Batman: The Motion Picture Anthology 1989-1997 [8 Discs] DVD

Batman
Behind the black cowl, Gotham City superhero Batman is really millionaire philanthropist Bruce Wayne (Michael Keaton), who turned to crimefighting after his parents were brutally murdered before his eyes. The only person to share Wayne's secret is faithful butler Alfred (Michael Gough). The principal villain in Batman is The Joker (Jack Nicholson) who'd been mob torpedo Jack Napier before he was horribly disfigured in a vat of acid. The Joker's plan to destroy Batman and gain control of Gotham City is manifold. First he distributes a line of booby-trapped cosmetics, then he goes on a destruction spree in the Gotham Art Museum while the music of Prince blasts away in the background, and finally he orchestrates an all-out campaign to win the hearts and minds of the Gothamites, hoping to turn them against the Cowled One. Meanwhile, reporter Vicki Vale (Kim Basinger) becomes the love of Batman's life-which of course plays right into the Joker's hands. Photographed by Roger Pratt, designed by Anton Furst, and scored by Tim Burton's favorite composer Danny Elfman, Batman was a monstrous box-office hit, making $100 million in the first ten days of release--$82,800,000 in North America alone. Incidentally, Billy Dee Williams' comparatively small role as DA Harvey Dent was originally designed to set up the sequel, wherein Dent was to convert into master criminal Two-Face; but by the time the producers got around to that character in 1995's Batman Forever, Two-Face was played by Tommy Lee Jones. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Batman Returns
In this first sequel to 1989's Batman, the Caped Crusader (Michael Keaton) is up against the Penguin (Danny DeVito), the hideously deformed scion of a wealthy Gotham City family. The Penguin plots with evil businessman Max Schreck (Christopher Walken) to become mayor and then turn Gotham into a cathedral of crime. Upon overhearing these plans, Schreck's mousy secretary Selena Kyle (Michelle Pfeiffer) is tossed from a high-rise window by her boss. Rescued by a covey of kittens, Selena transforms into the leather-clad Catwoman. In this guise, she teams with the Penguin and Schreck to divvy up their ill-gotten gains and help discredit Batman-but she also has her own scores to settle. Paul "Pee-Wee Herman" Reubens, Vincent Schiavelli and Jan Hooks play significant bits, while Pat Hingle and Michael Gough make returns as, respectively, Commissioner Gordon and Alfred the Butler. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Batman Forever
Director Joel Schumacher inherited the Batman franchise from Tim Burton and began steering it in the campier direction of the Sixties television show with this third installment. First-time Batman/Bruce Wayne (Val Kilmer), in his only outing as the Caped Crusader, is effectively brooding as he ponders strange dreams about his parents' death and escapes his own near-demise at the hands of Two-Face (Tommy Lee Jones), a former district attorney driven insane and turned into a master criminal when a gangster throws acid in his face. Meanwhile, as sexy psychologist Chase Meridian (Nicole Kidman) tries to analyze and seduce both Bruce Wayne and Batman, Wayne Enterprises employee Edward Nygma (Jim Carrey) reacts badly to getting fired, using his self-invented mind-energy device to transform into the super-intelligent Riddler. The Riddler teams up with Two-Face to bring down Batman and drain the minds of Gotham City residents with his device, while Batman gets some much-needed help in the form of circus performer Dick Grayson (Chris O'Donnell), out for vengeance after being orphaned by Two-Face. ~ Don Kaye, All Movie Guide

