Batman: The Motion Picture Anthology 1989-1997 (Batman / Batman Returns / Batman Forever / Batman & Robin)
by Joel Schumacher, Tim Burton
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Actor: Arnold Schwarzenegger, George Clooney, Jack Nicholson, Michael Keaton, Val KilmerDirector: Joel Schumacher, Tim Burton
Brand: Warner Home Video
Writer: Akiva Goldsman
Writer: Bob Kane
Writer: Daniel Waters
Writer: Janet Scott Batchler
Writer: Lee Batchler
Writer: Sam Hamm
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 5.1; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; French (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Special Edition
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 498 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2009-03-10
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Warner Home Video
DVD Reviews of Batman: The Motion Picture Anthology 1989-1997 (Batman / Batman Returns / Batman Forever / Batman & Robin)
DVD Review: Experience the Dark Knight...
Summary: 5 Stars
The story of the Dark Knight detective known as Batman is a story that most people are familiar with. How Bruce Wayne as a child witnessed the murder of his parents by a common street thug. After the murder, the criminal was never apprehended and brought to justice, a fact which drove Bruce Wayne to hone his body in the various martial arts, sharpen his mind to become the world's greatest detective, and eventually take on the role of vigilante, by taking the form of a bat to strike fear into the hearts and minds of criminals within Gotham City. In the 1960's DC Comics and Warner Brothers allowed the `Caped Crusader' to be adapted into a weekly television series, starring Adam West (Bruce Wayne/Batman) and Burt Ward (Dick Grayson/Robin). The problem with this series is that it chose to make a comedy out of Batman, everything about this series screamed camp! The series eventually ended, but that would not be the end of Batman's life on TV, after that he appeared in animated form on the kid-friendly "Super Friends" show, which was basically the Justice League team without the name. Eventually, "Super Friends" ended, and once again Batman was left to only appear in the comics.
In 1989, Warner Brothers felt the time was right to begin a film franchise based on the Dark Knight, but without all the camp of the TV series. Helmed by director Tim Burton, and starring Michael Keaton (Bruce Wayne/Batman), Kim Basinger (Vicki Vale), and Jack Nicholson (Jack Napier/Joker), "Batman" gave the caped crusader the proper treatment he deserved. Gone was the camp, and in was the dark, brooding, and vengeful billionare Bruce Wayne who prowls the rooftops of Gotham City in the guise of Batman, stopping evil wherever it may reside. With huge critical and commercial success, it was official that Batman was a hot commodity and that a franchise was born. The thing about this franchise is that Warner Brothers established the movie version of Batman, at least initially, as a brooding hero, as he has always been depicted in the comics. However, over the span of the four movies that comprise the original `Batman' franchise, the hero went from brooding and dark to light, family fun and camp, much like the old TV show. Though I have problems with the direction this franchise took, I must admit I still enjoy watching the movies, even my least favorite installment, "Batman & Robin" (the 4th film in the franchise). Even with the decline of the franchise with the last installment, it is still one of the most successful film franchises of all time, and with the release of "Batman Begins", it appears that a new franchise has begun for the Dark Knight. Now that I've given the history lesson for the day, it's time to move on to the plot synopsis' for each of the 4 movies, and my review for "Batman: The Motion Picture Anthology" collection.
"Batman" was basically the origin story for Bruce Wayne/Batman (Michael Keaton), but also served as the origin for Batman's greatest villain the Joker (Jack Nicholson). Unlike most origin films where it takes forever for the hero to take on the role he is destined for, and we see the hero's progression in chronological order, director Tim Burton chose to start the movie out with Bruce Wayne already in the role of Batman. The origins of Batman are shown in flashbacks, however the origin for the Joker is not handled in flashbacks, but rather as a plot point in the film's basic plot. An interesting approach on the part of Tim Burton was to have Batman not be instantly trusted by Gotham City, and have the citizens and law enforcement in the city be torn over who they should trust, the dark and brooding, mysterious hero Batman, or the fun-loving, camera-friendly Joker. Can Batman overcome the mistrust of the citizen's of Gotham City and stop the Joker's insidious plot before it's too late, or will he and his beloved city fall prey to the self-proclaimed `Clown Prince of Crime'?
"Batman Returns" picks up sometime after the events of "Batman", Gotham City survived the evil of the maniacal Joker, and Batman (Michael Keaton) has earned Gotham City's trust as their protector against the forces of evil. But, as the Christmas season approaches in Gotham City, a crazed group of psychotic circus characters begins to terrorize Gotham, but as Batman is battling to protect Gotham City, a seemingly new hero emerges, who goes by the name of Penguin (Danny DeVito). The crazy circus and this new `hero', the Penguin, aren't the only concerns for Batman, as he begins a new relationship with a woman named Selina Kyle (Michelle Pfeiffer). However, a peaceful, loving relationship is not for Bruce Wayne, as Selina is not exactly what she seems, she is also the thief who goes by the name Catwoman. As if all of these problems weren't enough, the Penguin turns out to be evil, and is leading the crazed circus group, and Catwoman joins forces with him to bring down the Dark Knight by framing him for murder, so that they may rule Gotham City.
