In the late 1997, DC produced 3 movies on their established characters from the DC comic books. Though, all the 3 movies by DC flopped disasteroursly in the box office. Those movies are by name Batman and Robin (1997), Steel (1997) and Justice League of America (1997). In the present time, only 'Batman and Robin' movie by Joel Schumacher is remembered by current generation of audience. But the other two movies, Steel (1997) and Justice League of America (1997) are almost forgotten by the fans of DC, and only a few people remember these movies that featured the established iconic characters from the pages of DC comics. In this article, we will be providing you the complete information of the 3 movies by DC from the late year 1997.
Batman and Robin (1997)
Featuring the most iconic superhero of DC comics- Batman, along with his sidekick Robin, Batman and Robin (1997) was a typical comic adaptation Batman movie although it didn't get the support of fans as much it excepted. Releasing on 20 June 1997, The movie was directed by Joel Schumacher and produced by Peter MacGregor-Scott, with story and screenplay by Akiva Goldsman. The film was distributed by Warner Bros. The movie was made under a budget of 12.5 crore USD, and the movie grossed 23.8 crore USD in the box office. The film rated 3.8/10 in IMDb, 11% score in rotten tomatoes and 56% like rate on Google. The movie covered it's budget but still considered as a flop due to the backlash of audience, and the reason was not just one.....
The movie didn't meet the expectations of batman fans, the dialogues were not on to the mark, the movie was too bright (batman mostly fits in a dark movie), an inaccurate adaptation of Bane as he was featured as a henchmen of poison ivy (which angered the audience as Bane in the knightfall storyline broke the bones of batman), the story was average and who can possibly forget about the Batman's 'nipples'? These points to this day has made Joel Schumacher's Batman and Robin (1997) the worst live action batman movie of all time and even counted as one of the worst comic book adaptations of DC comics characters, also leaving it's lead actor George Clooney marked as the worst live action batman.
Speaking of the cast of this movie, George Clooney plays the titular role of the caped crusader - The Batman, in this movie. Chris O'Donnell played the role of Dick Grayson/Robin/Nightwing, Alicia Silverstone played the role of Barbara Gordon/Batgirl, Micheal Gough played the role of the caped Crusader's butler- Alfred Pennyworth, Pat Hingle played the role of Commissioner James Gordon, Uma Thurman played the role of Poison Ivy, the absolute Hollywood legend Arnold Schwarzenegger played the role of the iconic batman villian- Mr. Freeze, Robert Swenson played the role of Bane, Elle McPherson played the role of Julie Madison, John Glover played the role of Floronic man, Vivica A. Fox played the role of Ms. B. Haven.
Steel (1997)
Steel, released on 15 August 1997 is a sci fi action packed movie directed by Kenneth Johnson. It is completely based on the DC superhero namely Steel. Steel was created by Louise Simonson and Jon Bogdanove for DC comics. The film was produced by David Salzman, Quincy Jones and Joel Simon, and was distributed by Warner Bros. The film was made in 17 lakh USD budget and grossed 1.6 crore USD in the box office. It is rated 2.9/10 in IMDb (becoming one of the least rated DC movies), 12% score in Rotten tomatoes, 39% like rate on Google. The film covered it's budget but received backlash similar to Batman and Robin (1997). The audience had to complaint about the film that the casting was poorly done, acting was average, having no superman or Superman reference in the entire film (steel is a character highest related to superman in DC comics) and a weak storytelling. Resulting the movie to be declared flop after its low reception in the box office, it's director had to say that he is thankful the movie was made in low budget.
Here is the cast of movie- the 7'1 feet giant Shaquille O'Neal as the Steel, Annabeth Gish as Susan Sparks, Judd Nelson as Nathaniel Burke, Richard Roundtree as Uncle Joe, Irma P. Hall as Grandma Odessa, Ray J as Martin, Hill Harper as slats, Kevin Grevioux as singer, Thom Berry as Sergeant Marcus, Harvey Silver as Lamont, Kerrie Keane as Senator Nolan, John Hawkes as a mugger, Tembi Locke as Norma, Charles Napier as Colonel David, Michael Shamus Wiles as a skinhead, Rutanya Alda as Mrs. Hunt, Gary Graham as a detective, Tim De Zarn as skinhead leader, Eric Pierpoint as Major, Kevin Sifuentes as Reed driver, Rick Worthy as a SWAT man, John F. O'Donohue as a federal reserve officer, Cyd Strittmatter as Lieutanant, Scortch Ellis Loring as a SWAT officer, John Cruze as Columbian, Nancy Wolfe as American overlord, Kamau Holloway as a skin #1, Norris Young as skin #2, Valentina Marie Lomborg as LA cop, Eric Saiet as young cop, Ben Martin as district attorney, Joe Wandell as Reff Gunman, Ben Maccabee as Marine, Dia Van Patten as Mrs. Weston, Michael Preston as Mr. Weston.... And there is more.
Justice League of America (1997)
We all might know about the Zack Snyder's justice league (2021) which was released previously as Justice league (2017) by Josh Whedon, but do you know that a justice league movie happened way before that in the late year 1997? Justice league of America (1997) TV movie is a justice league movie that is long forgotten by the DC fans. You might not be sure who is justice league of America, don't worry we got you.... Justice league of America is a unit of justice league just like justice league of Europe and Justice league of China. The film was directed by Felix Enriquez Alcala and produced by Larry Rapaport. The film was originally planned to be a series, but later it was transformed into a pilot TV movie and released on CBS network. The film is rated 2.9/10 on IMDb, 51% score on rotten tomatoes, 5.9/10 on blu-ray.com, 63% like rate on Google. The film was initially released on 28 December 1997, though the budget and box office collection is unknown/lost due to it's irremembrance and low popularity. It is reportedly a flop film like the previous two movies released in 1997. The reason of it being flop is said to be it's low marketing, weak storytelling, worse adaptation and inaccurate storyline. you can also find people quoting about this movie as 'awful superhero movie', 'original superhero's sitcom spoof' or 'a cheaper version of power rangers'.
So let's speak of the cast- Kenny Johnston played the role of Barry Allen/flash, Matthew Settle played the role of Guy Gardner/ Green lantern, Kimberly Oja played the role of Tori Olafsdotter/Ice, John Kassir played the role of Atom, Michelle Hurd played the role of B. B. DaCosta/Fire, David Ogden stiers played the role of Martian Manhunter, Miguel Ferrer played the role of the villainous - Weather man, David Krumholtz played the role of Martin Walters, Ron Pearson played the role Dr. Arliss Hopke, Alisa Donovan played the role of Cheryl, Judy Kain played the role of Judy, Jason Weissbrod played the role of Drazen, Nick DeMauro played the role of a TV repairman.
(Written by Talha Amin)