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Batman Anthology on Blu-ray

DVD Shopping Bag has Bitching Mixed with Pure Joy

By Robert T. Trate March 10, 2009

Michael Keaton as Batman in Batman (1989)
© Mania.com/Robert Trate

Finally. Wait, I want to say that again. Finally, the Batman Anthology has come to Blu-ray. With the more recent Batman films and the original starring Adam West already on Blu-ray Bat fans had to be wondering how much longer they were going to have to wait. Usually a box set of this magnitude is released with a sequel or re-make ready to hit theaters or DVD. Here it is March and the only thing close to a Batman movie is the Watchmen (also owned by Time Warner). I was shocked that it didn’t happen during The Dark Knight’s home video release. I got to get a closer look at he new Anthology box set and I have to be honest I got a few things to bitch about but most of it is superseded by pure joy.

Let’s jump right into the bitching and complaining. The box set is nothing more than single Blu-ray versions of the 2005 Batman, Batman Returns, Batman Forever and Batman and Robin Special Editions. All the special features are identical. If you purchased the special editions back in 2005 you are really not getting anything new. Another great bust about the Anthology is that you can only get Batman (1989) on Blu-ray in the Anthology. There isn’t a single Blu-ray slated for release as of yet. There are Blu-ray imports available on Amazon (seen here). If you are a completist then I guess you are set. For this Bat fan having Batman Forever or Batman and Robin in the collection is about as useful as having License to Kill or Diamonds are Forever. They’ll never get watched and just take up valuable shelf space. Certainly this is just a matter of time and Warner Brothers is reaping the whirlwind of DVD enthusiasts that will buy the box set for the original and its sequel. If you are patient just hold out a little bit longer.

There is still yet another down side to the films being released on Blu-ray. Despite the cutting edge technology of the day there are several rear screen projections in the first Batman film making it appear as if we are watching a TV show instead of a movie. Details such a Knox’s tuxedo are visible for the first time but give way to Keaton’s almost painted black hair. Sure there are the incredible toxic colors of Axis Chemicals and steam that bellows and rises all over Gotham but seeing Nicholson’s prosthetics is a real mood killer.

The pure joy of this anthology is finally having all those original special features for the first two Batman films. Though incredibly dated and not transferred to Blu-ray standards it is great to relive all those great behind the scenes that tantalized this young film buff. The summer of 1989 came rushing back with all the special features but pure joy hit when the music and picture were played out in 1080p and True HD. Burton’s vision holds up pretty well and lends itself more now to the comic book then it did back in 1989. The harsh realism of Batman Begins and The Dark Knight is greatly appreciated but it isn’t as nearly as much fun as it was back in 1989 and 1992.

I held off on getting the Batman films back in 2005 when Batman Begins was released because I really wanted them on what was going to be the next format. I was patient and now the reward is, despite Batman three and four sitting on the shelf, a chance to enjoy the films all over again. The biggest thing that stands out is my appreciation for Keaton in the title role. He was the Sean Connery of the Batman franchise. No one, until recently, captured the spirit of both characters. Bale might reign as Bruce Wayne and Batman but Keaton set the benchmark for all others to follow.

Jack Nicholson on the other hand is no longer the Joker for this Bat fan. Heath Ledger’s portrayal is grim, raw and perfectly sinister in all the ways the Joker is supposed to be. Now Nicholson looks as if he is an insane balloon. His Joker is filled with so much hot air and guff that he makes Jim Carrey’s Riddler look good. Batman and comic books are mirrors of our times. Is the world a darker place today? Yes. Keaton’s brooding and tortured soul still seems relevant. Keaton could still play Batman. Nicholson’s Joker would be laughed off the screen.

