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Subverted Expectations? Shouldnt Arnold have been Bane?

posted 3 years ago by scannerdarkly (1400)
9 replies | jump to latest

Im geussing Arnold didnt want to be a brainless muscle-bound antagonist, yelling "BANE" everytime he pops up. So he went for the scientist Mr Freeze.

But what if Arnold was Bane? They could have fleshed his character out more and gave him motivations and actual lines in the film.

On paper, when you see Arnold Schwarzenegger as starring in a Batman film you would be quick to assume Bane. He was the "paragon of bodybuilding champs" for awhile there, he made bodybuilding more famous and into the public eye. Got started in Hollywood for his physique.

But they subverted expectations and Arnold wanted a better role I reckon.

If they had Arnold as Bane, and gave him better characterization, do you think this movie would have been better? Who would have played Mr. Freeze? John Travolta? Coudlve gotten "Bald Travolta" sooner.

[–] DoctorThirteen (15335) 3 years ago

Given the approach they decided to go with, I don't think anything could have saved this film, short of a complete rewrite and 180° change in tone.

[–] Dogiswhite (1435) 3 years ago

Bane is supposed to be intelligent in the comics so if they had written it like the comic maybe Arnold would have been happy. Maybe George Clooney as Mr Freeze would have been better. Pay Val Kilmer a little extra to come back get rid of the whole Poison Ivy storyline and better actress and look for Batgirl and then maybe just maybe it wouldn't still suck.

[–] bozo_500 (13402) 3 years ago

yeh a rewrite bumping Bane to the main villian and ditch the silly Poison Ivy plotline wouldve been a 'cool' way to go for Batman 'IV'

Bane - Arnold
Freeze - Patrick Stewart (or Anthony Hopkins/Travolta if needed a bigger movie name which probably wouldnt due to Arnie. lets face it the studio wouldnt want to be paying two 25m paychecks)
Batman - Kilmer (Joel and Val patched up their differences)
Batgirl - Sarah Michelle Gellar
Poison Ivy - Uma (i guess she couldve still been in it but without the wacky plants plotline, maybe she couldve been bruces new woman instead of Elle who turns out to be Poison Ivy?)

[–] scannerdarkly (1400) 3 years ago

Kristy Swanson couldve played Batgirl as well. But I liked Alicia Silverstone. Girl was gorgeous an her acting was good enough.

I like your choices. Patrick Stewart or Anthony Hopkins wouldve brought the eloquent speech and intellectual idiosyncrasies needed to elevate this movies Mr. Freeze to what we see in the shows.

[–] Wint3rFir3 (7398) 3 years ago

Maybe he thought Mr. Freeze was more fun to play, and frankly I agree - he looks like he's having the time of his life playing him.

[–] scannerdarkly (1400) 3 years ago

Thats one thing that remains in my memory from this movie, how much Arnold looked like he was having fun. Also the Mr. Freeze suit is really cool looking.

[–] Wint3rFir3 (7398) 3 years ago

Yeah, he's having a blast. And the suit still holds up I think - it's still pretty great looking.

[–] hurricane (1967) 3 years ago

They made Bane suck in this movie.

If you look at the bad-ass Bane from the Knightfall comics for example, then look at him in this movie. It's just criminal.

[–] MovieChatUser497 (18943) 3 years ago

They would have to give Bane a bigger part then.