2024 Blind Spot Series: Splendor in the Grass

 

Directed by Elia Kazan and written by William Inge, Splendor in the Grass is the story of a young woman’s love for a young man from a rich family in Kansas has them wanting to take a big step as they deal with a lot of things in its aftermath. The film is a coming-of-age romantic film that explores two high school sweethearts who fall in love and embark on new places into their relationship as it would delve into chaos and heartbreak. Starring Natalie Wood, Pat Hingle, Audrey Christie, Barbara Loden, Zohra Lampert, Joanna Roos, and introducing Warren Beatty. Splendor in the Grass is a rich and ravishing film from Elia Kazan.

Set in 1928 Kansas, the film revolves around a relationship between a working class girl and a young rich boy who fall in love and want to take the next step into their relationship yet expectations and pressures from their parents about their individual futures and such would drive the couple apart and into chaos. It is a film that explores young love between two high school kids who are devoted to each other yet both of them are from different social statuses despite attending the same high school as well as their parents wanting to do something for their futures as well as wanting to keep them together. William Inge’s screenplay is largely straightforward as it opens with Wilma Dean “Deanie” Loomis (Natalie Wood) and Bud Stamper (Warren Beatty) making out in his car as the latter wants to go forward but the former is reluctant for the relationship to be sexual. Still, the two want to maintain a relationship with Stamper wanting to marry Deanie in the future yet his father Ace Stamper (Pat Hingle) has plans for him to take over the family business even though Bud knows he doesn’t have the grades to go to Yale.

While Deanie lives comfortably despite her being over-protected by her mother (Audrey Christie), she is eager to become Stamper’s wife though is still reluctant to lose her virginity while also having to watch the dysfunctional world that is Stamper’s family. Notably as his older sister Ginny (Barbara Loden) has returned home from Chicago from an annulled marriage as well as a getting an abortion done, which was illegal at the time, where she becomes a source of discord for the family. Even as her behavior would create gossip with Ace wanting to focus more on Bud’s future where he convinces Bud to break up Deanie temporarily as the result would be chaotic with Deanie becoming erratic over its break-up. The two would endure their own separate journeys where Stamper deals with the futility of expectations while Deanie goes on her own journey to discover herself.

Elia Kazan’s direction is evocative in not just the richness of its compositions but also in its overall presentation as it plays into a world where parents are expecting this great future emerging just a year before the Crash of 1929 that lead to the Great Depression. Shot largely at the Filmways Studios in New York City with exterior locations shot on Staten Island and High Falls, New York, Kazan creates a film that plays into a period in time where Prohibition was still happening though the rich were able to get alcohol through some illegal means and get away with it. Even as Kazan shows how Ace Stamper is able to get alcohol in those times as he is a rich man with oil wells and cattle ranches where he wants Bud to run these things in the future though Bud is more interested in just wanting to run a ranch. Kazan plays into this sense of generational gap involving Deanie and Bud against the expectations of their parents as Kazan’s unique compositions in his close-ups and medium shots play into the melodrama and dramatic suspense.

There are some wide shots in Kazan’s direction in the way he films scenes in Kansas including this waterfall area for the film’s first scene as well as a couple of key moments that would play into the Deanie and Bud’s dissolution. Kazan also maintains this air of sexual innuendo in the way Ginny presents herself as well as a scene of Deanie in a bathtub as she is talking to her mother as she would act erratically over what happened with Bud. It would play into this third act of Bud and Deanie living separate lives but also confront their own issues with themselves but also gain an understanding of what their parents want. Notably as Bud’s time in Yale produces poor results in a scene with him, his father, and Yale’s dean (Kermit Murdock) where Kazan definitely shows who is running the conversation as that person is starting to unravel with Bud caught in the middle. Its ending refers to a poem by William Wordsmith that Deanie struggled to read and comprehend in its second act as it would return as a way to express what she and Bud had endured but also the choices they would make as adults. Overall, Kazan crafts an intoxicating and exhilarating film about high school sweethearts whose love life is disrupted by the demands of adulthood and the expectations of their families.

Cinematographer Boris Kaufman does amazing work with the film’s cinematography in the richness of the daytime exterior locations as well as the usage of lights for some of the interior scenes at night along with an emphasis on low-key lighting for the exterior scenes at night. Editor Gene Milford does excellent work with the editing as it is largely straightforward with some rhythmic cuts to play into the melodrama as well as some lighthearted moments in the film. Production designer Richard Sylbert and set decorator Gene Callahan do brilliant work with the interiors of the Loomis family home in its simple yet classy style that is a sharp contrast to the way more refined world of the Stamper family estate with all of its bigger rooms and such. Costume designer Anna Hill Johnstone does fantastic work with the costumes with the dresses that the women wear being a highlight including some of the clothes that Deanie would wear later in her life as well as the raunchy clothes that Ginny wears.

Hairdresser Willis Hanchett and makeup artist Robert Jiras do terrific work with the hairstyles that the women wear at the time including Deanie’s hairstyle in the film’s first and second act as well as a more refined look in the third act. Sound editor Frank Lewin does superb work with the sound in the way waterfall sounds from its location up-close and from afar as well as the way a room is presented in its location. The film’s music by David Amram is incredible for its jazz-like score that features some saxophone and piano to play into the melodrama and romance that includes some orchestral flourishes with a soundtrack filled with the music of the times.

The film’s marvelous ensemble cast feature some notable small roles and appearances from Ivor Francis as Deanie’s psychiatrist Dr. Judd, screenwriter William Inge as the local pastor Reverend Whitman, Kermit Murdock as the dean of Yale in Dean Pollard, Phyllis Diller in her film debut as the famed performer Texas Guinan, Martine Bartlett as the school literature teacher Miss Metcalf, the duo of Sandy Dennis and Crystal Field as two of Deanie’s friends in Kay and Hazel, Charles Robinson in an un-credited performance as a young man that Deanie meets in a hospital in John, Gary Lockwood as a friend/teammate of Bud in Toots, Jan Norris as a slutty classmate of Deanie in Juanita Howard, and John McGovern as Doc Smiley who becomes concerned for Bud’s health following a collapse at a basketball game while also believing that Bud is being put into a lot of pressure from his father. Joanna Roos is wonderful as Bud and Ginny’s mother who is supportive of Bud’s relationship with Deanie though she has great concerns over her husband’s ambitions and the pressure he put on their son. Fred Stewart is superb as Deanie’s father Del Loomis as a man who runs a small shop next to the house as he is this low-key person that doesn’t try to cause trouble while is also doing what he can to make Deanie feel happy as he would also feel that his wife is smothering her.

Zohra Lampert is fantastic as Angelina as this young Italian immigrant that Bud meets in Yale as she would help him see things differently as well as be an important person to him later in his life. Audrey Christie is excellent as Deanie’s mother who is protective of Deanie as she also sees her as a young girl as she unknowingly would smother her as it would add to Deanie’s emotional and mental troubles. Barbara Loden is brilliant as Bud’s older sister Ginny as this young woman who likes to push her father’s buttons as well as be this ultimate rebel though it would also put her in danger including an attempted rape on her as she’s also gained notoriety for all of the wrong reasons. Pat Hingle is amazing as Bud’s father Ace Stamper as this rich oilman who expects so much from Bud to succeed him as he talks a lot while also making some bad suggestions as he would help play a role in Bud and Deanie’s break-up as he is really a complex man that is severely flawed and tries to control so many things in his life.

