BATMAN AND ROBIN
US, 1997, 125 minutes, Colour.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, George Clooney, Chris O'Donnell, Uma Thurman, Alicia Silverstone, Michael Goff, Pat Hingle, Elle McPherson?, John Glover, Vivica A. Fox.
Directed by Joel Schumacher.
With the fourth in the Batman series, we have moved from a grim and gloomy Gotham city and a grim and gloomy Michael Keaton to a theme park comic sinister world and a more solid Bruce Wayne (after Val Kilmer) in the form of ER's George Clooney. Not only is Chris O'Donnell Robin, but Alicia Silverstone has turned up as Batgirl. However, it is always the villains who are larger than life (although Arnie is large in life as well). Mr Freeze cracks deadpan puns in the heavy Schwarzenegger manner, but Uma Thurman enjoys the chance to be alluringly complex. And, of course, the special effects are designed to make the audience gasp. The Batman films have become entertainment concoctions.
This was said to have killed off the Batman franchise, but it came to new life in Christopher Nolan’s 2005 Batman Begins.
1. The fourth film in the Batman series? The second by Joel Schumacher? The parallels with the 1960s series? The contrasts with Tim Burton's darker vision? Schumacher's flair, colour, design, characters and caricature?
2. The change of Batman to George Clooney? What Clooney brought to the role? Chris O'Donnell again as Robin? Alicia Silverstone as Batgirl?
3. The focus on Batman and Robin, their relationship, mentor and apprentice, their working together, Robin and his growing resentment of Batman telling him what to do, the double infatuation with Poison Ivy? The rivalry, the bickering? Robin finally having to learn how to collaborate with Batman and with the family? Batman and Robin and their ordinary personalities as Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson, friendship, in the house, the collaboration against crime, with Barbara, with Alfred? The relationship between the two, emotional, dependence?
4. The villains, Arnold Schwarzenegger as Mr Freeze, his makeup, manner of speaking, ice and cold wisecracks? His motivation, his ill wife, his investigations, his resentment against society? His wanting to destroy the world? The contrast with Dr Pamela Isley, her work, Dr Woodrue and his double-dealings, her resentment? The experiment, her being transformed into Poison Ivy, the glamour, the costumes, the growths, the femme fatale style in contrast with her original persona, bespectacled and timid? Her motivation? Her intrigues against Batman and Robin? In collusion with Mr Freeze, killing his wife (and this filmed and being replayed to Mr Freeze)? Her wiles, her conflict with Batgirl? Her defeat? Mr Freeze, his attacks, his needs for jewels and diamonds to keep cold, his being taken, finding it too difficult to go beyond the freeze barrier? Poison Ivy and her lies? freeing him? The final confrontation, his being taken, Batman promising him a new life and restoring his wife to him? The popularity of this kind of villain?
5. Alfred, the servant, the butler, the confidant? His service in the household, his illness, his dying? Sending for Barbara, her arrival, care for her uncle? Her penetrating the codes, his speaking to her from the screen monitor, the mission for her uncle? The recovery and the curing of the disease?
6. Bruce Wayne, his place in society, at social functions? His relationship with Julie, her wanting to marry him? His refusal?
7. Barbara, her arrival, intelligent, friendly, penetrating the secrets of the Bat Cave, becoming Batgirl, her fight with Poison Ivy, joining the family?
8. The city, the police commissioner and his trying to cope, the Bat Signal at the top of the building, his using it?
9. The set pieces: the initial attack by Mr Freeze, the spectacle, the explosions? The need to out-top the opening? The auction, Batman and Robin bidding, Poison Ivy manipulating them, the attack by Mr Freeze? The final confrontations between heroes and villains?
10. The flashbacks and the explanation of Bruce Wayne's life, Alfred and his friendship and devotion?
11. The supporting characters, society people, eccentric characters, especially Dr Woodrue and his associates?
12. Bane, Poison Ivy and her creating the monster, taunting him, letting him loose, his destruction?
13. The popularity of the series, the two Tim Burton films, the two Joel Schumacher films - and the camp flair and spectacle of the Schumacher versions, the less dark Gotham City, the spectacle, song and dance routines? The end of the series?
