Review: Batman Anthology – 4K / Blu-ray limited edition collectors sets

As a film fan, in recent months I’ve felt an increasing desire to return to buying (some) physical media. The age of streaming appears to be in trouble at present, with studios deleting or pulling titles at random, and from time-to-time I find myself yearning for much simpler days when owning a movie meant picking up a VHS tape or a DVD to keep on the shelf.

For this reason, over the past few months I’ve been investing in a few titles that I want to own physically. I’ve not gone on a splurge, as physical media isn’t infallible either, but if a studio/publisher puts out a decent special edition or limited edition release of a title I like, then I will give it a look.

As a result, over the past few months I’ve picked up a limited edition Blu-ray release of Ghostwatch from 101 Films, as well as limited edition 4K/Blu-ray copies of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and The Changeling from Second Sight Films. All three releases offered up plenty of bonus material, in addition to the films themselves, and all were considered worthy purchases in my eyes.

This week I decided to increase my physical collection with the addition of the four Batman movies from the ‘80s and ‘90s: Batman (1989), Batman Returns (1992), Batman Forever (1995), and Batman & Robin (1997). All four films – collectively known as the Batman Anthology – are widely available in various formats, and have been for some time, but all have recently been given the 4K/Blu-ray limited edition treatment from Warner Bros.

I’ll go into the specifics of each limited edition set shortly, but just to give you a rough idea, these recent re-releases include a collection of supplementary material, in addition to the films and all the special features on the discs. Each film has been released in new packaging, which includes a steel book that is housed within a chunky outer case, and inside is a bunch of photos and associated paraphernalia.

As to why I picked up these films, I simply adore all four of them. I’ve owned the Batman Anthology in multiple formats over the years (VHS, DVD, special edition DVD, digital and Blu-ray), but now felt the right time to pick up the Blu-ray/4K release. 

Am I crazy? Yes, probably.

But as mentioned above, if a publisher or studio puts out a special limited edition release of something I like, then I’ll cast my eye in its direction to see if it’s something I’m interested in. In the case of these Batman movies, I felt now was the time to cast my eye, and then update and upgrade accordingly.

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Batman (1989)

I’ll begin with Batman first, which I’m pretty confident most people are familiar with, but for those who aren’t, Batman is director Tim Burton’s gritty take on DC’s iconic comic book character. The movie stars Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, and Kim Basinger, and details the emergence of the Dark Knight in Gotham City.

In the film, a masked vigilante is stalking the streets, taking down criminals who prey on unsuspecting citizens. This vigilante – known as Batman – is secretly millionaire Bruce Wayne, who is doing what he can to clean up the streets of Gotham.

However, Gotham’s problems don’t just lie with two-bit crooks and opportunist thieves, the city is filled with corruption and organised crime overseen by crime bosses, including Carl Grissom. And working for Grissom is mobster Jack Napier – a twisted individual who is Grissom’s right-hand man.

But when Grissom discovers Napier is betraying him, he sends his former friend on a job that is doomed to fail. This same job is made worse by the sudden arrival of Batman, which results in a tussle between the two, before Napier takes a swan-dive into a vat of toxic waste.

Although Napier survives the incident, his skin is bleached white, his face is disfigured, and he slips into insanity. Moving forward, Napier adopts the name Joker, and decides to take over as the new crime lord of Gotham.

With the Joker posing a threat to the city, and the police out of their depth, Batman is Gotham’s only hope for a safer future. But can the vigilante triumph over a truly deadly foe?

OK, so many people have watched Batman, so I won’t beat around the bush. The movie was a pop culture phenomenon when it debuted in 1989; it influenced many films that followed (including various pictures in the comic book genre); and it gave Michael Keaton arguably his most famous role.

To put it simply: The movie was superb in 1989 and it’s still superb now. It may have a few rough edges, and the story may have some plot holes, but it’s immensely entertaining, and will forever remain a landmark comic book movie and one of the best-loved films of the ‘80s.

