Batman & Robin

Directed by:  Joel Schumacher
Starring:  George Clooney, Chris O'Donnell, Alicia Silverstone, Arnold Schwarzenegger
Running Time:  1h 53min

Not only does this movie substitute story line and interesting dialogue for fantastic sets and special effects, it also manages to take one of the best Batman villains to grace the sixty years worth of comic books and make him nothing more than a grunting musclebound freak.  The same goes for the whole movie.  What originally has intellectual significance becomes nothing more than a way for Hollywood to flex its $100 million budget.  Clooney and O'Donnell work wonders together, the only highlight of the film.  All the other actors do well with their parts.  It's just that Schumacher has just totally destroyed everything that is Batman.  You'd think that his only knowledge of the Bat comes from the 60's TV series.  It's time for a new director!  Or else!

Grade:  B-

The Chamber

Directed by:  James Foley
Starring:  Chris O'Donnell, Gene Hackman, Faye Dunaway, Robert Prosky
Running Time:  1h 51min

John Grisham's lawyer books turned movies have officially become tiresome.  Now I could have said this back when The Pelican Brief was first released but now it can't be denied.  Grisham serves us yet another tale involving a young lawyer against all odds, fighting for justice, with the aid of a nice female helper.  Should he be working for his client?  Will he beat the odds?  WHO CARES?  There wasn't a single character in this movie that was worth caring for or even worth watching.  O'Donnell is extremely stiff as he delivers his lines in the same tone, regardless of emotion.  His handling of the big Grisham monologue is empty.  Hackman is reduced to looking sad and then yelling.  It's a shame that Grisham's films attract such great talent and hard-earned $$$.

Grade: D