Search - Batman Beyond - The Movie on DVD

Too Bad It's Considered A "Kiddie Flick"

Reginald D. Garrard | Camilla, GA USA | 10/15/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It is truly unfortunate that the animated film is considered "fodder" for children in this country. In Europe and Japan animation is given the respect that it so richly deserves. The writers and artists struggle long and hard to produce quality stories and they are entitled to some recognition.The genre is no better served than in this latest in the continuing saga of one Bruce Wayne, AKA Batman. To place the character as an elderly man who finds a worthy successor in the form of student Terry McGinnis was truly genius at work. The film has its share of violence that is essential to plot development. Persons who feel that the violence is inappropriate for children need to know that this is not a film designed solely for small fry. It is a movie for anyone who has ever thumbed through the pages of the comic book or sat in the theater watching the exploits of "THE DARK KNIGHT." As was in the case of the other Batman series, Kevin Conroy provides the voice of the mature Bruce Wayne; Will Friedle provides the right vocal balance between student and "superhero." Rumor has it that the "Batman Beyond - Return of the Joker" is being edited to "tone down the violent content." If this is true, then one might want to buy "Batman Beyond - The Movie" before it is recalled and receives a hatchet job."

Batman Beyond DVD goes BEYOND expectations

Ryan Bachiochi | Windsor Locks, CT | 12/27/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is something of a rarity. Not only do you get the first two episodes of Batman Beyond, or 'the Movie' as they call it, but you get four more episodes as well. This, is just speaking on the value vs. the VHS version. The VHS version gives you 'The Movie' and that's it. The DVD gives you tons more value, and it has a french language track for those of you who's Primary language is French. Oui? Now. On to the story. Batman Beyond as a whole is a wonderful departure but continuation of the legacy of Batman. We get to see Bruce Wayne, not as the hero, but as a mentor for a new Batman. Set in the future of Gotham City, Bruce Wayne has long since hung up his cowl (although the opening scene has him as Batman but I don't wish to spoil it) and has sit by and watched his own company become corrupt. There are some nice references to the original Animated Series and it ties in beautifully. If you're an Animated Series fan, I HIGHLY recommend this great value on DVD. If you don't have a DVD player, get one instead of buying the VHS version."

Don't buy if you want/own season 1

Christopher D. Hart | 05/06/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Great DVD! Starts off the Batman Beyond series. The stories are interesting and though the style animation is not exactly new, but has the new and unique intersting twist of being staged in the future. They have done a great job with it.



ONE WARNING!!! If you want season one do not buy this! There are 13 episodes on season one and this DVD has 6 of them! This would get 5 stars if you were not able to get all of them on the season one DVD. I felt just a little ripped off.



"

New era, new Batman

Simon | Brampton, ON | 01/12/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"With FIVE new Batman DVD's being released on April 23, 2002 (including Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker: The Original Cut!) and Justice League quickly becoming the biggest show on Cartoon Network, I thought now would be a fine time to revisit Batman Beyond: The Movie.I remember the night when 'Rebirth' (aka BB: The Movie)premired. I had a history project due the next day, but I made sure to block out an hour to watch the new series. I was definitely NOT disappointed. Unfortunately, the series didn't always live up to the high quality of that first night, or the quality of the shows before it. Fans who have watched all three seasons of Batman Beyond know that while the episodes have been good, only a third of them really harkened back to the spirit of the original series. Most of season 2, for example, was wasted with teen angst plots (a tough love boarding school, a psychotic robotic girlfriend) underdeveloped villains (a father is laid off, builds a power suit and turns to crime, a terrorist organization with a new ripped from GI Joe), and the character Max, the annoying sidekick who more often than not robbed Terry of character development by doing things for him. Granted, the episodes were always fun to watch, but they never really had the emotional and intellectual impact Batman: TAS was famous for. On the plus side of things, most of the episodes in the 1st season were excellent, and this DVD manages to deliver six of those.BB: The Movie starts out with an intro that manages to develop the original Batman (Bruce Wayne), and set up why he gave up the cowl. It's a breathtaking opening, and features the new Batsuit in a not-quite futuristic world. The story then moves on to introduce Terry, the new Batman, his chance meeting with Wayne, and his motivations for donning the suit. There are lots of classic moments in this two-parter: Bruce beats off a gang of Jokerz, smirking at their attempts to imitate the original clown prince of crime; Terry banging on the gates to Wayne Manor, demanding for Bruce to let him in because he has vital info concerning a viral plague; Bruce and Terry talking about the death of Bruce's parents and how Terry's situation is similiar. All in all, a nice self-contained movie that sets up the characters and villains well.The other four bonus episodes on this disc are just as great. One episode is a teen angst episode about a boy and his robot, but it's well done in the way that it focuses more on the boy than Batman, which is how the majority of the villains in the original series were introduced. Another episode has the return of Mr. Freeze (need I say more?). The third episode features a romance similiar to the Batman/Catwoman relationship of the past, and, though melodramatic at times, is fun to watch. The weakest episode is The Winning Edge, which features someone selling Bane's venom formula to kids on the street. The 'say no to drugs message' becomes overly obvious, and the surprise villain isn't really that great. However, six episodes still means two hours of entertainment, which makes it just as long as any feature length film.I'd give this disc a solid recommendation except for one problem: One of the episodes, Black Out, is missing. Not only was this a fantastic episode, it also ruins the chronological order of the episodes on this DVD (all the episodes are in order, with the omission of Black Out). Because of the new DVD's, petitions have been created to release all Batman Beyond episodes on DVD. This might mean if you buy this disc now, another edition might come out later with the missing episode on it. This is nowhere near definite, but it's something to consider.Based solely on this disc, not on what special editions the future might bring, I recommend Batman Beyond: The Movie. Great animation, music, and acting make this a must-have."