DVD Review
by Chris Alexis
| MOVIE: *1/2 (out of 5 stars)
DVD EXPERIENCE: * (out of 5 stars) STARRING Arnold Schwarzenegger as MR. FREEZE George Clooney as BATMAN/BRUCE WAYNE Chris O’Donnell as ROBIN/DICK GRAYSON Uma Thurman as POISON IVY Alicia Silverstone as BATGIRL/BARBARA GORDON Rated PG-13 Studio: Warner Bros. Directed by: Joel Schumacher Back to DVD Review Home |
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The night before attending the screening for the upcoming Batman Begins I decided to watch Batman & Robin in order to refresh myself of where the series last left off. The film had come out eight years ago, when I was in high school. I was unsure of what to think of it then - I loved the Batman movies prior to that and the characters so much - I tried to tell myself it wasn’t that bad…it wasn’t as dreadful as everyone said it was…
In my most recent viewing, I was surprised how hard it was to get through. It was actually uncomfortable sitting through it. Now, I have to admit - this film really sucks.
Many will argue with me but I liked Schumacher’s other bat-film, Batman Forever. There were parts of it I didn’t approve of, but overall it was what it was and I was able to accept that. Another incarnation of the character of Batman, and while full of problems, still a fun movie. Certainly a watchable movie. This follow-up, Batman & Robin, is barely watchable.
Let’s start with the atrocious miscasting of Mr. Freeze in “Ah-nold.” Mr. Freeze in the comics is actually an interesting character - tragic and deep. You could actually pull some real drama cinematically out of his story: A lonely man, Victor Fries, becomes lucky in love and marries a beautiful woman. They’re happy together until she contracts a rare and horrible disease. A scientist, Fries cryogenically freezes her in order to stop the disease from continuing to ravage her system until he can find a cure. As he does his research, he’s halted by security in his lab for his unauthorized work. There’s a struggle and Fries ends up washed in the chemicals he works with. This chemical affect on his body creates the need to wear a suit to keep his body at an extremely low temperature. To continue his research, he’s forced into a life of crime in order to get what he needs. Sad story, right? It could work on screen. You’d need an actor with some depth though. So, who did they choose? Schwarzenegger? Why?!
I love Schwarzenegger in just about anything else he’s done but he helped destroy this movie. It doesn’t help he was given terrible dialogue. “Kill the heroes!” “Freeze Royale!” “You’re not sending me to the cooler!”
The dialogue never gets better. Does it get worse? Could it get worse? It does.
Does Uma Thurman look hot in her green corset and tights? Duh. Is her story of wanting mutated plants to rule the world stupid? Duh. Poison Ivy’s character was always so far-fetched in the comics, I don’t even know why they tried to make it work on screen. They failed. Miserably.
Another huge problem: Batgirl has always been the daughter of Commissioner Gordon - but for some reason they felt it necessary for her to be Alfred’s niece instead - and for no good reason. There could have been some interesting drama and tension created between Batman and his trusted friend Gordon - but nope.
Another sad destruction of character is Bane. In the comics, Bane was tough, ruthless - he’s the one that broke Batman’s back in the comics. In this movie, he’s reduced to a lobotomized ape of a man with lines like “Monkey work!”…. a mindless henchman to Ivy. In the comics, Ivy would be working for Bane. He’s at the top of the food chain as far as power.
My friend pointed out, and he was right, that the one good thing about this movie is George Clooney. He’s a better Bruce Wayne than Kilmer or even Keaton. Bruce Wayne is a handsome, masculine playboy - and Clooney portrays this much more and even looks the part much more than the other incarnations. As for his performance as Batman - not so much. He doesn’t even use the Batman rasp - but that’s the fault of the writer and director - I can’t blame old George for that.
And one more thing about the production of this movie. Large, half naked-man sculptures as the foundation of Gotham City? I noticed these as well in Forever a little, but boy are they ever in-your-face in this one. This is with the shots of our heroes rear-ends and nipples on the Bat-suit and Robin suit. I mean, whatever tickles Joel Schumacher’s fantasies at home is cool with me, but Warner Brothers actually allowed this? In a Batman movie? Really? Talk about inappropriate!
As for the DVD, it’s pretty slim pickings. The only real special features here are production notes about the making of the film, such as notes about the vehicles, costumes, as well as bios for the cast and crew. They’re all text to read on the screen - no video. There’s no commentary at all on this DVD.
There are also some “Reel Recommendations” - these mostly highlight other projects the cast and director have done, such as Eraser, A Time to Kill and Batman Forever. There is also a section that is for movies within the same genre, and the first two Batman movies are in there, but not Batman Forever oddly.
Aside from that, you can watch the film in French if you like, or with English. French or Spanish subtitles. Would watching the film in French with Spanish subtitles make the film more watchable? I wouldn’t understand what they were saying - so, yes.
Specifications: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. Fullscreen (1.33:1) and Widescreen (2.35:1) versions available.
