Episode 18: Batman Sub-Zero
Disclaimer: legal rights to this movie are owned by Bruce Timm and Paul Dini not me. This review is for pleasure only not profit.
The show opens with a combination music box/snow globe with a ballerina dancing in the snow being held in a black sleeved hand with a purple glove at the end as a voice is heard.
Voice: This is how I will always remember you; surrounded by winter forever young, forever beautiful. Rest well my love, the monster who took you from me will soon realize the revenge is a dish best served cold.
The voiced is soon revealed to be owned by Mr. Freeze wearing a grey body suit, to keep himself cold due to the accident that lead up to him becoming what he is as Airnaruto soon stepped in as we see some clips involving Mr. Freeze.
"Mr. Freeze, he's perhaps one of the most infamous and tragic figures in the Batman rouges gallery." He said before a small flashback video is played.
"Originally he was Doctor Victor Fries, a man who had been studying and specializing in Cryogenics until his beautiful wife Nora was diagnosed with a terminal disease for which there is no cure. Fries then puts her in a cryogenic state of suspended animation to keep her condition stabilized until he could find a cure, but before he can the company funding his research pulls the plug on him, and destroys his lab resulting in the chemicals he had been working with to spill on him and turn him into a cold emotionless villain." Airnaruto said as we see the final moments of the lab going up in smoke.
Fries: NORA!
The screen soon cleared up to reveal the Classic Critic; "Hello I'm the Classic Critic, I remember it so you're not required too." Airnaruto said, "As I promised it's time for me to look at the second animated Batman film that was released during the 90s although unlike its predecessor this film was a direct to video release." He said before making some comments on the villain himself.
"I'm going to admit that next to the Joker, Mr. Freeze is one of my favorite Batman villains and yes both of them will be in my top 12 Batman villains countdown when I get the chance to do it." Airnaruto said before going on to the characters history over the years first showing the cover of the comic he debuted in.
"Mr. Freeze debuted in Batman issue #121 back in February of 1959 when he was originally called Mr. Zero. He was portrayed as one of many joke villains cast as stock enemies for Batman at the time however." Airnaruto said before a brief clip of the opening to the 1960s live action series and three photos of Mr. Freeze portrayed by three different actors.
"In the 1960s live action show, he was portrayed by George Sanders, Otto Preminger, and Eli Wallach, and it was revealed that it was Batman who spilled the cryogenic chemicals on him during an attempted arrest, but he was still portrayed as a joke villain more or less." Airnaruto said showing and identifying each one left to right before showing a shot of his animated incarnation.
"It wouldn't be until the 1992 animated series that Mr. Freeze became a more three dimensional character, becoming a criminal just so he can save the life of the woman he loves." Airnaruto said before cutting back to him.
"Now about 4 and half years after Batman Mask of the Phantasm the animators at Warner Brothers decided to do a second animated Batman movie the formula this time however was to make Mr. Freeze the main character and the Batman the supporting one." Airnaruto said before giving his thoughts on the plot to this film.
"If that's not the formula for a good animated Batman film then I don't know what the fuck is, so released on home video on Saint Patrick's Day 1998 the film is simply titled, Sub-Zero." Airnaruto said as the title screen and graphic was displayed before shattering.
"The film starts in the Arctic where we learn that Mr. Freeze has settled down and started a family…of sorts." Airnaruto said before revealing this family of sorts.
"There's the still cryogenically encased Nora, an Inuit boy named Kunac, and two pet polar bears named Hotchka and Shaka." Airnaruto said as we see shots of each of them including Freeze returning with a net full of salmon.
Kunac: Oh salmon.
"Nora's condition begins to rapidly deteriorate when a submarine accidently emerges from above her chamber causing it to shatter." Airnaruto said as we see the submarine rise up and destroy Nora's containment unit scaring Freeze.
"Well Mr. Freeze takes this pretty well…not!" Airnaruto said as we see the outcome of this incident.
"He freezes the whole crew of the sub." Airnaruto exclaimed as he showed the result.
"I think it's safe to say that Freeze is pissed off big time." Airnaruto said bluntly before getting back to the film.
"Freeze returns to Gotham with his companions and forcibly enlist the aide of Dr. Gregory Belson to find a cure for Nora. Belson determines that Nora needs an organ transplant to survive but because of her rare blood type, donors are few and far between." Airnaruto said as Belson explains the situation to Freeze.
Belson: Nora's blood type is extremely rare. There aren't any deceased donors that match.
Freeze: Then we'll have to use a live donor.
"Belson is initially reluctant to kill an innocent girl until Freeze shows him a gold nugget from a vein he found in the Arctic. Freeze says he'll give Belson the whole vein if he helps him with the operation, so Belson agrees to the deal and luckily for them in terms of live donors Barbara Gordon aka Batgirl is a perfect blood type match to Nora. Freeze learns from Barbara's roommate that she's out at a restaurant on a date with her boyfriend Dick Grayson aka the original Robin." Airnaruto said before the camera cut back to him.
