Arnold Schwarzenegger Isn't The Worst Mr. Freeze (And Could've Been Great)

screenrant.com:

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s performance as Batman & Robin's Mr. Freeze is one of the most misguided of his career, but he isn’t the worst version of the villain, and he could have been great in the role. Batman & Robin is notorious for being one of the worst comic book movies ever made. However, it’s unfortunate a villain as compelling as Mr. Freeze was then banished from Batman movies, especially since the character had been treated far worse in the past.

Batman & Robin follows George Clooney’s Dark Knight as he struggles to protect Gotham and trust his sidekick, Dick Grayson (Chris O’Donnell). Tension rises between the pair while they battle the combined forces of Mr. Freeze and Poison Ivy (Uma Thurman). No character emerged from Batman & Robin unscathed, but Schwarzenegger bore the brunt of the ridicule.

Related: Robert Pattinson Is Right, There Are NO Bad Batman Movies

However, with Matt Reeves considering a more grounded Mr. Freeze for a sequel to The Batman, it’s worth noting that Schwarzenegger’s isn’t the most ridiculous portrayal. The actor might not immediately spring to mind for the role of a scientist specializing in cryogenics, but he could have been fantastic had his talent been used effectively, like in the Terminator franchise. The overt comedy is a step too far, but Batman & Robin’s Mr. Freeze does boast a tragic backstory. The same can’t be said for the villain's second appearance in the 1960s Batman TV show, where Otto Preminger reduced him to a sleazy criminal.

Batman & Robin failed to understand what makes the actor powerful, sharing the same Schwarzenegger problem impacting the Terminator and Predator sequels. Schwarzenegger is iconic as the T-800, his innovative, stoic approach making him a terrifying