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Batman Anthology on Blu-ray
UPDATED: Monday, 13th January 2009
Warner has just OFFICIALLY announced that the Blu-ray Disc version of Batman: The Motion Picture Anthology will street on 3/10 (SRP $129.95). The set will include all four previous films (Batman, Batman Returns, Batman Forever and Batman & Robin) with special features repurposed from the previous DVD box set and special editions. The set will also include a fifth disc containing a Digital Copy version of the original Batman. The films are only available on Blu-ray in the box set at this time (contrary to listings on Amazon), but the studio is repromoting the DVD versions on 3/10 as well (SRP $12.97 for single-disc, $26.99 for the 2-disc special editions and $79.92 for the DVD box set). Hey, only a month later than we predicted! At least we didn't have long to wait for official word. We posted the cover art for the box set in The Rumor Mill back in November, but now that it's official you'll find it below along with the individual disc covers, though remember again that they're all ONLY available in the box - not individually.
UPDATED: Wednesday, 7th January 2009
From Warner Bros:
The Batman Anthology Now Available for the First Time on Blu-ray on 3/10!
Batman (1989) - Jack Nicholson is The Joker, who emerged from a horrible accident as a maniacal criminal. Michael Keaton is the Caped Crusader, who emerged from a childhood trauma to become a masked crimefighter. Kim Basinger is Vicki Vale, the talented photojournalist desired by both men. And Batman is the movie, the all-out spectacular directed by Tim Burton, set to songs by Prince and a music score by Danny Elfman, and an Academy Award(R) winner* for Best Art Direction/Set Decoration (Anton Furst and Peter Young).
Batman Returns (1992) - Gotham City faces two monstrous criminal menaces: The Penguin (Danny DeVito), bizarre and sinister, and Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer), slinky and mysterious. Can Batman (Michael Keaton) battle two formidable foes at once? Especially when one wants to be mayor and the other is romantically attracted to Bruce Wayne? Like the groundbreaking 1989 original, Batman Returns is directed by the wizardly Tim Burton. And like the first blockbuster, it's a dazzling adventure that leaves you breathless.
Batman Forever (1995) - Riddle me this, riddle me that, you'll find adventure on the wings of a bat! Brace for excitement as Val Kilmer (Batman), Tommy Lee Jones (Two-Face), Jim Carrey (The Riddler), Nicole Kidman (Dr. Chase Meridian) and Chris O'Donnell (Robin) star in the third formidable film in Warner Bros.' Batman series. Joel Schumacher directs and Tim Burton co-produces this thrill-ride of a movie that thunders along on Batmobile, Batwing, Batboat, Batsub and bold heroics. Hang on!
Batman & Robin (1997) - George Clooney plays the Dark Knight, facing his deadliest threat yet: cold-hearted Mr. Freeze (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and venomous Poison Ivy (Uma Thurman). Batman has more than Gotham City to protect: the youthful eagerness of crimefighting comrades Robin (Chris O'Donnell) and Batgirl (Alicia Silverstone) puts them frequently in harm's way. New special effects include a wild sky-surfing sequence and Mr. Freeze's outrageous arsenal of ice-blasting weapons. Joel Schumacher directs.
-The first four films that launched the Batman legacy and successful franchise are now available for the first time on Blu-ray!
-Batman is one of the Top 10 most successful franchises in motion picture history.
-The first four films grossed over $1 Billion at the box office Worldwide (over $450M Domestically) and have sold over 50M Gross Units to date!
-The Anthology includes a Digital Copy of Batman (The Movie) - download a full-length copy of the film to your iPod or PC.
- These films are available on Blu-ray as a Collection Only for $129.95 SRP.
-Over 18 hours of special features including documentaries from Directors Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher, deleted scenes and music videos!
-These four movies will also be available on DVD as Singles ($12.97 SRP) and 2-Disc Special Editions ($26.99 SRP) on 2/10 and as a Collection ($79.92 SRP) on 3/10.
UPDATED: Monday, 5th January 2009
As reported a fortnight ago, the UK cut of Batman Returns now features a previously cut scene reinstated (the aersol can / microwave scene).
The BBFC had no mention of the inclusion on their website leading many to expect (myself included) that the scene and Tim Burton's commentary would not be available to the UK. I contacted the BBFC to see what had changed and they responded today.
With the UK DVD Special Edition in 2005, Batman Returns was downgraded to a 12 rating. With the inclusion of the cut scene it has now been raised to a 15 again. The fact that this did not appear on the BBFC is because the packaging had not been approved by the BBFC. That seems to have changed today with the BBFC updating their entry for Batman Returns. See it here
Thanks to Sue Clark from the BBFC for clearing that one up for us.
UPDATED: Thursday, 1st January 2009
The Batman Anthology DVD gets its US re-release on February 10th and The Digital Bits reckon that the Blu-ray sets could get their release on the same date.
More here: http://www.thedigitalbits.com/#mytwocents
UPDATED: Tuesday, 23th December 2008
The Batman Anthology gets its UK release. All 4 films are on sale now. Batman Returns even gets a new cut in the UK (although no mention was made of it from the BBFC) and with that comes Tim Burton's commentary at long last.
UPDATED: Sunday, 30th November 2008
Empire (UK) features a full-page advert for the Batman Anthology on Blu-ray. (click on the pic below for a bigger view)
UPDATED: Monday, 17th November 2008
From Warner Bros: (click to enlarge)
UPDATED: Saturday, 15th November 2008
DallyWhitty has informed us that Tesco.com have the front and back covers for Batman 89, Forever, and B&R
NorthEastStan - if you are reading - thanks for sending us those covers over a month ago!
UPDATED: Thursday, 13th November 2008
From DVDReview.com
"Warner celebrates the 20th Anniversary of Tim Burton?s Batman
We just got word that Warner Home Video is preparing a 20th Anniversary Edition of Tim Burton?s Batman on Blu-Ray Disc for release in March.
Jack Nicholson is the Joker, who emerged from a horrible accident as a maniacal criminal. Michael Keaton is the Caped Crusader, who emerged from a childhood trauma to become a masked crimefighter. Kim Basinger is Vicki Vale, the talented photojournalist desired by both men. And Batman is the movie, the all-out spectacular directed by Tim Burton, set to songs by Prince and a music score by Danny Elfman, and an Academy AwardO winner* for Best Art Direction/Set Decoration (Anton Furst and Peter Young).
No exact details or specs have been announced yet, but the release will comes as a 2-disc Digibook version, containing a BD-25 disc for the movie and a separate DVD for the bonus materials.
The release date for 'Batman' is tentatively scheduled for March 31."
thedigitalbits.com
"First, remember our Rumor Mill post about the older Batman films coming to Blu-ray Disc? Well, not only are they officially announced for Japanese release in February '09, they hit stores next month (12/29) in the U.K., and they're set for release in Australia in January. (Thanks to all you readers who sent links.) So they're coming soon here in the States too, rest assured. Watch for announcements in the next few weeks. "
UPDATED: Monday, 6th October 2008
We were emailed these today by "NorthEastStan". They look like the genuine article but the major retail outlets still have no further info or updates.
Click on the covers to enlarge
Play.com are now showing covers for Burtons and Schumacher's Batman films on their site.
However, it is obvious that the covers are not official artwork since they have the DVD logo in the bottom left! That said though, it is highly likely the artwork will be very similiar.
The release date, as we know, is 29th December 2008.
by Slash Man
by The Dark Knight
by The Joker
by The Dark Knight
by Slash Man
by The Joker
by The Joker
by The Laughing Fish
by The Laughing Fish
by The Laughing Fish