"God I love a Batman movie that has all the sidekicks." He said before he was shown photo of the heroes from the Batman & Robin live action movie. "EXCEPT THAT ONE!" He screamed and began throwing dozen of shuriken at the photo until it was shredded to pieces before going back to the movie.
"Freeze attacks the restaurant and kidnaps Barbara taking her to an abandoned oil rig where he and Belson are hiding out. After explaining the situation, Barbara agrees to help under the assumption that she's needed for a blood transfusion, but she won't do it on the oil rig, leading Freeze to lock her up. When the time arrives for the operation, Barbara realizes that their lying when they say she'll need to be put under (out cold) for the simple operation and escapes with the help of Kunac." Airnaruto said before we see the chase play out.
"Belson gives pursuit and almost catches her, before the arrival of Batman and Robin." Airnaruto said as the dynamic duo showed up.
"Freeze follows, and in the ensuing confrontation, Belson accidentally shoots one of the fuel tanks and starts a rapidly-spreading fire as Freeze traps Batman and Robin. Freeze insists that Belson perform the operation, despite the oil rig blazing and ready to explode, but Belson betrays Freeze and attempts to escape alone, only to be killed by falling wreckage." Airnaruto said as we see the wreckage fall onto Belson.
Belson: AAH!
CRASH!
BOOM!
"PWN'D!" Airnaruto exclaimed
"With his leg broken, Freeze decides to help Batman and Robin escape from the rig, but he tells Batman and Robin to save Nora and Kunac first, along with Barbara. Nora, Kunac and Barbara are taken to safety in the Batwing, but Batman fails to save the weakened Freeze in time, as the platform collapses beneath them, hitting him in the shoulder, and sending Freeze plummeting into the ocean below." Airnaruto said as we see Freeze fall into the Gotham bay below.
Batman: FREEZE!
"Batman manages to get back to the Batwing and get aboard just before the oil rig finally explodes, but Freeze escapes just in time, holding onto the swimming Hotchka and Shaka." Airnaruto said as we see a hand reach out and grab the polar bears by the fur around the shoulders.
"Freeze then returns with his polar bears to the Arctic to resume his life alone, having frozen his leg in an ice cast, but watching through a window he sees on a television in a research station that Nora has been revived after an organ transplant operation funded by Wayne Enterprises, moving him to frozen but joyful tears." Airnaruto said as the movie concluded and the camera cut back to him.
"Now the interesting thing about this movie is that it was released nine months after the cinematic release of the live action movie Batman & Robin and I think fans of Batman preferred this film over the live action movie." Airnaruto said.
"Why do ask?" Airnaruto asked for his audience.
"Well I can think of 5 reasons for that." Airnaruto said before he pulled out a list that contained the reasons why people preferred Sub-zero over Batman and Robin and read them off.
The film wasn't directed by Joel Schumacher who was being put under pressure by the studio.
No Bat nipples, Bat crotches, or Bat asses on the Bat suits.
Airnaruto then pointed upward to get a familiar joke out of the way.
SNL crew: The ambiguously gay duo!
"Sorry I had to get that out of the way." Airnaruto said before continuing with the list.
This Mr. Freeze was much more believable than Schwarzenegger ever was.
Airnaruto got cut off by the live action Freeze making an ice pun.
Mr. Freeze (Live action): Let's kick some ice!
Freeze didn't have the cure for his wife's disease on hand…not a metaphor.
5. No Bat credit card.
"Anyway all in all Batman Sub-Zero has everything that a Batman fan wants in an animated film based on the dark knight. It has drama, action, adventure, and romance and leaves you with that warm feeling inside my final rating for this film is a perfect 5 stars. Five frozen stars that is." Airnaruto said as he wrapped up the review and the camera cut back to him.
"Well folks that's it for Batman: Sub-Zero so I'll catch you next time and remember stay frosty." Airnaruto said before Charles Roberts snuck up to his ear.
"Bat credit card." Charles whispered.
"A BAT CREDIT CARD?" Airnaruto snapped before pulling out a variant of Alucard's jackal pistol. "SCHUMACHER YOU SON OF A BITCH I'M GONNA KICK YOUR ASS FOR THAT ONE WHO CAME UP WITH THAT SHITHEAP OF AN IDEA?" Airnaruto roared as he fired off shot after shot while Charles was smiling.
"He's the Classic Critic; he remembers it so you're not required to." Charles said as Airnaruto kept screaming off screen.
"A BAT CREDIT CARD? JESUS!" He screamed as the camera faded to black.
Well folks there you have it folks my review of Batman Sub-Zero so until next time read and review everyone.
Final recap
Pros: Lives up to the animated series once again, not directed by Joel Schumacher, none of the crap from the live action films in this one.
Cons: Nothing that I can think of
Final rating: ***** out of 5 (Frozen)