Customer Reviews

Batman

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's about time that Warner Brothers finally responded to the years of demand by the fans to release the amazing "Batman: The Animated Series" on DVD. What we've finally gotten is a mixed bag, however. I'm happy to see this first disc of episodes in chronological order (rather than the ridiculous themed releases like what we got on VHS), and hopefully Warner will continue to release the entire series in order and complete; but more episodes on the disc would have been nice! What we get here on this release called "Batman: The Legend Begins" is the first five episodes of the animated series -- based on production order, not airdate order -- (1) "On Leather Wings", (2) "Christmas with the Joker", (3) "Nothing to Fear", (4) "The Last Laugh", and (5) "Pretty Poison". Respectively, these episodes are the spectacular pilot with Man-Bat, a lighthearted Joker story, a pretty good Scarecrow story, another (slightly better) Joker story and the origin story of Poison Ivy. A pretty good introduction to the series, but the best was yet to come! As far as extras go, there isn't much. An introduction by Bruce Timm, a few webgames and CD-ROM links, and a brief documentary. (Where are the commentaries, pre-production drawings, artwork slideshows, and extended documentaries?) ... ... Now, if you've never seen the series you are in for a treat! "Batman: The Animated Series" premiered on television way back on Sep. 5th, 1992 with the episode "The Cat & The Claw, part 1" (not included on this first disc), about three months after the live-action "Batman Returns" had come out. The animated series (unlike the mediocre movies) met with almost universal acclaim. Boistered by fabulous writing from the likes of Paul Dini, Alan Burnett, Michael Reaves and many others, as well as solid voice talent like Mark Hamill (wonderful as the Joker) and Kevin Conroy (this guy IS Batman), the series also intoduced such wonderful characters as Harley Quinn and improved versions of nearly ever Batman rogues gallery villian. In my humble opinion, the animated series is the definitive Batman, better than any of the comic books or movies... absolutely nailing the characterizations of Batman/Bruce Wayne himself, as well as his relationships with police commissioner Gordon, Robin/Dick Grayson and best of all Alfred. The series transcends its origins as a "kids cartoon" to being one of the greatest and most adult animated series ever produced. (In a recent poll, it ended second only to "The Simpsons" as the greatest cartoon series ever.) ... At a rate of only five episodes per disc, it will take twenty-two discs to release the entire series of 109 episodes, and that doesn't even count the 50+ episodes of "Batman Beyond" or the 54 episodes of the "Superman" animated series; these series have not yet been announced, but we can only hope... right, Warner Bros?

You've GOT to love Warner Bros. for doing this. Releasing not one, not two, not three, not four, but FIVE different animated Batman DVDs all at the same time. "Return of the Joker" is intense, "Sub-Zero" is heart-wrenching, "the Batman Superman Movie" is interesting and "Justice League" is fun, but this would be my desert island DVD. It includes the first five episodes of the modern legend "Batman - the Animated Series."

Episodes include "On Leather Wings," the first Batman episode, in which a mysterious man-bat terrorizes Gotham City and Batman is blamed for the heinous crimes. Not bad for a pilot episode. "Christmas With the Joker" is a fun episode. It's nothing really deep, but it introduced the series to Batman's most notorious adversary, the Joker. Here, he holds three (important) people hostage and wants Batman to show up by midnight so the Joker can give him a Christmas present (???). The gift turns out to be a hilarious joke, and it shows just how nutso the Joker really is. Next up is "Nothing to Fear," which is my favorite episode on this DVD. Here, Batman faces the Scarecrow, who injects him with a sort of fear serum which will unearth Batman's deepest, darkest fears. Batman is afraid his parents are turning over in their graves, since people have claimed that Bruce Wayne has put a damper on his namesake. Our hero starts to believe it himself, until he finally realizes how proud his parents would be if they saw how much he puts on the line to help the stranger citizens of Gotham City. It ends with a kickass battle on a blimp. The fourth episode is called "the Last Laugh," which brings the Joker back again to wreak havoc on Gotham City. Here, he infests Gotham with his goofy gas on April Fool's Day, which temporarily turns people insane, causing them to uncontrollably laugh hysterically. And, as always, it's up to Batman to save the day. A great episode, though, like the previous Joker outing, not very deep. The final episode is "Pretty Poison," which introduces Poison Ivy to the series. District Attorney Harvey Dent (who would later become Two-Face in my favorite episode) is infected with a rare poison, and Batman has to find a cure before it's too late. He suspects Pamela Isley, Dent's love interest, to be responsible. As per usual, the dark night detective's hunch is right. A very good episode.

