Batman Begins: Two-Disc Deluxe Edition DVD Set Review

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Title: Batman Begins: Two-Disc Deluxe Edition

Region: One

Genre: Live Action Comic Book Superhero Action Drama

Stars: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Katie Holmes, Gary Oldman, Cillian Murphy, Tom Wilkinson, Rutger Hauer, Ken Watanabe, and Morgan Freeman

Writers: Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer

Based On A Story By: David S. Goyer

Based Upon Batman Characters Created By Bob Kane and Published By DC Comics™

Director: Christopher Nolan

Feature length: 140 minutes

Extras: Exclusive Collectible Comic Book From DC Comics™, “Genesis Of The Bat” Featurette, “The Journey Begins” Featurette, “Shaping Mind And Body” Featurette, “Gotham City Rises” Featurette, “Cape And Cowl” Featurette, “The Tumbler” Featurette, “Path To Discovery” Featurette, “Saving Gotham City” Featurette, “Tankman Begins” MTV Movie Awards Spoof, Confidential Files, Still Galleries, Batman Begins Mobile Game and DVD-ROM Weblinks, Theatrical Trailer, Warner Home Video Previews

Languages: English and French (Dubbed In Quebec) Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound

Subtitles: English Closed Captions and English, French, and Spanish Language Subtitles

Packaging: Single Size Two-Disc Keep Case Within A Cardboard Slipcase

Chapter Stops: 40

Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound

Year of Theatrical Release: 2005/DVD Release: 2005

Theatrical Distributor: Warner Brothers

Home Video Distributor: Warner Home Video

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Reviewer: Mark A. Rivera

Finally in 2005 Warner Brothers and DC Comics took their comic book heroes into the twenty-first century successfully beginning with the winter theatrical release of “Constantine” and continuing with the summer theatrical release of “Batman Begins.” Next summer “Superman Returns” will pay homage to Richard Donner’s classic and arguably best live action comic book superhero action film ever made, “Superman: The Movie.” In fact it is safe to say that “Superman: The Movie” set the benchmark for all other live action comic book inspired feature films to follow. Warner Brothers has had a distinct advantage over other studios because the parent company that operates the theatrical, home video, television, print, and multimedia distribution of Warner Brothers franchises also owns DC Comics. Thus with some in-house cooperation and negotiating Warner Brothers can mix and match DC Comics heroes and villains and reenact epic stories from the graphic novels.

It should be no surprise then for approximately twenty years Warner Brothers was the leading studio in producing films and television programs based on DC Comics characters. With four Superman feature films, the Supergirl spin-off theatrical film, and three TV series as well as two “Swamp Thing” features and a syndicated TV series and the four Batman movies, it is easy to state that regardless of quality, Warner Brothers was the leader in comic book inspired films and television. Also bare in mind the various Bruce Timm animated series as well as the live action Wonderwoman TV series with Linda Carter and it’s easy to understand why DC Comics and Warner Brothers developed a lucrative multimedia empire, but the last two Superman films were a disappointment at best, Swamp Thing came off better on television than it ever did on the big screen and even then the character attracted more of cult fan audience than a crossover appeal. The nail in the coffin was “Batman & Robin,” which was visually beautiful, but ultimately difficult to sit through especially when compared to the first three movies.

Then in 1998 Marvel Comics, a company that was no stranger to having their stable of characters unsuccessfully make the transition to the big screen, had a sleeper hit with “Blade.” It was followed in 2000 by “X-Men,” which ushered in the new Marvel era of feature films, which has seen some terrific adaptations based on “Spider-Man” as well as well-received sequels in both the “Blade” and “X-men” series. However the last few movies based on Marvel characters such as “Elektra”, “Man-Thing”, “The Fantastic Four”, and “The Punisher” simply did not hold up to the high standards set in other Marvel inspired features. So 2005 was an especially auspicious year for Warner Brothers to release “Batman Begins” because none of the competing comic book adaptations for that year could hold a candle to it. I think there is room enough for both DC Comics and Marvel Comics to coexist and even complement each other as they have in print with well made feature films that crossover the boundaries of age so all fans could hopefully experience their favorite characters on the big screen like never before.

