The epic comic story created by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale is adapted faithfully to film animation with both parts combined for the first time on 4K UHD and Blu-ray.
Batman: The Long Halloween (2022)
Released: 20 Sep 2022
Rated: R
Runtime: 3 min
Director: Chris Palmer
Genre: Animation, Action, Crime
Cast: Jensen Ackles, Laila Berzins, Frances Callier
Writer(s): Tim Sheridan, Jeph Loeb, Tim Sale
Plot: Atrocious serial killings on holidays in Gotham City send The World's Greatest Detective into action - confronting both organized crime and a unified front of classic DC Super-Villains - while attempting to stop the mysterious mur...
IMDB rating: N/A
MetaScore: N/A
Studio: Warner Brothers
Distributed By: N/A
Video Resolution: 2160p HEVC w/HDR
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Audio: English 5.1 DTS-HDMA, Spanish 5.1 DD, French 5.1 DD
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French
Rating: Not Rated
Run Time: 2 Hrs. 48 Min.
Package Includes: UHD, Blu-ray, Digital Copy
Disc Type: UHD
Region: ABC
Release Date: 09/20/2022
MSRP: $54.99
The Production: 4/5
Batman(Jensen Ackles) is in the early part of his career as a crimefighter in Gotham City when he is confronted with a serial killer nicknamed “Holiday” who is murdering victims on a monthly basis on various holidays. Harvey Dent(Josh Duhamel) is still District Attorney and working with police Captain James Gordon(Billy Burke) to solve the crimes. Crime boss Carmine Falcone(Titus Welliver) is involved somehow in the crimes as he has a family member who is also a victim of “Holiday”. The late Naya Rivera(Glee) provides the voice of Catwoman in one of her final roles.
The Calendar Man(David Dastmalchian) is confined to Arkham Asylum and knows the identity of the “Holiday” killer. James Gordon and Batman consult with the Calendar Man, who, in turn, toys with the forces of law and order from his cell in a manner reminiscent of Hannibal Lecter.
Eventually, Bruce Wayne finds himself in the thrall of the mind control powers of Poison Ivy(Katee Sackhoff). Bruce is likely to sign over full control of the Wayne fortune to Ivy unless Catwoman(Naya Rivera) can rescue him. Meanwhile, “Holiday” continues unabated through the Spring season.
Crime boss Carmine Falcone(Titus Welliver) is also involved as a member of his family is also murdered by “Holiday”. The Calendar Man(David Dastmalchian) continues to tease the identity of the “Holiday” killer to Batman from his confines in Arkham Asylum, as kind of a super-powered Hannibal Lecter. Other members of Batman’s rogues gallery also figure in the proceedings, including the Joker(Troy Baker), Mad Hatter(John DiMaggio), Scarecrow(Robin Atkin Downes) and Solomon Grundy(Fred Tatasciore).
Batman: The Long Halloween, Deluxe Edition is based on the celebrated comic book series created by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale. Each of the 13 chapters of the comic series depicted a different monthly holiday over a period of a year bookended by the Halloween holidays. This 4K UHD/Blu-ray Combo marks the first time that parts 1 and 2 of this film have been released together on one disc, as well as the first release on disc in 4K. Batman: The Long Halloween was released separately, as Parts 1 and 2, on Blu-ray disc in 2021.
The screenplay by Tim Sheridan is faithful to the original comic series written by Jeph Loeb, and the animators have gone to some lengths in mimicry of the stylized artwork by Tim Sale. The result is an intriguing take on the early days of Batman when Harvey Dent was still one of the good guys and Batman was just becoming acquainted with Catwoman. Batman: The Long Halloween is definitely one of the better releases in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies Line.
Batman: The Long Halloween tells the origin stories of Two-Face and Catwoman in a little different manner than some other stories in the Batman mythos. This film may be a little intense for younger viewers, hence the R rating, but the 4 episodes included as special features on the Blu-ray disc from Batman: The Animated Series will appeal to a broader audience.
Video: 4.5/5
3D Rating: NA
Batman: The Long Halloween appears on 4K UHD disc in a 1:78.1 screen aspect ratio. The 2160p transfer has vibrant colors and high fidelity to the fine linework of the animation. The range of colors on the backgrounds is especially notable, even on the Blu-ray disc and moreso in 4K, but this never distracts from the muted hues of the moving figures in the foreground.
Audio: 4.5/5
Batman: The Long Halloween plays by default in English audio in DTS-HD MA 5.1. The sound stage is used well with some occasional directional audio to make things more immersive. Directional audio is used minimally but effectively. Dialogue is typically audible at a minimal volume in a nice blend with sound effects and music score. French and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 are also available on the disc.
Special Features: 3/5
The only special feature on the 4K disc is a featurette entitled “Evolution of Evil” featuring Tim Sheridan, writer of the adaptation from Loeb and Sale’s comic series, as well as producer Jim Krieg, clinical psychologist Drea Letamendi, Ph.D., and writer Jeph Loeb himself, discussing this film adaptation of the original series. This special feature is included also on the Blu-ray disc.
Additional special features exclusive to the Blu-ray disc include all of the following:
From the DC Vault: Batman The Animated Series “Two-Face Part 1”(22:27): Episode from the animated series in which Harvey Dent begins his fall from grace.
From the DC Vault: Batman The Animated Series “Two-Face Part 2”(22:30): Episode from the animated series that concludes with Harvey Dent’s ultimate transformation to infamy.
From the DC Vault: Batman The Animated Series “Christmas With The Joker”(22:22): Episode from the animated series in which the Joker tries a different caper during the Christmas holiday.
From the DC Vault: Batman The Animated Series “It’s Never Too Late”(22:24): Episode from the animated series with villain Carmine Falcone featured prominently.
A Preview of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1(12:34): This is the short preview prepared originally before the release of the 2012 film on Blu-ray.
A Preview of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2(6:53): This is the short preview prepared originally before the release of the 2013 film on Blu-ray.
A Preview of Batman: Gotham By Gaslight(8:28): This is the short preview prepared originally before the release of the 2018 film on Blu-ray.
A Preview of Batman: Hush(9:17): This is the short preview prepared originally before the release of the 2019 film on Blu-ray.
Also included is a paper insert with validation code and QR code for digital download of the feature on the Movies Anywhere app.
Overall: 4/5
Batman: The Long Halloween, combining Parts 1 and 2 on the same disc for the first time, is an excellent animated Batman film covering the early part of Bruce Wayne’s career before he fully developed his skills as the Dark Knight Detective. The video and audio presentation on 4K disc are fine, and there are some nice special features on the Blu-ray disc with the inclusion of 4 classic episodes from Batman: The Animated Series. The R-rated feature may be limited mostly to the adults, but the 4 episodes included from Batman: The Animated Series will probably appeal to broader audiences without sacrificing any depth or entertainment value.
Special features not ported over from the 2021 releases in 2 parts are the excellent Blue Beetle and The Losers shorts, the latter based on the comic series featured in Our Fighting Forces magazine. These entertaining original features are also included on Blu-ray on the DC Showcase Animated Shorts disc headlined as Constantine: The House of Mystery. Any purchasers of this Deluxe Edition of Batman: The Long Halloween who do not already own the original release in 2 parts are recommended to check out Constantine: The House of Mystery for the terrific animated shorts collected on that disc.
Batman: The Long Halloween is a fine adaptation of its graphic novel source material and a stylized reimagining of the origin stories of Two-Face and Catwoman.
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