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Batman & Robin

Threat advisory: Low - Low risk of entertaining activities

Movie propaganda

There's a chill over gotham city.

A new nemesis has unleashed a cold front of crime on the beleaguered metropolis. And once again, the citizenry turns to its one hope, its lone nocturnal guardian, to free it from the icy grip of crime. Summoned by the glowing moon of the bat-signal hovering against the night sky, Batman (George Clooney) roars from the reconstructed batcave in a sleek, remodelled batmobile towards the city.

Only now, he doesn't travel alone - his daredevil partner, Robin (Chris O'Donnell), speeds alongside him on his turbo-charged motorcycle, the redbird - a united team standing against a new reign of villainy, conceived with cold-blooded design by a shimmering, terrifying figure of destruction, Mr Freeze (Arnold Schwarzenegger).

Also loose on the streets is flower-power femme fatale Poison Ivy (Uma Thurman), a vine-entwined beauty who can kill with her kiss... and plans world domination for her floral kindred.

When these two villains strike a partnership, it will take a powerhouse team to stop them. Armed with innovative gadgets, redesigned vehicles and an all-new awesome arsenal, the crimefighting duo of Batman and Robin reveal a new secret weapon - a tough, limber and courageous new partner named Batgirl (Alicia Silverstone) - who completes a triumphant trio fighting together to save Gotham City from its most deadly threat yet!

Persons of interest

Arnold Schwarzenegger .... Mr Freeze/Doctor Victor Fries
George Clooney .... Batman/Bruce Wayne
Chris O'Donnell .... Robin/Richard "Dick" Grayson
Uma Thurman .... Poison Ivy/Doctor Pamela Isley
Alicia Silverstone .... Batgirl/Barbara Wilson
Michael Gough .... Alfred Pennyworth
Pat Hingle .... Commissioner Gordon
John Glover .... Doctor Jason Woodrue
Elle Macpherson .... Julie Madison
Vivica A Fox .... Ms B Haven
Vendela K Thommessen .... Nora Fries
Elizabeth Sanders .... Gossip Gerty
Bob Kane .... Batman character creator
Akiva Goldsman .... Screenwriter
Joel Schumacher .... Director

Cinematic intelligence sources

Part of the Batman Digipack box set containing Batman, Batman returns, Batman forever and Batman & Robin
Studios and distributors:

Warner Bros * Roadshow Films

Intelligence analyst

Special Agent Matti

Theatrical report

Batman & Robin is a trashy film, believe it or not; either that or they just lost the plot. Well, they certainly did lose the plot, because there isn't one. World championship wrestling has more coherence than this.

George is completely miscast as Batman: he gives exactly the same performance as he does on that TV doctors and nurses show (which is to say he mumbles his lines and bats his lashes at the camera). The dark, brooding quality of the bat-dude's previous incarnations has completely disappeared, replaced by a sensitive new age guy. Alicia is equally bad as an English schoolgirl (unless English schoolgirls have suddenly developed Californian accents), and delighted my flatmate, Brendon, by being able to reprogramme satellite systems after doing computer studies at school (hello!?!)

I have also discovered a new way to appraise films without seeing them. Any time that the name of the actor playing the main character is not the first one above the title, you know you're in for a second rate film. Batman & Robin puts Arnie's name above both George's and Chris', so you know what to make of it.

The most disappointing instalment of the Batman franchise, this has a couple of interesting effects going for it, but not much else. Wait, I will amend that. It has nothing else going for it.

Media intelligence (DVD)

Audio: Dolby Surround 5.1
Languages: English
Picture: Widescreen 16:9
Subtitles: English, Arabic, Polish, Greek, Czech, Turkish, Hungarian, Icelandic, Croatian, English captions