Timing is everything when it comes to releasing a film. If “Batman Begins” were released in 1995 during the height of the Tim Burton/Joel Schumacher Batman era, it would have been dismissed as being too dark and too serious. Conversely if you released “Batman Forever” in 2005, it might be dismissed as being too campy and glossy as well as be accused of showcasing the villains and neglecting the heroes. Just as the “Spider-Man” movies made Peter Parker a truly interesting character that we could relate to when he was not in the suit, “Batman Begins” actually makes Bruce Wayne a compelling protagonist to such a level that the villains never steal the scenes from Batman and the viewer can truly take interest in the origins of The Dark Knight.

Christian Bale is without a doubt the best Actor to portray Bruce Wayne and Batman on the big screen and the supporting cast that includes Gary Oldman as a young Detective Gordon, Ken Watanabe as Ras Al Ghul with Liam Neeson as his chief disciple Henri Ducard, Cillian Murphy as the creepy Scarecrow, Tom Wilkinson as Underworld Boss Carmine Falcone, Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox, and Michael Caine as Alfred Pennyworth made the film richer for the viewers. All of the characters were inspired by the original comic book sources that are included in a limited edition comic that is exclusive to the two-disc Deluxe Edition of “Batman Begins.” The excerpts within the 72 page comic book are from “Detective Comics #27,” which is the very first Batman story, “The Man Who Falls,” a classic story that influenced the film, and “Batman: The Long Halloween,” a chilling first chapter in an acclaimed epic graphic novel series that also influenced the film. The comic itself is about the same size as the “Hell Blazer” comic included within the “Constantine: Two-Disc Deluxe Edition” DVD set released earlier this year and like that release, the single size two-disc keep case and comic are housed within a cardboard slipcase too. Unfortunately the Batman comic that comes within the “Batman Begins: Two-Disc Deluxe Edition” is too thick to insert within the keep case so one has to leave it next to the case within the cardboard packaging it comes housed in. In addition to the exclusive comic, when the viewer places disc two into their DVD player, they will have access to an onscreen, partially animated Batman comic strip adventure that can be read in either English and French. I’ll cover the rest of the bonus features on disc two presently, but first I need to discuss the contents of disc one.

Before the main menu appears there are Warner Home Video previews for “Charlie And The Chocolate Factory” and “Smallville: The Complete Fourth Season” on DVD. Afterwards the interactive menus are completely animated with full motion scene selections and all are easy to navigate. The interactive menus on disc two that follow the onscreen comic feature scene transitions related to the various topics explored in the featurettes with hidden submenus too. “Batman Begins” looks positively gorgeous on DVD with a reference quality anamorphic widescreen aspect ratio presentation of approximately (2.35:1) and a pulse pounding and enveloping English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Soundtrack. A French Language (Dubbed in Quebec) Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Soundtrack and English Closed Captions for the hearing impaired as well as English, French, and Spanish Language Subtitles are encoded onto the first DVD as options. French Language Subtitles are also provided as a choice for the featurettes on disc two. The MTV Movie Awards spoof “Tankman Begins” (5:12) with Jimmy Fallon and Andy Dick is included on the first DVD too along with the theatrical trailer (1:13).

The second disc includes featurettes that cover the various incarnations of Batman in “Genesis of the Bat” (14:53), a look at the story development and casting in “The Journey Begins” (14:16), a short on the fighting style used in the film (12:49), a production design featurette (12:48), a look at the design of the new Batsuit (8:18) and Batmobile (13:59), on location filming in Iceland (14:13), and an exploration of the monorail chase sequence (13:01). Interactive data files that cover the hardware Batman uses in the film as well as his allies, mentors, and enemies are included along with three still galleries of promotional artwork for the U.S. and International theatrical releases as well as unused one-sheet art. Windows based DVD-ROM users will also have access to a “Batman Begins” mobile game and weblinks.

Easily one of the most eagerly anticipated DVD releases of a summer blockbuster this year, “Batman Begins: Two-Disc Deluxe Edition” is also one of the best DVD releases of the year. “Batman Begins: Two-Disc Deluxe Edition” will debut on DVD-Video at retailers on and offline courtesy of Warner Home Video on Tuesday, October 18, 2005.

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