Rating summary

Movie		1.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		2.0

Batman & Robin Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov March 2, 2009

Joel Schumacher’s “Batman & Robin” (1997) – the fourth entry in the Batman series - is a notably underwhelming, bland and unoriginally scripted film. Hardcore fans of the comic hero will likely find a few redeeming qualities in it, but the majority of viewers will undoubtedly walk away from it disappointed. Courtesy of Warner Brothers-UK.

The duo

When it was first announced that director Tim Burton will not be on board for Batman Forever (1995), I thought that the comic hero had lost a formidable partner. It was fairly obvious to me that the dark, gloomy and kinky world Tim Burton introduced in Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992) would likely be replaced with something else. I wasn’t sure what it would be, but I knew that Batman and Gotham City would look different.

Unfortunately, I was right. After I walked out of the midnight screening my local theater held for Batman Forever, I was convinced that Joel Schumacher had effectively erased everything that made Tim Burton's Batman films special - the atmosphere, the rich characters, the great storytelling, etc. Unsurprisingly, Batman's new world had become boring, predictable, politically-correct, flashy, and full of weak characters trying desperately to outdo each other.

When Batman & Robin arrived two years later – once again with Joel Schumacher on board – I was convinced that a trip to the theater would be a waste of time. So, I decided to wait for the inevitable DVD release. Yet, even when the film finally appeared on the shelves of my local video store, I was reluctant to rent it.

Eventually, I saw Batman & Robin at a matinee screening. I remember having a good laugh at Arnold Schwarzenegger’s lines. Whoever had them scripted clearly must have felt that the ex-Terminator would not be too good with long sentences; not surprisingly, Mr. Freeze spoke often but in short phrases. I did not like George Clooney’s Batman and his protégé Robin, played by the young and very cocky Chris O'Donnell, either; they were trying too hard to outclass each other.

Joel Schumacher’s Batman & Robin had a disappointing story to tell as well: Mr. Freeze (Arnold Schwarzenegger) wants to resurrect the love of his life. He is also on a mission to freeze the residents of Gotham City. As expected, Batman and Robin appear and begin fighting Mr. Freeze. Poison Ivy (Uma Thurman) appears - she is on a mission to save the Earth’s plants. Along the way, she seduces Batman and Robin. Fortunately for the two protectors of Gotham City, Batgirl (Alicia Silverstone) arrives and saves the day.

Other than a selection of generally chic-looking chase scenes, the only reason why I was able to sit through Batman & Robin was the presence of Poison Ivy; she was deliciously sexy looking and somewhat mysterious. Still, Poison Ivy wasn't as perversely seductive as Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman was. So, eventually, she lost my interest as well.

To sum it all up, Joel Schumacher’s second Batman film did not resonate well with me at all. On paper, its cast was certainly formidable looking, but seen in action, the stars were mostly annoying. Furthermore, Akiva Goldsman’s script struck me as notably problematic; despite its lavish visuals, Batman & Robin turned out to be a genuinely bland and predictable film with few redeeming qualities, if any.

Batman & Robin Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, encoded with VC-1 and granted a 1080p transfer, Joel Schumacher's Batman & Robin arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Warner Brothers-UK.

Warner Brothers have supplied a solid transfer for Batman & Robin. Similar to their treatments of Tim Burton's Batman and Batman Returns, this VC-1 encoded presentation gets practically everything right; clarity, detail and contrast here are exceptionally strong. Furthermore, edge-enhancement and macroblocking are not an issue of concern either. Blown through a digital projector, Batman & Robin also reveals a very tight look that I am convinced many of you with will appreciate (of course, enjoying the actual film is an entirely different story). Furthermore, I did not detect any traces of DNR-alteration either. On the contrary, as far as I am concerned, the print looks natural and healthy. The only reservation I have with this VC-1 encoded transfer is related to the color-scheme. During a few selected scenes, I noticed that the blues were bleeding a little. Obviously, this is something that not everyone would notice, but I was certainly able to see it. Still, Batman & Robin is very much in the same league with Batman and Batman Returns. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray disc which you will be able to play on your PS3 or SA regardless of your geographical location).

