batman4

The bigger the budget, the harder they flop. “Batman and Robin” flopped really really hard with a
bloated budget of well over $100 million that did nothing to prevent this box office stinker of mega
proportions. Simultaneously, “Batman and Robin” preserved Warner Bros. four-movie-cycle of pain
perfectly for its superhero franchises.

See, the same thing happened with the Superman films. The first two movies in both franchises
were directed by singular visions. Richard Donner did Superman one and two and Tim Burton did
Batman one and two. With the third film, the directors were replaced. OK, technically Donner was
replaced during “Superman II,” but read that review for the full skinny on that one. Anyway, Joel
Schumacher took over on Batman’s third film as Richard Lester did on Superman’s third.

As we all know, the fourth Superman film was a colossal flop and in turn, so was the fourth Batman
film. The only difference is that “Superman IV” had the excuse of a low budget. “Batman and
Robin” had the resources, but obviously not the necessary talent and professionalism to see it
through. I’m telling you uninitiated out there that this is the kind of film that is so terrible, you want
those hours of your life back. The movie is completely unwatchable.

Director Schumacher practices in this film what can only be described as the pornography of neon
lighting. Gotham City is in a category beyond Las Vegas or Atlantic City. The sets are so
synthetic, it looks like (and in one scene literally becomes) “Batman On Ice.” The whole experience
is a kind of sickening “Queer Eye for the Batman Guy” as Schumacher once again slaps nipples on
the Batsuits and costumes the villains as if they’re in drag.

Not one actor in this film comes off well. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Uma Thurman play the evil
villains Mr. Freeze and Poison Ivy, respectively. Also crammed into the film are the villain Bane,
and Batgirl, played by Alicia Silverstone. Schumacher tries to pack in as much as he can, and it
works against the movie at every turn. George Clooney, as Bruce Wayne/Batman, does a decent
job given the very little he has to work with in the story. Chris O’Donnell is in the same predicament.

“Batman and Robin” is so visually overt it stings the eyes. If you thought “Batman Forever” was
gaudy, wait until you see this flickering tub of crap. The film is filled with overplayed performances
thanks to Schwarzenegger and Thurman and unmotivated action scenes that prove impossible to
follow. Just try watching Robin and Batgirl in their “exciting” motorcycle chase. Impossible to
watch. More impossible to comprehend.

This movie was the death knell for O’Donnell and Silverstone. Thurman and Clooney had a time
fighting back to the top as well. Schwarzenegger probably just wrote this one off on his taxes.

The film is an enigma, with a budget so high yet production value so low. Well, not low really. More
like WASTED on useless set design crap. Don’t even attempt to understand the plot. It’s just
another supervillains versus Batman story.

One final nitpick. Since Robin was introduced in the last movie, shouldn’t that third film have been
called “Batman and Robin” while this fourth movie be called “Batman Forever?” Oh well, I shouldn’t
expect Schumacher’s twisted mind to make any sense.