Batman and Robin
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 "If revenge is a dish best served cold, then put on your Sunday finest. It's time to feast!" - Mr. Freeze
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"There is no defeat in death, Master Bruce. Victory comes in defending what we know is right while we still live."
— Alfred Pennyworth
Batman and Robin is a 1997 American superhero film distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, which tells the story of Batman and Robin's attempts to stop former scientist and decathlete Mr. Freeze and his new running mates, Poison Ivy and Bane. Along the way Alfred's niece, Barbara Wilson, discovers the true identities of the Dynamic Duo and joins them as Batgirl to thwart the evil threesome.
This film is the fourth and final in the Batman Motion Picture Anthology, being preceded by Batman Forever. The film was a box office bomb, being panned critically for it's tonal shift from the prior movies, as well as it's predatory nature; being used as a marketing vehicle to sell toys. Plans for a sequel titled Batman Unchained fell through after the critical failure and commercial failure of Batman and Robin, and Warner Bros. spent the next 8 years trying to put Batman back on the big screen. The film has been revisited by some and has since become a cult classic, mostly due to it's campy nature but also it's heartfelt attempt at telling a genuine story about Bruce Wayne.
Plot
While Batman and Robin fail to stop Mr. Freeze from stealing a large diamond from the Gotham Museum, mad scientist Dr. Jason Woodrue shows off serial murderer Antonio Diego being turned into the brutish Bane. When botanical scientist Pamela Isley finds out, Dr. Woodrue tries to have her killed in her lab, only for her to turn into the seductive Poison Ivy and kill him in retaliation. She takes off with Bane to Gotham City to meet Bruce Wayne.
Back in Gotham, Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson recap Mr. Freeze's origin and discuss Bruce's lack of trust for Dick. Not long afterwards, Alfred's niece Barbara Wilson arrives in Gotham, said to be staying for a few weeks. Pamela Isley arrives at the Gotham Observatory and confronts Wayne with her plan of botanical preservation, however Bruce rejects her plan as it involves the deaths of millions. Batman sets a trap for Mr. Freeze, which is interrupted by Poison Ivy who seduces the Dynamic Duo with her pheromones. After Mr. Freeze makes off with the gems, Batman stops him and captures him. When the duo arrive back at the Batcave, they break out into an argument over Batman's control and trust issues, as well as his perceived jealousy of Robin for Poison Ivy being more into him than Batman.
Soon afterward, Freeze breaks out of jail, with help from Ivy and Bane. Later in the night, Dick catches Barbara racing motorbikes to raise money to help treat Alfred's illness. Bruce reveals that Alfred isn't just sick; he's dying from Macgregors' Syndrome, stage one. Alfred tries to reach out to his brother, Wilfred Pennyworth, but to no avail. Batman and Robin storm Mr. Freeze's base and find out his wife, Nora Fries, has the same disease as Alfred, only in a later state. Poison Ivy seemingly kills Nora by terminating the power to her cryogenic chamber, as well as driving more animosity between Batman and Robin, causing the latter to exclaim he wants to end the duo's partnership.
After Ivy tells Freeze of Nora's supposed death, Mr. Freeze aims to wipe out the entire world; leaving him, Ivy and Bane as the sole survivors. When Ivy hijacks the Batsignal to get Robin, Bruce and Robin's tensions peak once more, however Bruce calms Robin down by pleading with Robin to trust him, explaining in broad strokes that he was right about Bruce's trust issues. After the two leave, Barbara discovers the Batcave and dons her own suit, now christening herself as the vigilante Batgirl. Together, the three take down Poison Ivy and head to fight Mr. Freeze.
After the trio stop Mr. Freeze, Batman reveals that Nora was saved and is still alive. The comforted Mr. Freeze gives up his reign of evil, agrees to continue his research in Arkham Asylum and gives Batman the cure to the first stage of Macgregors' Syndrome. He is made cellmate to the now-imprisoned Poison Ivy and threatens her. After being cured, Alfred joins the Dynamic Trio, and the four make their partnership official.
