Powered by Blogger.

Uma Thurman's Poison Ivy costume from Batman & Robin on display...

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Following Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman, plus Batman's male arch-foes The Joker, The Penguin, The Riddler, Two-Face and Mr. Freeze, Uma Thurman was only the second woman to play one of the Caped Crusader's female enemies in 1997's Batman & Robin.
Original Poison Ivy costume worn by 
Uma Thurman in 1997's Batman & Robin
Original Poison Ivy Batman and Robin movie costume
Poison Ivy Mr Freeze Batman Robin movie costumes
Batman and Robin movie costume prop exhibit
This fantastical flora-inspired costume was photographed alongside many other costumes and props from the overly camp Joel Schumacher movie at the 75th Anniversary Batman Exhibit at the Warner Bros. Studios VIP Tour Museum on July 29, 2014.

Batman & Robin movie poster
Batman and Robin Poison Ivy movie poster
In Batman & Robin, the Kill Bill actress played a nerdy botanical scientist named 'Dr. Pamela Isley' working at a South American lab funded by Wayne Enterprises. Experimenting with rattlesnake venom and other deadly fluids to help plants fight back against mankind's aggression against nature, the scientist is almost murdered by her boss, 'Dr. Jason Woodrue', but is instead transformed into the deadly 'Poison Ivy' via a volatile combination of plant toxins, venoms and poisons.

The slightly unhinged villainess travels to Gotham City to continue her warped fight for Mother Nature and forms an alliance with 'Mr. Freeze' (Arnold Schwarzenegger) to take on the Dynamic Duo.

Poison Ivy movie costume in more detail
Uma Thurman Poison Ivy Batman Robin movie costume
Poison Ivy leaf corset detail Batman and Robin
Batman Robin Poison Ivy cuff costume detail
Original Batman and Robin Poison Ivy film costume
Ingrid Ferrin and Robert Turturice was responsible for creating this emerald green leaf creation, which regardless of the poor reception of the movie, has been recreated at conventions and Halloweens many times by fans and cosplayers alike. And hopefully if you are trying to make your own Poison Ivy outfit, then these detail photos will help you.

Animal plant hybrid prop from Batman & Robin
Poison Ivy animal plant hybrid prop Batman Robin
Just from the look of this genetic animal/plant hybrid created by Poison Ivy, you can tell the movie didn't take itself too seriously, as it's almost like a mini 'Audrey II' alien plant from 1986's Little Shop of Horrors.

Bane mask from 1997's Batman & Robin
Bane mask Batman and Robin movie
We may all now be more familiar with The Dark Knight Rises 'Bane' played by Tom Hardy, but in the 1997 movie the hulking Bane was played by pro-wrestler, Jeep Swenson. In the film Bane became Poison Ivy's thug henchman after being created via an injection of an experimental drug called Venom by Dr. Jason Woodrue.

If you like this mask, be sure to also compare it to Tom Hardy's Bane costume from The Dark Knight Rises on display.

If you like these looks, stick around for more original Batman & Robin costumes, including Alicia Silverstone's Batgirl costume.

Arnold Schwarzenegger's Mr. Freeze sub-zero armour from Batman & Robin on display...

Friday, August 15, 2014

1997's Batman & Robin killed the film franchise for several years, mainly caused by Joel Schumacher's camp-factor going into overdrive, the inclusion of too many villains and heroes (a problem rife in the comic book movie genre), plus yet another newcomer playing the Caped Crusader, in the form of George Clooney. But of all the costumes and props on display at the Batman 75th Anniversary Exhibit at Warner Bros. Studios VIP Tour Museum on July 29, 2014, the fantastical creations from this fourth movie installment were still by far my favourites.
Original sub-zero suit of armour worn by Arnold Schwarzenegger 
as Mr. Freeze in 1997's Batman & Robin
Arnold Schwarzenegger Mr. Freeze Batman and Robin movie costume
Batman and Robin movie costume prop exhibit
Mr. Freeze sub-zero armour Batman & Robin
The costume that really captivated my attention though was this illuminated massive suit of armour worn by Arnold Schwarzenegger as 'Mr. Freeze' in the movie, now this is one original film costume I would love to wear for Halloween or at a convention.