Batman & Robin
This was the third follow-up to Tim Burton's Batman (1989), the original revisionist look at the Gotham City legend, as well as the second in the Batman series directed by Joel Schumacher and the first featuring George Clooney as the Caped Crusader; it features not one but two super-villains, and a new heroine to fight crime alongside Bruce Wayne (aka Batman) and Dick Grayson (aka Robin) (Chris O'Donnell). The experiments of Dr. Victor Fries (Arnold Schwarzenegger) to preserve his late wife cryogenically have gone horribly wrong, turning him into the evil genius Mr. Freeze, who must keep his body at sub-zero temperature in order to say alive -- and he wants to put Gotham City on ice. Shy horticulturist Pamela Isley (Uma Thurman) goes a bit wild with a Venus Fly Trap-like creation she's been working on and mutates into Poison Ivy, who wants to kill all the people on Earth so plants can take over. Can Batman and Robin stop these fiends before their plans go too far? Meanwhile, Bruce and Dick's faithful butler Alfred (Michael Gough) isn't feeling well, so his niece Barbara (Alicia Silverstone) comes to pay a visit. When Barbara finds out what her uncle's employers do in their spare time, she decides she wants in on the action, and she joins the crime fighting twosome as Batgirl. Batman & Robin also features Jesse Ventura in a small role as a prison guard; it would be his last film role before becoming Governor of Minnesota in 1998. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Cast Michael Keaton as Batman/Bruce Wayne Jack Nicholson as Joker/Jack Napier Kim Basinger as Vicki Vale Robert Wuhl as Alexander Knox Pat Hingle as Commissioner Gordon Billy Dee Williams as District Attorney Harvey Dent Michael Gough as Alfred Pennyworth Jack Palance as Carl Grissom Jerry Hall as Alicia Lee Wallace as Mayor Tracey Walter as Bob the Goon Michael Keaton as Batman / Bruce Wayne Danny DeVito as The Penguin/Oswald Cobblepot Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman/Selina Kyle Christopher Walken as Max Shreck Michael Gough as Alfred Pennyworth Cristi Conaway as Ice Princess Michael Murphy as The Mayor of Gotham Pat Hingle as Police Commissioner Gordon Andrew Bryniarski as Chip Shreck Jan Hooks as Jen Paul Reubens as Penguin's Father Vincent Schiavelli as Organ Grinder Steve Witting as Josh Val Kilmer as Batman / Bruce Wayne Tommy Lee Jones as Harvey Two-Face/Harvey Dent Jim Carrey as Riddler/Edward Nygma Nicole Kidman as Dr. Chase Meridian Chris O'Donnell as Robin / Dick Grayson Michael Gough as Alfred Pennyworth Arnold Schwarzenegger as Mr. Freeze/Dr. Victor Fries George Clooney as Batman/Bruce Wayne Chris O'Donnell as Robin/Dick Grayson Uma Thurman as Poison Ivy/Dr. Pamela Isley Alicia Silverstone as Batgirl/Barbara Wilson Michael Gough as Alfred Pennyworth Elle MacPherson as Julie Madison John Glover as Dr. Jason Woods Vivica A. Fox as Ms. B. Haven Vendela K. Thommessen as Nora Fries

