I remember the first time I saw the teaser trailer for this sometime at the end of '96 or early '97 (possibly when I went to see Star Wars: Special Edition). I had never been so excited over a movie in my life. When I rented it in October '97, I hated it. Now, I have mixed feelings. While it is a HUGE step down from the highly entertaining first three, it still maintains some of that primitive entertainment value.
The performances, the story, and the dialogue are all embarrassingly amateurish. George Clooney mugs like he's doing a bad Bruce Willis impression, the plot is jam-packed with dozens of illogical subplots (most of which go nowhere), and the dialogue is full of some real howlers. Some instances are just laughable: Barbara Wilson's eighty-year-old "mother," the rewind-editing shot of Robin raising his head from Ivy's pond (no pun intended), and the flapping ice on the car at the end. I could see why this is considered the next-generation Plan 9 from Outer Space.
But I always get a kick out of it. The outlandish action sequences, the garish visuals, and the "event movie" tone of it all. Batman & Robin is a big, dumb film, and it knows it...I think. The best part comes at the end, when Alfred declares "We're going to need a bigger cave." That's fine, because I'm going to need more popcorn.
I give this 2 stars for one reason: Uma Thurman was dead on as Poison Ivy. That's about it.
Everything about this movie was god awful, otherwise. Clooney couldn't do Batman, Chris O'Donnell never worked as Robin in the first place, Ah-nuld reminded me too much of the 60's Batman version of Mr. Freeze, and Bane was a joke. Alicia Silverstone was a waste as well. Schumacher wanted to go back to the 1960's Batman while everyone else wanted more of the Burton/Frank Miller style Batman.
Here's hoping that Batman Begins puts this movie to sleep, finally.
Originally posted by fafhrd I give this 2 stars for one reason: Uma Thurman was dead on as Poison Ivy. That's about it.
Everything about this movie was god awful, otherwise..... Alicia Silverstone was a waste as well. Schumacher wanted to go back to the 1960's Batman......
Here's hoping that Batman Begins puts this movie to sleep, finally.
Fafhrd
Dude, you act as if you think something is wrong with the 1960s Batman? After seing both Keaton films, I say they went too far in making the character dark and grim. Sure he was never meant to be some cheerful guy walking in the park on a sunny day, but too much gothic influence came close to ruining the franchise. That is why Batman Forever is considered the best of the four "modern" films.
And even if Batman Begins is leaning more towards a darker interpretation, that really has little to do with the 1997 film being buried, as you call it. Yes, the movie does have its fan base, and I am one of those fans who found the light hearted moments and one-liners to be a welcome change from the Keaton era.
And I do agree this film has a lot of similiarities with the Adam West version, and again I ask, what is wrong with that?
Actually most people I come across consider Batman Returns to be the best Batman movie. Just for some reason a loud minority prefer Kilmer's Batman character.
__________________ I know who I am! I'm the dude playing a dude, disguised as another dude!
Originally posted by Tay Actually most people I come across consider Batman Returns to be the best Batman movie....
That may be true in your circle, but not mine. Batman Returns was the worst in the series. The Penguin was the stuff of nightmares and the movie was too dark. Having an angst filled movie with characters all living their own private torments does not a good film make. Even if it is Batman.
There are those who can remember when Batman was about something more important to society than a haunted man tormented by everything he does in life. The Batman was about honor, justice and compassion. The Batman I remember believed in people and that they could change.
The two Keaton movies were made at a time when angst was the order of the day, along with Nirvana and other alternative grunge music. That day is long over, or it should be.
Hopefully the new movie will not make the same mistakes as those entries did. Batman can be grim and still fun at the same time, as proven by George Clooney's version of the role.
Originally posted by BruceWayne Hopefully the new movie will not make the same mistakes as those entries did. Batman can be grim and still fun at the same time, as proven by George Clooney's version of the role.
Just when you thought the world had lost it's sense of humour!
__________________ I know who I am! I'm the dude playing a dude, disguised as another dude!
Originally posted by BruceWayne There are those who can remember when Batman was about something more important to society than a haunted man tormented by everything he does in life. The Batman was about honor, justice and compassion. The Batman I remember believed in people and that they could change.
There are those who can remember when Batman was about something more important to society than honor, justice and compassion. The Batman I remember believed in "Trusty Bat-Poison-Antidote!" and "Holy camp overload, Robin. To the Bat-poles!".
Gimme a break
__________________ I know who I am! I'm the dude playing a dude, disguised as another dude!
Anyway, I love 1 and 3 (one is one of my favorite movies period), I'll watch 2, but I don't love it, and I despise 4 with a passion. However, my personal feelings asside, most people I know love them in order of their release, with huge jumps of love between each. From practically worshiping 1 to using the script of 4 as toilet paper.
And the 89 movie didn't make Batman gothic, his reinvention in the 80s did.
I hate to attack an opinin but wait.. no I don't. (insert humor detector here)
Anybody who thinks the old Adam West show and Batman and Robin is how Batman should be is either an escaped mental patient or Dick Grayson's love child.
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