I grew up watching Tim Burton's first two Batman movies. Obsessed, I was continuously rewatching them. My fandom stopped once "Batman Forever" happened, but even more so "Batman & Robin," the latter of which was met with a resounding "WTF?" by audiences worldwide. I mean, it's one thing changing Tim Burton for Joel Schumacher as the director, but replacing Michael Keaton with Val Kilmer, and then George Clooney, as Batman was the final straw for me. I wouldn't be a fan again until Christopher Nolan took over in 2005 with his masterful trilogy of films. Schumacher's films left a very bitter taste in my mouth and the director has refrained from talking about it until ... now.
Schumacher spoke to Vice, in what seemed to be a very therapeutic interview for the director, about the catastrophe that was "Batman & Robin." In fact, he actually apologizes for the movie. It certainly did damage his career, he was once a much sought after filmmaker that had a streak of box-office hits (St. Elmo's Fire, A Time to Kill, The Client, Falling Down, The Lost Boys). I do appreciate what he did with in 2002 with "Phone Booth," but, other than that Collin Farrel starring flick, the last 20 years have been grim for Schumacher.
The whole Vice interview is fascinating stuff, click on the link below, but the quote that will stir up talk is when, at some point, he says this:
"And then after Batman & Robin, I was scum. It was like I had murdered a baby ... Look, I apologize,I want to apologize to every fan that was disappointed because I think I owe them that."
[Vice]
[Vice]