Michael Keaton attacks lazy Hollywood
MICHAEL Keaton has slated the new Iron Man movie, claiming that Hollywood writers have become soft and lazy, choosing to rely on sequels instead of coming up with fresh ideas.
The actor, who is no stranger to mega-budget superhero sequels himself having starred in Tim Burton’s Batman and Batman Returns, is also providing the voice for Barbie’s boyfriend Ken in the much-anticipated Toy Story 3, due for release on July 23.
But the 58-year-old believes not all sequels are alike and has taken a swipe at the mass of follow-ups he feels are blighting the silver screen.
“I think the makers of sequels just get soft and lazy and don’t think they need to try any more,” says Michael.
“I’ve heard that about Iron Man 2. I haven’t seen it yet but I have heard that it’s not as good as the first one for that very reason.”
The film, starring Robert Downey Jnr, Gwyneth Paltrow and Scarlett Johansson, has also been relegated to the scrap heap by critics. But Michael, who has worked with Downey Jnr on baseball film Game Six, hopes that his new movie is going to redress the balance of flop follow-ups.
He said: “Thankfully, Toy Story 3 is as good if not better than the original.”
After Keaton’s departure, the Batman franchise went on to spawn four more films, including director Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins and The Dark Knight starring Christian Bale and Joel Schumacher’s Batman Forever and Batman And Robin.
Michael had a lucky escape from Gotham City. Batman And Robin, starring George Clooney as the caped crusader in a famously be-nippled batsuit withChris O’Donnell as his plucky sidekick, was recently voted worst film of all time by readers of Empire magazine.
Holy rotten tomatoes Batman!