Crew Geoff Hubbard - Art Director Richard Holland - Art Director Mitchell Dauterive - Associate Producer Mali Finn - Casting William M. Elvin - Co-producer Robert Turturice - Costume Designer Ingrid Ferrin - Costume Designer William M. Elvin - First Assistant Director Joel Schumacher - Director Peter MacDonald - Second Unit Director Dennis Virkler - Editor Benjamin Melniker - Executive Producer Michael E. Uslan - Executive Producer Elliot Goldenthal - Composer (Music Score) Danny Bramson - Musical Direction/Supervision Jeff Dawn - Makeup Barbara Ling - Production Designer Jamie Anderson - Cinematographer Stephen Goldblatt - Cinematographer Peter Macgregor-Scott - Producer R. Gilbert Clayton - Set Designer Keith P. Cunningham - Set Designer Dawn Brown-Manser - Set Designer Dorree Cooper - Set Designer James Bayliss - Set Designer John Dykstra - Special Effects Andrew Adamson - Special Effects Petur Hliddal - Sound/Sound Designer Pat E. Johnson - Stunts Coordinator Akiva Goldsman - Screenwriter John Dykstra - Visual Effects Geoff Hubbard - Art Director Richard Holland - Art Director Mitchell Dauterive - Associate Producer Mali Finn - Casting William M. Elvin - Co-producer Robert Turturice - Costume Designer Ingrid Ferrin - Costume Designer William M. Elvin - First Assistant Director Joel Schumacher - Director Peter MacDonald - Second Unit Director Dennis Virkler - Editor Benjamin Melniker - Executive Producer Michael E. Uslan - Executive Producer Elliot Goldenthal - Composer (Music Score) Danny Bramson - Musical Direction/Supervision Jeff Dawn - Makeup Barbara Ling - Production Designer Jamie Anderson - Cinematographer Stephen Goldblatt - Cinematographer Peter Macgregor-Scott - Producer R. Gilbert Clayton - Set Designer Keith P. Cunningham - Set Designer Dawn Brown-Manser - Set Designer Dorree Cooper - Set Designer James Bayliss - Set Designer John Dykstra - Special Effects Andrew Adamson - Special Effects Petur Hliddal - Sound/Sound Designer Pat E. Johnson - Stunts Coordinator Akiva Goldsman - Screenwriter John Dykstra - Visual Effects Geoff Hubbard - Art Director Richard Holland - Art Director Mitchell Dauterive - Associate Producer Mali Finn - Casting William M. Elvin - Co-producer Robert Turturice - Costume Designer Ingrid Ferrin - Costume Designer William M. Elvin - First Assistant Director Joel Schumacher - Director Peter MacDonald - Second Unit Director Dennis Virkler - Editor Benjamin Melniker - Executive Producer Michael E. Uslan - Executive Producer Elliot Goldenthal - Composer (Music Score) Danny Bramson - Musical Direction/Supervision Jeff Dawn - Makeup Barbara Ling - Production Designer Jamie Anderson - Cinematographer Stephen Goldblatt - Cinematographer Peter Macgregor-Scott - Producer R. Gilbert Clayton - Set Designer Keith P. Cunningham - Set Designer Dawn Brown-Manser - Set Designer Dorree Cooper - Set Designer James Bayliss - Set Designer John Dykstra - Special Effects Andrew Adamson - Special Effects Petur Hliddal - Sound/Sound Designer Pat E. Johnson - Stunts Coordinator Akiva Goldsman - Screenwriter John Dykstra - Visual Effects Geoff Hubbard - Art Director Richard Holland - Art Director Mitchell Dauterive - Associate Producer Mali Finn - Casting William M. Elvin - Co-producer Robert Turturice - Costume Designer Ingrid Ferrin - Costume Designer William M. Elvin - First Assistant Director Joel Schumacher - Director Peter MacDonald - Second Unit Director Dennis Virkler - Editor Benjamin Melniker - Executive Producer Michael E. Uslan - Executive Producer Elliot Goldenthal - Composer (Music Score) Danny Bramson - Musical Direction/Supervision Jeff Dawn - Makeup Barbara Ling - Production Designer Jamie Anderson - Cinematographer Stephen Goldblatt - Cinematographer Peter Macgregor-Scott - Producer R. Gilbert Clayton - Set Designer Keith P. Cunningham - Set Designer Dawn Brown-Manser - Set Designer Dorree Cooper - Set Designer James Bayliss - Set Designer John Dykstra - Special Effects Andrew Adamson - Special Effects Petur Hliddal - Sound/Sound Designer Pat E. Johnson - Stunts Coordinator Akiva Goldsman - Screenwriter John Dykstra - Visual Effects

Batman
At once whimsical and somber -- and, above all, dark -- Batman remains one of the better adaptations of a comic book character to the screen, and certainly one of the most stylized. This is not your father's Batman, and, given its relentless grimness, it perhaps shouldn't be your kids' either, if they are very young. In a broad sense, the film, falling on the cusp of the 1990s, reflects a final departure from the innocence of previous filmgoing generations to the cynicism and angst of a new one. Cinematic superheroes had moved from the simplicity of Christopher Reeve's Superman to the brooding, tormented, shadow-enshrouded Dark Knight. Michael Keaton, better known for light comic fare at the time, is surprisingly effective as the mysterious Batman, while Jack Nicholson hams it up to perfection as the maniacal Joker. Rounding out the leads, Kim Basinger's slinky, film noir heroine fits the spirit of the film well, even if she and Keaton don't develop much chemistry. More than just a solid achievement of Tim Burton's direction, this is one film in which the contributions of the set designer and the composer go a long way toward rounding out the full experience. Anton Furst won a set design Oscar for his vision of a bleak, soaring urban wasteland, a hodgepodge of architectural styles, reminiscent of Blade Runner and Metropolis, that suggests no particular time period; and Danny Elfman's score is appropriately dark and dramatic. ~ Matthew Doberman, All Movie Guide
 

Batman Returns
While the Caped Crusader (Michael Keaton) is again relegated to a supporting role in his own film, fans of nasty, dark-edged Batman comics of recent years should enjoy this kinky, at times horrific updating of the character. Michelle Pfeiffer steals the show this time as the mentally broken Catwoman, who has her life ruined and gets tossed out a window early in the film, only to team up with the deformed Penguin (Danny DeVito) in a bid to take over Gotham City. Tim Burton's sequel is more personal than the first film, as the director indulges in his penchant for oddball characters and societal misfits, engendering both sympathy and revulsion in portraying his villains. Many parents and traditionalists found the result little more than a mean-spirited freakshow, but those in tune with Burton's off-kilter sensibilities will find that it actually has a great deal of heart. Whatever the case, Batman Returns is a very entertaining film and looks great. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
 