"Batman Forever" begins to show the signs of the `Batman' franchise changing direction from the darker tone of "Batman" and "Batman Returns", and into more lighter, family friendly territory. The story picks up in what appears to be several years after the events of the first 2 films in the franchise, and Bruce Wayne (Val Kilmer taking over for Michael Keaton) is being plagued by nightmares of his parent's deaths. But the nightmares are starting to manifest themselves while he is awake, which causes him to seek the aid of a psychiatrist named Dr. Chase Meridian (Nicole Kidman), who just so happens to be fascinated by Batman, who unknown to her is the alter-ego of her newest patient. As Bruce Wayne tries to push the nightmares away, the villainous Two-Face (Tommy Lee Jones) and his gang are ransacking Gotham City's banks and jewelry stores. At the same time a former Wayne Enterprises employee named Edward Nigma (Jim Carrey) has become obsessed with murdering his former boss Bruce Wayne, but not before tormenting him with mind games as the Riddler. Separately Two-Face and the Riddler are threatening enough, but the stakes are raised when the two join forces in an attempt to take over the minds of Gotham City's citizens.
"Batman & Robin", the second `Batman' film to be directed by Joel Shumacher ("Batman Forever" and "A Time to Kill"), marks the end of the first `Batman' franchise and serves as the prime reason why there was an 8 year span where Batman was absent from the big screen. This film finds Batman (George Clooney) and Robin (Chris O'Donnell) joining forces to fight the evil of Mr. Freeze (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and Poison Ivy (Uma Thurman), and her bodyguard Bane. As if three villains weren't enough for the dynamic duo to contend with, they learn that Alfred (Michael Gough) is dying of a rare disease with no cure. To stop these three villains, while at the same time trying to save Alfred, two heroes will not be enough; enter the newest member to the `bat-family', Batgirl (Alicia Silverstone). To save Gotham City this battered and broken trio of heroes must rise up, put their differences aside, and show that nothing is stronger than the bonds of a family.
As one of the most successful movie franchises that helped resurrect the comic-book movie genre and almost kill it over the span of 4 movies, it serves as prime example of both how to and how not to make a franchise. With the first 3 films, Warner Brothers showed that they knew how to handle a gigantic superhero franchise, but just like how Warner Brothers managed to destroy the `Superman' franchise, it wasn't long before a couple of stupid decisions would bury the `Batman' franchise as well. The first 2 films directed by Tim Burton, "Batman" and "Batman Returns" kept the darker tone of the comics intact and delivered fairly accurate representations of what Batman is all about. The 3rd installment in the franchise, "Batman Forever" directed by Joel Shumacher and featuring Val Kilmer as Batman and introducing a new interpretation of Robin to moviegoers, began to show signs of trouble for this franchise. As the darker tones and more realistic landscapes were slowly being replaced by more comedy and outlandish set pieces, and not to mention the problem of nipples on the batsuit. Even with these foreboding signs, "Batman Forever" was still a terrific entry into the franchise, but with the 4th film, "Batman & Robin", Warner Brothers allowed Joel Shumacher too much freedom and the franchise suffered because of it. It didn't help matters that casting was another problem with "Batman & Robin" with George Clooney filling the batsuit and Arnold Schwarzenegger portraying Mr. Freeze. Clooney wasn't a bad Batman, but it would have been nice to see Val Kilmer stick around for more than just one film, although truth be told, Michael Keaton should have stayed through the entire franchise. But Arnold Schwarzenegger should have never been cast as Mr. Freeze, in the comics Mr. Freeze was a skinny, scienctist who dabbled in suspended animation in hopes of curing his dying wife Nora of a rare disease, Arnold just did not fit the part. However, even with my gripes regarding "Batman & Robin" there were several good things about the movie, the addition of Batgirl was a nice touch, although she was the daughter of Commissioner Gordon in the comics, not Alfred's niece, and having Alfred dying of the same rare disease as Mr. Freeze's wife was a nice twist.
Overall, though the franchise took a bad turn at the end, the series as a whole is enjoyable, and thanks to the huge success of "Batman Begins" a new `Batman' franchise is born, and the original franchise finally gets the DVD treatment it deserves with 2-disc special editions, jam-packed with extras for all of the fans out there. Hopefully, Warner Brothers will be more successful with this new `Batman' franchise.
"Batman" is rated PG-13 for violence, language, and brief sensuality.
"Batman Returns" is rated PG-13 for violence and language.
"Batman Forever" is rated PG-13 for violence, language, and brief sensuality.
"Batman & Robin" is rated PG-13 for violence and language.
More Batman: The Motion Picture Anthology 1989-1997 (Batman / Batman Returns / Batman Forever / Batman & Robin) reviews:
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Description of Batman: The Motion Picture Anthology 1989-1997 (Batman / Batman Returns / Batman Forever / Batman & Robin)
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