Batman & Robin 1997 Film Starring George Clooney

The Dynamic Duo Face off Against Mr Freeze and Poison Ivy

Sep 20, 2009

Batman and Robin discover that Mr Freeze is trying to cause Gothom City to endure a permanent winter, and they also have to contend with the 'seductive' Poison Ivy

Gotham City’s resident heroes Batman and Robin are fighting Mr Freeze. Their problems escalate when Poison Ivy, who literally has a kiss of death, and can control men through use of pheromones, arrives in Gotham.

Batman (George Clooney taking over from Val Kilmer) and Robin (Chris O’Donnell reprising his role) attempt to stop new villain Mr Freeze (Arnold Schwarzenegger) during a robbery attempt and unfortunately he manages to escape them. Mr Freeze is stealing in order to finance his research and find a cure for his dying wife whom is in cryogenic suspension. He has developed a cure for the early stages of the disease but his wife's condition has worsened to the point where the cure is no longer effective.

At the same time in South America, Pamela Isley (Uma Thurman) is working under Dr. Jason Woodrue (John Glover), experimenting with the Venom drug. She witnesses him giving it to create the huge monster ‘Bane’ (Jeep Swenson). The pair argue and Woodrue attempts to kill her by throwing a shelf load of various toxins over her, this doesn’t kill her, it instead transforms her into Poison Ivy.

Alfred Pennyworth (Michael Gough returning again) is dying with the same disease that Mr Freeze’s wife has when Alfred’s niece Barbara Wilson (Alicia Silverstone) arrives for a surprise visit.

The rest of the film involves Barbara’s discovery of Batman’s true identity, and Poison Ivy joining with Mr Freeze and trying to destroy the dynamic duo.

The Death of Batman

Joel Schumacher stopped the Batman franchise in its tracks with this film. Up until this point the Batman films had gone from being gothic under Tim Burton’s direction, to more comic book with Batman Forever (which Schumacher also directed). However this is without a shadow of a doubt the worst Batman film ever.

For some reason the Batman’s suit and Robin’s suit both have nipples. Why do the suits have nipples, what possible benefit does it give the characters? Who knows. That fact most people can get past, but, there are a few things that Schumacher should never ever have done. For example there is a scene in the film in which Batman and Robin attend a charity event, a charity event, Batman is supposed to be the Dark Knight, a figure shrouded in mystery, not turning up as a special guest at charity events. Bruce Wayne attends (or hosts) charity events, Batman doesn’t, not ever.

In addition, Mr Freeze played by Arnold Schwarzenegger has so many bad one liners (all about ice), and each one more ridiculous than the last. Everyone knows that Arnie (bless him) has had some bad one liners in his time, but these take the biscuit. "All right, everyone Chill!" and "The Iceman Cometh" are the better ones, and if they are the better ones then imagine what the bad ones are like.

Clooney looks gormless as Batman and is not even a shadow of the brooding Batman Keaton played. Poison Ivy is supposed to be beautiful and seductive but Uma Thurman doesn’t really seem to be especially interested in her character and is just going through the motions. Alicia Silverstone is given the duel identity of Batgirl (a character that was played by Commissioner Gordon’s daughter in the comics) but even before she dons Batgirl’s skin tight outfit she races motor bikes in another skin tight leather outfit.

Obviously Thurman and Silverstone are the eye candy but neither of them get to grips with the characters they are playing. This is a film that really doesn’t have anything going for it, and whilst Alfred and Commissioner Gordon are present and still being played by Gough and Hingle (who have been playing their characters since Tim Burton’s Batman) they probably wish they had bowed out after Batman Forever.

Joel Schumacher effectively did what no super villain has been able to do, he killed Batman.

Thankfully the Dark Knight was given the reboot he deserved in 2005’s Batman Begins.

People often compare boring or tedious things to being about as fun as watching paint dry, in this case, instead of watching Batman & Robin, paint a wall and watch it dry because it’ll be a better way to spend a couple of hours of your life.

Pretend the Batman Franchise ended with Batman Forever and started again with Batman Begins

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