Batman & Robin movie poster
Batman & Robin movie poster
Ingrid Ferrin and Robert Turturice were Costume Designers on this movie sequel and apparently it took Arnold Schwarzengger around six hours each day to get into his makeup and wardrobe for the role. Let's face it, when you're being payed $25 million to star in a movie, you have to put up with a little discomfort.

Mr. Freeze sub-zero movie costume detail
Schwarzenegger Mr Freeze Batman Robin film costume
Mr Freeze costume detail Batman Robin
Original Mr Freeze cryo suit Batman Robin
Mr Freeze glove costume detail Batman Robin
Mr Freeze gun prop Batman & Robin movie
Mr Freeze costume boots Batman and Robin
Mr Freeze suit of armour Batman Robin movie
In this movie version 'Victor Fries' aka 'Mr. Freeze' is a Nobel-winning molecular biologist who has turned to a life of crime, armed with his freezing gun, in order to cure his wife 'Nora' of her terminal illness.

Even though the super villain looked incredible in his cryo-suit and is supposed to be a brilliant scientist, it doesn't stop him from spouting ridiculous corny one-liners during the entire movie, like "All right everyone, chill" and "You're not sending me to the cooler".

If you're a fan of the action hero and former Governor of California, be sure to also check out this life-size Arnold Schwarzenegger cyborg from Terminator 2: Judgement Day.

Stay tuned for more awesome movie costumes from 1997's Batman & Robin in the days to come.

Batman & Robin movie poster
Batman and Robin Villains movie poster
Go further behind-the-scenes of the movie with this book: Batman & Robin: The Making of the Movie

Val Kilmer's Sonar Bat-suit and Chris O'Donnell's Robin costume from Batman Forever on display...

Thursday, August 14, 2014

When Michael Keaton was first announced as the star of Tim Burton's Batman many fans initially questioned his choice, especially because of his height, physicality and previous comedic roles, but he soon proved them wrong. When Val Kilmer replaced him as 'Bruce Wayne' in 1995's Batman Forever although he was more physically suitable, some believed he gave a wooden performance as the Caped Crusader in Joel Schumacher's first, more family-friendly, entry in the Batman movie franchise.
Original Sonar Bat-suit worn by Val Kilmer 
and Robin costume worn by Chris O'Donnell in Batman Forever
Batman Forever Val Kilmer Sonar Batsuit Chris O'Donnell Robin costume
Val Kilmer Batman Forever Sonar Batsuit
Original Val Kilmer Batman Forever Sonar Batsuit
Batman Forever Sonar Batsuit Robin movie costumes
In the movie the actor wore two different Bat-suits and one of these was on display as part of the Batman 75th Anniversary Exhibit at Warner Bros. Studios VIP Tour Museum on July 29, 2014.

Bob Ringwood and Ingrid Ferrin were responsible for Costume Design on the movie and this particular version is the prototype Sonar Bat-suit, which is more silvery and has the Bat logo incorporated into the design and spread across his chest. Batman is forced to use this outfit when The Riddler destroys his other Bat-suits.

Batman Forever movie poster
Batman Forever movie poster
In addition to facing new cinematic villains Two-Face and The Riddler, the film also famously introduced Batman's young partner in crime-fighting, 'Robin', the Boy Wonder. The other half of the Dynamic Duo was played by Chris O'Donnell as the circus acrobat 'Dick Grayson'.

Original Robin movie costume worn by Chris O'Donnell 
in Batman Forever
Chris O'Donnell Batman Forever Robin movie costume
Batman Forever Robin movie costume
Batman Forever Robin belt costume detail
Chris O'Donnell Batman Forever Robin costume
In the movie his circus perfumer parents and older brother 'The Flying Graysons' were killed by the psychotic Two-Face. Invited to stay at Wayne Manor, because Batman felt partly responsible for the creation of the villain, Dick soon discovers the Batcave and gets his own red-breasted crime-fighting muscle suit to help Batman defeat The Riddler and get his revenge on Two-Face.