Batman & Robin Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Batman & Robin arrives on Blu-ray as a Pan-European release. What this means is that on this disc you will find a multitude of audio options that make it easy to sell in a number of different countries. These are the audio tracks Warner have supplied: English Dolby TrueHD 5.1, English Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1, German Dolby Digital 5.1, Italian Dolby Digital 5.1, Castellan Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 2.0 and Portuguese Dolby Digital 2.0.

I opted for the English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track and did a few random comparisons with the English Dolby Digital 5.1 track. The English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track is loud, powerful and quite active in the rear channels. For example, the first clash between Batman and Mr. Freeze (the hockey chase) offers plenty of opportunities for one to test the muscles of one's audio system. There are a lot of very effective enhancements here that add to the overall viewing experience. The bass is also deep and strong. Each time Mr. Freeze and his futuristic machine appear, the sound becomes very impressive (see and listen to the ball scene where Poison Ivy manipulates Batman and Robin). Furthermore, the dialog is crisp, clear and very easy to follow. Finally I did not detect any disturbing cracks, drop-outs, or hissings.

As mentioned earlier, I did a few random comparisons between the English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track and the English Dolby Digital 5.1 track. As far as I am concerned, the English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track adds substantially more depth (especially as far as the low frequencies are concerned) as well as improved surround activity. This being said, I would not argue that the English Dolby Digital 5.1 track is weak, but, truth be told, it is most definitely not a match for the English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track.

Finally, I would like to point out that Warner Brother have also supplied a number of optional subtitle tracks. They are: English, English HOH, French, German, German HOH, Italian, Italian HOH, Castellan, Dutch, Spanish, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Portuguese, Swedish, Portuguese (Brazilian), Chinese Traditional, and Korean.

Batman & Robin Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Similar to the other three early Batman films, Batman & Robin offers an overwhelming amount of supplemental features. First is the old commentary by director Joel Schumacher where he talks about his contribution to the Batman legacy, what he wanted to achieve in his film, the production history of Batman & Robin, etc (the commentary comes with optional English, Simplified Chinese and Korean subtitles). "Shadows of the Bat: The Cinematic Saga of the Dark Knight, Part 6: Batman Unbound" focuses on the cast and crew as they discuss the casting, controversies, fan anticipation and reaction to the fourth installment of the Batman franchise. "Bigger, Bolder, Brighter: The Production Design of Batman & Robin" offers a behind-the-scenes look of the biggest character environments and the unique new inventions from the film. "Maximum Overdrive: The Vehicles of Batman & Robin" highlights the redesign of the Batmobile, Robin's motorcycle and the Mr. Freeze machine. "Dressed to Thrill: The Costumes of Batman & Robin" is where the cast and crew address the design and manufacturing of the hot and heavy outfits used by the main characters. "Frozen Freaks and Femme Fatales: The Makeup of Batman & Robin" allows you to check out the details that do into the makeup and hair as the the crew transforms the actors into their characters. Freeze Frame: The Visual Effects of Batman & Robin focuses on the new technology used by the filmmakers to achieve the stunning visual effects seen in the film. Next are the mandatory Batman: The Heroes and Batman: The Villains, two short featurettes where members of the cast and crew very quickly share their thoughts on the main characters in the film. This Blu-ray disc also offers one deleted scene titled "Alfred's Lost Love". Finally, in addition to the original theatrical trailer, you also get four music videos: "The End is the Beginning is the End" by Smashing Pumpkins, "Look Into My Eyes" by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, "Gotham City" by R. Kelly and "Foolish Games" by Jewel.

Batman & Robin Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Unless you are a hardcore fan of the cartoon hero, or a completist who must have all of the Batman films released on Blu-ray, it is probably best that you rent Batman & Robin first, see if you like it, and then consider a purchase. This being said, the Blu-ray disc herein reviewed, courtesy of Warner Brothers-UK, looks very strong. Rent it.