michael Gough's performance as loyal butler Alfred, continuing to be the one good thing in this series. Other than that, if you're looking for a good laugh, then this film is right up your alley. It's not only a horrible Batman film, but a horrible film in general. Like I said, watching the badness does at least give you a good laugh. |