Batman Forever
(not reviewed)
 

Batman & Robin
(not reviewed)
 

Disc Title: Batman - People Awards: Anton Furst: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Art Direction (winner) Jack Nicholson: Golden Globe, Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Com (nominated) Peter Young: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Art Direction (winner)

Disc Title: Batman Returns - People Awards: Craig Barron: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Visual Effects (nominated) Dennis Skotak: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Visual Effects (nominated) John Bruno: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Visual Effects (nominated) Michael Fink: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Visual Effects (nominated) Ronnie Spector: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Makeup (nominated) Stan Winston: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Makeup (nominated) Ve Neill: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Makeup (nominated)

Disc Title: Batman Forever - People Awards: Adam Clayton: Golden Globe, Best Original Song (nominated) Bono: Golden Globe, Best Original Song (nominated) Bruce Stambler: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Sound Effects (nominated) Donald O. Mitchell: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Sound (nominated) Frank A. Montaņo: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Sound (nominated) John Leveque: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Sound Effects (nominated) Larry Mullen, Jr.: Golden Globe, Best Original Song (nominated) Michael Herbick: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Sound (nominated) Stephen Goldblatt: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Cinematography (nominated) Stephen Goldblatt: American Society of Cinematographers, Best Cinematography (nominated) The Edge: Golden Globe, Best Original Song (nominated)