Finally, there’s the duo of Warren Beatty and Natalie Wood in tremendous performances in their respective roles as Bud Stamper and Deanie Loomis. Beatty in his debut performance has all of the attributes of a high school sports star in terms of its physiques and looks yet it is Beatty’s vulnerability that makes Bud compelling to watch as someone who is aware of his flaws and shortcomings as well as the fact that he doesn’t have his father’s ambitions. Wood exudes a radiance in her performance as a young woman that has an air of innocence but is also someone who had been too sheltered leading to an emotional breakdown and issues that would allow her to act out where Wood brings in that intensity to a young woman that is unraveling. Beatty and Wood together have this amazing chemistry as a young couple in love but one of them wants to get more physical but other isn’t willing as it causes problems with Ace getting involved as it adds to the drama as the two are a major highlight to watch.

Splendor in the Grass is an outstanding film from Elia Kazan that features great leading performances from Natalie Wood and Warren Beatty. Along with its supporting ensemble cast, wondrous visuals, a fiery music score, and a story of young love and the expectations of adulthood. It is a film that explores two young people wanting to devote their love for one another only to cope with life changes and the move into adulthood as well as the demanding hopes of their parents. In the end, Splendor in the Grass is magnificent film from Elia Kazan.

Elia Kazan Films: (A Tree Grows in Brooklyn) – (The Sea of Grass) – (Boomerang!) – (Gentleman’s Agreement) – (Pinky) – (Panic in the Streets) – A Streetcar Named Desire - (Viva Zapata!) – (Man on a Tightrope) – On the Waterfront - East of Eden – (Baby Doll) – (A Face in the Crowd) – (Wild River) – (America America) – (The Arrangement) – (The Visitors (1972 film)) – (The Last Tycoon)

© thevoid99 2024

Sudden Impact

Directed and starring Clint Eastwood and screenplay by Joseph Stinton from a story by Earl E. Smith and Charles B. Pierce, Sudden Impact is the story of a detective who is investigating a series of murders of men who were part of a gang rape as one of the women who was raped is going after them. The fourth film in the Dirty Harry series has Eastwood reprise his role as Harry Callahan as he once again explore the world of vigilante justice as it involves a woman who is dealing with the trauma and injustice that was done to her. Also starring Sondra Locke, Bradford Dillman, Albert Popwell, and Pat Hingle. Sudden Impact is an evocative and gripping film from Clint Eastwood.

The film follows Harry Callahan who is assigned to a murder case at a small town in Southern California after angering his superiors, once again, while he’s unaware that the killer is a woman seeking revenge for a gang rape that she and her sister were victims of a decade before. It’s a film that explores not just vigilante justice which Callahan isn’t fond of but also know that his tactics in just bringing criminals down isn’t enough anymore due to the need for courts who unfortunately don’t do their job in putting criminals in their place. It’s something this woman in Jennifer Spencer (Sondra Locke) is aware of as she knows the men who raped her and her sister not only weren’t put into justice but were able to walk away free.

Joseph Stinton’s screenplay, with un-credited work from Dean Riesner, goes back and forth into Callahan dealing with his suspension due to his often troubling encounters with criminals going after him and Spencer killing off the men who raped her one-by-one by returning to the town of San Paulo, California. When Callahan is sent to the town from San Francisco to work a case, he has to contend with its local chief Lester Jannings (Pat Hingle) about Callahan’s tactics despite the fact that it worked once he arrived in stopping a bank robber. He would meet Spencer but is unaware of what she is doing yet does find a connection into the men who are killed and who could be the next victims. There is also a subplot involving those who were participants in that rape coming together led by a local figure in Ray Parkins (Audrie J. Neenan) in preparing for a showdown with Spencer but also realize the trouble that is Callahan.

Clint Eastwood’s direction is definitely stylish as it has elements of film noir in terms of some of the visuals he would create. Though some of it is shot on location in San Francisco, much of the film would be shot in Santa Cruz, California as it would mark a change of pace for the film series as much of it was set in San Francisco. While Eastwood would use some wide shots to establish some of the locations, he would go for more intimate shots in his approach to close-up and medium shots to play into the suspense and some of the drama. While there are moments in the film that are humorous which includes a pet bulldog Callahan receives from a friend as well as the moment he arrives at San Paulo where he stops a robber while driving a small bus for retirees. The film does remain serious as it relate to Spencer’s flashback about the gang rape she and her sister were victims of as it is quite brutal with Eastwood’s usage of handheld cameras and close-ups to play into the drama. The film is still quite violent in the way Spencer confronts her rapists while the film’s climax at an amusement park is definitely stylish where Eastwood’s approach compositions and building up the suspense is key to what makes the moment so thrilling. Overall, Eastwood creates an engrossing yet exhilarating film about a police inspector investigating a series of murders from a woman taking revenge for the rape she and her sister were victims of.

Cinematographer Bruce Surtees does brilliant work with the film’s cinematography as it has an element of style for many of the scenes at night with its usage of intricate lighting to help set a mood for some scenes including the film’s climax. Editor Joel Cox does excellent work with the editing as he would use some stylish jump-cuts for some of the action including the chase sequence in San Paulo as well as some rhythmic cuts to play into the suspense. Production designer Edward C. Carfango and set decorator Ernie Bishop do fantastic work with the look of the hotel room that Callahan stays at in San Paulo as well as some of the locations in the city including bits of the amusement park. Sound mixer Donald F. Johnson does nice work with the sound as it is quite straightforward with the exception of the film’s action scenes as well some of the scenes at the amusement park. The film’s music by Lalo Schifrin is wonderful for its jazz-funk score that play into the suspense and drama as it includes a song sung by Roberta Flack.

The casting by Marion Dougherty is amazing as it feature some notable small roles and appearances from Lisa Britt as Spencer’s catatonic and traumatized sister Elizabeth, Matthew Child as one of rapists in Alby, Nancy Parsons as the mother of one of the rapists who runs a fishing company, Mark Keyloun as a local San Paul police officer who helps out Callahan, Michael Currie as one of Callahan’s superiors in Lt. Donnelly, the trio of Paul Blake, Wendell Wellman, and George Wilburn as a trio of the more brutish rapists, and Michael V. Gazzo in a terrific small appearance as a mob boss Callahan confronts at his granddaughter’s wedding. Albert Popwell is superb as a fellow detective of Callahan who would give him a bulldog as a present to keep Callahan company while Bradford Dillman is fantastic as Captain Briggs who doesn’t like what Callahan does and wants him suspended.

Audrie J. Neenan is excellent as the tough local crime boss Ray Parkins as a woman that likes to do bad things to people while Jack Thibeau is brilliant as the most vicious criminal Kruger who is the most crazed of the group of people that raped Spencer and her sister. Pat Hingle is marvelous as San Paulo police chief Lester Jannings as a man who is suspicious about Callahan’s presence in his town but also know that Callahan is a persistent man that is willing to find answers as he also holds a secret about the case Callahan is on. Sondra Locke is remarkable as Jennifer Spencer as an artist who is trying to move on with her life until she sees one of the men who raped her as she goes on a journey for vengeance as it’s very calm yet eerie performance from Locke. Finally, there’s Clint Eastwood in a phenomenal performance as Harry Callahan as a police inspector with unconventional methods in taking down criminals as he is forced to take a case out of San Francisco where he makes some chilling discoveries but also be aware of what is really going on as it is Eastwood at his finest.

Sudden Impact is an incredible film from Clint Eastwood that features top-notch performances from Eastwood and Sondra Locke. Along with its great supporting cast, eerie visuals, and a chilling score, it’s a film that explore the world of vengeance and a cop trying to understand this woman’s motivation as well as her need for justice. In the end, Sudden Impact is a sensational film from Clint Eastwood.

