Batman & Robin (1997) Review

A review of the 1997 superhero film, Batman & Robin, directed by Joel Schumacher and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, George Clooney, Uma Thurman, and Chris O'Donnell. (Part of my Batman series of reviews leading up to the release of The Dark Knight Rises on July 20, 2012.)

[lucasmdunker]

I happen to love this movie. I love all the Batman films and people need to stop critisizing everything. 

[PAlNRAISER]

Batman and Robin, if you wanna look at it this way, saved Batman Forever. I remember Forever being a horrible twist on the saga when Schumacher took over. I went back to watch the first 3 together but there is no way in the darkest depths of hell am I wasting an hour and a half of my life again on Batman and Robin. HO-LEE-SHIT did that movie SUCK!

[mediaassault]

I grew up with the Batman series and I loved the movie with the cast of the show. The difference is that Batman and Robin is part of a series that came from a dark beginning. The shift in tone should have marked either the start of a new series or a reboot. As a continuation of what Tim Burton started, this has to be compared with the darker movies. Movies don't have to be serious but this series was never this ridiculous.

[glx]

I loved this film! it's one of my favourites

[clownprince]

One last one for now, in B and R, Alfred has a discussion with Wayne about mortality and how even Wayne's assumed persona of Batman cannot cheat death .

That was a highly effective and emotional scene but in the context of the entire movie it's wasted because for every affecting moment or exchange there is another that negates it .

The two Schu films have a good number of these moments but his penchant for flamboyance undermined his efforts, they also make his two films very entertaining :)

[mediaassault]

Indeed. The henchmen in this film were ridiculous too. I didn't even mention Bane in my review...ugh.

[cobycss]

I'll agree with Batman and Robin. But, I question your hate for this movie. You said you hated the movie, you said it was painful to watch, its almost unwatchable but,  you bought on blu ray? Actions speak louder than words.

[TimeisReel]

I liked it, was fun and campy like TV Series...

[ween]

Batman 1960's version: 4/5
Batman '89: 4, 5/5
Batman Returns: 3, 5/5
Batman Forever: 2/5
Batman And Robin: 0/5
Batman Begins: 5/5
The Dark Knight: 5/5
The Dark Knight Rises: 5/5

[clownprince]

Saying all that, i enjoy both films for slightly different reasons, if anything at least Schu went totally bonkers with his second effort, a masterpiece of flamboyant excess. As a Batman film existing in the iconic character's universe it's a total failure as a what the hell were they thinking curiosity and a pure visual and audio feast, it's terrific .

The Dts soundtrack on the B and R blu ray is perfection and the visual palette is arresting

[glx]

I liked George Clooney as Batman and also liked Val Kilmer, Michael Keaton and Christian Bale in The Dark Knight Trilogy

[mediaassault]

I can see that, especially with the unnecessary costume change at the end...for all three of the hero characters. More variant action figures!

[clownprince]

What was so frustrating about what Schu did with the character is that he interspersed moments of genuine pathos and emotion with cartoonish silliness.

Batman Forever was two films, one that at least pretended to delve further into Wayne/Batman's psyche and dealt with themes of revenge and destiny, then the other was a cinematic tom and jerry episode with flamboyant villains .

All pretense of dramatic weight was totally discarded for B and R

[mediaassault]

I think Uma looked fantastic when she "became" Poison Ivy...but I didn't like the costume and her stupid mind control powder. I haven't seen any of the animated Batman movies, so I should check them out.

[mediaassault]

Yeah, that song during the end credits wasn't bad at all.

[Playitstraight]

Forever and this film are the same quality. I just bend over in laughter at those who try to bridge logic in suggesting one is so much worse than the other. Forever had some of the worst movie lines ever for a Batman flick - " The Bat-signal is not a beeper." or " Trying to get under my cape?" or "Holy metal Batman! You know? Holy?" And of course "It's the car. Chicks like the car." So with a wealth of moronic dialogue in Forever, which was ironically rewarded by audiences and critics alike as being "fun", how is it this film is damned for the same thinking? Why does ANYONE react to Robin's opening line of " It's the car. Chicks like the car" when that was a direct borrow from Forever? It's the same freaking movie! Comic book motivations, tons of sexual innuendo, and over-the-top acting that elicits Saturday morning cartoon characters are the qualities that brand BOTH of these movies. I think, at the end of the day, people need to realize this is a story about a man who fights crime dressed as a bat. How serious you take that, may reflect more on yourself than the quality of the material. It's Batman! Embrace it and lets move on. Affleck is waiting to show us a new interpretation. May I suggest going too dark may bring it's own form of camp? I think it's coming. Time will tell.

[glx]

I loved the Motocycle scene, It was epic!

[Xboxgamer]

Great review Sean right on the money this movie is crap I enjoy watching your review.

[countroshculla]

I used to have a hard on for Alicia Silverstone. All I remember from this movie is going to the theatre, seeing this farce and my crush for Ms. Silverstone vanished.

[SuperTed]

I would say George Clooney made a better Bruce Wayne than he did a Batman. But that's just me.