Home Media Magazine - Agent DVD - July 2008 - (Page DVD16) *COMICFILES ‘BATMAN: THE MOVIE’ GETS MORE COLORFUL THAN EVER A NEW BLU-RAY DISC ALSO INCLUDES SEVERAL NEW EXTRAS BATMAN: THE MOVIE (1966) Available on Blu-ray Disc ($39.98) and DVD ($9.98) 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment VES Y artwork can be until you see a film like this. There’s just no comparison. I’ve never seen anything like this in terms of diverse and rich animation in the industry. It’s like getting six movies in one.” The single-disc DVD ($19.98) includes a commentary by Noveck, Conroy and former “Batman” comic book editor Dennis O’Neil, and a sneak peek at the next “DC Universe” animated film, Wonder Woman. The Blu-ray ($34.99) and two-DVD special-edition ($29.98) add another 100 minutes of content — about Batman creator Bob Kane, the original animated series and the villains of the Batman universe. BY CHRIS TRIBBEY Q&A their stuff and can tell you instantly when a film goes over the top with special effects instead of having a strong story with good characters. That’s why I predict at the end of the year you’ll see that Iron Man and The Dark Knight were some of the best reviewed films of the year. Agent DVD: Are there any films you’d like to erase from your resumé? Caine: (Laughs) Too many to talk about. Actually there’s one that comes to mind. It was an action film (On Deadly Ground) starring Steven Seagal that my agents talked me into. My former agents if you get my drift! AGENTDVD ou’d think Adam West would be sick of it. Every time Hollywood does something, anything, with Batman, the press and appearance requests start rolling in. Batman this and Batman that. It was 42 years ago, people! But the 79-year-old takes it all in stride. He may be Batman, but he’s also working on “Family Guy,” animated features and liveaction films. “People ask me all the time, ‘Can you get away from Batman?’” West says. “I get away from it every day and every night. I’m like Madonna: I keep reinventing myself. “I don’t allow nostalgia to drown me. But I’ve got to tell you, with this older movie on Blu-ray, it’s really gratifying. You see a resolution of the picture that you’ve never seen before.” The classic and wonderfully campy Batman: The Movie, a 1966 effort based on the old “Batman” TV series, made its way to Blu-ray Disc July 1 from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. Yes, now those costumes can be seen in full 1080p. “I think, really, essentially that was the show,” West says of the designs and outfits. “It was its own little world, and the colors really show.” The Blu-ray comes with all the special features found on the original DVD, and hours of new Blu-ray bonus content, including a unique look at the iconic Batmobile. “It looks fantastic. We had a great team of designers,” says Pete Ventrella, executive producer at Drissi Creative Studios, which produced the Batmobile Interactive Tour on the Blu-ray version. The slick feature offers a 360-degree look at the actual Batmobile. Viewers can zoom in and out, and learn about every part of the vehicle. “We wanted to give a real-life feel that you’re actually in the Batmobile, the sense of movement, the sense of space,” Ventrella says. “Working on the crown jewel of the DC universe, this is definitely a treat. It’s just one of those childhood dreams come true.” Working on the Blu-ray was a treat for Ventrella, but sitting in the Batmobile and getting his picture taken was even better. That’s nothing, West says. “I’m privileged to get in the Batmobile any time I want and take it for a spin,” he says. Other exclusive bonuses on the Blu-ray include a commentary with West and actor Burt Ward, a separate commentary with screenwriter Lorenzo Semple Jr., an isolated musical score track in 5.1 masterless audio (a first for Blu-ray), an interactive mapping option that takes viewers on a tour of filming locations, a new documentary, a trivia track and tributes to both the heroes and villains of the Batman world. West also revealed that he’s working on a complete-series DVD collection for the original “Batman” series. He says fans will be pleased with his backstage revelations in the special features. THE BATMAN: SEASON FIVE Two-DVD set ($19.98) Warner Home Video Also Available AgentDVD.com AGENTDVD JULY 2008 15 http://agentdvd.com
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.