Batman & Robin Producer Shares His Theory on Why the Film Failed - Batman & Robin (1997) Discussion

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7408) 9 months ago

I think it's common knowledge now that the studio screwed themselves when they went in the kid/Family Friendly tone. It's a shame. I would've rather seen Burton's take on Two Face and Riddler. It's no wonder the Nolan films did way better than the Schumacher ones.

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[–] MickyMac (2959) 9 months ago

Would lived to have seen what Burton's take on Two Face and Riddler would've been like. Don't know what Billy Dee Williams would've done as Two Face but it would've been very different from Tommy Lee Jones, as with The Animated Series Harvey Dent/Two Face was black and had a deep voice combined with half his face destroyed, whether they'll have a black Two face in Matt Reeves' Batman universe is to be seen.

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[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7408) 9 months ago

What? The Harvey Dent/Two Face on Batman the Animated series wasn't black.

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[–] MickyMac (2959) 9 months ago

Some debate he is by his skin colour and lips.

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[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7408) 9 months ago

I don't get how you could think this looks like a black person.
https://i0.wp.com/batman-news.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/batman-ep-10-27.jpg?resize=1068%2C928&quality=80&strip=info&ssl=1

This is a black person on the show.
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/batmantheanimatedseries/images/d/df/FoC_I_07_-_Lucius_Fox.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20160223172724

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[–] DoctorThirteen (10302) 9 months ago

Reminding the critics that Schumacher was just doing as he was asked, the producer added, "My feeling was, the tail starts wagging the dog and what you’re making is not movies. You’re making two-hour infomercials for toys and better to just bring in filmmakers with a vision you love, who you believe can execute the vision, who you believe know, understand, and have a passion for the character. Let them go make great movies and toys will sell anyway. So that’s always been my philosophy, but he was doing what he was told to do or asked to do. And so it’s good to have that bit of perspective on it."

I absolutely agree with him.

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[–] TMC-4 (19420) 9 months ago

"Unfair Payload Of Crap": Producer Who Saved Batman Defends Schumacher For WB's $238m Dark Knight Disaster

https://screenrant.com/batman-robin-movie-joel-schumacher-toy-company-blame/

Despite Batman & Robin killing the first Dark Knight movie franchise, producer Michael Uslan doesn't blame the director - it was the toy people!

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[–] DoctorThirteen (10302) 9 months ago

I also think Schumacher gets unfair crap for Batman Forever. Batman & Robin was bad, but Batman Forever was fine. Yes, it wasn't as dark as Burton's movies, and as such was more 'kid-friendly'; but when you accept that WB wanted a different tone, it's enjoyable (and the box office showed that).

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[–] MickyMac (2959) 9 months ago

I don't think think darker would've necessarily lead to a better film, but would make a more fan pleasing one. If Joel didn't wanna make a sequel to Burton's films then there's little point in him doing it but it's the world we live in, and it didn't sense that the studio wanted Joel when none of his films are kid's films.

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[–] DoctorThirteen (10302) 9 months ago

'I don't think think darker would've necessarily lead to a better film, but would make a more fan pleasing one.'

Yes, we'll never know. But I'd have liked the chance to find out!

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[–] TMC-4 (19420) 3 months ago

I agree with Vee Infuso here when he says that Batman & Robin feels like the "corporate Batman" movie. Batman Forever actually felt more like a movie that Joel Schumacher actually wanted to make instead of something that he had to make. I remember Chris O'Donnell saying that when he made Batman Forever it actually felt like he was a movie whereas with Batman & Robin, it felt more like he was making a toy commercial:
https://youtu.be/VMDtK3Vism8?t=1129

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[–] DoctorThirteen (10302) 3 months ago

'Batman & Robin feels like the "corporate Batman" movie. Batman Forever actually felt more like a movie that Joel Schumacher actually wanted to make instead of something that he had to make.'

Interestingly the opposite way round to Burton, who made his studio-monitored movie first, then got to go more 'Burton' with the second.

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[–] MickyMac (2959) 9 months ago

A Mr Freeze film has the the potential for a great Batman film if they didn't decide to let the toy guys dictate everything.

Also had bad stunt casting like Schwarzenegger which was distracting especially if your so well known as The Terminator and easy to impersonate.