Customer Reviews

Batman - The Animated Series - Out of the Shadows

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Just a little heads up for those interested in this disc. Toonzone is reporting that WB plans on doing box sets of BTAS (both series) at some point in the future. Also, Columbia House is currently releasing all of the episodes on DVD (6 per disc). 10 discs are reportedly available. No extras on the CH version. The video transfer is supposed to be id to the WB transfer. Choose wisely!

Well, I love this show. I have bought the previous two Batman TAS DVDs. I love that I have these on DVD, but my biggest complaint is the number of episodes. FOUR?

There were 85 total episodes of the show? I was very happy to see this DVD coming out 6 months after the last, but at this rate we will need 11 years to collect 22 DVDs to have the collection. Are you kidding me?

I just got the "Family Guy" 4 DVD set of the first two seasons. It has 28 episodes packaged nicely. Why don't they do this?

I have the identical complaint about the Justice League DVDs. The SHOWS are the best! Warner Bros. is just packaging them slowly and conservatively.

Those who have been boycotting WB's poor BTAS releases may find themselves sorely tempted to pick up this DVD. Not because there are more than four episodes, or because the audio/video has been remixed/restored, or that the extras will be longer and better - but quite simply, because this is when BTAS makes the transition from "good" to "classic."

The definite highlight here is the Two-Face two-parter (fitting, isn't it?), which WB thankfully had the common sense to put on the same disc. Harvey Dent's transformation from tortured soul to disfigured mob boss captures the emotional maturity and complexity of the series perfectly, and should not be missed. "It's Never Too Late" shows another aspect of why BTAS was so successful: the ability to play up the underworld/mob aspects of Gotham, and the human interactions that make Gotham feel real. The last episode, "I've Got Batman in My Basement", is unfortunately a clunker. The Penguin was one of the few villains BTAS never nailed, and his appearance here as well as the story of kids defending a helpless Batman will make most viewers cringe. However, the three previous exceptional episodes help make up for this.

While the overall presenation of the disc is below par, the episodes are worth owning, so BTAS fans should feel somewhat more satisfied with this release than the previous ones.

"Batman - The Animated Series - Out of the Shadows" contains episodes 10 to 13. These episodes include Batman fighting villains such as Two-Face and The Penguin.

The episodes in this DVD are:

10 & 11) Two-Face Parts I and II - This 2 part episode mainly deals with District Attorney Harvey Dent. Dent (along with the Police Squad and Batman) has just captured one of Rupert Thorne's gangs. One of the gang members mocks Dent, and for some reason, Harvey becomes raging mad, and goes after him. Later, we find out that Harvey Dent has another personality called `Big Bad Harv' and he is unable to control it anymore. Rupert Thorne finds out about Harvey's secret and uses it for his own advantage. The episode continues with how Two-Face comes into being, and whether Batman can put his feelings aside and fight the villain and capture Thorne as well.
The first part of the episode is really good because it deals with Harvey Dent's multiple personalities, but the second part is a little boring. Overall, this was still a good episode to watch. (4/5)

12) Its Never Too Late - There is a war going on between the two crime families led by Rupert Thorne and Arnold Stromwell, to gain control of the city's underworld. With the disappearance of Stromwell's son Joseph, Stromwell is sure that Thorne kidnapped his son. He arranges a meeting with Thorne, only to find out that Thorne set him up to eliminate him (Stromwell). Fortunately, Batman saves Stromwell in time. But can Stromwell change his ways and become good after all that has happened, without being haunted by his past?
This episode is a little stale compared to the others, since it doesn't deal with Batman that much. (3/5)


13) I've got Batman in my Basement - Two of Penguin's thugs steal a priceless jewel, but before Batman can catch them, a vulture pounces on him. Meanwhile, two kids, Sherman and Roberta are playing with their new detective set, when two bullies start picking on Sherman. Sherman spots the vulture, and with Roberta, follows it. They go to the Penguin's hideout and find out that he has stolen the jewel. Batman reaches the hideout in time, and saves the children, but is unable to save himself from the sleeping gas that Penguin puts on him. It is now up to Sherman and Roberta to make sure that Batman is safe from the hands of Penguin.
This episode was filled with action and laughter. It is the first episode to have the Penguin in it. It was so much fun to see a couple of kids protecting Batman from the Penguin. It is also good to see that Sherman finally gets the respect that he deserves in the end. This is definitely one of my all time favorite episodes. (5/5)


The DVDs of course, like the previous releases, don't contain many extras in them, so it is advisable not to buy any of them. Instead it is better buying the Volume Boxed Sets that WB released recently, which contain all the episodes of the series.