So, that’s the film – now let’s move onto this new limited edition 4K/Blu-ray set to highlight what is included in this re-release of a beloved classic. The set includes the following:

Discs

• Batman (1989) on 4K UltraHD Blu-ray Disc
• Batman (1989) on Blu-ray disc

Disc features

• Commentary by director Tim Burton
• On set with Bob Kane featurette
• Legends of the Dark Knight: The History of Batman featurette
• Shadows of the Bat: The Cinematic Saga of the Dark Knight – Parts 1, 2, and 3 documentaries
• Beyond Batman documentary gallery
• 3 x Prince music videos
• The Heroes and the Villains profile galleries
• Batman: The Complete Robin Storyboard Sequence
• Batman 1989 theatrical trailer

Limited edition collectable extras

• Limited edition detailed Batman 1989 collectors’ packaging outer box
• Limited edition Batman 1989 collectors’ steelbook
• Limited edition Batman 1989 blue-black themed cardboard envelope/pouch
• 16-page Batman 1989 photo book
• 1 x double-sided Batman 1989 movie poster
• 5 x black and white lobby cards
• 5 x colour photo cards
• 2 x mini door panel cards

All of this for a recommended retail price of £39.99.

Now, those who have purchased any physical copy of Batman over the past 20-ish years, dating back to the mid ‘00s DVD release, will notice the special features listed above remain exactly the same as all previous releases. The features have been carried over from the DVDs and Blu-rays, with nothing new added into the mix.

Is this a little frustrating? Yes, because it’s been close to 20 years since these features were first released to home video, so some new material from the Warner Bros. vault would be appreciated.

However, in the studio’s defence, the features that accompany this film (and the ones that accompany the other Bat-films) have always been top notch. Even after all these years, the director commentary from Burton, as well as the three-part Shadows of the Bat documentary, remain highly informative and they alone add so much extra value to the film.

Should Warner Bros. now be adding more features to these discs to reward fans who have been buying and re-buying this film for the past few decades? Without doubt; but that doesn’t change the fact the special features on these discs are excellent regardless.

But what about the new, limited edition features that are exclusive to this set? Well, they are essentially fun little keepsakes designed specifically with collectors in mind.

This set includes ten glossy photo cards, comprising an even split of colour and black and white images, along with a double-sided poster featuring the Bat-symbol on each side. In addition there are two door cards (essentially little bookmark sized cards), and a 16-page photo book. 

There’s not much depth in this material, so don’t expect any informative essays in the photo book etc, but all the pictures are nice to look at. And all of these supplementary bits-and-bobs fit neatly into a cardboard envelope/pouch, which has been designed to match the art style and colour scheme of the set.

In addition to this, the two discs are housed in a steel book, and this steel book along with the envelope/pouch slot into a chunky cardboard outer case. This case includes the logo, which incorporates a schematics-style design, and it all looks rather lovely.

All-in-all, this is a premium set when compared to the standard Blu-ray or 4K releases of the past, and while it feels like something aimed squarely at die-hard fans (like me), it is a delightful set. The recommended retail price of £39.99 is pricey (especially considering you can get the standard 4K release for around £15), but you are paying for something more than the average copy.

If you’re a big fan of Batman, you’re looking to get the film on Blu-ray or 4K, and you don’t mind paying a little extra (to get a little extra), then this release is certainly worth considering.

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Batman Returns (1992)

Onto Batman Returns now, which is the first sequel to Batman, and the second Bat-film for Tim Burton. Michael Keaton is also back playing Bruce Wayne/Batman, this time opposite Danny DeVito as the Penguin, Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman, and Christopher Walken as corrupt business mogul Max Shreck.

In this movie, Shreck is busy trying to increase his power and fortune in Gotham, when he crosses paths with two potential thorns in his side. The first is Oswald Cobblepot, the freakish Penguin, who has been shunned from society for over 30 years, but who blackmails Max into helping him run for public office.

