BATMAN: The Motion Picture Anthology SE DVD Box (Details)

[AndyDursin]

Doesn't look like BATMAN FOREVER is going to be in the rumored "3-hour" cut after all...just the theatrical version. And what's up with the lack of deleted scenes on the Burton films?

At any rate, the four-disc set retails for $80 (or about $50-$60 in stores) and is out this fall.

Sadly it's being handled by the PR firm (and one woman in particular) who refuses to send us anything, though yesterday when I asked for THE THIN MAN box set, she did say they could send off THE MAMBO KINGS instead (gee, thanks... ) So at any rate, you won't be seeing a review from me, but hopefully y'all can let us know if it's worth its weight and price or not...

DVD Details


Batman (1989)

Tim Burton’s direction and Michael Keaton’s performance combine perfectly in this first film to capture the sinister atmosphere of Gotham City and the brooding nature of Batman. Jack Nicholson almost steals the movie as the maniacal Joker and Kim Basinger is Vicki Vale, the beautiful and resourceful photojournalist desired by both men. Featuring songs by Prince and a score by Danny Elfman, Batman won the 1990 Oscar® for Best Art Direction/Set Decoration.



DVD Special Features Include:

* Commentary by Director Tim Burton
* On the Set with Bob Kane
* Legends of the Dark Knight: The History of Batman – The Batman comic book saga as reinvented and reinterpreted over nearly seven decades
* Shadows of the Bat: The Cinematic Saga of the Dark Knight Parts 1-3
o The Road to Gotham City
o The Gathering Storm
o The Legend Reborn
* Beyond Batman Documentary Gallery
o Visualizing Gotham: The Production Design of Batman
o Building the Batmobile
o Those Wonderful Toys: The Props and Gadgets of Batman
o Designing the Batsuit
o From Jack to the Joker
o Nocturnal Overtures: The Music of Batman
* Music Videos by Prince: Batdance, Partyman and Scandalous
* The Heroes and The Villains Profile Galleries
* Batman: The Complete Robin Storyboard Sequence
* New Digital Transfer with Both 5.1 Dolby and DTS Surround
* Theatrical Trailer
* Languages: English & French (dubbed in Quebec)
* Subtitles: English, French & Spanish (Feature Film Only)



Batman Returns (1992)

Having defeated The Joker, Batman now faces The Penguin – a warped and deformed individual intent on being accepted into Gotham society. The plot is further complicated by Selina Kyle, a wronged secretary who transforms into the slinky, mysterious Catwoman. Michael Keaton reprises his role as Batman; Danny DeVito stars as The Penguin and Michelle Pfeiffer is the new face of Catwoman in this second installment of Warner Bros.’ Batman series directed by Tim Burton.



DVD Special Features Include:

* Commentary by Director Tim Burton
* The Bat, the Cat and the Penguin – Cast and crew members recall the making of this equally spectacular sequel
* Shadows of the Bat: The Cinematic Saga of the Dark Knight
o Part 4: The Dark Side of the Knight
* Beyond Batman Documentary Gallery
o Gotham City Revisited: The Production Design of Batman Returns
o Sleek, Sexy and Sinister: The Costumes of Batman Returns
o Making up the Penguin
o Assembling the Arctic Army
o Bats, Mattes and Dark Nights: The Visual Effects of Batman
* Face to Face Music Video by Siouxsie and the Banshees
* The Heroes and The Villains Profile Galleries
* New Digital Transfer with Both 5.1 Dolby and DTS Surround
* Theatrical Trailer
* Languages: English & French (Dubbed in Quebec)
* Subtitles: English, French & Spanish (Feature Film Only)



Batman Forever (1995)

The Dark Knight of Gotham City returns to confront two more villains – Two-Face and The Riddler in Batman Forever directed by Joel Schumacher and co-produced by Tim Burton. Trusty superhero sidekick, Robin, also makes his first appearance in this film. Val Kilmer (Batman), Tommy Lee Jones (Two-Face), Jim Carrey (The Riddler), Nicole Kidman (Dr. Chase Meridian) and Chris O’Donnell (Robin) star.



DVD Special Features Include:

* Commentary by Director Joel Schumacher
* Additional Scenes
* Riddle Me This: Why is Batman Forever? – How a new director and cast created a new version of Gotham’s classic good and bad guys
* Shadows of the Bat: The Cinematic Saga of the Dark Knight
o Part 5: Reinventing a Hero
* Beyond Batman Documentary Gallery
o Out of the Shadows: The Production Design of Batman Forever
o The Many Faces of Gotham City
o Knight Moves: The Stunts of Batman Forever
o Imaging Forever: The Visual Effects of Batman Forever
o Scoring Forever: The Music of Batman Forever
* Kiss from a Rose Music Video by Seal
* The Heroes and The Villains Profile Galleries
* New Digital Transfer with Both 5.1 Dolby and DTS Surround
* Theatrical Trailer
* Languages: English & French (dubbed in Quebec)
* Subtitles: English, French & Spanish (Feature Film Only)





Batman & Robin (1997)

George Clooney is Batman, facing his deadliest threats yet: the cold-hearted Mr. Freeze (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and venomous Poison Ivy (Uma Thurman). This time, Batman also has to protect his crime fighting comrades Robin (Chris O’Donnell) and Batgirl (Alicia Silverstone), whose youthful eagerness frequently puts them in harm’s way. Outstanding special effects include a wild sky-surfing sequence and Mr. Freeze’s outrageous arsenal of ice-blasting weapons. Joel Schumacher directs from a screenplay by Academy Award-winner Akiva Goldsman (Cinderella Man, A Beautiful Mind).