Dirty Harry Films: Dirty Harry - Magnum Force - The Enforcer - The Dead Pool

Clint Eastwood Films: (Play Misty for Me) – High Plains Drifter - (Breezy) - (The Eiger Sanction) - (The Outlaw Josey Wales) - (The Gauntlet) - (Bronco Billy) - (Firefox) - (Honkytonk Man) - Pale Rider - (Heartbreak Ridge) - (Bird) - (White Hunter Black Heart) - (The Rookie) – Unforgiven - (A Perfect World) - (The Bridges of Madison County) - (Absolute Power) - (Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil) - (True Crime) - (Space Cowboys) - (Blood Work) - (Mystic River) – Million Dollar Baby - Flags of Our Fathers - Letters from Iwo Jima - Changeling - (Gran Torino) – (Invictus) – (Hereafter) – (J. Edgar) – (Jersey Boys) – American Sniper - (Sully) -(The 15:17 to Paris) - (The Mule)

© thevoid99 2017

Elvis (1979 TV Film)

Directed by John Carpenter and written by Anthony Lawrence, Elvis is a made-for-TV movie about the life and career of Elvis Presley from his early beginnings to the aftermath of his comeback in the late 1960 and early 1970s. Told in a stylistic fashion, the TV movie explores the turbulent and raucous life of the King of Rock N’ Roll as he tries to deal with many ups and downs as he is played by Kurt Russell. Also starring Shelley Winters, Season Hubley, Bing Russell, and Pat Hingle. Elvis is a towering and mesmerizing TV movie by John Carpenter.

The life of Elvis Aaron Presley is one of the most unique in the history of the world as he was the man that brought a new sound to the post-war era of the 20th Century and became the King of Rock N’ Roll through many hit songs that are timeless. The TV movie is a typical story of Elvis Presley’s life as it’s told in a straightforward fashion though it begins in 1970 where Presley is about to mount his big comeback concert at the International Hotel in Las Vegas where he would reflect on his life and the journey he took from obscurity to being a troubled icon. The teleplay by Anthony Lawrence does take some dramatic liberties in aspects on Presley’s life yet it’s main focus is on Presley and the need to find balance in his success but also wanting to remain humble. There is a structure to the script where it’s first act is about Presley’s childhood and the need to help out his parents anyway he can but also wanting to become a singer.

The second act is about his meteoric rise but also tragedy when he deals with the death of his mother Gladys (Shelley Winters) around the time he would serve in the U.S. Army and later meet Priscilla (Season Hubley) who would become his wife in 1967. The third act is about the birth of their daughter Lisa Marie Presley but also Presley’s struggle with fame and fulfillment that would culminate with his comeback at the International Hotel. Yet, it all plays into Presley and his need to entertain and have his friends be along for the ride but also wanting to make his parents proud. Presley also talks to his stillborn twin brother Jesse as it adds to that lack of fulfillment and guidance that Presley craves for where he would also cope with the chaos of his fame that would eventually affect his marriage to Priscilla.

John Carpenter’s direction is largely straightforward which isn’t a complete surprise considering that it’s a sprawling TV movie with a near three-hour running time (in its Blu-Ray release). Still, Carpenter does manage to create something that is very engaging as it plays into the rise of this young man born at Tupelo, Mississippi who would later live in Memphis, Tennessee with his family. Shot largely in Los Angeles with some of it shot in Tennessee and some second unit shots of Las Vegas. Carpenter does manage to create something that play into a period of time where Presley is trying to maintain that sense of humbleness as he is devoted to family and his roots. With the usage of wide and medium shots for the locations as well as some close-ups to maintain some of the intimacy. Carpenter does create some compositions that are beautiful and lively where he allows the simplicity of these images to really say a lot without the need to be overly stylish. Overall, Carpenter creates an entertaining yet compelling film about the life of Elvis Presley.

Cinematographer Donald M. Morgan does excellent work with the film‘s cinematography from the usage of shadows and lights for some of the interiors to the beautiful usage of natural colors for many of its exterior scenes in the daytime. Editors Christopher Holmes and Ron Moler do nice work with the editing as it‘s mostly straightforward with a few stylish dissolves as well as fade-outs that is common with most TV movies. Art directors Tracy Bousman and James William Newport, with set decorator Bill Harp, do fantastic work with the look of the homes that Presley lived throughout his life as well as the look of some of the venues he would play at. Costume designers Suzanne Grace and Richard Mahoney do brilliant work with the costumes to play into the period of the times as well as the evolution of the clothes that Presley would wear as a performer.

Hair stylist Ruby Ford and makeup artist Marvin G. Westmore do terrific work with the look of the hairstyles that play into the way Presley looked throughout the years as well as the hairstyles that Priscilla would have in those years. Sound mixer Willie D. Burton does superb work with the way the music is presented as well as other sounds to play into Presley‘s lifestyle away from the world of performing. The film’s music by Joe Renzetti is wonderful as it’s mostly low-key in its orchestral setting to play into the dramatic elements of the film while most of it features a lot of the music of the times including songs performed by Elvis and country singer Ronnie McDowell as the live singing voice of Presley.

The casting by Joyce Selznick is great as it feature some notable small roles from Meg Wylie as Elvis’ fraternal grandmother, Felicia Fenske as Lisa Marie Presley, Abi Young as actress Natalie Wood, Joe Mantegna as Memphis Mafia member Joe Esposito, Dennis Christopher as film actor Nick Adams, Les Lannom as Sonny West of the Memphis Mafia, Peter Hobbs as Jim Denny of the Memphis Mafia, Randy Gray as the young Elvis, Elliott Street as Elvis’ bassist Billy Black, James Canning as Elvis’ guitarist Scotty Moore, Melody Anderson as Elvis’ first girlfriend Bonnie, and Ellen Travolta as Marion Keisker as the person who would record Elvis’ first songs. Charlie Cyphers is terrific as Sun Records founder Sam Phillips who would discover Elvis and give him his first break while Pat Hingle is superb as Elvis’ manager Col. Tom Parker who would make Elvis into a megastar as well as handle some of Elvis’ business.

Robert Gray is fantastic as Elvis’ friend Red West who would be part of the Memphis Mafia that would protect and hang around with Elvis as makes sure Elvis have a good time and keep him grounded. Bing Russell is excellent as Elvis’ father Vernon who does whatever he can to help Elvis following the death of his wife as well as watch over some of his son’s finances. Shelley Winters is amazing as Elvis’ mother Gladys as this woman who adores her son and strives for him to succeed while being overwhelmed by all of his success as she helps try to ground him from not having fame get over his head. Season Hubley is brilliant as Priscilla as Elvis’ wife whom he met in Germany when she was 14 as she would be the love of his life while later coping with living in a world that she has very little control of. Finally, there’s Kurt Russell in a phenomenal performance as the titular character who does whatever he can to succeed and help out his parents while dealing with all sorts of trials and tribulations where Russell displays a charm and humility that brings the man back to life as it’s one of Russell’s defining performances.

Elvis is a sensational TV film from John Carpenter that features an incredible performance from Kurt Russell as the titular character. It’s a TV movie that doesn’t just tell a fascinating story about the King of Rock N’ Roll but also manages to be a bio-pic that does a lot in creating a story that is engaging though still manage to be conventional. In the end, Elvis is a remarkable TV film from John Carpenter.

