Batman & Robin (1997) - Strong Villains. Poor Quality. It's Time to Reboot!

"Tonight, hell freezes over! " - Mr. Freeze

"One kiss, my love... for luck." - Poison Ivy

Directed By: Joel Schumacher

Produced By: Peter MacGregor-Scott

Studio: Warner Bros.

Distributed By: Warner Bros.

Release Date: June 20, 1997

Running Time: 125 minutes

Country: United States

Language: English

Budget: $125 million

Box office: $238,207,122

Rating: 3.6/10

Cast

George Clooney as Bruce Wayne/Batman

Chris O'Donnell as Dick Grayson/Robin

Arnold Schwarzenegger as Dr. Victor Fries/Mr. Freeze

Uma Thurman as Dr. Pamela Isley / Poison Ivy

Alicia Silverstone as Barbara Wilson / Batgirl

Pat Hingle as Commissioner Gordon

Michael Gough as Alfred Pennyworth

Robert "Jeep" Swenson as Bane

Synopsis

In Gotham City, Batman and Robin attempt to stop Mr. Freeze from stealing a cache of diamonds. The supervillain freezes Robin and flees, warning Batman he has 11 minutes to thaw Robin. They learn that Freeze was a scientist named Victor Fries who became dependent on a diamond-powered subzero suit following an accident in a cryogenics lab he was using to find a cure for his wife, Nora, who was suffering from a terminal illness called MacGregor's Syndrome.

Meanwhile, in South America, botanist Dr. Pamela Isley is working under Dr. Jason Woodrue, a mad scientist who recently had his funding cut by Wayne Enterprises and is experimenting with the strength serum "Venom". Isley discovers Woodrue subjecting a diminutive convict to the experiment, transforming him into the muscular "Bane". Woodrue and Isley argue over the use of the drug and, when she refuses to join him, Woodrue overturns a shelf of various toxins onto her. She transforms into the seductive Poison Ivy before killing Woodrue with a kiss from her poisonous lips. She leaves with Bane for Gotham, intending to use the chemicals produced by Wayne Enterprises for her schemes.

Batman & Robin try to keep their relationship together even as they must stop Mr. Freeze and Poison Ivy from freezing Gotham City.

Production

This is the first (and only one) of the four Batman movies in the Tim Burton/Joel Schumacher series in which neither main villain is killed. In Batman, the Joker falls to his death; in Batman Returns, the Penguin dies of his severe injuries after falling into the toxic water of his lair; in Batman Forever, Two-Face falls into a deep pit. In this movie, the only villain who dies is Jason Woodrue (who isn't even a super-villain, and is more of the evil scientist type). Poison Ivy is committed to Arkham Asylum and Mr. Freeze turns good and goes to Arkham Asylum with his cryogenically frozen wife to finish his research, spending the rest of his time there as Poison Ivy's cell mate, making her life a living hell. Bane was presumed dead after accidentally being crushed by Mr. Freeze, but his death remains ambiguous.

This is also the only film in which none of the villains learn that Batman is Bruce Wayne. In Batman, the Joker and Batman realize who each other is upon learning they "created" each other; in Batman Returns, Bruce rips off his mask in front of Selina Kyle and Max Shreck, and Penguin later sees the unmasked Batman; in Batman Forever, Riddler and Two-Face read Bruce Wayne's mind and discover his identity as Batman. None of the villains learn of Batman's secret identity, even though famously in Bane's first appearance in the comics he learns that Batman is Bruce Wayne.

Awards

1998 - Kids' Choice Awards: Favorite Movie Actress (Alicia Silverstone as The Batgirl)

1998 - ASCAP Award: Top Box Office Films

1998 - Blockbuster Entertainment Awards: Favorite Actress - Sci-Fi (Uma Thurman)

1998 - Blockbuster Entertainment Awards: Favorite Supporting Actor - Sci-Fi (Chris O'Donnell)

1998 - Grammy Awards: Best Hard Rock Performance (D'arcy Wretzky, James Iha, Billy Corgan)

Review

"By now, the dispatching of various comic-book meanies is the least satisfying part of the deal, no matter how many disco scenes or gizmos are thrown onto the screen." - Lisa Schwarzbaum (Entertainment Weekly)

"George Clooney is the big zero of the film, and should go down in history as the George Lazenby of the series." - Mick LaSalle (San Francisco Chronicle)

"The villains, Arnold Schwarzenegger and especially Uma Thurman in this instance, remain the highlights here, as the rest of the gargantuan production lacks the dash and excitement that would have given the franchise a boost in its eighth year." - Todd McCarthy (Variety)