Sunday, December 23, 2018

Thor and Robin



I remember when Batman and Robin was first announced, Patrick Stewart was said to be the frontrunner to play the role of Mr. Freeze.  I loved this casting idea and was really looking forward to it.  At some point, Arnold Schwarzenegger took over the part, and we all know what happened there.  "Ice to see you, Batman!"  I can only imagine how different a tone the film would have had if Stewart had actually been cast.

17 comments:

Bob Greenwade said...

For me, Arnold was one of the few enjoyable things about that film, so it's likely that Patrick Stewart would have been equal to the rest of that otherwise highly talented cast: disastrous.

Seriously, any time someone says that Catwoman, or the second Fantastic Four, or just about anything else (if I've actually seen it, at least) is the worst superhero movie ever made, I say, "Oh, I guess you've never seen Batman and Robin."

Today's cover is a real rocker, though, Ross. (I'd call it extremely cool, but that pun is just too... um... never mind.) Mr. Freeze in control of Frost Giants strikes me as something downright scary -- and where's Batman? Out of commission? That's even scarier!

Anonymous said...

In Pokemon Sun and Moon, Marvel's Ymir's template would have made a good link between the original and Alolan forms of Vulpix (and Ninetales) as a fire-and-ice type pokemon;Ymir was formed from the overlapping of Muspelheim's heat and Neflheim's cold.

David Welsh said...

Arnold Schwarzenegger was supposed to play Bane but he felt it was typecasting as a strong man, so used his celebrity to switch roles.

Bob Greenwade said...

And here I thought the casting was just keeping up the tradition of casting German-speaking actors to play the role.

Rfoltin said...

Like the Star-Spangled Comics era Robin logo.

Tim said...

Another seamless cover Ross. All the elements you selected come together beautifully.

I echo your lament at not seeing Stewart as the villain. His presence may have stolen all of the camp right out of that film and made it worth watching.

Who knows, maybe they got to see that movie on Earth-72.

Arthur said...

A W E S O M E

Carycomic said...

Bob Greenwade is half-right. Arnie was perfect as Mr. Freeze, having long-since proven himself as the emotionally cold original Terminator (Series 800/Model 101). Patrick Stewart, on the other hand, would've made for a perfect Professor Strange. I mean, he was already bald. Just add a goatee; some mirrored shades; and a smattering of shamelessly scene-chewing dialogue as only a trained Shakespearian can utter it with a straight face. And...BOOM!

Resemblance complete.

But, it was actually the _3rd_ Fantastic Four movie that was worse than B&R and CATWOMAN 2004, put together. Whereas B&R was undeniably _better_ than CATWOMAN and SPIDER-MAGUIRE 3, put together!

Wild Card said...

Don't blame Arnold for the bad script. He complained about it too, and nothing he did could get it changed for the better. Arnold did the best he could with the drek he was given.

Anonymous said...

And, while George Clooney was noble for misguidedly assuming responsibility for the box office failure of BATMAN & ROBIN, I'm permanently certain the true blame lies with the wardrobe designer.

Kevlar nipples?! Puh-lease!!!

Brother Kellymatthew said...

George Clooney is a weeenie without the roast, cold wet and floppy.

Brother Kellymatthew said...

"...A Brave Knight in shining Armor." - FrosT GianTesS "It's not armor it's ice." - Bobby Drake & Amazing Spider-Friend (of Spider-Man & His Amazing Spider-Friends) in his alter-ego Ice-Man (Marvel & their HYPHENS).

Brother Kellymatthew said...

NORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! There I typed it and I feel much better 4-it.

Thomas said...

"I can only imagine how different a tone the film would have had if Stewart had actually been cast."

I don't know. This assumes that the script would have been different with Stewart as Mr. Freeze. Look, Patrick Stewart is a better actor than Arnold, but with that movie, the original Batman franchise came full circle back to the tv series: it was pretty much pure camp. I can't see how Stewart would really have improved the thing as a whole.

Still, to me, the biggest crime that movie committed was what it did with Batgirl. I like Alicia Silverstone and all, but ugh.

It did get one thing right though: some semblance of bringing together the Batman family, if you will, something which the successor series to B:TAS also did. For me, a great direction for the next live-action Batman vehicle would be to bring in all the major Batman characters in one movie, or even tv show. Batman, Nightwing, the Tim Drake Robin, Batgirl, the Huntress, Batwoman, Catwoman as a sometimes-ally sometimes-nemesis, that'd be outstanding. The most fun speculation would be who Batwoman eventually gets together with. :)

Carycomic said...

If that frost giant is actually Bobby "Iceman" Drake, then I suspect Kang did to him what he once did to an Old West coyote. Hence, Bobby's cousin Tim teaming up with Thor!

Glenn said...

I thought Arnold as a German accented Mr. Freeze made sense but as cold emotionless one except for his wife. Adding him as 2nd comedian behind Robin was the mistake.

Anonymous said...

George agreeing to wear Kevlar nipples was an even bigger one.

Support STF: The Lost Issues!