Unlike "the Simpsons," which took a season or two to get just right, the creators of this show nailed it right on the head from the get-go. Some things are different from later episodes, such as Alfred's voice and the Joker's laugh, but the atmosphere is still there, and the writing remained top-notch until the series' final episode. This is quality programming, and they should have kept going with it. Instead, they opted for different animation and more light-hearted action with "the Batman/Superman Adventures." A good show in it's own right, of course, but the original animated series is the cream of the crop.

I almost drooled when I read Warner Bros. would begin releasing this series on DVD, and this particular disc isn't a bad way to start. However, I'm sure I could have held out longer if Warner decided to go with a boxed set edition of EVERY SEASON on DVD instead of this. Still, it's good to own five classic episodes of B-TAS and reminisce on the time when I would come home from school, watch the show, and re-enact what I just saw with my Batman action figures.

"I am vengance. I am the night. I am BATMAN!"

Very cool stuff.

Batman - The Animated Series is one of the best animation shows that aired during the 90s. This DVD provides the first 5 episodes of the First Season. I have listed my reviews for the episodes separately, followed by my review of the DVD.

Review of the Episodes:

1. On Leather Wings: A winged bat-like creature is spotted flying above Gotham, stealing chemicals from various pharmaceuticals (recently from Phoenix Pharmaceuticals, where it also injured a night watchman). The Police suspect that it is Batman. To clear his name, Batman goes to the scene of the crime and finds a tape along with a strand of the creature's hair. Having his suspicions, he goes to Dr. March and Dr. Langstrom to ask their opinion on the evidence. However, since the Doctors give him a faulty explanation, Batman is convinced that one of them is the cause for the crimes. Can Batman find out who Man-Bat is and get him in time?

A good start to the series, we get to see how Batman clears his name by going after the Man-Bat. (4/5).

2. Christmas with the Joker - The Joker has escaped from Gotham Asylum during Christmas time. Meanwhile, Dick convinces Bruce to watch "It's a Wonderful Life" to let Bruce get into the holiday spirit. However, the Joker makes all the channels broadcast to his show called "Christmas with the Joker", where he intends to share his Christmas `joy' with the citizens of Gotham. It is up to Batman and Robin to save the people of Gotham while Joker holds Commissioner Gordon, Detective Bullock, and reporter Summer Gleeson hostage.

This is a little different, but still a good episode where we get to see Batman and Robin in action. The highlights of this show are the scenes where Batman and Robin save the people on the train and when they go to the Laffco Toy Factory to defeat Joker. (4/5).

3. Nothing to Fear - A new villain called the `Scarecrow' is stealing and vandalizing the University. However, the Scarecrow's intention of robbing the University is not for the money, but for revenge (especially on Dr. Long, the head of the University). It is up to Batman to catch the crook, but will he be able to succeed, knowing that the Scarecrow is making Batman live his darkest fears?

This was another great episode where we get to see Batman confront his darkest fears while trying to catch the Scarecrow, who is putting fear on the citizens of Gotham. (5/5).

4. The Last Laugh - It's April Fools Day and the Joker is back to spread havoc on Gotham. He spreads a laughing gas through the city, and people who inhale it start laughing until they become insane. Once again, Batman has to stop the Joker, but as usual the Joker has new tricks up his sleeve.

I loved this episode because it was purely action-based, and kept me at the edge of my seat throughout. The scenes where Batman is trapped underwater, or where he is trying to defeat "Captain Clown" is terrific! (5/5).

5. Pretty Poison - An area of exotic wildflowers is being removed to build the Gotham Penitentiary. There is a woman who is against the destruction of these flowers, and wants to make sure that Bruce Wayne and Harvey Dent pay for their crime, as it was them who initiated the project.

