7) Batman & Robin (1997)
OK, I don’t get why everyone hates Batman & Robin so much! Every time I watch this adventure of the Caped Crusader, I always enjoy myself thoroughly. Seriously, if you can’t get through Joel Schumacher’s film without laughing heartily, then there’s something wrong with you.
Wait, it’s not supposed to be a campy comedy? Oh, uh, well then this is awkward.
Despite Batman & Robin being widely regarded as the worst Batman film of all, it’s easily the most comic-book-like of the bunch – depending on your criteria. So many versions of Batman have graced both cinema and print, but this film specifically seems built more for paper than Nolan’s grounded franchise or Tim Burton’s surprisingly focused game-changers. Batman & Robin is jokey, cheesy and unapologetically ridiculous, but not in darker ways like Burton opted for. With so many notable quotables, insane costumes and unrealistic scenarios, we truly feel like we’re stuck in a modern-day comic book adaptation embracing the freedoms of print.
If you want proof, look no further than Arnold Schwarzenegger’s portrayal of Mr. Freeze. There’s nothing about this role that demands cinematic integrity, yet there’s an inherent outlandishness that kind of seems perfect for a comic book. The way he uses crazy freeze-rays, wears a meticulously detailed cryogenic suit and shouts out hilarious dialogue screams comic book mentalities, which maybe hits a bit too close to home for movie audiences.
Whatever – I blame the sinking of Batman & Robin completely on Clooney’s Batnipples.