John Carpenter Films: Dark Star - Assault on Precinct 13 - Halloween - Someone’s Watching Me! - The Fog - Escape from New York - The Thing - Christine - Starman - Big Trouble in Little China - Prince of Darkness - They Live - Memoirs of an Invisible Man - Body Bags - In the Mouth of Madness - Village of the Damned - Escape from L.A. - Vampires - Ghosts of Mars - The Ward

The Auteurs #60: John Carpenter Part 1 - Part 2

© thevoid99 2016

Batman Forever

Based on the DC Comics by Bob Kane, Batman Forever is the story of Batman facing new foes as he also deals with his own traumas and identity while taking in a young man who would become his new partner in Robin. Directed by Joel Schumacher with a screenplay by Akiva Goldsman, Lee Batchler, and Janet Scott-Batchler from a story by the Batchlers, the film is the third film of the franchise that began with the 1989 film as Val Kilmer plays the role of the Caped Crusader and Bruce Wayne with Chris O’Donnell in the role of Dick Grayson/Robin while the villains in Harvey “Two-Face” Dent and Edward Nygma/the Riddler are respectively played by Tommy Lee Jones and Jim Carrey. Also starring Nicole Kidman, Pat Hingle, Drew Barrymore, Debi Mazar, and Michael Gough. Batman Forever is an entertaining but messy film from Joel Schumacher.

The film is about Batman facing two new villains as he tries to cope his role as Bruce Wayne and Batman where he also deals with his parents’ death just as a young man named Dick Grayson just lost his parents. While Batman deals with the maniacal Harvey “Two-Face” Dent, who was Gotham’s district attorney until an incident left the left-part of his face scarred as Batman was blamed for it, and a former Wayne Enterprise employee in Edward Nygma who becomes the Riddler. Adding to Wayne’s complicated life is the presence of a psychiatrist Dr. Chase Meridian (Nicole Kidman) who is obsessed with Batman as Wayne goes to her over his own identity issues. In taking the young Grayson, Wayne eventually realizes that he’ll need Grayson to stop Two-Face and the Riddler as Grayson would become Batman’s new sidekick Robin.

The film’s screenplay does create some nice reference to the origin stories of Robin, Two-Face, and the Riddler as they are interesting characters. Yet, the script is much-more lighthearted in its approach to action by infusing some humor into the film as it relates to the Riddler who creates an invention that would extract information from other people’s minds as he would be the one to discover Wayne’s secrets. They’re among some of the elements of the film’s script that works yet there’s some things that don’t work as the characterization of Dr. Meridian is she is this woman whose obsession for Batman makes her somewhat unprofessional as a psychiatrist. Plus, she becomes this damsel-in-distress later on as the writing doesn’t really give her more to do while some of the re-hashing of Bruce Wayne’s past is definitely uninspiring since it’s stuff that audiences already know.

Joel Schumacher’s direction does have some nice moments as the presentation of the film is far more colorful than its predecessors that were helmed by Tim Burton. Even as Schumacher was able to keep things lively in some of the film’s humor and action sequences with some dazzling compositions and moments that are very entertaining. Yet, there’s some moments in Schumacher’s direction that doesn’t work as there is a bit of cheese in some of the dialogue and action sequences where it’s clear that Schumacher wants to create something that is fun but there’s things that feels off since Batman is really a very dark character. One aspect of the direction that is very annoying are the slanted camera angles which are overdone as it makes not sense to some of the visuals in the film. While the film does have an amazing climax, it does get over-the-top at times where it would play into Batman finally accepting his two identities though some of the presentation comes off as very silly. Overall, Schumacher crafts an exciting but dizzying film about Batman and Robin fighting Two-Face and the Riddler.

Cinematographer Stephen Goldblatt does nice work with some of the film‘s extravagant lighting for the look of Gotham as well as creating some shadows and lighting schemes to play into some of the darker moments of the film. Editors Dennis Virkler and Mark Stevens do terrific work with the editing with its use of flashback montages and rhythmic cuts for some of the film‘s action scenes. Production designer Barbara Ling, with art directors Christopher Burian-Mohr and Joseph P. Lucky and set decorator Cricket Rowland, does excellent work with the set pieces from the look of Gotham as well as the secret lair of Two-Face. Costume designers Bob Ringwood and Ingrid Ferrin do some good work with the clothes that Two-Face and the Riddler wear though the look of the Batsuit with nipples and codpieces are just ridiculously bad.

Special makeup designer Rick Baker does amazing work with the look of Two-Face where his left face is badly scarred to play into his unstable personality. Visual effects supervisors Andrew Adamson, Eric Durst, Boyd Shermis, and David Stump do some wonderful work with the miniatures of Gotham and some of the CGI look in some of its action sequences. Sound editors John Levesque and Bruce Stambler, along with sound designers Frank Kniest and Roland N. Thai, do some superb work with the sound from the way Riddler‘s machine extracts information from other people‘s minds to the layering of sounds in the action scenes. The film’s music by Elliot Goldenthal is pretty decent for its orchestral bombast with some triumphant moments but also some humorous pieces while music supervisor Jolene Cherry brings in an eclectic soundtrack that features song by the Flaming Lips, U2, the Offspring, Brandy, and Seal.

The casting by Mali Finn is brilliant for the ensemble that is created as it features some notable appearances from Don “The Dragon” Wilson as a gang leader Grayson encounters, Jon Faverau as a Wayne Enterprise assistant, Rene Auberjonois as the doctor from Arkham Asylum, Joe Grifasi as a bank security guard that Batman saves early in the film, and Ed Begley Jr. as Nygma’s boss who is later killed by Nygma. One small role that isn’t very good is the Gossip Gertie character performed by Bob Kane’s wife Elizabeth Sanders as it’s a very annoying character that serves no purpose to the film. Michael Gough and Pat Hingle are terrific in their respective roles as Alfred Pennyworth and Commissioner Gordon as Gough serves as a father-figure to Grayson while Hingle has Gordon be the man who would bring Grayson to Bruce Wayne.

Drew Barrymore and Debi Mazar are both fun to watch in their respective roles as Two-Face’s assistants Sugar and Spice. Nicole Kidman is alright as Dr. Meridian Chase as this woman who has some charm and sexiness but the writing doesn’t really do any favors for Kidman as her character turns out to be very obsessed with Batman. Chris O’Donnell is excellent as Dick Grayson/Robin as a lost young man wanting vengeance on Two-Face while asking for help from Batman. Tommy Lee Jones is fantastic as Two-Face as this maniacal man who uses a coin to make decisions while wanting to kill Batman at any cost.

Jim Carrey is great as the Riddler as this former Waynes Enterprise employee who wants to get rid of Batman for not accepting his invention and become even richer than Batman as Carrey is just fun to watch. Finally, there’s Val Kilmer in a pretty good performance as Bruce Wayne/Batman as Kilmer does maintain that brooding persona of Batman but doesn’t really make Wayne very interesting while some of the characterization of Batman is off as it includes a shot of Batman smiling. Batman is not supposed to smile.

Batman Forever is a solid film from Joel Schumacher. Thanks to the lively performances of Jim Carrey and Tommy Lee Jones as the villains, it’s a film that is very entertaining but loses a lot of the dark aspects of the Batman character in favor of being more accessible to a younger audience. Especially as Schumacher’s colorful presentation is a bit overwhelming at times where it allows the film and Batman to lose its edge. In the end, Batman Forever is a good but troubling film from Joel Schumacher.