Meanwhile, the second thorn is Max’s secretary, Selina Kyle, who accidentally uncovers some very harmful secrets about her boss. To ensure her silence, Max attempts to kill Selina, but this inadvertently transforms her into the somewhat-unhinged Catwoman, who seeks revenge against her would-be murderer.

With Penguin, Catwoman, and Shreck all causing chaos in Gotham, it’s not long before Batman is caught in the crossfire. It’s also not long before they attempt to make him public enemy No.1, meaning he once again needs to clean up the city of its miscreants.

Similar to Batman, Batman Returns is a dark comic book tale, filled with sinister characters and plenty of action and spectacle. However, where the two differ is that Batman Returns leans further into the twisted imagination of director Tim Burton, creating a more lavish fantasy world to get lost in.

Deemed too dark for some when it made its debut (especially young audiences), Batman Returns has been reappraised in the years that followed. Many will tell you this is their favourite Batman movie, and with its festive setting and snow covered depiction of Gotham City, it’s also become a mainstay of every Christmas holiday.

Do I like this film as much as Batman? Yes – although I’m going to let you into a little secret: I love all four Bat-movies equally, because they are all stylistically and tonally unique and this means I’ve got a different film for every mood.

Batman Returns is my go-to film when I want to get lost in a very villain-centric story, or when I simply want to watch Michelle Pfeiffer steal every scene she is in. Out of all the films in the Batman Anthology, Pfeiffer’s Catwoman is the best – yes, even better than Nicholson’s Joker.

Hey, I said what I said. I won’t back down on this.

Anyway, enough with the movie, let me give you all the details on all the contents of this second limited edition set. As you’ll see, it too has a whole heap of special features and supplementary material, ideal for fans and collectors.

The Batman Returns limited edition Blu-ray/4K set includes:

Discs

• Batman Returns (1992) on 4K UltraHD Blu-ray disc
• Batman Returns (1992) on Blu-ray disc

Disc features

• Commentary by director Tim Burton
• The Bat, the Cat and the Penguin – ‘making of’ featurette
• Shadows of the Bat: The Cinematic Saga of the Dark Knight – Part 4 documentary
• Beyond Batman documentary gallery
• Siouxsie and the Banshees ‘Face to Face‘ music videos
• The Heroes and the Villains profile galleries
• Batman Returns theatrical trailer

Limited edition collectable extras

• Limited edition detailed Batman Returns collectors’ packaging outer box
• Limited edition Batman Returns collectors’ steelbook
• Batman Returns purple themed cardboard envelope/pouch
• 16-page Batman Returns photo book
• 1 x double-sided Batman Returns movie poster
• 5 x black and white lobby cards
• 5 x colour photo cards
• 3 x character cards

Recommended retail price: £39.99.

As you can see, another set which is crammed with content. And while some of the features and extras might sound similar to what is included with Batman, there’s no repetition.

Once again, the special features have been carried over from previous DVD and blu-ray releases, but they are all excellent regardless. The highlights remain the Tim Burton commentary, as well as the Shadows of the Bat documentary.

Incidentally, this is part four of a six-part documentary that runs across all four Bat-movies (parts one to three were included with Batman). All of these documentaries are brilliant and are a must-watch for anyone truly interested in the behind the scenes development of these films.

As for the limited edition extras, there are photo cards, character cards, and another double-sided poster. The steel book, the envelope/pouch, and the outer case are also present and correct, and this time around they feature a purple colour scheme, rather than the black/blue colouring used on Batman.

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Batman Forever (1995)

Moving to movie number three now and the third entry in the Batman Anthology is Batman Forever, which ushers in an era of change. Tim Burton side-steps from director to executive producer for this one, while Joel Schumacher slips into the director’s chair, and there’s a new Bruce Wayne/Batman in the shape of Val Kilmer.

Other newbies include cast members Tommy Lee Jones as Harvey ‘Two-Face’ Dent, Jim Carrey as the Riddler, and Nicole Kidman as Dr. Chase Meridian. Meanwhile Chris O’Donnell joins the film as Dick Grayson/Robin – a part he will reprise in the next instalment.