The first episode with Poison Ivy in it, this was a good episode, but was a little slow and predictable. It was nevertheless fun to watch Batman fight a female villain for a change. (3.5/5).

Review of the DVD:

Since the official Season Boxed Sets of "Batman - The Animated Series" is now available, it is rather pointless to buy this DVD when you can buy the complete sets with more extras included in them. However, it you are a fan of the show, you can still purchase this DVD, as it contains wonderful episodes containing The Joker, Poison Ivy, and The Scarecrow, to add to your collection. Otherwise, it is better to buy all the 3 Volumes of Batman which contain all the episodes of the entire series, instead of this.

There's no doubt about it. This animated series, which was made after the success of the Tim Burton BATMAN films, is regarded by many as the definititive version of the Dark Knight. This DVD contains the first 5 episodes which were produced. Included are 2 episodes featuring Batman's archfoe, the Joker, as well as adventures which introduce the monsterous Man-Bat, the sinister Scarecrow, and the deadly Poison Ivy. Unlike the live-action movies, this series is intelligently plotted and brimming with character depth and motivation. Also, the wonderful music and dark art-deco design (a cross between the 30's and Gothic styles)provides wonderful richness to the whole thing. The voice acting throughout the series is especially top-notch. Kevin Conroy is perfect as both Bruce Wayne and Batman. Mark Hamill, who replaced Tim Curry, shines as the insane Joker. While the DVD is somewhat skimpy on the extras, this is still a series that respects its audience....both young and old alike. Highly recommended for Bat-fans and fans of animation in general.

I started watching this on saturday mornings ages ago and i loved it, when i heard that it was coming to dvd i was exstatic!
I quickly went out and bought it and boy i wasn't dissapointed.
the acting was fantastic, kevin conroy being better than val kilmer, michael keaton and george clooney at being batman and mark hamill suitably maniacal as the joker and the artwork is gorgeous!
Only 2 bad things about the DVD, 1)The amount of episodes, i need much more than 5! 2)The amount of extras, the introduction by Bruce Timm is insightful, but the how to draw batman is just lame! we may as well just copy the front cover.
Overall this DVD is worth every penny and it's not just for kids, unless your parents are villians!

The only thing not to love about the animated Batman series is the choppy animation, itself. Everything else is stellar. Bruce Timm's artwork deliberately hearkens back to the 1940's Max Fleischer Superman shorts, and the clever stories appeal to the kids but are sophisticated enough to hold the attention of adults.

The best thing about the entire series is the "kinder, gentler" approach to the caped superhero. As opposed to Tim Burton's dark just-this-side-of-a-psycho interpretation, the animated Batman develops something of a rapport with his adversaries. He comes to understand them before even attempting to bring them in, and he tries the easy approach first - granted, it generally fails, but at least he tries. His defeat of Gotham's various criminals is invariably brought about by Batman's psychological understanding of them.

The next best thing is the new interpretation of old villains, and the introduction of several Bob Kane originals who never saw screen time anywhere. In the latter category, the Scarecrow and Poison Ivy are magnificent. The Scarecrow story on this DVD introduced Scarecrow as Kane did - as an inadequate little man who uses his advanced knowledge of chemistry to incapacitate his opponents with fear, making himself feel bigger by comparison. Beginning as a mere bankrobber, later stories saw him evolve into a more psychotic extortionist. Poison Ivy, who Kane introduced but rarely used (if I'm not mistaken, he actually only had her in a single story) - and who didn't appear often in post-Kane comics, either - is given a complete makeover and a credible psychosis of her own. Her introductory story is one of the best in the animated series, and is present in this collection. Similarly, "Manbat," a potentially silly figure, is given adult character and motivation in this series, even if he is largely a Dr. Jekyll knockoff.

The greatest - and most pleasant - surprise is Mark Hamill's Joker, which is as perfect a vocal interpretation as anyone could ask for. The Joker of the animated series is the closest anyone has come to the original Kane version, the best and the most satisfying. "Christmas With the Joker" is an episode made mostly for the kids, though adults will probably enjoy it too - it's one of the few that goes really over the top and indulges itself a bit in juvenile comic-strip-ism. Joker's other story, his introductory piece, is much better, both more frightening and more humorous - which is the way the Joker really should be.