General Specifications: Language Options: English, French Subtitle Options: English, French, Spanish Sound Processing: DD5.1: Dolby Digital w/ sub-woofer channel DTS: Digital Theater Systems (akin to 5.1) Additional Features: cc Over 18 hours of special features Director commentaries by Tim Burton & joel Schumacher Includes over 50 must-see documentaries and featurettes including one with creator Bob Kane 9 music videos New digital transfers Both Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround MPAA Rating: PG13 DVD Discs Included: 8 DVD Sides: 8 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 498 min   DVD Chapters: Disc #1 -- Batman: Feature Film 1. Credits [2:31] 2. "I'm Batman" [4:31] 3. Looking Fine [2:22] 4. Better Be Sure [2:55] 5. Knox Meets Vale [2:19] 6. Grissom's #1 Guy [2:21] 7. Party at Wayne Manor [3:01] 8. Their Odd Host [3:52] 9. Axis Chemical Ambush [3:07] 10. Napier's Plunge [3:19] 11. Dinner for Two [3:46] 12. Drastic Surgery [2:01] 13. Call Me Joker [2:10] 14. "Get a Load of Me" [2:41] 15. Glad You're Dead [4:00] 16. Two Roses [3:00] 17. Vengeance - And No Press [2:44] 18. So Much to Do [3:27] 19. Put On a Happy Face [3:35] 20. Cosmetics Scare [1:40] 21. Museum Date [7:02] 22. Wonderful Toys [5:44] 23. Not Exactly Normal [4:04] 24. A Name to My Pain [1:49] 25. Not Quite Telling Her [2:51] 26. Dancing With the Devil [4:19] 27. Don't Get Personal [1:54] 28. Gauntlet Thrown [2:07] 29. Sad Memory; Getting In [4:24] 30. Chemical Inferno [1:52] 31. Gotham's Greed [2:25] 32. The Batwing [4:27] 33. Come to Me [3:50] 34. Bell Tower Ascent [3:36] 35. Bat in My Belfry [3:09] 36. Downfalls [6:22] 37. Signals [2:43] 38. End Credits [3:52] Disc #3 -- atman Returns: Feature Film 1. The Cobblepot Child [2:21] 2. Credits [3:07] 3. Tree Lighting [1:39] 4. Not Properly Housebroken [2:12] 5. Pandemonium in a Bow [3:25] 6. Batman Saves the Day [4:24] 7. Meeting of Monsters [5:58] 8. After Hours With Selina [2:07] 9. Not Like You Can Kill Me [3:11] 10. Catwoman Born [5:20] 11. Snatched and Recovered [6:35] 12. "I Have a Name" [2:37] 13. Hear Me Roar [1:08] 14. Gentlemen's Disagreement [4:18] 15. The Candidate [5:36] 16. Carnival of Chaos [1:39] 17. Cat at Play [2:11] 18. Creatures Threesome [1:44] 19. A Bitch: Life and I [2:31] 20. Mayoral Bid; Framed [5:31] 21. Kind of a Dark Side [2:14] 22. Gold-Plated and Lonely [3:06] 23. Dressing Up; Auto Disrepair [4:50] 24. Fall From Grace [2:43] 25. Don't Like You Anymore [1:47] 26. Driving School [4:14] 27. The Candidate Speaks [5:00] 28. "I Am an Animal" [2:02] 29. Tired of Wearing Masks [4:26] 30. Party Crasher [2:24] 31. Pied Penguin Action [2:05] 32. Addressing the Troops [1:24] 33. The Batskiboat [4:33] 34. Duel of Freaks [2:02] 35. "A Die for a Die" [3:10] 36. Kissing Anti-Claus [1:50] 37. Farewell Escort [2:35] 38. Good Will Toward All [2:28] 39. End Credits [5:38] Disc #5 -- Batman Forever: Feature Film 1. Drivethrough Credits [2:16] 2. Of Two Minds [3:12] 3. Steel Trap [4:39] 4. Copter Chaos [2:30] 5. Too Many Questions [3:55] 6. Getting Under His Cape [3:18] 7. Terminating Stickley [4:55] 8. Riddles to Solve [4:17] 9. Not Exactly What They Seem [3:46] 10. Big Top Tragedy [8:06] 11. Welcome to Wayne Manor [3:06] 12. "Happening Again" [2:42] 13. Broken Wings Mend [1:17] 14. Ambush [2:40] 15. Riddler Comes Calling [5:59] 16. New Criminal Couple [1:27] 17. Secrets Aloft and Below [3:34] 18. We're All Two People [2:53] 19. Ride in the Other Car [3:52] 20. A Part of This [1:46] 21. Nygmatech Tango [4:48] 22. Party Crashers [4:41] 23. Needed Guidance [2:03] 24. The Lady Decides [2:06] 25. Bats on the Brain [:51] 26. Crimefighter Decides [1:18] 27. Unhappy Halloween [5:18] 28. Intruders [4:14] 29. Counting on Batman [1:34] 30. Partners [2:31] 31. By Air and Sea [1:14] 32. Taking a Dive [1:42] 33. Clash on Claw Island [2:04] 34. Double Jeopardy [7:36] 35. Flipped Out [1:09] 36. Now a Choice [:56] 37. Batman's Identity [1:22] 38. New Dream [1:28] 39. End Credits [4:02] Disc #7 -- Batman & Robin: Feature Film 1. Hero Preparations [3:47] 2. Museum Mayhem [5:21] 3. Blast Off! [4:13] 4. Frozen Stiff [1:45] 5. Bane Is Born [3:57] 6. Victim of Venom [1:51] 7. Nature of Family [3:02] 8. She's Poison Now [2:32] 9. Mr. Freeze's Plans [2:37] 10. New Family Arrives [2:28] 11. Barb's Nightlife [2:17] 12. Hers for Greening [4:42] 13. Bait for Cold Fish [1:12] 14. To the Highest Bidder [5:37] 15. Cool Party Crasher [3:15] 16. Chilling Chase [2:05] 17. Matters of Trust [3:34] 18. Freeze on Ice [1:55] 19. Renovations [3:06] 20. Thinking Things Over [1:35] 21. Fast Company [4:55] 22. Secrets Revealed [1:46] 23. Escape From Arkham [4:29] 24. At Freeze's Lair [3:42] 25. Beauty and Beast [4:20] 26. Adam and Evil [2:41] 27. Partners Part [2:37] 28. Seeing the Light [3:06] 29. Access Allowed [3:14] 30. "Trust Me Now?" [1:23] 31. Nutball Strikes [1:50] 32. The Lady Suits Up [1:09] 33. Invading Ivy's Garden [4:55] 34. Ice Malice [3:00] 35. Storming the Observatory [4:09] 36. Telescopic Frenzy [1:22] 37. "Freeze in Hell!" [1:49] 38. The Big Thaw [1:50] 39. Helping Hand [2:55] 40. Cellmates [:56] 41. Partners Three [2:15] 42. End Credits [5:10]