In terms of the story, Batman finds himself conflicted as he takes on the villainous Two-Face, who was once a former friend but is now an unhinged bad guy. Meanwhile, Batman’s alter-ego, Bruce Wayne has troubles of his own, when Wayne Enterprises employee, Edward Nygma develops an unhealthy obsession with the billionaire.

This obsession eventually leads to Nygma becoming the maniacal Riddler, who teams up with Two-Face to uncover Batman’s secret identity, while systematically trying to take over Gotham. This leaves Batman in need of some assistance, which he gets from circus-orphan-turned-superhero, Dick Grayson, aka Robin!

OK, let’s get this out of the way: Batman Forever is a divisive movie in that some people love it, while others do not. There is a tonal shift between this film and the previous two, with more colour and comedy injected into the film, and not everyone gets on board.

However, I adored this movie when it was first released back in 1995 and I still adore it now. It’s also worth noting Batman Forever was a huge box office hit back in its day, so it’s not like people didn’t like it.

Batman Forever is an action-packed movie, which lightens Batman just a touch. The darkness is still there, but it’s not all-consuming, and this allows for something a little different to what is on offer in Batman and Batman Returns.

Val Kilmer is terrific as both Bruce Wayne and Batman, while Jim Carrey has a ball playing the Riddler. Director Joel Schumacher segues from the Dark Knight era of Batman movies into Caped Crusader territory, giving this film a more super heroic sheen in the process, and this ensures it can tick many boxes to become a real crowd pleaser (which is exactly what it was in summer ‘95).

So, yeah, a fun film, with lots to enjoy. But what about all the added extras to enhance this movie?

Well, here you go…

Discs

• Batman Forever (1995) on 4K UltraHD Blu-ray disc
• Batman Forever (1995) on Blu-ray disc

Disc features

• Commentary by director Joel Schumacher
• Additional scenes
• Riddle Me This: Why Is Batman Forever? featurette
• Shadows of the Bat: The Cinematic Saga of the Dark Knight – Part 5 documentary
• Beyond Batman documentary gallery
• Seal ‘Kiss from a Rose‘ music video
• The Heroes and the Villains profile galleries
• Batman Forever theatrical trailer

Limited edition collectable extras

• Limited edition detailed Batman Forever collectors’ packaging outer box
• Limited edition Batman Forever collectors’ steelbook
• Batman Forever green themed cardboard envelope/pouch
• 16-page Batman Forever photo book
• 1 x double-sided Batman Forever movie poster
• 5 x black and white lobby cards
• 5 x colour photo cards
• 3 x character cards

Recommended retail price: £39.99.

A similar assortment of special features and extras on offer here, yet no repetition. The fifth instalment of the Shadows of the Bat documentary is still the continued highlight on this set, as is the director commentary from the late Joel Schumacher.

In terms of the physical extras, they are all pretty good, and my only real gripe is the set includes three character cards, when really there should be five. The cards include Batman, Robin, and Riddler (pictured above), but Two-Face and Dr. Meridian should really be here too.

I presume the lack of character cards for these two is to keep costs down, and put it in line with the three-card format of the Batman Returns set, but come on Warner Bros., there are five major characters in Batman Forever, so there should be five character cards – no excuses! Other than that, the photo book, the outer casing, and the steel book etc are all nice additions, as they are with the previous two sets.

Oh, and for those wondering if this version of Batman Forever contains the oft-discussed Schumacher Cut, which is an extended recut of the movie, I can tell you it doesn’t. To date, Warner Bros. has not released the Schumacher Cut on home video; so to clarify, this is the theatrical cut that is available in previous releases.

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Batman & Robin (1997)

And finally, moving onto film number four, which is 1997’s Batman & Robin. This is the second film from director Joel Schumacher, but this time around George Clooney takes over as Batman.

