VIDEO: Batman & Robin (1997)

by · May 9, 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIdClApl_aM

Solkir reviews one of the stupidest superhero movies ever made, Batman & Robin. But instead of screaming for twenty minutes about the terrible puns, he attempts to analyze this film in a more logical, detached way, and discovers… it’s still horrible.

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Tag: The Batman Films

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  • The_Stig

    If it wasn’t part of a review series, I’d probably criticize you for picking such an easy target.

    Anyway, speaking of musical theater don’t you think Batman and Robin plays out like a real-life version of The Producers? You’ve got the red hot George Clooney, the red hot (at the time) young actors Chris O’Donnell and Alicia Silverstone, Arnold freakin’ Schwarzeneggar while on the downswing of his career was still considered a heavy hitter, a great character actor in John Glover, Uma Thurman, a talented director in Joel Schumacher, Akiva Goldsman coming off the amazing A Time to Kill and a respectable composer like Elliot Goldenthal all working to create the worst blockbuster film they possibly can.

    I don’t even think Goldenthal even bothered writing any original music.

    I would seriously like to see a tell-all book about the production of this thing. I want to know what the hell they were thinking.

    • Solkir

      Honestly, If I hadn’t committed to the theme, I wouldn’t have bothered with it. Like I said, it’s one of those things that everyone has talked about.I would be interested in some behind the scenes stuff from this. Did they know it was bad, or was it the kind of thing that you don’t see until someone else points it out?

      • The_Stig

        I know, right? It’s fish in a barrel. There are certain films you just don’t review because they’re too easy. Films like this one, anything by Ed Wood (at least not Bride, Glenda and for damn sure Plan 9) and anything that’s been riffed on MST3K.

        Anyway, as for Batman and Robin itself, I think they knew they were making garbage, but they were contractually obligated to do it anyway. I don’t really blame Arnold because A: He was desperate for a box office hit after Last Action Hero bombed and B: Let’s face it, horrible puns are nothing new for him.

        But it doesn’t really play out like they knew they were making a bad movie. It plays out that not only did they know they were making a bad movie, but that everyone involved from the Producers to the PAs were actively trying to make the worst big budget movie ever made.

        Like in The Producers.

        • Muthsarah

          But did Schumacher know?

          It’s one thing to set out to make camp (which is ALWAYS risky, as more often than not, camp isn’t planned, it just happens), it’s another to make a movie that ends up being the worst kinds of camp; that’s an aberration, even in an industry that turns out the occasional completely failure.

          I remember seeing this movie for the first time and being utterly disgusted with it. I was a fan of the animated series and the Burton films, but my first exposure to Batman was still in the Adam West series and the old Justice League/Superfriends cartoon, so I didn’t exactly view the noir Batman as the only Batman….just by far the BEST Batman. Batman Forever shoulda scared me away, but I liked that one for Carrey. But B&R was SO bad, I was (and am) certain it had to be aware of it, maybe even be TRYING to be that bad. There were so many experienced people involved in this movie, so much money on the line, so many opportunities for the producers, even the soulless Hollywood beancounters, to intervene at some point in the preproduction or early shoots, how could they not see what a cursory glance from a 13-year old (and at least 90% of all other moviegoers) could pick up on instantly: that this movie missed the mark EVERYWHERE? They can’t be that dumb.

          • Muthsarah

            Oh, and I love Batman Returns, always have and always will. Feels strange to defend Burton, given, y’know, but this is one universe he was perfect for and never shoulda left.

          • The_Stig

            Oh they knew. They knew when they read the first page of this turd sandwich. Clooney in particular doesn’t strike me so much wooden as completely disinterested in the lines he’s being forced to say. Like he keeps internally reminding himself to just get it over with and to think about the gold-plated Pagani Zonda he planned on buying with his B&R money

  • FullofQuestions1

    Haha, you looked like Eric Idle in your old videos!

    Also, your comment about lady auctions reminded me of this.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0KZTdHad48

    • Solkir

      Haha, Well I suppose I’ll take that as a compliment. And looks like I need to add the IT crowd to the list of shows I need to watch

  • John Wilson

    Batman Forever is my favorite Batman movie to be honest. At least it knows what it is without getting too silly. Batman and Robin good if you look at it as The Naked Gun of Batman movies:).

    • The_Stig

      Batman Forever was the safe Batman movie the studio always wanted.

  • spaceman spiff

    I’ve always wondered if Joel Shumacher was maybe trying to recapture some of the campiness of the 60s tv show and just failed miserably.

    • Solkir

      Yeah, that’s what the studio wanted. After the first two got parents up in arms they tried to recreate the Adam West Batman. With the obvious results

  • JamSanJose

    I saw this movie in the theater when I was tripping on acid. I actually kind of liked it, so maybe that is where your mindset should be?

    • Solkir

      I’ve never seen it on acid, but that makes a frightening amount of sense

  • Endorenna

    My oldest sister, the one who went to college for four years as a commercial writing major, likes Batman and Robin.

    …

    It was at that point that I discarded her opinions on stories in general.

  • Cristiona

    Great. Now I have the image of Batman not only going to the bank to get a loan, but going to the Post Office to set up his own PO Box. And then going there regularly to check for mail.

    And if Batman had an acknowledged PO Box, would he need insurance because of the likelihood of mail bombs? And does that mean he has an insurance agent? Is his agent on speed dial? Is it like the commercials where your insurance agent is a good friend?
    Does he go to barbeques at his agent’s house?

    • Solkir

      It’s just one of those things that makes less sense the more you think about it.

      • CaptainCalvinCat

        On the other hand, NOTHING of Batman makes really that much sense, when you stop and think about it.
        How would you – in real life – testify, when you are just a guy, call yourself “Batman” and wear a stupid costume? In real life, not the Joker would be in Arkham, but Batman would be.
        to proof that: Couple of months ago, in Nash’s show “Radio Dead Air”, he told the story of a guy, who was dressed up as Batman, and tried to help the police.
        What would happen to such a guy?
        Can you spell “obstruction of justice”?

  • Mr. Sefe

    Video does not exist :(

  • Varun Prasad

    This was one of my favourites! Where did it go?

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