E Unit

I remember years ago Clooney saying he'd give anyone a refund who said they saw it and didn't like it. Have there been any other directors who have apologized for something they've directed?

http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/14/entert...commended_pool

Joel Schumacher apologizes for 'Batman & Robin'

It's been 20 years, but the director of "Batman & Robin" is really sorry.

Outspoken fans of the DC Comics franchise objected to pretty much everything in the 1997 movie -- from the casting of George Clooney as Batman to the nipples on his bat suit.

In a recent interview with Vice, "Batman & Robin" director Joel Schumacher offered up a mea culpa.

"I want to apologize to every fan that was disappointed because I think I owe them that," he said.

Schumacher took full responsibility for the film landing with a fizzle.

"A lot of it was my choice," he said. "No one is responsible for my mistakes but me."

Part of the issue, the director said, was that "Batman Forever" actor Val Kilmer quit the project to take a role in "The Island of Dr. Moreau."

Clooney came into play due to his popularity and Bob Daly, chief executive at Warner Bros. at the time, wanted Clooney
"[Clooney] was an obvious choice because he was a rising star on 'ER,'" Schumacher said. "I had a talk with him and he was like, 'Alright, if you do it I'll do it.'"
Schumacher said audiences had understandably high expectations after "Batman Forever." But after "Batman & Robin" released, the reaction was swift and harsh.
"I was scum. It was like I had murdered a baby," Schumacher recalled.

As for those nipples on the bat suit? It turns out that particular costume feature was inspired by history.

"By the time 'Batman Forever' came around, rubber molding had become so much more advanced," Schumacher explained. "So, I said 'Let's make it anatomical' and gave photos of those Greek statues and those incredible anatomical drawings you see in medical books. He did the nipples and when I looked at them, I thought, that's cool."

TheMovieman

For a second time (he basically said the same thing back when Warner released the Batman DVD box set). Not sure why this has come up again.

Why So Blu?

Nerds. Can't let shit go.

TomOpus

Like it matters?

stvn1974

When is Nolan going to apologize for The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises?

RichC2

Probably the second they're universally panned.

Michael Corvin

He shouldn't be apologizing. He should be wanting comic nerds apologizing to him. Had Batman & Robin not happened we probably wouldn't have gotten Batman Begins.

stvn1974

Batsuit nipples, bat credit card, ice skating and Ahnuld's puns are still not as stupid as the ferry boat scene in TDK or having a vertebrae punched back in in TDKR. Schumacker doesn't owe anyone an apology.

Mike86

Yeah he already apologized for it on the commentary track. The movie is still shit but I'm over it. Actually I just caught the end of it recently on one of the premium channels. Haven't seen the full film in years though.

Abob Teff

To be fair, it is difficult to let go of nipples.

Was Batman Forever that successful? I thought the Schumacher Bat-Bungle actually started there. He makes it sound as if he made one critically successful Batman and then "the other one".

resinrats

Don't see why the actor change is part of the excuse. While I thought Clooney looked too old for the role, his acting was fine for the script they were going off of.

Why So Blu?

Budget: $100 million

Box office: $336.5 million

Troy Stiffler

Batman Forever is excellent. It's the disciplined, restrained version of Batman and Robin.

You could argue that Batman and Batman Returns had a similar progression. Fortunately Batman Returns worked.

Abob Teff

Sorry, I should have specified ... how was it critically received? Financially successful is the goal, but it doesn't correlate with critical success. I honestly don't remember much other than flak over Tommy Lee Jones.

mcnabb

I guess I was always in the minority but I never like Batman Forever. I just didn't like the tone of the Schumacher movies as they were too glitzy.

I like Burton's Batman movies better, but his style his too weird for a franchise movie. Either you love or hate his style, and I'm still surprised he was picked for one of the biggest hyped blockbusters of that era.

Nolan's Batman Trilogy is the best, as Christian Bale nailed it as Batman/Bruce Wayne. And the story and character development triumphs all the lame comic movies these days.

resinrats

I liked Batman Forever when it came out. However Batman & Robin ruined it. I almost walked out of B&R. Later I put in Forever and suddenly I saw stuff that so reminded me of B&R, I just didn't like it anymore.

DaveyJoe

What's next, Tommy Wiseau apologizes for the Room?

inri222

I hope not, that's a fucking masterpiece compared to Batman & Robin.

Ky-Fi

I liked both Burton movies, but I don't really remember the other two (other than thinking they were not very good.)

DaveyJoe

I think both movies are in the 'so bad it's good' territory. I've gotten lots of entertainment from youtube videos parodying or deconstructing these movies. I would be bummed to live in a world where stuff like The Room doesn't exist.

Mabuse

They did? I saw Forever. If anything it gave me reservations. I never saw Batman and Robin.

stingermck

Batman Forever is a ton of fun. I dont give AF what anyone says

But yeah, this is old news.

TheMovieman

+1

I liked Batman Forever a lot, in fact might revisit it maybe this weekend.

inri222

IMO

The Room = So bad it's good
Batman & Robin = So bad it's bad

fumanstan

I still like Batman Forever. Batman and Robin stinks.