As for the rest of the cast, Arnold Schwarzenegger is Mr. Freeze, Uma Thurman is Poison Ivy, Jeep Swenson is Bane, Alicia Silverstone is Barbara Wilson/Batgirl, and Chris O’Donnell is back as Robin. For this film, Freeze, Ivy, and Bane join forces, requiring a trio of heroes to take them on.

In the movie, Freeze has plans to bring an endless winter to Gotham City, while Ivy wants to eradicate humanity and give plants a chance to reclaim the Earth. Meanwhile Bane is a lumbering brute who is happy to go along with whatever Freeze and Ivy want, and is fine using his muscle to tackle Batman and Co.

As for the heroes: Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson are at loggerheads over the power dynamic in their partnership, while Barbara Wilson arrives at Wayne Manor to essentially become Batgirl. It will then take the combined might of all three to ensure Gotham is kept out of the Ice Age.

And that’s probably all you need to know in terms of the plot for Batman & Robin, which keeps things simple as the series takes yet another tonal shift, becoming a great deal lighter along the way. Batman & Robin is far removed from Batman and Batman Returns, and is a lot closer in nature to the camp fun of the 1960s Batman television show.

As a result of this significant swing away from the dark days of the past, Batman & Robin was met with a great deal of criticism upon release back in 1997, and for many audiences it is still considered a step too far. However, in recent years the film has received a bit of a reappraisal, and nowadays it does have its own fanbase who fully enjoy the movie.

I won’t go into great depth about my own reappraisal of the film, as I’ve previously talked about it on this blog at some length, but suffice to say while I was once dismissive of Batman & Robin I now enjoy it very much. The film can be a great deal of fun, so long as you approach it with the right mindset.

But enough about the movie, let’s take a look at what is included in this final limited edition set.

Discs

• Batman & Robin (1997) on 4K UltraHD Blu-ray disc
• Batman & Robin (1997) on Blu-ray disc

Disc features

• Commentary by director Joel Schumacher
• Additional scene: Alfred’s Lost Love
• Shadows of the Bat: The Cinematic Saga of the Dark Knight – Part 6 documentary
• Beyond Batman documentary gallery
• 3 music videos
• The Heroes and the Villains profile galleries
• Batman & Robin theatrical trailer

Limited edition collectable extras

• Limited edition detailed Batman & Robin collectors’ packaging outer box
• Limited edition Batman & Robin collectors’ steelbook
• Batman & Robin red themed cardboard envelope/pouch
• 16-page Batman & Robin photo book
• 1 x double-sided Batman & Robin movie poster
• 5 x black and white lobby cards
• 5 x colour photo cards
• 3 x character cards

Recommended retail price: £39.99.

Pretty much what you’d expect at this point, right? And yep, it’s pretty much as good as all of the other sets in terms of special features and extras.

Without sounding like a broken record, the final chapter in the Shadows of the Bat documentary is once again essential viewing, and the director commentary from Schumacher is also worth your time. Even those who don’t enjoy this film will find value in these two special features, as Schumacher addresses the direction of this movie, as well as the subsequent backlash.

In terms of the supplementary material it’s all in-keeping with the three previous sets, so see above for details. Again my gripes are very similar to the what I’ve said before, so there’s not much else to add here.

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So, are they all worth picking up? In my opinion, yes.

There’s much to like in all four of these Bat-films, and certainly much to like in the limited edition sets. If you are a fan of this particular film series, each of these releases gives you pretty much the best collector experience so far.

In terms of rating these sets, I’m reluctant to give them full marks, simply because Warner Bros. could have updated the discs to show fans they aren’t just content with republishing the same material. The studio also could have gone one step further with the supplementary content, by including a soundtrack disc for each film, which would have been a great addition.

However, even though Warner Bros. is being a bit lazy with arguably one of its prized movie collections, there’s no denying the bonus features and the physical items that are on offer here really add something to each of these films. So, if you are looking to upgrade your battered DVD boxset, and you’ve got £40-a-piece for these 4K titles, then these sets are most likely for you.

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Thank you for taking the time to read this review on It’s A Stampede!. For more reviews, check out the recommended reads below.