If you are familiar with director, Joel Schumacher’s Batman & Robin (1997), you will know how vibrant and colourful the movie is. From the sets and lighting, to the costumes and make-up, the film is filled with eye-catching imagery.
And one of the most vibrant, colourful and eye-catching characters in Batman & Robin is Poison Ivy. The villain – played by Uma Thurman – appears repeatedly throughout the movie, always bringing her own unique style to the screen.
But there’s something you may have missed about Poison Ivy’s appearance in the movie. It’s quite significant, but did you catch it?
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Poison Ivy’s costumes in Batman & Robin
Poison Ivy sports various looks throughout Batman & Robin – different costumes, different hairstyles and different make-up. But did you notice that the character’s look continues to change throughout the movie – almost every time she appears on screen? And did you notice her appearance gets more outlandish too?
When Uma Thurman makes her debut in Batman & Robin, roughly 20 minutes into the film, she appears in the guise of Dr. Pamela Isley. Consumed by her work, Isley is far from fashion-conscious and is decked out in a long coat, overalls and gloves.
When Thurman next appears on screen, it is after Dr. Isley’s ‘death’, during a sequence in which Poison Ivy is born. In this scene, her costume has changed, now to something shorter, less restrictive and more earthy in its tone, to reflect her rebirth from nature.
As Ivy continues to crop up in the film, either solo or alongside her partner in crime, Mr. Freeze, her look continues to change. The colour palette of her outfits progresses, as does her make-up, working from green through to magenta.
This is perhaps most apparent during her battle with Batgirl, which marks her penultimate scene in the movie. In this scene, Ivy’s eye hair is wild, her eye makeup is at its most extravagant and it’s as if she is a flower that is now in full bloom.
Ivy appears to be at her most confident during this section of the movie, where she feels as if she can not be defeated. Although, as the scene plays out, it is clear she is over confident.
And if her look in her penultimate scene showcases Ivy in ‘full bloom’, then her final scene is where she begins to wither. In her final appearance, Ivy is locked away in Arkham, disheveled and a shadow of her former self – this is the end of her cycle.
Now, did you notice that? Be honest.
Next time you watch Batman & Robin, keep track of Ivy’s physical appearance throughout the movie. You may not have noticed it before, but visually Ivy goes on a journey of development and one that adds a great deal of depth to the character, often overlooked at first glance.
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Thanks for stopping by I’ll Get Drive-Thru to read this post about Poison Ivy. For more Batman movie related posts, check out one of the recommended reads below.
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