DVD Review HTF REVIEW: Batman Begins - Two Disc Deluxe Edition (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED). (1 Viewer)

[Michael T]

IMHO this is the best comic book movie ever! This is coming from a person who loved the Spiderman movies. I just think the level of realism and drama blows everything else out of the water.

On the technical side the video was great and the soundtrack was awesome. Good use of the surrounds throughout and the music was perfection. Thank God they didn't use any contemporary songs. It makes it so much more of a classic.

 

[Chris Atkins]

I'm warming to this opinion. I definitely like it better than both Spidermans. Superman will be a tougher nut to crack for me, but it's possible.

I'm betting that, origin out of the way, Batman Begins 2 could in fact be the undisputably best comic book movie of all time.

 

[todd s]

The reviewer was Schumacher....He is embaressed about how bad his Bat films are. So he is trying anyway to discredit the new film.

 

[Tim Glover]

I'll be spinning the disc tonight. Looking forward to it Best comic book movie ever? Tough one. Right now I still say Superman and SpiderMan 2 but that could change.

As Chris said back in the Movies section in the summer, the Batman movies have been set up better now than what was done for Xmen and Spidey. Alot of pressure on the filmmakers to equal this great film but I'm sure they'll pull it off.

It is a great one and one of the best of 2005. Glad to know the dvd is stellar too.

 

[Cory S.]

I've had Begins for over a week now and I've pretty much watched it everyday since then. Greatest comic book film ever made?

As much as I want to say it, I think, for me, it ties with Superman The Movie. Both films just do such a damn fine job of concentrating on the central character while creating the world and characters around the character. I may lean towards Batman simply because I was never truly a Superman fan as much as I am a serious Batman fan. But, you can't deny even now the greatness of Superman The Movie.

As it stands for me right now, it goes something like this:

Superman The Movie
Batman Begins
The Incredibles
Hulk
X2

Concerning the DVD, I don't have a sound system so I want some feedback on how great the Tumbler sequence sounds on a home theater system.

One of these days, I'll upgrade.

 

[Phil Carter]

Cory S.:

If you'll pardon the expression, it sounds f**king great.

The roar of the engine, the high-speed "thrrrrrap" of the big knobbly tires, the whine of the jet turbine, the bass rumble as it charges forward.....mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. I was drooling and going "I want one! I want one!"

cheers,
Phil

 

[Cory S.]

Thanks, Phil.

I so need to upgrade in a hurry. I have terribly mistreated my Star Wars DVDs, Lord of the Rings Trilogy EE, Ultimate Matrix Collection, Indiana Jones, and now Begins by not having the proper sound system. Crime, I tell you.

Speaking of that damn car, had a chance to see it up close on release day at Grauman's Chinese. Stunning in every way. I hope they don't change a thing to the car for the sequel.

 

[Tim Glover]

Off with his head.

 

[Lou Sytsma]

Great review Herb. Second best film of the year for me too! The first being Serenity!

 

[Kevin Lamb]

Started watching this with my wife last night. We saw it once in the theater so she watched the first half with me then crashed on the couch.

I was going to watch a little bit more then finish the second half tonight or tomorrow but at no point could I pick up the remote and turn it off.

Its fantastic in every way. The Iceland scenes are some of the most beautifully shot scenes I've seen on film in years.

Its hard to imagine any element of the story being improved upon in a sequel. I suppose a better written/cast love interest but that isn't incredibly important to a Batman story anyway.

I really think Batman Begins is to superheroes what Star Wars was to space opera and LOTR to fantasy. Its a whole new paradigm for what these movies can achieve.

I honestly think it should be considered for a Best Picture nomination.

 

[todd s]

Cory, I agree completely. The Tumbler was very cool in person. I was fortunate enough to get the first public look at the tumbler in June of 2004. I was at the Licensing Show in NYC. They had it displayed a full year before the release date.

 

[Cory S.]

It's a glorious car, Todd. We can all dream of driving it...but only the stuntman has had the pleasure of driving that beast. Lucky bastard!

 

[BennyD]

Good Lord thats one hell of a transfer. Video is absolutely breathtaking and the sub was put through quite a workout last night.


Am I missing something, isn't this film in 2.35:1? It looked fine on my 62" DLP last night.


The best testament to this film are the following points:

• How ridiculous the other Batman films look in comparison to this one. I watched Batman Returns directly before watching this since I hadn't seen it in quite a while and consider Batman and Returns to be decent to good. But this film just makes them look ridiculously bad and hokey.
• The first 20 minutes of the film summarize it up beautifully. When you're sitting there adamantly thinking, "God damn these are some great performances", its a winner.
• Lastly, my girlfriend, who has absolutely no love for comic books and superheroes, says she can watch this movie over and over and not tire of it.

These days it seems like comic adaptations are a dime a dozen. The majority of them suck, for lack of a better word. It's nice to see one finally done right. I'm crossing my fingers that Nolan makes at least a trilogy out of this new Gotham he's created.

 

[Michael T]

Taking nothing away from one my all time favorites "Superman", Batman Begins was just spectacular in every way. I guess when I was a kid Superman was a comic book fan's dream. It is a classic of my generation. Now this generation, with Batman Begins, has their own classic to look back on.

 

[Jonathan_Clarke]

"The doc on the evolution of Batman through the ages was good but they went on so much about Frank Miller and yet they didn't get him."

That's doubly weird since he's on the doc on the 1989 special edition.

And I understand no commentary but no DTS? There's room for it and it's on each of the other four films.

 

[nickGreenwood]

I guess that's why I assume we may get another release of it sometime within a year, or maybe they're waiting for the high def dvd's or something.

Releasing the movie with the comics is a great idea, it wasn't executed as well as I would've thought (imho). The comic is small and yet a little thick so after a couple of times of opening it it's already got some creasing. For me at least I already have the full graphic novel compiled version of "The Long Halloween" (which I highly recommend to any comic book fan that hasn't read it, Tim Sale has some great noir-ish artwork in it and Jeph Loeb is at the top of his game).

Probably the top 5 Batman series to read:
1. The Long Halloween
2. Batman: Year One
3. The Dark Knight Returns
4. Hush
5. Knightfall (the one where Bruce gets his back broken, though I haven't read it, I assume it's a great read, I read the actual novelization of it years ago)
6. The Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told (added just because it should be here, some clunkers and some great stories as well)

Those 5 will give you a quick run down of everything that's going on.

 

[TedT]

I don't see how any movie based on a DC comic can top a Marvel one, but I guess I'll find out tonight when I watch Batman Begins!

 

[Kevin Lamb]

Yes you will, Ted. Yes you will...

 

[Ronald Epstein]

My God!

Just finished watching this on DVD after seeing
it originally in the theater.

I had forgotten what an awesome movie this is!

By far, the best comic book movie ever made --
and without a doubt, one of the very best films
this year.

This film was perfectly made. From the gothic look,
to the breathtaking action sequences, to dialogue that
is witty and brilliant! And to top it all off, the
entire film is showcased by one of the best music
soundtracks to come along in a long time. I love
how the tone of the soundtrack further darkens the
film's overall tone.

Who would ever expect that a BATMAN film could be
the most talked about film of the year?

The DVD transfer is immaculate!

Everyone must have this film in their collection!

 

[Kevin Lamb]

Probably anyone who didn't notice that the Revenge of the Sith DVD thread is already a page longer than this one two weeks prior to its release.

But BB was indeed an awesome film.