Batman Films: (Batman (1966 film)) - Batman (1989 film) - Batman Returns - Batman & Robin - Batman Begins - The Dark Knight - The Dark Knight Rises - Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice - The Lego Batman Movie - The Batman (2022 film)

© thevoid99 2014

Batman Returns

Based on the DC Comics by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, Batman Returns is the sequel to the 1989 film in which Batman faces a new foe in the Penguin who teams up with a business tycoon to take down the Batman while a mysterious vigilante in Catwoman also creates trouble. Directed by Tim Burton with a screenplay by Sam Hamm and Daniel Waters from a story by Hamm, the film is a darker story than its predecessor as Bruce Wayne/Batman deals with his new foes as Michael Keaton reprises his role with Michelle Pfeiffer as Selina Kyle/Catwoman, and Danny Devito as Oswald Cobblepot/the Penguin. Also starring Pat Hingle, Michael Gough, Michael Murphy, Cristi Conaway, and Christopher Walken as Max Shreck. Batman Returns is a superbly thrilling film from Tim Burton.

The film is an exploration into Bruce Wayne adjusting to his role as Gotham’s peacekeeper as new enemies emerge during the Christmas holidays to wreak havoc on the city. Among them is a deformed man known as the Penguin who wants to take over Gotham where he kidnaps the industrialist Max Shreck as the two team up to control Gotham. Adding to the chaos is a woman named Selina Kyle who was a secretary of Shreck as she was pushed out of a window and fell many stories to the ground. Kyle would survive the fall as she becomes Catwoman as she becomes a vigilante of her own as she causes problems for Batman where she briefly aligns with the Penguin. Yet, Kyle’s life is more complicated when she falls for Bruce Wayne unaware that he’s Batman and vice versa as it would lead to a very troubling climax.

The film’s screenplay by Sam Hamm and Daniel Waters, with additional work by Wesley Strick, doesn’t just explore Bruce Wayne being this hero for Gotham but also encounter these new forces. The real villain in the film is Max Shreck as he is this industrialist that wants to create a new power-plant for Gotham when the city doesn’t need it. When Kyle accidentally learns what Shreck is doing, Shreck tries to kill her as he would use the Penguin to usurp Gotham’s mayor (Michael Murphy) to become the new mayor so Shreck can build his power plant. Though Penguin had his own plans to create chaos in Gotham, he teams up with Shreck for power while trying to discredit Batman with the help of Catwoman. One of the aspects of the script that is unique is the fact that it’s a film about identity as it relates to Batman, Penguin, and Catwoman.

Whereas Bruce Wayne tries to cope with his dual role as he is also seeking some balance as a man where he wouldn’t need to keep secrets. Though he accepts his role as Gotham’s hero, it’s not one that he easily accepts as he has few allies in the city. The Penguin maybe an antagonist but not a conventional one as the film begins with his birth as he arrives as a deformed baby his rich parents would dump into a sewer just days after his birth. In being this outcast, he wants to destroy Gotham only to become a pawn in Shreck’s plans that forces him to become more determined for Gotham’s end. Then there’s Selina Kyle who starts out as this timid secretary who lives with a cat as her near-death experience in the hands of Shreck has her becoming this unstable woman that not only wants to get revenge on Shreck but her encounter with Batman would create a very complicated relationship as their real-life personas are in love with each other while there’s a strange attraction between the two in their other personas. Catwoman isn’t a villain nor a hero but a true anti-hero who is only in it for herself.

Tim Burton’s direction is definitely more extravagant in some respects but also very offbeat in its mix of dark humor, action, and suspense. Yet, there’s a looseness to the story where Burton is able to make all of these elements fuse together though not all of these moments work. Still, he is able to create some exotic scenes and action sequences that are very exciting as it includes a very memorable moment where Catwoman introduces herself to Batman and the Penguin. The use of close-ups, wide shots, and medium shots gives Burton some room to breathe in the way he creates some of these moments while being able to explore the complexity of identity in the film in shots that are much more simpler. Especially in the romantic attraction between Wayne/Batman and Kyle/Catwoman as there’s an element of sensuality in that attraction.

The direction is also stylish in the way some of the action scenes and in some of the humor that is presented though a lot of its very dark. Especially in the film’s climax as it involves Batman, the Penguin, Catwoman, and Shreck as it features extravagant set pieces as well as a lot of penguins where some of it is real and some are robotic. The usage of animals do add some style to the film where they would aid whoever is needed as its climax is both enthralling but also somber where it would play into Batman/Wayne’s struggle to find a balance in his dual role. Overall, Burton crafts a very exciting and stylish film about Batman coming to terms with his identity and the new foes he faces.

Cinematographer Stefan Czapsky does excellent work with the film‘s cinematography from the look of the exteriors of Gotham as well some of the lighting in the sewer home of the Penguin and his army as well as the shadows in the Batcave. Editors Chris Lebenzon and Bob Badami do nice work with the editing as it‘s pretty straightforward with some stylish cutting for some of the film‘s action scenes as well as some of its humorous moments. Production designer Bo Welch with set decorator Cheryl Carasik and supervising art director Tom Duffield, does amazing work with the set pieces from the look of the city square in Gotham to the Batcave as well as the Penguin‘s lair, and the apartment Kyle lived in. Costume designers Bob Ringwood and Mary E. Vogt do fantastic work with the look of Catwoman‘s costumes as well as the clothes of the Penguin and the suits that Max Shreck wears.

Makeup designers Stan Winston, Ve Neill, and Ronnie Specter do brilliant work with the makeup design of the Penguin as well the look of his band of freaks that he leads. Visual effects supervisor Michael L. Fink does terrific work with some of the visual effects that includes some early ideas of CGI as well as the use of miniatures in some of the action sequences. Sound editors Richard L. Anderson and David E. Stone do superb work with the sound to create some layering of sounds in the action scenes as well as some of the scenes set in Gotham. The film’s music by Danny Elfman is incredible for its mixture of bombastic orchestral pieces to some more serene and enchanting pieces to play into some of the melancholia as the film’s soundtrack also includes a few Christmas pieces and a collaboration with Siouxsie & the Banshees for the song Face to Face.

The casting by Marion Dougherty is great for the ensemble that is created as it features cameo appearances from Jan Hooks as a PR assistant, Vincent Schiavelli as one of the Penguin’s henchmen, Anna Katarina as the poodle lady who works for the Penguin, and in the role of Penguin’s parents, Paul Reubens and Diane Salinger who had appeared in Burton’s first film Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure. Other notable small roles include Andrew Bryniarski as Shreck’s son Chip, Cristi Conaway as the Ice Princess who lights Gotham’s Xmas tree, and Michael Murphy as the city’s mayor. Reprising their roles from the first film, Pat Hingle and Michael Gough are terrific in their respective roles as Commissioner Gordon and Alfred Pennyworth where Gordon becomes one of the few men who trusts Batman while Pennyworth helps Batman/Wayne in uncovering some of the mysteries relating to the Penguin.

Christopher Walken is brilliant as the very manipulative and power-hungry Max Shreck as Walken has this charm that makes him a very unique villain that doesn’t have any personas but is willing to use people for his own means. Danny DeVito is fantastic as the Penguin as a man who learns about his family as he becomes manipulated into becoming a politician only to realize that he is who he is as he wants to destroy Gotham and its hero Batman. Michelle Pfeiffer is phenomenal as Selina Kyle/Catwoman as this woman who despises Shreck for his plans and later trying to kill her as she becomes this very unstable woman that wants to create chaos as she also falls for Wayne/Batman. Finally, there’s Michael Keaton in a superb performance as Bruce Wayne/Batman as Keaton displays more aggression in his role as Batman while still being a bit brooding as he showcases Wayne’s struggle to balance his dual roles as he also has some great chemistry with Pfeiffer in their different personas.

Batman Returns is an excellent film from Tim Burton that manages to be a worthy sequel to its 1989 predecessor. Armed with an amazing cast as well as dazzling set pieces and Danny Elfman’s sumptuous score that includes a song by Siouxsie & the Banshees. While it is a darker film than its predecessor, it is still an engaging one for the way it explores identities and one man’s desire to balance his role as a man and crime fighter. In the end, Batman Returns is a marvelous film from Tim Burton.