Why the film freezes in Hell!
- Because of the success of Batman Forever in regards to merchandising, this film was made to sell even more toys and Happy Meals, and this is made apparent with large amount of characters and vehicles present in the movie.
- According to some sources, executives from both Warner Bros. and McDonalds were watching over the editing process, with the latter checking on the script to make sure it fit their needs.
- Most viewers will often have criticism of Mr. Freeze's overabundance of ice and cold related puns, which can be seen as annoying due to the sheer amount of them. Given the character's tragic backstory, it can also be said they diminish the tragedy of Mr. Freeze.
- While his Bruce Wayne is seen as a good performance, George Clooney's tenure as Batman leaves something to be desired, as he somewhat phones in his performance.
- The character of Bane is often seen to be the worst adaptation of the anthology, as he's portrayed as an idiotic brute who speaks in grunts and one word responses, instead of the tactical mastermind who systematically broke Batman as seen in the comics.
- Robin may be seen as overly whiny and irritating, due to his constant complaining about Bruce's jealousy and trust issues.
- However, this criticism can be handwaved when it's revealed that Robin has genuine issues with Bruce (due to the latter's issues with control) and he was also being manipulated by Poison Ivy's pheromones.
- Again, Batman and Robin's suits have nipples, pronounced codpieces and buttocks. These design cues were allegedly taken from Ancient Greek statues. Whether this was intended to convey strength or beauty isn't exactly clear, however the presence of a muscles is a problem due to how inappropriate they can be for very young children. Depending on the intent of the costume designers, they deliberately tried to accentuate both Batman and Robin's aesthetic for an adult audience.
- Alfred's survival goes against the message of the film that death can't be controlled, as he survives his Macgregors' Syndrome diagnosis.
- Like Batman Forever, the film's presence in the same continuity as the Burton films is debated. With the presence of Joel Schumacher's Batman (as played by George Clooney) at the end of The Flash , the Schumacher films have been downgraded from directly taking place afterwards to now being set in a parallel continuity which follows most of the same events of the Tim Burton movies.
- Most unfortunately of all, the film's failure in theaters resulted in Joel Schumacher's reputation unfairly being left in tatters. Schumacher's name is often associated with "campiness" when he often wanted to create relatively grounded and serious films, such as Falling Down, The Lost Boys. Joel Schumacher would direct smaller movies later on in life, such as Phone Booth and an adaptation of the Phantom of the Opera. He would unfortunately pass away from cancer on the 22nd of June, 2020.
Why this film has great stems, buds too...
- The film is a love letter to the Silver Age of comic books, as well as William Dozier's 1966 TV series Batman starring Adam West and Burt Ward.
- Depending on the viewer's exposure to more comedic superhero media, the camp can be either overbearing or delightful.
- Batman and Robin's suits receive an update, with Robin's suit in particular taking inspiration from his second Nightwing suit in the comics.
- However, unlike the comics, Robin's suit is colored red instead of blue, and possesses a cape. He also still goes by the "Robin" title.
- The side plot of Bruce's issues surrounding trust and control is as genuine as it is heartfelt.
- Michael Gough's Alfred brings a much needed sense of heart to the movie, tying in wonderfully with the subplot of Bruce's struggles with control and death.
- George Clooney plays the role of Bruce Wayne with sincerity, turning in a good performance as half of the Dark Knight.
- Uma Thurman plays the role of the seductive and maniacal Poison Ivy perfectly, giving an iconic performance.
- Bane and Mr. Freeze are both given an awe-inspiring physical presence, thanks to the Arnold Schwarzenegger and the late Jeep Swenson's impressive physical stature.
- Once again, the film uses CG to create an awe inspiring Gotham with impossible scale and equally impossible architecture.
- The direct mention of Superman's existence is a nice little reference. Given what was happening at Warner Bros. at the time though, this line could've been an Easter egg for the Tim Burton's cancelled Superman Lives.
- To date, this is the only cinematic appearance of Julie Madison, Bruce Wayne's first love interest, as seen in the late 1930s and early 1940s.