The Batman & Robin appreciation thread

[enyawd72]

What can be said about the most hated bat-film of all time?

I love it. There. I said it. Mr. Freeze singing the Snow Miser song, Commissioner Gordon getting dumped by Poison Ivy, Batman's credit card, Robin getting tossed in a vat of mint ice cream...I love it all. Honestly I don't know how any fan of the 66 show can NOT like this film. It's the TV show with a blockbuster budget thrown at it.
It's so ridiculous, colorful and over-the-top it's just too much fun. I never get tired of watching it. It does have some really cool moments, and I just love Freeze's costume.

[madmarva]

It really was a big budget version of the TV show, but not executed as well, imo. I think the expectation among comic fans was for a more serious tone, or at least a tone that more closely resembled the comics or even the cartoons of the day.

As for the general public, I'm not sure it was nostalgic enough about the camp craze of the 60s to care much about it reliving it.

But, I don't think I've watched it again since seeing it in the theater. With a little distance and no expectations, I might find it more fun and less painful, lol.

[Earth 2 Chris]

Yeah, but it's DUMB. The 66 series was cleverly written, this is not. The cast and crew were totally on board with the "play it so straight it's funny" approach to the TV series. George Clooney apologized for the movie. That means he didn't get it. It shows.

Plus, it's just lazy. Structurally, it's a beat-for-beat remake of the previous film, Batman Forever, with Schumacher let loose to go nuts with his over-the-top flare.

It's fun to pick at, but that's about it.

Chris

[palitoy]

My kid enjoyed it, so i purchased the VHS for him many moons ago.

I had no problems with Batman Forever dipping it's toes into the camp pool after the overly gothic nature of "Returns" but this one doesn't work for me. It could have been a lot of fun but Clooney is no West.

[Hedji]

I love camp. Love it. I enjoyed this film first time I saw it. But then after subsequent viewings I found it is headache inducing. It is a LOUD film. I think it has something to do with the score. Goldenthal does this blaring high trumpet warble that really hits a nerve. Ultimately, I don't come back to this one much.

[jimsmegos]

I have tried to like this film numerous times but it always ends up on the negative side. The look is fun but the acting is so terrible by all parties and the story is just stupid. Not campy, stupid. The biggest point of it being terrible for me is the way they handled or should I say slaughtered Batgirl. Alfred's niece?

[warlock664]

This movie was so bad, I nearly got up and left the theater halfway through it. I haven't revisited it since that initial screening, and I can't imagine ever wanting to. I said the same thing at the time about it being a big screen update of the TV show:it wasn't a compliment then, and it isn't now (though I do appreciate the TV show out of nostalgia). Joel Schumacher nearly destroyed the superhero movie genre.

[Nostalgiabuff]

I can't watch this one either, but I will say, the kids always love it. my little girl loved this one because it had Poison Ivy and batgirl. she watched my VHS copy many, many times

[jwyblejr]

I can't believe I'm saying this but I liked this version of Bane better than Nolan's version.

[EMCE Hammer]

I didn't even remember Bane was in it.

[Earth 2 Chris]

Neither Bane is close to the comics, although I think the DKR version was a bit closer. Either way, Chuck Dixon and Graham Nolan got nice checks out of both flicks.

Chris

[palitoy]

Neither Bane is close to the comics, although I think the DKR version was a bit closer. Either way, Chuck Dixon and Graham Nolan got nice checks out of both flicks.

I remember reading how they were treated really well.

Bane provides a few laughs in the film, although I guess the character isn't supposed to be a moron.

[Earth 2 Chris]

^I actually got to attend one of Dixon's famous "Dixonverse Dinners" in Chicago back in 2005. Dixon said the movie was horrible, but it bought him a house, so there you go.

Chris

[jds1911a1]

I can't believe I'm saying this but I liked this version of Bane better than Nolan's version.

I'll give you that but for me it's like a comparison of hitting a thumb with a hammer or smashing a finger in the car door I don't really like either experience

I love batman 66, I found batman forever bad and Batman and Robin was terrible. Sorry but Arnold's freeze wasn't nearly as good as George Sanders let alone the campy over the top Otto Preminger performance. I guess he was better than the recently departed Eli Wallach

A prime example that effects and villain massing can't make up for a poor story, kind of like Spiderman3 and Amazing Spiderman 2

[PNGwynne]

I guess [Arnold] was better than the recently departed Eli Wallach.

Wha!? That's just crazy talk!

Seriously, though, I loathe B&R, which is bizarre I guess because I love the TV show so much. Nothing in it worked for me--not the "story", casting, art direction or costumes.

I do see how it could be perceived as a '66 redux, but for me it lacked homor and style--it crossed that fine line between camp & kitsch.

And gods, Batgirl was awful.