Don't worry about buying this one, if you don't have kids as an excuse. Adults will enjoy these great Batman stories probably even more than the kids. Trust me, if you love Batman, the animated series was the best he ever got, outside of the comic book itself.

Indulge yourself!

Great animation, great stories, wonderful villians. This Batman series show the Dark Knight at his best. Batman's endless arsenal of nifty gadgets fascinated my kids. My younger son is four and he was frightened by some of the stories. The episode featuring the Joker especially disturbed him. The Joker is a brilliant villian, but a bit cold and definitely without a conscience. I recommend this movie for older children and adults. My favorite episode was the one with the Scarecrow. When Batman gets sprayed with Scarecrow's gas and faces his deepest fear, we are able to glimpse a human side of the Caped Crusader that he rarely reveals.

But the fact that you can get 85 episodes for around 80-90 dollars, this disc is ONLY for people who are JUST getting this one.

So you can get this for 2.50 used on amazon and if you are already buying a bunch of stuff then this is a good buy, as long as you really like this show like me, then you need to get the very cheap boxed sets.

So all of these episodes are classics be sure to at least get this disc even if you are not a batman fan.

ON LEATHER WINGS- First ever episode created of the series, but not the first shown. Surely the network thought that it was a little too dark and decided to show cat and claw like past reviewer said. Their is a funny scene where a security guard and a nurse go to the back romm to get it on and when they start kissing in comes the man bat to save this from becoming a porno. I always found little touches like this perfect for a kids-teenagers show. Little did I realize that I would still love this show hust as much 10 years later. The man bat is not one of my favorite episoed but would have been a nice premiere.

CHRISTMAS WITH THE JOKER- A very dark episode to start out with where the Joker escapes form arkum and kidnaps the commish, his daughter, and bullock just for laughs. AND SOME VERY GOOD LAUGHS THEY WERE. The joker episodes were always the strongest, and they were certainly the best at the start of the series when the creators were still getting there feet wet. So the joker has a great line in this movie where he says if the bat doesn't come and save the commish and company, and then he does like a throat slash. Maybe he didn't or couldn't say kill but the gesture was even stronger. So everything wraps up real nicely in this one with some nice batman electrifying torture and a classic joker falls into the lava pit or something and batman saves him at the last second.

NOTHING TO FEAR- The origin of the scarecrow is shown in this episode and is done so VERY slick. They easily could have done a 2-part series buy very nicely made it into a single complete episode.

THE LAST LAUGH-this was a very inventive one and has one of my favorite character."You've killed Captain Clown".

PRETTY POISON-
I believe this is the first episode that has harvey dent(later two-face). It is also the first appearence of Poison Ivy.

It's too bad that this disc only has 5 episodes but when these first came out this was the best cause all the rest had mother effing 4, only 4 episodes on it. They certainly came out with the new batman series pretty quick, didn't they.

Also if you are a real collector of this series, then this is worth 2-5 dollars for you also. It has essential interviews with bruce timm talking about each episode and his thoughts on them individually. This was THE only thing that was good about these scrawny little dvd releases. He talks about how the first episode would have been perfect because it is batman versus a man-bat creature. He also talks about introducing harvey dent to the series rather than just throwing two-face at you and having no sympathy for a very sad man. Phantom of the opera obviously had influence on this, but still a great remake, redo version.

I just bought this DVD today, after reading a few negative reviews on amazon.com. Although I too would love to see them release a box set of this classic animated series, I believe there are two ways to look at it. ... And these five episodes are great stuff! There's only so much one needs to do to decorate such a great series--the episodes speak for themselves. This is Batman at his finest. Keep 'em coming, WB! I'm eager for more!

I was in kindergarten when the Batman animated series began. I heard about it and said to myself "Oh neat the guy from the movie" I was young and at that time did not realize that the movies were REALLY bad. I watched it every day. Even my parents would sit down, watch it and enjoy it. It freaked me out at first that a children`s cartoon could be so smart but aftertwo episode I was hooked. This is not Adam West or Michael Keaton... this IS Batman! This is the reason why I go to the comic book store every week! This is in my opinion the best (serious) cartoon ever! So buy it! You heard me! BUY IT!