10 Positives Joel Schumacher Actually Brought To Batman Movies

1. A Sense Of Family

Whilst the whole point of Schumacher’s entries into the Batman canon was that they were more family friendly and marketable than, well, Batman Returns, Schumacher’s Batman films convey a true sense of family, not unlike the unity of the Bat Family portrayed in Batman: The Animated Series, which was airing on the Fox Network and The WB around the same time.

In Schumacher’s films, we see Bruce Wayne taking Dick Grayson under his wing, both literally and figuratively; the grief of Bruce, Dick and Barbara Wilson over Alfred Pennyworth’s terminal illness; Alfred seeking out his brother, Wilfred to try and convey the importance of the Caped Crusaders’ mission, and Batman, Robin and Alicia Silverstone’s Batgirl learning to work as partners and as a family rather being in competition with one another.

The “family” scenes in both films are beautifully shot and speak directly to the fact, whether you wear a cape or not and despite whatever adversity may be present in your life, the importance of family is crucial. Indeed, Clooney’s Bruce tells Michael Gough’s Alfred that “not all heroes wear masks”.

Prior to this, Batman had only had Alfred to confide in but, alongside the lightening in tone came the hope that was provided by Bruce becoming a surrogate father in his own right to two wayward spirits and eventually accepting Dick and Barbara as equals to be trusted.