ACTION / ADVENTURE / KUNG FU/ THRILLERS / WAR/ WESTERNS

Batman: The Motion Picture Anthology 1989-1997 (Batman / Batman Returns / Batman Forever / Batman & Robin) (Two-Disc Special Editions) ~ Val Kilmer, Tommy Lee Jones, Jim Carrey, and Nicole Kidman

Batman Anthology (Batman / Batman Returns / Batman Forever / Batman & Robin) [Blu-ray]

-Commentaries

-Trailers

-Every Behind the Scene and First Look

-Music Videos

-Documentaries

-Character Profiles

-Rogue Galleries

Battle in Seattle ~ Martin Henderson, Michelle Rodriguez, Woody Harrelson, and Charlize Theron

Battle in Seattle [Blu-ray]

The Casino Job ~ Amylia Joiner, Jay Anthony Franke, Irina Voronina, and Dean Mauro

Ip Man ~ Simon Yam, Fan Siu-Wong, Donnie Yen, and Hiroyuki Ikeuchi

The Man Who Was Sherlock Holmes ~ Hans Albers, Paul Bildt, Marieluise Claudius, and Hansi Knoteck

Palimpsest: A Hypnotic Mystery ~ Magdalena Cielecka, Andrzej Chyra, Robert Gonera, and Tomasz Sapryk

Primal Fear [Blu-ray] ~ Edward Norton, Stanley Anderson, Mike Bacarella, Steven Bauer, and Andre Braugher

Primal Fear

Storm Force ~ Alex Daeseleire, Koen de Bouw, Kevin Janssens, and Veerle Baetens

Sugarhouse ~ Steven Mackintosh, Andy Serkis, Adam Deacon, and Ashley Walters

Transporter 3 [Blu-ray] ~ Jason Statham, Robert Knepper, Katia Tchenko, and Natalya Rudakova

Transporter 3 (Single-Disc Edition)

ANIME

Berserk Complete ~ Carolyn Keranen

Cruel Restaurant

Darker Than Black: Volume Three ~ Todd Haberkorn, Michele Specht, Masaru Ikeda, and Hidenobu Kiuchi

Fullmetal Alchemist: The Complete Second Season ~ Romi Pak, Rie Kugimiya, Shun Oguri, and Kazuko Kato

Indian Summer: Complete Collection (Sub)

Kenichi: Season One, Part One

Kiba Collection 2 (4pc) (Dub)

Mazinkaiser & Shuten Doji (4pc) (Sub)

Megaman Collection 2 (3pc)

Paniponi Dash: Complete Box Set ~ Chiwa Saito, Ai Nonaka, Fumiko Orikasa, and Kana Ueda

Speedgrapher Box Set (Viridian Collection)

CARTOONS and CARTOON SERIES

Max Fleischer's Gulliver's Travels [Blu-ray] ~ Jessica Dragonette, Lanny Ross, Pinto Colvig, and Jack Mercer

Max Fleischer's Gulliver's Travels

Pinocchio (2-Disc 70th Anniversary Platinum Edition) ~ Mel Blanc, Don Brodie, Walter Catlett, and Frankie Darro

Pinocchio (Platinum Edition + Standard DVD) [Blu-ray]

-Pinocchio’s Matter of Facts

-Audio Commentary

-Disney Song Selection

-No Strings Attached: The Making of Pinocchio
-Deleted Scenes
-Alternate Ending
-The Sweat Box

-Live Action Reference Footage
-Pinocchio Art Galleries
-Deleted Songs
-Pinocchio Puzzles
-BLU-RAY BONUS FEATURES

-Disney BD-Live Network features only available in the U.S.
-Cine-Explore

-Movie Chat

South Park: The Complete Twelfth Season [Blu-ray]

-“Six Days to South Park: A Day-by-Day Making of the ‘Super Fun Time’ episode of ‘South Park’”

-“Making Boobage: behind-the-scenes footage

-A behind-the-scenes look at "About Last Night”

-The ever-popular "commentary-minis" by co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone

South Park: The Complete Twelfth Season

Woody Woodpecker Favorites

COMEDY AND LOVE Mania Style

Howard the Duck Special Edition ~ Lea Thompson, Tim Robbins, Jeffery Jones, and Ed Gale

-A LOOK BACK AT HOWARD THE DUCK

-ARCHIVAL FEATURETTES

-TEASER TRAILERS

Role Models Unrated ~ Seann William Scott, Paul Rudd, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse

HORROR

Crowley~ John Shrapnel

Dark Reel ~ Edward Furlong, Lance Henriksen, Mercedes McNab, and Tony Todd

Dead by Dawn ~ Tiffany Edwardson, Anthony Cortese, and Chris Simis

Let The Right One In ~ Lina Leandersson

Prometheus Triumphant: A Fugue in the Key of Flesh ~ Jim Towns, Melissa Troughtzmantz, Josh Ebel, and Kelly Lynn

Stash ~ Debbie Rochon, Nathan Day, Kevin Taylor, and Billy W. Blackwell

SCIENCE FICTION / FANTASY

Groom Lake ~ William Shatner, Dick Van Patten, Amy Acker, and Tom Towles

-Interview with Director

-Trailers

Escape to Witch Mountain Special Edition ~ Eddie Albert, Walter Barnes, Don Brodie, and George Chandler

-Pop-Up Fun Facts

-Filmmaker commentary

-1975 Disney Scrapbook

-Pluto Cartoon

-Disney Science Fiction

-Disney Director Conversation

-Making of Witch Mountain

Return from Witch Mountain Special Edition ~ William H. Bassett, Wally K. Berns, Ward Costello, and Bette Davis

TV LAND

The Baron: The Complete Series ~ Steve Forrest

Caroline in the City: The Second Season

Cracker: The Complete Collection

Family Ties: The Fifth Season

Get Smart: Season 2

UNDENIABLE CLASSICS

Shinobi No Mono 3: Resurrection ~ Raizo Ichikawa

Shinobi: Complete Collection (2pc) (Ws Dub)

COMMENTS AND RESPONSES

TayDor 3/10/2009 2:53:07 AM

As good as Keaton was (better than Kilmer and Clooney for sure), he never mastered the dual personality of Wayne/Batman like Bale did. Keaton's batman was the same person in the cowl or out of the cowl.

tiredjay 3/10/2009 9:10:37 AM

mlauzon, I don't think that word means what you think it does.

gauleyboy420 3/10/2009 10:28:01 AM

Taydor, you're kidding right? Keaton was masterful at the way he portrayed each facet of the duality of Batman.

I put him as my all time favorite Batman, well movie Batman, Still got that damn soft spot for Adam West

StarlightGuard 3/10/2009 12:05:21 PM

wait, why hasn't Hanso chimed in yet?

the word BATMAN appears in this article a few times...oops I said it too

I wonder if you say it three times in a row, would Hanso magically appear?

TayDor 3/10/2009 10:57:06 PM

Sorry Gauley. As good as he was, he was still the same person all the way through. Where was the carefree semi-fool playboy? All we really saw was the busnissman-wayne and a slightly more serious batman. I never felt the rage of batman like Bale was able to portray.

Tonebone 3/11/2009 3:36:25 PM

Personally, I liked Batman Forever. Sure at times it bordered on absurd. But looking back, its a strange mixture of Burton and Schumacher with alot more of Burton's influence than Schumacher (thank god)

As for Bale. He's the perfect Bruce Wayne. I still think Michael Keaton is the better all around Bats. Bale's Batman just doesn't excite me. He's okay in the suit. Maybe its the voice

hanso 3/12/2009 5:16:10 AM

You rang Starlight?

Batman Forever at times bordered on absurd? Try all the time!!!

Jack Nicholson's Joker is money, what is wrong with you people? I've seen Batman recently and I didn't laugh him off the screen. I thought it still owned, not as much as Ledger's Joker but still good nonetheless.

Here's how I break down the Batman situation, similar to Tbones. Keaton's Bruce Wayne a 7, Keaton's Batman a 10(I love the Batmobile and the suit). Bale's Wayne a 10, Bale's Batman 8.5. So overall score Christian Bale is the better Wayne/Batman.

I'm still debating if I'll get this blu ray anthology or not, if it's the same crap as the DVD version why should I get it? I don't even watch these films that much anymore outside of the 1st one.