And if you like these superhero costumes, be sure to also take a look at the comic book villain costumes from Batman Forever on display.

Batman Forever movie poster
Batman Forever Robin movie poster
In addition to the fantastical costumes from the movie, the exhibit which featured original items from all seven Batman movies, also had a selection of screen-used props from this third film.

Original Batwing model and screen-used film props 
from Batman Forever
Batman Forever Batwing model
Screen-used Batman Forever movie props
Batman Forever Riddler film props
Batman Forever villain movie props
Batman Forever Goo Gun movie prop
Batman Forever movie prop
Mounted on the wall behind the costume display was Batman's new Batwing model, plus a selection of villains and hero weapons and artifacts used prominently in the film.

Batman Forever may not have been one of my favourite installments, but it's always a treat to see costumes and props from the archives up close, that have been featured in these big budget blockbusters.

Stay tuned in the days to come for more cinematic goodies from 1997's Batman & Robin.

Go further behind-the-scenes with this book: "Batman Forever": The Official Movie Book

The Riddler and Two-Face villain costumes from Batman Forever on display...

Monday, August 11, 2014

Batman Forever was the first in the DC Comics movie franchise directed by Joel Schumacher and the first replacement in the Bat-suit, in the form of Val Kilmer replacing Michael Keaton under the cowl. The 1995 film also saw two big names hamming it up as Batman's super-villains, with Jim Carrey as 'The Riddler' and Tommy Lee Jones as 'Two-Face'.
Original film costumes from 1995's Batman Forever
Original Batman Forever movie costume exhibit
Batman Forever villain movie costumes
Screen-used Batman Forever movie costumes
Here are some of the more flamboyant comic book costumes from the movie sequel, designed by Bob Ringwood and Ingrid Ferrin, on display at the 75th Anniversary Batman exhibit at the Warner Bros. Studios VIP Tour Museum on July 29, 2014.

Batman Forever movie poster
Batman Forever riddler poster
Whereas Tim Burton created a whole dark and brooding gothic Gotham City, Joel Schumacher's version was a far more candy-coated, neon extravaganza, with all the glitz and gaudiness of the Las Vegas Strip.

This was without a doubt reflected in the costume designs, especially The Riddler's return to spandex tights, harkening back to the camp 1960's Batman television show version played by Frank Gorshin.

Original movie costume worn by Jim Carrey 
as The Riddler in Batman Forever
Jim Carrey Batman Forever Riddler costume
Jim Carrey The Riddler Batman Forever movie costume
Riddler Batman Forever movie costume detail
Riddler Batman Forever movie costume Box prop
In Batman Forever, Jim Carrey plays The Riddler's alter-ego, 'Edward Nygma' ('E. Nygma'), a researcher at Wayne Enterprises who invents 'The Box' (as shown above next to the villain in green), which can beam signals to and from the human brain to enhance the TV viewing experience. His invention takes a sinister turn when he starts reading the thoughts and feeding on the minds of Gotham, becoming more intelligent, and that's when the Dynamic Duo has to stop him and his partner in crime, Two-Face.

Original Two-Face costume worn by Tommy Lee Jones 
in Batman Forever
Tommy Lee Jones Batman Forever Two-Face costume
Tommy Lee Jones Batman Forever Two-Face movie costume
Two-Face Batman Forever movie costume
Two-Face Batman Forever costume shoe
2008's The Dark Knight may have seen Aaron Eckhart bring Gotham City's District Attorney 'Harvey Dent' aka 'Two-Face' to life on the big screen, but Tommy Lee Jones was the first person to play the coin-flipping split-personality arch foe, after a mob boss attack with acid to his face left him physically and psychologically damaged.

If you want to see more fantastic costume examples from Batman's rogues gallery, be sure to also check out Danny DeVito's Penguin movie costume and Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman catsuit from Batman Returns.

Stick around for more heroic costumes from Batman Forever, plus original screen-used props featured in the movie too.

Batman Forever movie poster
Batman Forever two face poster
Go further behind-the-scenes with this book: "Batman Forever": The Official Movie Book