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*'''[[Elle MacPherson]]''' as '''[[Julie Madison]]''': The love interest of Bruce Wayne.
*'''[[Elle MacPherson]]''' as '''[[Julie Madison]]''': The love interest of Bruce Wayne.


(this is bullshit, please wikipedia, please put the article relevancy percent at the top of the page)




Revision as of 04:12, 4 April 2007

For the 1949 serial Batman and Robin, see Batman and Robin (serial).
Batman & Robin
Directed byJoel Schumacher
Written byAkiva Goldsman
Bob Kane (comic book)
Produced byPeter MacGregor-Scott
StarringGeorge Clooney
Chris O'Donnell
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Uma Thurman
Alicia Silverstone
CinematographyStephen Goldblatt
Edited byDennis Virkler
Mark Stevens
Distributed byWarner Bros.
Release dates
June 20, 1997
Running time
125 min.
LanguageEnglish
Budget$125,000,000

Batman & Robin is the fourth installment in the comic book-inspired film series initiated by Tim Burton, and the second directed by Joel Schumacher. Released in 1997, it starred George Clooney in his only appearance as Batman and Chris O'Donnell returning as Robin, and introduced Batgirl (Alicia Silverstone), a niece of Bruce Wayne's butler Alfred (Michael Gough). The villains in this movie are Poison Ivy, played by Uma Thurman, Mr. Freeze, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger (who received top billing for this film), and Bane, played by Jeep Swenson.

Cast


Response

The film was neither a critical[2] nor a financial success.[3] It was mocked for the poor script,[4] over-extending the campy attitude (comprised of smirky one-liners, blatantly ludicrous stunts,[5] and ultra loud sound effects) of its predecessor, Batman Forever.

In his review of the film, critic Leonard Maltin found that "the 'story' often makes no sense" and that the "action and effects are loud, gargantuan, and ultimately numbing."[citation needed] Author Mark S. Reinhart added by saying

The combination of Batman & Robin's terrible script, ridiculous costuming, garish sets, uninspired direction, etc. made the film into the appalling dump heap that it is.[6]

Michael J. Nelson, in Mike Nelson's Movie Megacheese, says

Batman & Robin is not the worst movie ever. No, indeed. It's the worst thing ever. Yes, it's the single worst thing that we as human beings have ever produced in recorded history.

Even director Joel Schumacher has admitted to not being proud of his work, despite any earlier statements to the contrary. Not only did Schumacher criticize the movie, but so did Batman & Robin executive producer Michael E. Uslan, who said

In my estimation - you're not making movies, you're making two hour infomercials for toys. And that's sad. Because, if a filmmaker is allowed to just go out and make a great film, I believe you will sell toys anyway.

[7]

On the Internet Movie Database, the film received nearly universal negative user reviews,[8] and in a MSN Movies article on superhero movies, the film was ranked as the worst to date.[9] In particular, criticism was heaped upon the design of the Batsuit, which, like in the previous film, features nipples, and the closeup shots of the caped crusaders while donning their costumes.

Published financial figures indicate that the movie was made on a budget of $125 million.[10] Batman & Robin opened at #3 at the box office, and had an opening weekend of $42 million, which were two of it's very few successes. However, overtime, it's popularity slipped, (possibly when put in competetion with The Lost World: Jurassic Park, another summer film, which became a huge financial success) and the film collected only $107 million domestically — less than any other Batman film — and $131 million abroad.[10] Studios usually expect summer movies — particularly those in a highly successful series — to earn more profit than that, and Warner Brothers temporarily suspended the series after four live-action films.

The film was derisively dubbed Batman on Ice by critics for a scene in which Batman and Robin inexplicably have retractable ice skates in their boots while battling Mr. Freeze's henchmen on an icy floor in the opening sequence.[11][12][13] George Clooney was himself severely embarrassed by the film, saying

I think we might have killed the franchise.

[14] Uma Thurman’s performance in the film received mainly negative reviews, and critics made comparisons between her and actress Mae West. The New York Times wrote about Thurman,

like Mae West, she mixes true femininity with the winking womanliness of a drag queen.

[15] A similar comparison was made by the Houston Chronicle:

Thurman, to arrive at a ’40s femme fatale, sometimes seems to be doing Mae West by way of Jessica Rabbit.