This DVD is a welcome addition to the growing Batman: TAS DVD collection (keep 'em coming, WB!). The first two episodes, Two-Face Parts I & II, are possibly the darkest episodes yet released on DVD, but also quite good. "It's Never Too Late" is almost a preachy episode about a crime boss needing to change his ways and so on, but the lesson it teaches is a good one for people today, especially those who are into crime and so on. Actually, I'd say there's probably too much of Rupert Thorne on this DVD--not that it's necessarily a bad thing, but I wanted to see more supervillains, personally. Lastly, "I've Got Batman in My Basement" is a nice story about kid detectives saving Batman's hide and tangling with the Penguin and his goons. All in all, it's a great DVD. I like the idea of making a box set for this stuff, but individual DVDs are all I can afford right now anyway, so I won't complain about that because it's either this or nothing for me. I say, patience, and enjoy the Batman we have for now. I highly recommend this DVD.

So another unspectacular release of batman shows. 4 good episode, but ONLY worth it if you don't want the 3 volumes, why you wouldn't, only you and god knows that. But with used price of 2-3 dollars, this is a pretty good buy, but ONLY if you never plan on getting the wonderful boxed sets.

TWO FACE PART 1 and 2- The start of the 2-face saga. The first episode starts out with harvey dent the city's district attorney getting blackmailed by local crimeboss Rupert Thorne. Thorne is just a ruthless man who will get what he want no matter what. Of course ALL and I mean ALL the voice acting is top-notch on this show and thorne is even a step above most. At the end of part 1 harvey has become two-face and part 2 shows him as two-face starting out his life of crime. An absolutely wonderful Phantom of the opera type episodes. Also this episode has one of the best fight scenes in the batman series. This episode was a great example of showing how the batman show was not just for kids but could relate to anyone. This proves why this is in contention in my opinion for best television show of all-time.

IT'S NEVER TOO LATE- once again another GREAT example of why part of this shows are for kids and even better for adult. Crime Boss Arnold Stromwell is vieing with veteran batman character rupert thorne to be the top head mobster in gotham. While this is going on Stromwell's son is kidnapped and of course it is thorne. But we learn there never was a kidnapping and Stromwell's kid is in the hospital from an overdose(we have to assume a overdose)from using the drugs that his father sells. See what I meam about this not just being a kids show. Throw in batman trying to reunite stromwell with his brother and some good flashbacks and you have a top 20 batman episode.

I'VE GOT BATMAN IN MY BASEMENT-tHIS IS CERTAINLY ONE FOR THE KIDS. I think that the creators realized that this show was on at 4:00 PM and decided to throw in a kiddie one so they had at least one like this. They would go back to the kid's formula many times. But this is one of the best. The 2 kids in this one have to do insane things while batman is knocked out liek drive his car and set traps for the penguin. Batman is only in this one for around 3-5 min! Certainly my all-time favorite episodes from my childhood, but is still great for a second viewing nowadays.

So overal only 4 episodes on this disc, and the only reasons I can recommend you buy this is for the 3 dollar price and the very short interviews with bruce timm explaining each episode in petty good detail.

THIS IS A VERY GOOD DISC TO GET CHEAP AND PREVIEW AND SEE IF YOU WANNA BUY THE BOX SETS.

This ranks as quite possibly the greatest Animated Show ever created. The episodes (and the movies) are pure genius. I have been a fan since it first came out. The episodes may be great, but the DVD is poor. Four episodes is nothing. There are 109 episodes in this series, not counting the crossovers with Superman and Static Shock. There is news that Box Sets are on their way. Hopefully this is true. All Batman fans know that this classic television series deserves the box set treatment. Looks like we're finally getting what we wished for....let's just not push it!

If WB is going to give us pieces at a time, make them the pieces we want! The re-creation of the classic Joker Fish story (see Strange Apparitions for the pring version) was nailed near-perfectly, right down to the smiling fish sign, and even the character design for the doomed patent clerk!

My point is this: If they want to do this chronologically by production (another mistake, it should be by release), they should let us have what we all want: a lot of episodes. Small sets like this are tailor-made for best-ofs, like the "Batman," "Robin," "Riddler," "Two-Face," and "Joker" collections on VHS.

I am a very big batman fan. I watched Batman: The Animated Series as I grew up and I thought it captured the essence of batman and his world magnificantly. In my opinion, the original batman animated series was one of the best shows in animation ever. I am beyond greatful that Warner Brothers have started to release the series on dvd and vhs. I have the first two volumes and I loved them. The only thing I am concerned about is how the shows are being released. It will take to long to release the entire series at this present rate. I don't want to sound bitter but it's true.

I will make this short. I understand that people are unhappy with the last two dvds. But in this dvd the episodes are truly greate, and in my opinion out of the four episodes, tree of then are classic, what any show should be. The dvd may not contain that many extras, but really folks what do you wath extras or the classic episodes?
Like any fan of batman the animated series I would have liked to see more episodes and extras, but this tree episodes are worth the price.