How this film could be worse
Julia Roberts as Poison Ivy *shudder*
shareIt could have been longer.
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MovieChat Forums > Batman & Robin (1997) Discussion > How this film could be worse
Stallone as Mr Freeze.
shareThey could've stuck in a pet crocodile and named it Killer Croc.
I suspect Julia Roberts would have given a less OTT performance than Uma Thurman.
Plus, and others might disagree, but I think Roberts is more of a natural beauty than Thurman. Thurman is a very beautiful woman but her looks are more exotic/unconventional which goes somewhat against the typical, classical look of the Poison Ivy of the comic-books and animated TV series.
I think most Roberts characters are too haughty, both in relation to the other characters and the audience. Poison Ivy is egotistical in relation to the other characters but shouldn't be to the audience and I think Roberts would have been at least as "Look how pretty/silly/crazy I am in this dumb kids' film" as Thurman was.
shareI think Roberts would have been at least as "Look how pretty/silly/crazy I am in this dumb kids' film" as Thurman was.I think that's the problem with the overall film though. Perhaps if either Thurman or Roberts had been cast in a half-decent Batman film, like say the Burton or Nolan movies, or even perhaps Batman Forever for that matter, they may have given a credible performance that demonstrated respect for the material.
I see what you mean about Roberts being haughty. By 1997 I think you would be right, in terms of her ego. I think a younger Roberts, say around the period she made Flatliners with Joel Schumacher, would have done fine however. I thought she gave a serious, earnest, believable performance in that film (and contrary to what was said, I believe by you, on another thread, I do think she was convincing as a doctor/medical student), but that was filmed before she became a mega-star and presumably let all the hype and press attention go to her head. share
I just watched Flatliners and Roberts was OK, indeed pretty earnest and believable, but a little too much her standard character (trying a little too hard to be likeable without succeeding); in both that and The Pelican Brief she came off as professional but not brilliant. She probably did stretch the most in The Pelican Brief, Sleeping with the Enemy and her supporting roles in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind and Charlie Wilson's War.
She might be able to play brilliant but it would be difficult to see the character rather than the actress (DeVito is one of the few actors good enough enough to disappear into a character despite being a huge star, I don't think Nicholson was able to pull it off in B89 although I'm probably a minority in that view).
I just watched FlatlinersIt's a pretty good film, right?
I don't know if you agree, but I think it's a big shame that Schumacher didn't attempt to direct a Batman movie with a similar tone to 'Flatliners' and 'The Lost Boys'. Both those films demonstrate that he could have made a more intelligent, less campy Batman movie. share
I don't think he cared if he made a dark or light-hearted Batman at all, it was just as gig.
shareIt had some good atmosphere but Keifer Sutherland's character was too much of a jerk, the fantasies were a little too literal and the eventual plot developments felt too far-fetched. The Lost Boys was better and I did like his Falling Down, Grishams and Phone Booth.
shareHis films are watchable but don't think any of them will be remembered for the test of time.
shareCharacters start randomly singing and dancing like it's some musical.
share- fart jokes (i.e. Mr. Freeze farts and says "Mr. Freeze cut the cheese")
- period jokes (i.e. Batgirl tells Ivy during their fight how she should take menstrual cramp meds to deal with her anger)
- Ivy fights/competes with Julie over who gets to be Bruce's girlfriend.
- An awkward sex scene between Ivy and Robin.
- have all the actors deliver their lines in monotone.
- Have Freeze and Ivy unleash obviously fake monsters or animals for Batman and Robin to fight.
I read that Hulk Hogan was an alternate choice for who would play Mr. Freeze.
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Schumacher never seemed to be all too wise about his casting choices. He's always casting people who are popular not because they're right for the part.
shareI think he got some casting choices right:
The Riddler: Jim Carrey
Boss Maroni: Dennis Paladino (barely seen in flashback but he really does look like comic-book Maroni)
Julie Madison: Elle Macpherson
Nora Fries: Vendela
I also think Schwarzenegger wasn't a completely terrible choice for Mr Freeze. Physically I think he was a great choice, if only he was a better actor with more range.
Casting for iconic characters often work when you cast lesser known actors which seems to make it more appealing, usually cast a lesser known or newcomer for Superman.
shareCan it really be worse??
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