[16]

Legacy

The impact of this film was multifold. Joel Schumacher found his reputation all but ruined, and Warner Bros. was the focus of much derision for producing the film.

With the possible exception of Arnold Schwarzenegger, all the principal performers involved lost credibility for some time as serious actors. George Clooney has gone so far as to say that he will refund the money of any fan he meets who paid to see the movie. Another remark made by George Clooney regarding the film is that the film killed the franchise. However, Uma Thurman's career has since rebounded, thanks to roles in Kill Bill and The Producers. Clooney would make his major comeback in successful directing for Confessions of a Dangerous Mind and Good Night, and Good Luck, as well as starring in Three Kings, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Ocean's Eleven and its sequels, and finally winning the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Syriana.

Schumacher himself would return to grittier films, and eventually redeemed himself with the acclaimed Phone Booth and The Phantom of the Opera. Writer Akiva Goldsman would go on to write other flops like Lost in Space, before he rebounded with 2001's A Beautiful Mind, for which he received an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.

It has since been argued that the film's dismal failure was, in the long run, a boom for comic book films[citation needed], as the comedic angle taken to the source material by the makers of the film was so unpopular that other filmmakers would be encouraged to treat the source material with more reverence in their own films. This arguably ended the influence of the 1960s Batman television series' campy tone in favor of Richard Donner's more respectful approach to superheroes as with the first Christopher Reeve Superman movie. This attitude has led to successful and acclaimed film adaptations such as Blade (1998), X-Men (2000), Spider-Man (2002), Batman Begins (2005) and Superman Returns (2006).

Batman & Robin marked the end of the Tim Burton/Joel Schumacher era of movies. Likely due to the film's poor reception, all future Batman movies were cancelled, and the franchise was put on hiatus for nearly eight years. A new Batman franchise was launched in 2005, with Batman Begins, a darker film that was both critically and financially successful ($366 million worldwide gross as of 09/04/2005),[17] with no continuity to Burton's and Schumacher's movies. George Clooney did not participate in the project and was succeeded by the much-younger Christian Bale, who was widely praised for his portrayal of both Bruce Wayne and his alter ego.

On October 18, 2005, Warner Bros. released a new deluxe DVD for the movie with commentary by Schumacher. The commentary has gotten attention for Schumacher's candid comments on how he was forced to put in gadgets for the toy companies to make, his confession that he went too far trying to make the movie kid-friendly, but none the less defended script-writer Akiva Goldsman saying: "If you don't like the film, blame the director."

Soundtrack

Despite the overwhelming negative publicity the film received, its soundtrack became very popular and was well received.[citation needed] The soundtrack included songs by R. Kelly, Arkarna, Jewel, Goo Goo Dolls, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and The Smashing Pumpkins, whose song The End is the Beginning is the End rolled over the movie's closing credits. Three songs from the soundtrack became top-ten hits in the United States; Jewel's contribution, a radio-mix version of Foolish Games, as well as Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's Look Into My Eyes and R. Kelly's Gotham City. There was never an official release of Elliot Goldenthal's score to the film, aside from the brief suite on the song album, but bootleg copies are in fairly wide circulation.

Track listing

  1. The Smashing Pumpkins - The End Is the Beginning Is the End (5:08)
  2. Bone Thugs-N-Harmony - Look Into My Eyes (4:28)
  3. R. Kelly - Gotham City (4:56)
  4. Arkarna - House On Fire (3:24)
  5. R.E.M. - Revolution (3:04)
  6. Jewel - Foolish Games (4:00)
  7. Goo Goo Dolls - Lazy Eye (3:46)
  8. Lauren Christy - Breed (3:05)
  9. Soul Coughing - The Bug (3:09)
  10. Moloko - Fun For Me (5:08)
  11. Me'shell Ndegeocello - Poison Ivy (3:33)
  12. Eric Benét - True To Myself (4:41)
  13. Elliot Goldenthal - A Batman Overture (3:35)
  14. Underworld - Moaner (10:17)
  15. The Smashing Pumpkins - The Beginning Is The End Is The Beginning (4:58)

Sequel

Originally, Joel Schumacher was slated to direct the fifth installment in the franchise, with George Clooney and Chris O'Donnell reprising their roles as the Dynamic Duo, but after the failure of Batman and Robin, things were no longer certain. Rumors have indicated that both Keaton and Kilmer may have been approached to reprise their roles.[18]

