It’s generally regarded that Michael Keaton’s efforts were, and still are to a certain extent, decent incarnations of the black bat. It’s also common knowledge that Joel Schumacher’s efforts were not.
The problems with both films are so multi-layered, it’s best to break down the points.

  1. Problem one: Getting dreadful performances from great actors Val Kilmer and George Clooney have both produced performances before and after their Batman roles that prove what great actors they are. Whether it be playing Jim Morrison, Doc Holliday, Seth Gecko or Archie Gates, each has proven their acting wares on the biggest stage. So why is it then that despite a wealth of source material, both look as though they’ve only just left Uncle Harry’s school of acting, having achieved barely an E grade between them?
  2. Employing dreadful actors in other roles Chris O’Donnell. Alicia Silverstone. Uma Thurman. Jim Carey. Nicole Kidman. That’s a list of Hollywood stars that would make anyone reach for the hills. Batman & Robin in particular is a shocker, with O’Donnell and Silverstone making you want to cheerfully throttle the casting director. Thankfully, they’ve done precious little since.
  3. Superheroes going camp-tasticTaking the wrong direction with everyone’s favourite tortured superhero, Schumacher opted to make him and the universe around him camper than a day out with The Village People at a gay pride parade. Gritty action is replaced with cartoon-like shenanigans as all concerned with these films wanted to please the kids following concerns that Batman Returns had alienated younger audiences. Particular scenes that stick in the mind are any of Carey’s ridiculously over the top performance as the Riddler, the leather-clad bottom and breast close-ups in Batman & Robin, and Ah-nuld’s Starlight Express-like goons. Oh, and the ‘comedy’ sound effects in Batman & Robin really don’t help matters. For some odd reason, the director decided that a garish, fluorescent palette was the way forward for the franchise, the way to mark these out as his interpretation of the legend. The ball in Forever. The freakish clown-thugs in Batman & Robin. The constant rainbow cascade of neon interrupting proceedings. Distracting and completely unnecessary.
  4. You can write this shit, but you can’t say it Scripts for both films throw up some dreadful prose but Batman & Robin takes all the honours here with some of the worst lines I think I’ve ever heard put to celluloid. While Robin’s “Cowabunga!” is a real standout moment, it’s Schwarzenegger’s Mr Freeze who takes all the plaudits. Step forward Ah-nuld:
    “What killed the dinosaurs? The Ice Age.” “Let’s kick some Ice.” “Ice to see you.” And the prize for the worst line in superhero cinema history is… “If revenge is a dish best served cold, then put on your Sunday finest. It’s time to feast!”
    It took eight years after Batman & Robin for audiences to be treated to a decent interpretation of the caped crusader. It will take me far longer to forget how Schumacher nearly killed the superhero franchise off entirely.
    Alarmingly, you can purchase both films as special edition DVDs from all good retailers.