Batman & Robin (aka the movie that ended the first Batman movie series) (Exclusive Series) (Hulu)
- Matt Palmer
- Mar 7, 2022
- 2 min read
Initial release date: June 20, 1997
Studio: Warner Bros.
Plot: This superhero adventure finds Batman and his partner, Robin, attempting to foil the sinister schemes of a deranged set of new villains, most notably the melancholy Mr. Freeze, who wants to make Gotham into an arctic region, and the sultry Poison Ivy, a plant loving femme fatale. As the Dynamic Duo contends with these bad guys, a third hero, Batgirl, joins the ranks of the city’s crime fighters.
Cast
Arnold Schwarzenegger - Mr. Freeze/Dr. Victor Fries
George Clooney - Batman/Bruce Wayne
Chris O’Donnell - Robin/Dick Grayson
Uma Thurman - Poison Ivy/Dr. Pamela Isley
Alicia Silverstone - Batgirl/Barbara Wilson
Michael Gough - Alfred
Pat Hingle - Gordon
John Glover - Dr. Jason Woodrue
Elle Macpherson - Julie Madison
Vivica A. Fox - Ms. B. Haven
Vendela Kirseborn - Nora Fries
Jeep Swenson - Bane
Writer: Akiva Goldsman
Director: Joel Schumacher
Rated PG-13 for strong stylized action and some innuendos (125 minutes)
Now, it’s time to get on with ‘Batman & Robin,’ the ‘Batman’ movie that ended the original movie series (1989-1997).
After giving the fourth movie another try, there are a few parts (and very few at that) that can be slightly entertaining. Some of the action sequences are cool to watch and visually can be great.
Now, with ‘Batman Forever,’ the filmmakers did a good job blending the very slight campy/silly feel and darkness to appease both audiences (the younger audience and the people who enjoyed the two Burton movies). And, I thought that it worked out well for the most part. If they did that for this movie, it could’ve actually been decent. But, instead, the whole movie - well, most of it, is really campy and silly and kinda ruined the movie a bit.
The younger audience (mainly kids) may enjoy this movie since the filmmakers actually added in some cartoon sound effects to a few of the action bits. But, for the die-hard fans of the series, they might not like it.
All four of the ‘Batman’ movies (Batman; Batman Returns; Batman Forever; Batman & Robin) are available on the Hulu streaming platform.
Here are a few interesting tidbits for ‘Batman & Robin’:
In later interviews, Schumacher blamed studio pressure to make the movie more “toyetic” (i.e. a showcase for marketable toys and games). In a “making of” documentary on the DVD, he apologized to disappointed fans.
George Clooney had been known to refund people who saw the movie.
If not for the universally negative reaction to the movie from critics and fans, two sequels were planned. ‘Batman Unchained,’ a direct sequel, would go back to its dark roots and have Scarecrow and Harley Quinn be the villains, with cameos from past villains in the series appearing as hallucinations due to the Scarecrow’s fear gas. The other sequel would’ve been a Robin/Nightwing spin-off.
With the box office success of 1995s ‘Batman Forever in June 1995, WB immediately commissioned a sequel. They decided it was best to fast track production for a June 1997 target release date, which is a break from the usual three year gap between movies.
Ed Harris, Anthony Hopkins and Patrick Stewart were considered for the role of Mr. Freeze.
‘Batman & Robin’ was released domestically on June 20, 1997, earning $43 million in its opening weekend. The movie declined by 63% in its second week; it faced early competition with ‘Face/Off,’ ‘Hercules’ and ‘Men in Black.’
Comments