BATMAN (Batman - Special Edition (DVD))

Member Name: IanM73

Product:	Batman - Special Edition (DVD)
Date:	30/04/07 (136 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great start to the new Batman franchise in 1989

Disadvantages: If you don't like superhero films, a lot !

BATMAN

I remember this film coming out in my last year at school in 1989, this was a very long awaited film that everybody wanted to see. When it finally did hit the cinemas it was released as a 15 certificate as it was thought to be too violent for a PG.
This film does not disappoint and it erases the images of the 60's film which was o.k at the time, but definatley not what the Bat was about.
Batman always was meant to be a dark story, as you will know if you have read any of the comics of Batman books in the past.
With Tim Burton making and directing the film this was a masterpiece and how Batman was always meant to be.

Tim has taken advice of the fans out there and done lots of research into how this film should be made and what Batman would be like by piecing all the evidence of the comics, books, fans of the Bat, etc all together.
The casting of this film was exceptional with Michael Keaton as Batman, Jack Nicholson as the Joker, and Kim Basinger as Bruce Waynes love Vivki Vale. This was a film that all of these actors wanted to be associated with as they knew Tim Burton could do a great job on this and all the ideas he had for the film, what with all of the scripts being what they would have expected of their characters in a very good story.

This film is a great start to the Batman films, and this special edition two disk set crammed with features is a masterpiece. I cannot fault it at all.

As most of you know the story of Batman I shall not go into great detail about the film, just the basics and I shall take you through what is on this DVD package…

The film starts with Batman attempting to take down villain Jack Napier, but as Batman is trying to save him from falling into a vat of toxic substance he fails to do so. Jack survives and becomes disfigured by this and wants revenge on Batman and the people of Gotham City.
He dons make up and a purple suit and calls himself the Joker.
Meanwhile we go a bit further into the life of Bruce Wayne (Batman) and find out he still has nightmares of his millionaire parents being killed in front of him on their way back from a trip to the theatre when he was a boy. This made him want to fight crime and make justice for all the innocent people out there whose lives had been endangered by the rising crime in Gotham City.
The only other person who knows his identity is his butler Alfred who has served in Wayne mannor from Tom Waynes (Bruce's dad). Alfred is a genius at his work with the Batsuit, all the gadgets and also helps with the batmobile.
Bruce also finds love in this film with a reporter by the name of Vicki Vale, but I shall not tell you that much more otherwise it shall spoil the film, but needless to say Batman is out to stop the latest crimewave of the Joker who is set to poison the streets of Gotham City.



The disks I am reviewing are region 4 but also compatable to region 2.

Disk 1
Batman the movie.

The film has dolby digital sound and DTS, has English and Italian languages, subtitles in English and Italian.

Disk 2
Special features

Commentary by director Tim Burton - this has a valuable insight of this great film by Tim and takes you through all the ideas and thought that he had while making this film, as well as talking about the actors he has chosen for the roles and how he wanted this batman film to be to bring it into the future and wanted it to be a more darker story as the comics and books had portrayed batman as.

On the set - this is a great look on the making of Batman set, the cast and characters, interviews and lots more.

Legends of the Dark Knight, history of Batman - this goes through the evolution of the batman comics over the years. You will find out how much has changed between the character, gadgets, villains, and much more.

Batman the complete storyboard sequence - this goes through the storyboards in black and white and shows all of the drawings, some scripting, as it takes you through the entire film.

3 Music videos by Prince

Partyman
Batdance
Scandalous

These are worth taking a look at and you will probably remember them from their release in '89. Prince was quite good at the time and he done these very well. There are two fast tracks and a slow one. I must admit that Partyman is my favourite music video on this.

The heroes and villains profile gallery - This takes you through some of the most memorable villains and heroes of Batman and gives you insight into the characters and when they were first introduced into the Batman saga.

Beyond Batman gallery - visualising Gotham, the production design of batman, building the Batmobile, those wonderful toys, the props and gadgets of batman, Designing the Batsuit, from jack to Joker, and the music of Batman.

Shadows of the Bat, the cinematic saga of the Dark Knight parts 1-3 -
The road to Gotham city, The gathering storm, the legend reborn.
This tells you all about the Batman films as they go along, how they were made from the comic to the big screen.

The packaging on this is very good with stand out shiny features on the cover, and good packaging inside as well as the printing on the disks theirselfs. On the cover there is the Batman symbol and on the back scenes from the film and special features list.


I would recommend this DVD as this is great value for a very well made film.
I thought that it's is a very good start to the Batman films and well made for 1989 with lots of special effects that made the film, also some great acting in this. What also made it for me was all the effort the filmmakers have put into this package that gives it all the special treatment that it deserves.
The film was great to watch again and for me the Joker was one of my favourite villains of all time and the way that the character was transformed from the comics to the film was very pleasing to see. Also the way Batman was always meant to be as a dark Knight. The music videos are a bit dated now but you do have fun watching them and remembering when they came out into the charts. I actually had the soundtrack album at the time which I loved.

Summary: Good 2 disk DVD package, Very good casting, good storyline, well worth a watch