Many different scripts for Batman 5 were produced, but the two most notable ones were called Batman: Triumphant and Batman: Darknight. Details for each are relatively hard to come by, however Batman: Darknight had preproduction art produced. The script for the film was authored by scribes Lee Shapiro and Stephen Wise, utilizing the Scarecrow and Man-Bat as the villains.[19] The script for Batman: Triumphant was authored by Mike Protosevich, and it featured Harley Quinn (the daughter of the Joker out for revenge) and the Scarecrow as the villains.[20]

As far as other rumors go, Jack Nicholson was rumored to reprise his role as The Joker from the 1989 original resurrected in a cameo appearance as a nightmarish hallucination induced by The Scarecrow's toxin. The film would be set in the Burton/Schumacher continuity and take place several years after the events of Batman & Robin. Rumors claimed Steve Buscemi was considered for The Scarecrow. Also, Madonna was considered for Harley Quinn.[21] Schumacher later shot down the Howard Stern rumor despite Stern's interest in the role telling Entertainment Weekly[citation needed]

I wish him the best of luck with his acting endeavors, but I'm not considering him for any of my films.

The film was slated for a 1999 release, but when Batman & Robin flopped out with both the critics and box office, Warner Bros. scrapped it along with any other possible sequels.

On the 2005 DVD Special Edition of Batman & Robin, Joel Schumacher stated that after two films, he didn't have it in him to make a third Batman movie. The studio and the director felt the franchise needed a rest.

Home video

Batman & Robin was released on VHS and Laserdisc in October 1997. Batman & Robin was given a "bare bones" DVD release in 1997. The main menu featured background music whist the only extra feature was a synopsis of the film. However, in 2005, the newest feature film, Batman Begins, caused Warner Bros. to release a two-disc special edition set of all four Burton-Schumacher films in Batman: The Motion Picture Anthology 1989-1997.[22][23]

References

  1. ^ http://movies.monstersandcritics.com/news/printer_1134319.php
  2. ^ "Batman & Robin". Metacritic. Retrieved June 20. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ Box Office Mojo
  4. ^ Read the Script Online
  5. ^ We've already discussed the garish appearance and homoerotic overtones of the Schumacher Batman films, but there is one other element worth mentioning: the over-the-top stunts. We've always had to suspend our disbelief when it comes to Batman, but these last two movies have totally abandoned the pretense that Batman is a normal human. Witness the skyboarding of the last movie (obviously, you can survive a fall from the upper atmosphere if you have a board below your feet), Robin's hanging onto the outside of a rocket or Batman leaping from a skyscraper and making absolutely no effort to break his fall.
  6. ^ "The Burton/Schumacher Series," Part 2
  7. ^ "The Burton/Schumacher Series," Part 2
  8. ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118688/usercomments?filter=best
  9. ^ MSN Movies
  10. ^ a b "Batman and Robin". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved June 20. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ Bond, Jeff. Batman on Ice!. Film Score Monthly. June 27, 1997. Retrieved June 20, 2005.
  12. ^ Rainer, Peter. Batman on ice. Dallas Observer. June 19, 1997. Retrieved June 20, 2005.
  13. ^ "Batman & Robin". Austin Chronicle. June 20, 1997. Retrieved June 20, 2005.
  14. ^ "Batman and Robin". Boston Globe. Retrieved May 17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ Janet Maslin. New York Times review, Batman and Robin. 20 June 1997. Retrieved 7 February 2006.
  16. ^ Jeff Millar. If you like them busy, this “Batman” is for you. Houston Chronicle. 19 June 1997. Retrieved 6 April 2006
  17. ^ Metacritic - Batman Begins
  18. ^ "Batman 5 News". Batman on Film. Retrieved February 15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  19. ^ "Rumblings from Gotham". IGN. Retrieved February 15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ "Interview: Lee Shapiro". Batman on Film. Retrieved February 15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  21. ^ http://www.moviemansguide.com/reviews/2005/batmanbegins_mrwhite.php
  22. ^ Batman: The Motion Picture Anthology 1989 - 1997
  23. ^ The Special Features of the Batman Movie Anthology
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