Tim Burton Films: (Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure) - Beetlejuice - Batman - (Edward Scissorhands) - Ed Wood - (Mars Attacks!) - (Sleepy Hollow) - (Planet of the Apes (2001 film)) - (Big Fish) - (Charlie & the Chocolate Factory) - (Corpse Bride) - (Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street) - (Alice in Wonderland (2010 film)) - (Dark Shadows) - (Frankenweenie) - (Big Eyes) - (Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children) - (Dumbo (2019 film)) - Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Batman Films: (Batman (1966 film)) - Batman Forever - Batman & Robin - Batman Begins - The Dark Knight - The Dark Knight Rises - Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice - The Lego Batman Movie - The Batman (2022 film)

© thevoid99 2014

Batman (1989 film)

Based on the DC Comics by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, Batman is the story about a mysterious vigilante who battles corruption in Gotham City as he deals with a former mob enforcer who would become the Joker who is set to wreak havoc on the city. Directed by Tim Burton and screenplay by Sam Hamm and Warren Skaaren from a story by Hamm, the film is an origin-story of sorts of how Bruce Wayne deals with the loss of his parents in the hands of the man who would become the Joker while falling for a photojournalist. In the role of Wayne/Batman is Michael Keaton while playing the role of the Joker is Jack Nicholson. Also starring Kim Basinger, Robert Wuhl, Michael Gough, Pat Hingle, Tracey Walter, Billy Dee Williams, Jerry Hall, and Jack Palance. Batman is an adventurous yet stylish film from Tim Burton.

The film is about Bruce Wayne and his alter-ego in Batman as he tries to save Gotham from chaos as its bicentennial is approaching. In this role of a vigilante who isn’t accepted by the police, Batman would spread fears into the criminals as he would fight the mob where an encounter with the enforcer Jack Napier at a chemical plant would have some repercussions where Napier falls into a chemical waste as he would survive and become a more psychotic killer in the Joker. The Joker would wreak havoc on Gotham forcing Batman to try and stop him while Wayne would deal with the trauma over his parents death as he falls for the photojournalist Vicki Vale (Kim Basinger) who is helping a reporter in covering a story on Batman. It’s a film that isn’t a traditional origin-story but rather an interpretation into what drives Bruce Wayne into becoming Batman as well as coming to terms with his loss and the man who killed his parents when he was a kid.

The film’s screenplay does subvert a lot of the ideas of the origin story in order to make it a film in not just Jack Napier’s transformation as the Joker but also in how he would get Batman to emerge out of the shadows and save Gotham. When Wayne isn’t Batman, he acts as this reclusive and eccentric billionaire who is sort of aloof to the public including Vicki Vale and her journalist friend Alexander Knox (Robert Wuhl) as it’s just a cover for the fact that he is trying to stop corruption in the hands of mob boss Carl Grissom (Jack Palance). Yet, Grissom would try to kill Napier who had been having an affair with Grissom’s mistress as it would force Napier as the Joker to kill Grissom and take over all of the operations. Yet, the Joker just wants to create chaos and destroy the Batman so he can rule Gotham. This would force Wayne to not only step up against the Joker but also deal with the wounds and trauma so he can gain some peace.

Adding to the dramatic elements of the story is the presence of Vicki Vale as she helps Knox try to find the identity of Batman as she gets close to Bruce Wayne where she and Knox eventually learn about Wayne’s past and his parents death. She would eventually become an object of desire for the Joker who would try to woo her in the most insane ways as it adds to some of the film’s dark humor.

Tim Burton’s direction is very extravagant in some of the set pieces he creates from the Axis chemical plant to the city of Gotham itself as it becomes a playpen of sorts for him. With its emphasis on miniatures and other special effects, Burton creates a film that does have a look that is quite dark but also very offbeat. Much of the staging of the fights and action sequences that is shot at Pinewood Studios in England has Burton going for a world that definitely seems to have a bit of a comic-book look but also a bit of realism. The compositions that Burton creates for those scenes are vast and powerful as it includes the climatic showdown between Batman and the Joker as well as an earlier confrontation at a museum.

The dramatic and humorous scenes are also interesting in the way Burton maintains a certain intimacy in his direction. Especially in the latter as the humor is very dark yet somehow manages to be very funny. There’s an energy to those scenes while the dramatic moments including a flashback scene of the death of Wayne’s parents are quite eerie but also somber in how Wayne tries to cope with that loss. That balance of humor, adventure, drama and suspense somehow manages to create a film that doesn’t have all of the attributes of a great blockbuster film but also something more. Overall, Burton creates a film that does more than what it needed to be while also being a whole lot of fun to watch.

Cinematographer Roger Pratt does excellent work with the film‘s cinematography with its use of shadows and such for some of the film‘s interior scenes at night as well as the elaborate lighting schemes for the parade and some of the exterior settings in Gotham. Editor Ray Lovejoy does brilliant work with the editing with its approach to rhythms that allows each moment to shown while slowing things down in the more dramatic portions of the film. Production designer Anton Furst, with set decorator Peter Young and supervising art director Leslie Tomkins, does fantastic work with the set pieces from the look of Gotham City as well as the places such as Wayne Manor, the Axis Chemicals factory, and other places in Gotham while Keith Short does superb work in the design of the Batmobile.

Costume designers Bob Ringwood and Tony Dunsterville do terrific work with the design of the costumes from the suits of the Joker as well as the costume that Batman wears. Makeup designer Nick Dudman does wonderful work with the design of the makeup that the Joker wears. Visual effects supervisor Derek Meddings does nice work with some of the visual effects that includes some animation and miniatures in some of the designs of the places in Gotham. Sound editor Don Sharpe does some fine work with the sound to create some of the film’s sound effects as well as the chaos that goes on in Gotham. The film’s music by Danny Elfman is great for its bombastic orchestral theme to play into some of the adventure and drama that occurs in the film while the soundtrack features an album of original songs by Prince that plays into the film‘s humor as it‘s mixture of funk and soul music with a bit of rock adds a unique flavor to the film.

The casting by Marion Dougherty is incredible for the ensemble that is created as it features some notable small appearances from William Hootkins as the corrupt Lt. Eckhardt, Lee Wallace as Gotham’s Mayor Borg, Tracey Walter as Jack’s right-hand man, David Baxt and Sharon Holm as Bruce’s parents in the flashback scene, Charles Roskilly as the young Bruce Wayne, Hugo E. Blick as the young Jack Napier, and Jerry Hall as Carl Grissom’s mistress Alicia. Jack Palance is excellent as Jack’s boss Carl Grissom who tries to have Jack whacked only to deal with the more psychotic Joker. Billy Dee Williams is terrific as the new district attorney Harvey Dent while Pat Hingle is superb as Commissioner James Gordon. Alfred Gough is wonderful as the very resourceful Alfred Pennyworth who helps Bruce in all sorts of things. Robert Wuhl is brilliant as the reporter Alexander Knox as he says some funny things while being the guy trying to get Vale not to get too close.

Kim Basinger is pretty good as Vicki Vale as this determined photojournalist who falls for Bruce Wayne while becoming the unwilling object of affection of the Joker. Jack Nicholson is magnificent as Jack Napier/the Joker as a mob guy who likes to take care of business only to become this very strange psychotic who always has some funny things to say while being a complete psychopath as it’s definitely one of Nicholson’s best roles. Finally, there’s Michael Keaton in a marvelous performance as the titular character/Bruce Wayne as Keaton brings this very restrained performance that has this brooding quality to both personas as well as a bit of aloofness in his approach to Wayne while being the badass as Batman.