DVD Special Features Include:

* Commentary by Director Joel Schumacher
* Shadows of the Bat: The Cinematic Saga of the Dark Knight
o Part 6: Batman Unbound
* Additional scene “Alfred’s Lost Love”
* Beyond Batman documentary gallery
o Bigger, Bolder, Brighter: The Production Design of Batman & Robin
o Maximum Overdrive: The Vehicles of Batman & Robin
o Dressed to Thrill: The Costumes of Batman & Robin
o Frozen Freaks and Femme Fatales: The Makeup of Batman & Robin
o Freeze Frame: The Visual Effects of Batman & Robin
* Four music videos
o The End is the Beginning is the End by the Smashing Pumpkins
o Foolish Games by Jewel
o Gotham City by R. Kelly
o Look into My Eyes by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
* The Heroes and The Villains Profile Galleries
* New Digital Transfer with Both 5.1 Dolby and DTS Surround
* Theatrical Trailer
* Languages: English & French (dubbed in Quebec)
* Subtitles: English, French & Spanish (Feature Film Only)



BATMAN: The Motion Picture Anthology 1989-1997

Catalog #: 71659

$79.92 SRP

Street Date: October 18, 2005

Order Due Date: September 20, 2005



For Sale Individually at $26.99 SRP/$19.95 MAP

[Eric W.]

Not enough extras here to really make me run out in a hurry and buy this.

Maybe the next time deepdiscountdvd.com has that amazing sale again, and I'm making a clean up run, I'll consider it.

Too many other things that I care about buying more, over the next several months, DVD and otherwise.

[AndyDursin]

Maybe the next time deepdiscountdvd.com has that amazing sale again, and I'm making a clean up run, I'll consider it.

November -- you can count on it!

Even then I'm not so sure I'll be spending my cash on this either. Quite honestly, I'd rather sit through SUPERMAN IV again (as bad as it is) than the BATMAN movies, even the good ones. They don't lend themselves to repeat viewing IMO -- the Burton films are clearly the best but I've just had little motivation to sit through them again, even all these years later.

[mkaroly]

Even then I'm not so sure I'll be spending my cash on this either. Quite honestly, I'd rather sit through SUPERMAN IV again (as bad as it is) than the BATMAN movies, even the good ones. They don't lend themselves to repeat viewing IMO -- the Burton films are clearly the best but I've just had little motivation to sit through them again, even all these years later.

Here's another question- are there any plans to release DVDs with deleted scenes and stuff along those lines in the future? Any word on what the Burton commentaries will be like (does he take issue with the studio, etc.), and will these be avail separately? I'm kinda getting tired on buying stuff only to have special, SPECIAL editions surface a couple of years later......

[AndyDursin]

Here's another question- are there any plans to release DVDs with deleted scenes and stuff along those lines in the future? Any word on what the Burton commentaries will be like (does he take issue with the studio, etc.), and will these be avail separately? I'm kinda getting tired on buying stuff only to have special, SPECIAL editions surface a couple of years later......

As far as the deleted scenes go, if they're not happening here, they're not happening. This is the first time Warner has revisited any of the BATMAN films since the beginning of the DVD medium, so I wouldn't count on anything more coming down the line -- except the "Blu-Ray" or HD-DVD version in a few years once that whole format deal blows over.

All of these movies WILL be available separately, though...

[mkaroly]

All of these movies WILL be available separately, though...

I fthat's the case, and if there aren't ever going to be deleted scenes, then the first two might be fun to get for the commentaries alone. I'll pass on the other two.

[AndyDursin]

I fthat's the case, and if there aren't ever going to be deleted scenes, then the first two might be fun to get for the commentaries alone. I'll pass on the other two.

I confess I found BATMAN & ROBIN kind of fun -- at least it's more outrageous than "Forever," which you'd have to pay me to sit through again!

On the other hand, whether I'd spend $20 on a SE of it is another matter altogether!

[mkaroly]

I fthat's the case, and if there aren't ever going to be deleted scenes, then the first two might be fun to get for the commentaries alone. I'll pass on the other two.

I confess I found BATMAN & ROBIN kind of fun -- at least it's more outrageous than "Forever," which you'd have to pay me to sit through again!

On the other hand, whether I'd spend $20 on a SE of it is another matter altogether!

Val Kilmer and Nicole Kidman were not a good paring- even Jim Carrey couldn't save that turkey. I think Clooney made a better Batman than Kilmer did- and seeing Ah-nuld walk around in what looked like a 500 lb. costume was kind of funny.....

[Carlson2005]

[As far as the deleted scenes go, if they're not happening here, they're not happening.

On the Burton films, there apparently really isn't much in the way of deleted footage: mostly its trims, disjointed as parts of Batman Returns are (and it does play as if someone missed a reel near the end). There's apparently a legal problem with showing any of the Sean Young scenes from the first film on the DVD, but other than that there's not much being locked away other than Bruce Wayne walks through door/Bruce Wayne shuts door stuff.

The real goldmine is all the Brando footage shot for Superman II, which definitely does still exist and is rumored to be turning up in Singer's new movie - though I wouldn't be surprised if that doesn't happen either.