Batman is a remarkable film from Tim Burton that features outstanding performances from Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson. Along with a strong supporting cast and great set designs, it’s a film that definitely serves as a standard-bearer for many superhero blockbuster films while it’s also a film that is very fun to watch. In the end, Batman is an incredible film from Tim Burton.

Tim Burton Films: (Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure) - Beetlejuice - (Edward Scissorhands) - Batman Returns - Ed Wood - (Mars Attacks!) - (Sleepy Hollow) - (Planet of the Apes (2001 film)) - (Big Fish) - (Charlie & the Chocolate Factory) - (Corpse Bride) - (Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street) - (Alice in Wonderland (2010 film)) - (Dark Shadows) - (Frankenweenie) - (Big Eyes) - (Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children) - (Dumbo (2019 film)) - Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Batman Films: (Batman (1966 film)) - Batman Forever - Batman & Robin - Batman Begins - The Dark Knight - The Dark Knight Rises - Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice - The Lego Batman Movie - The Batman (2022 film)

© thevoid99 2014

Batman & Robin

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 9/15/05 w/ Additional Edits.

When Tim Burton was selected to do a big-screen version of the Caped Crusader Batman back in 1989, he did his job in creating two successful features with the first one with Jack Nicholson and Michael Keaton as Batman. 1992's Batman Returns with Michelle Pfeiffer, Danny DeVito and Christopher Walken was also successful. When Burton chose to drop out to do more personal projects, he remained an executive producer for the third Batman film entitled Batman Forever with Val Kilmer in the role. Chosen to direct the project was Joel Schumacher who had success with such films as St. Elmo's Fire and The Lost Boys. Also starring Tommy Lee Jones, Jim Carrey, Nicole Kidman, and Chris O'Donnell as Robin, Batman Forever was successful though fans of the comic book hated Schumacher's take on the Caped Crusader. Schumacher was selected again to do a fourth one which to this day, is considered to be the worst of the franchise entitled Batman & Robin.

With a screenplay by Akiva Goldsman, Batman & Robin focuses on the duo's battle with a couple of new villains, Mr. Freeze and Poison Ivy while the duo gets help from Batgirl. With Burton no longer involved, whatever was left of the fear presence Batman has was gone. Instead, it's all about the campy style of 1960s Batman with 1990s blockbuster extravagance as George Clooney takes on the role of Batman and Bruce Wayne. With O'Donnell returning as Robin/Dick Grayson along with two of the franchises' mainstay in Michael Gough as Alfred and Pat Hingle as Commissioner Gordon. The casting would only get worse with Arnold Schwarzenegger as Mr. Freeze, Uma Thurman as Poison Ivy/Pamela Isley, and then-"It" girl Alicia Silverstone as Batgirl. In the end, Batman & Robin provides everything that is needed for spewing commentary when fans watch it as if they're in another episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000.

Mr. Freeze is robbing a museum at Gotham with his gang of hooligans on ice as it's up to Batman and Robin to save the day. Freeze's attempt to steal a diamond nearly goes smoothly as Batman and Robin try to stop him, and a rocket though Robin gets frozen as Freeze succeeds in his mission. Batman learns that Freeze's diamond thefts are for a research to cure a rare disease called McGregor's Syndrome that took his wife Nora Fries (Vendela) away. Freeze has frozen her to work on curing the disease in its stages as he needed more diamonds to steal so he can fund his research.

Meanwhile in a lab, a mad doctor Jason Woods (John Glover) has created an experiment to create a super-soldier named Bane (Jeep Swenson) as a scientist named Pamela Isley sees what Woods does as he attacks her, thinking that she is dead only to be revived as a sexpot with poisonous lips as she takes Bane with her. With Alfred starting to ail, Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson receives a surprise visit from Alfred's niece Barbara (Alicia Silverstone) who has just left school. While Barbara on the surface might seem like a nice girl, she has a knack for trouble and motorcycle racing which Dick begins to suspect. Bruce unveils a brand new telescope to research space as he is confronted by Isley and during a charity auction, Batman and Robin are introduced to Poison Ivy. That same night, Freeze succeeds in stealing another diamond until being stopped by Batman though Robin's frustration in a lack of equal partnership takes its toll.

Freeze is imprisoned in Arkham Asylum as Ivy and Bane breaks him out to retrieve his diamonds and wife as Batman and Robin learn that he's broken out. Their attempt to capture him fails as they're being seduced by Poison Ivy with Batman realizing her powers. Things at home get worse as Alfred is dying with McGregor's Syndrome as Barbara wants to know a secret that Alfred is keeping. When Ivy tells Freeze that his wife has died from Batman's hands, Freeze decides to take vengeance into freezing Gotham for good. With Ivy disguised as Isley approaches at an opening for the telescope, Bruce learns who she really is as he tries to stop Robin from coming to her. Barbara learns the secret as she becomes Batgirl where she helps Robin and Batman stop Freeze and Poison Ivy. Do they succeed? Will Robin score with Poison Ivy? Will Mr. Freeze find a cure for the rare disease? Do.... we even care at this point?

For many purists and fans of Batman, they know Batman as simply as one thing. A superhero who brings fear to his enemies. This Batman however, doesn't scare you. He doesn't even do anything but make a fool of himself and say the most inane things while carrying a credit card. That is not Batman! Batman doesn't go out, stop for Big Macs, hitting on women, fighting criminals with lame gadgets, and having to breast-feed Robin. NO!!!! NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, HELL TO THE NO!!!!!!

The fault shouldn't just totally be on just Joel Schumacher but also screenwriter Akiva Goldsman, the guy who wrote A Beautiful Mind and Cinderella Man. He also wrote such crap-fest as Deep Blue Sea and Lost in Space. Obviously, this guy has not read a single Batman comic book and really doesn't understand the mystique and dark humor that the Caped Crusader has. There's no depth into what Batman does or says, not even Bruce Wayne does anything except go to parties with his girlfriend, mope on Alfred, and be an overbearing dad to Robin. The dramatics of the script feels contrived and uninspiring as it gets overshadowed by bad puns, one-liners, and worst of all, the lines that the audience will know is coming. This is by far one of the worst screenplays ever conceived.

If the script was bad enough, nothing could get any worse in the film's meandering, bloated direction from Joel Schumacher. Not only does he miscalculate in what the audience wants, he presents things and ideas that shouldn't be on a franchise film like Batman. There's fireworks explosions and slow camera action in every action scene and there's a feeling on what is expected. There's nothing going on in the film and the fighting is just.... yawn. Ok, the campy style of the 1960s TV show was entertaining and all but in this film, it just goes way too far. Do we really need batskates, surfboarding, motorcycles, car chases, and all of this into one film where nothing really happens?

It gets worse as when Schumacher tries to take a break from the action, he aims for drama and comedy where it feels flat. The comedy aspect of the film is just silly and only funny in a very bad way. The drama with the subplot of Alfred dying doesn't give much to the story and we know he's going to live. We just don't care. The childhood image flashbacks that Bruce has is supposed to be sentimental but comes out in a very contrived, cheesy way. Nothing in the story works or directing works. The subplots of Barbara doing her thing, Ivy's attempt to destroy the world for her plants, and Freeze wanting to save his wife is really a distraction. The main story is supposed to be about Batman and Robin trying to find equal footing but there's not much going on. Robin gets all bitchy, Batman gets all possessive, they fight over Ivy, and in the end, decide to become partners. Wow...

When the third act arrives and there's a chance to save the world, whatever intelligence is left in the film has vanished into a contrive moment where Batman tries to get Mr. Freeze to be good. It's pathetic. Schumacher should've been shot after making this film and there's never a moment where the film works in any way, even in the technical area. The production of the film feels like it's shot in a studio where it just feels lifeless. The whole area in the exteriors feels like a cartoon where even in the car chase scenes, it's like watching toy cars chasing each other. The interiors don't work either since it comes off in a bloated way. The film's production design by Barbara Ling is just awful in what Schumacher wanted in got while Stephen Goldblatt's cinematography is just off-the-wall with excessive color lighting that is unnecessary. And the costumes by Ingrid Ferrin and Robert Turturice that features nipples on the Batsuits where Schumacher has an excuse to have butt shots and nipple shots in the suits. Ugh!!!!!!!! Oh, Batman has a new Batmobile, it was like the last one. Lame.

Anyone who watches the film closely will definitely see errors and there's many of them. The sound dubbing is awful on a few parts where throughout the entire film, it's mixed way too loud, even if you turn your TV down. The editing by Dennis Virkler doesn't do anything to the film in its overlong running time of 130-minutes plus a scene that is badly edited where Robin is in a pool and suddenly, the film rewinds as he is stuck in the pool. That is some very bad editing. The film score Eliot Goldenthal really does nothing to the film only to know what's coming along with its lame theme. Then, we have the film's awful soundtrack featuring one of the Smashing Pumpkins' worst songs ever and an awful ballad from R. Kelly for Gotham City. (in singing voice) Oh, I love Gotham City, My body's calling!!!! Please buy my new album!!!!! I need to beat my case!!!

Tracks from R.E.M., the Goo Goo Dolls, Jewel, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Moloko, Soul Coughing, Underworld, Eric Benet, and Me'Shell Ndegeocello add nothing to the film at all since it's all merely used for commercial reasons.

Then there's your cast and ok... what else is there to say? They all sucked!!!!! They all should've gotten a Razzie Award for worst ensemble cast. Ok, we have supermodel Vendela being stuck in a tank and Vivica A. Fox as a wannabe squeeze for Mr. Freeze. Next. Oh, we have former pro wrestler turned former Governor of Minnesota, Jesse Ventura in a cameo. There's also Coolio and Nicky Katt in the bike racing scenes. Ok... The worst character to come from this and the previous film Batman Forever was a character named Gossip Gerty played by Elizabeth Sanders who just does nothing but blabs and blabs. Ugh... Bane is just a terrible character who just acts like King Kong without the brains and breaks things. This was Jeep Swenson's last role and months later, he died which is sad but this is what he'll be remembered for? For shame. Elle MacPherson plays Bruce Wayne's new girlfriend and does nothing but look pretty. Ok. John Glover goes overboard as a mad scientist, he's not funny, he's not scary. He's just stupid.

Pat Hingle does nothing but be idiotic as Commissioner Gordon, where's Gary Oldman when you need him? Michael Gough does nothing but acts like he's in constipation throughout the film as he gives a very uninspiring performance. Michael Caine was better as Alfred since he actually makes Alfred not only cool but is the moral guide for Batman and actually gets to kick some ass Just get the kid who played the young Bruce Wayne in Batman Begins in this movie and he'll just out act everyone.

Now we go to the main cast. Ok, Uma Thurman is a great actress but what was she thinking when she did this and The Avengers? Oh, $$$$$. Thankfully, she would redeem herself with Kill Bill but imagine if the Bride was in Batman & Robin and was going up against Poison Ivy and Batgirl. Hell, let's add Halle Berry's Catwoman into the mix. It would be done in five seconds as the Bride wins victorious with her Hanzo sword. Thurman is a walking joke throughout the film with her awful, big red hair, overly-done costumes, and does nothing but say awful one-liners in a bad noir-like female voice. Then in her fight scene with Batgirl, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad!!!!!! Ok, everyone has been found guilty and is forced to live in fear of the new Batman. Uma, since you've done Kill Bill, you're free to go but remind yourself to not do things like this again.

Alicia Silverstone is just awful as Batgirl/Barbara Wilson. She not only gives out bad one-liners but also some horrific acting. I had a crush on her during the Aerosmith video days but when I saw this film on TV, it was over. She does nothing to the film but attract young horny boys but they would be totally disgruntled in the end. After the wonderful Clueless, she was definitely poised to be a star but what has she done since that was relevant? She's done nothing and just became another "It" girl who fell and fast too. Sorry, she is guilty and she should be punished. Chris O'Donnell is annoying as Robin and does nothing but pout and whine and give out some awful one liners including the first line of the film, &#147I want the car, chicks dig the car". Shut up!!!! He went on to do a small part in Kinsey while has done some good early work and stayed out the spotlight. He can go with a bit of dignity but he's going to have to wear the Batman/Robin symbol to remind himself of his sins.

George Clooney may have the chin to be Batman and he's a great actor but he is probably the last guy you would expect to play Batman/Bruce Wayne. He's not bad but the lines he's been given and the way his character is written forced Clooney to pretty much, sleepwalk throughout the entire film. You can tell that he isn't into it and even in some dramatic moments, he comes off in a very lazy way. He does what he can do but he probably doesn't think he was right for the role at all. He at least can walk away with dignity for the fact that he knew that he sucked as the Caped Crusader. The film's worst performance is really no-contest and that honor goes to the current Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Arnold just basically brings out some of the worst one-liners and puns that is ever said in any film and when he actually, really tries to act. It's just hilarious because it's so bad. He's not even funny when he tries to be or even when he's trying to be intimidating, he's not scary. He's just a stupid big man wearing a stupid big costume. Sorry but it's time to vote this Governor out!!!!!!

When Batman & Robin was released in the summer of 1997, it was expected to be this massive blockbuster hit but poor reviews and mediocre box office numbers helped sunk the entire franchise. Making things worse just as the film was ready for release, plans for another Batman film was in the works. During an appearance on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Adam West who played the TV Batman said that he was up for the fifth to play Uncle Batman. Whether it was a joke or not, fans of the Caped Crusader had enough. Warner Brothers in the end decided to give the franchise a break as fans were ready to kill.

To this day, Batman & Robin isn't just regarded as the worst film of the Batman series but a reminder of how idiotic Hollywood can be into handling a franchise. What made things worse when the film came out was the commercialization of it where McDonalds was promoting the film and it really got to the point that Batman had become a joke. If the Batman of now would appear in Batman & Robin, that entire cast would be scared to death while Alfred would die a more horrible death by Michael Caine's Alfred while Gary Oldman's Gordon would beat the living crap out of Hingle's Gordon. Kids shouldn't watch this film because it insults their intelligence. No one should see this film except for camp value. Nothing in this movie works and people will probably say, it's only a movie. No it's not, it's a clip of everything that is wrong with Hollywood films that are still being continued. It doesn't even deserve to be called a film or a movie, it doesn't even go as far as being called a snuff film. It's just an exercise in pure garbage.

Joel Schumacher Films: (The Incredible Shrinking Woman) - (D.C. Cab) - (St. Elmo's Fire) - (The Lost Boys) - (Cousins) - (Flatliners) - (The Client) - Batman Forever - (A Time to Kill) - (8MM) - (Flawless) - (Tigerland) - (Bad Company (2002 film)) - (Phone Booth) - (Veronica Guerin) - (The Phantom of the Opera (2004 film)) - (The Number 23) - (Blood Creek) - (Twelve) - (Trespass)

Batman Films: (Batman (1966 film)) - Batman (1989 film) - Batman Returns - Batman Begins - The Dark Knight - The Dark Knight Rises - (Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice) - The Lego Batman Movie - The Batman (2022 film)

© thevoid99 2012