The Bat

Starring:Price, Moorehead, Lane, Gordon, Edwards, Sutton, Hood
Studio: Alpha Video
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

Dark and ominous, interesting and informative, just the way The Dark Knight should be seen...
one of the best Superhero movies ever.
Batman, as it should be
The Best "Batman" Movie
The mask of Zero

Batman Begins [HD DVD]
Starring: Christian Bale , Katie Holmes , Michael Caine , Liam Neeson , and Morgan Freeman
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: HD DVD

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ASIN: B000E1MTY0
Release Date: 2006-10-10

Amazon.com

Batman Begins discards the previous four films in the series and recasts the Caped Crusader as a fearsome avenging angel. That's good news, because the series, which had gotten off to a rousing start under Tim Burton, had gradually dissolved into self-parody by 1997's Batman & Robin. As the title implies, Batman Begins tells the story anew, when Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) flees Western civilization following the murder of his parents. He is taken in by a mysterious instructor named Ducard (Liam Neeson in another mentor role) and urged to become a ninja in the League of Shadows, but he instead returns to his native Gotham City resolved to end the mob rule that is strangling it. But are there forces even more sinister at hand?

Co-written by the team of David S. Goyer (a veteran comic book writer) and director Christopher Nolan (Memento), Batman Begins is a welcome return to the grim and gritty version of the Dark Knight, owing a great debt to the graphic novels that preceded it. It doesn't have the razzle dazzle, or the mass appeal, of Spider-Man 2 (though the Batmobile is cool), and retelling the origin means it starts slowly, like most "first" superhero movies. But it's certainly the best Bat-film since Burton's original, and one of the best superhero movies of its time. Bale cuts a good figure as Batman, intense and dangerous but with some of the lightheartedness Michael Keaton brought to the character. Michael Caine provides much of the film's humor as the family butler, Alfred, and as the love interest, Katie Holmes (Dawson's Creek) is surprisingly believable in her first adult role. Also featuring Gary Oldman as the young police officer Jim Gordon, Morgan Freeman as a Q-like gadgets expert, and Cillian Murphy as the vile Jonathan Crane. --David Horiuchi

Batman at Amazon.com

All Batman DVDs
Batman Begins 101: A Comic Book Primer
Where Have I Seen Christian Bale?

All Batman Comics and Graphic Novels
Batman Toys
Batman Begins Soundtrack

Stills from Batman Begins (click for larger images)

DVD Features

The first disc is filled out by the theatrical trailer and a Jimmy Fallon-starring Batman Begins spoof from the MTV Movie Awards. The second disc consists of eight featurettes (about 105 minutes total) on a variety of topics. "The Journey Begins" covers the early stages of the movie, including the casting and how director/co-writer Christopher Nolan brought in co-writer David S. Goyer for his comic-book expertise. "Shaping Mind and Body" covers Christian Bale's fight training, and other featurettes discuss the sets (the Batcave is shown being constructed out of wood and sheets), the Batman costume, the Batmobile, the monorail sequence, and the hazards of filming in Iceland. All the behind-the-scenes featurettes are solid but somewhat routine, and while "The Journey Begins" is the widest overview, there's not really any centerpiece documentary (all are 8 to 15 minutes, and there's no Play All option). Interviewees tend to be the same throughout: Nolan, Goyer, Bale (the only cast member to get much face time), and other crew members (it's nice to hear from the stunt people).

Potentially more interesting to fans is "Genesis of the Bat," which covers the comic books that influenced the film, including The Long Halloween, Neal Adams's Ra's Al Ghul from the '70s, Dennis O'Neill and Dick Giordano's The Man Who Falls, and Frank Miller's Batman: Year One and The Dark Knight Returns. Interviewees include DC Comics editor Paul Levitz and artist Jim Lee, but the latter's involvement eventually degrades the featurette into a pitch for DC's All-Star Batman line. A nice bonus to the Deluxe Edition is a mini comic book (DVD case-sized) that has Batman's first appearance (Detective Comics #27), The Man Who Falls, and a 48-page excerpt from The Long Halloween. (Once you get a taste of Halloween, you'll want to pick up the full-length, full-size version.) Filling out the disc are overviews of four gadgets and eight characters, DVD-ROM features, and a variety of poster-art concepts. To get to the features menu, you have to scroll through a multi-page Goyer-scribed comic book, which is a good read, but you can't skip it the next time you want to watch the second disc. Note that the comic book is also viewable in French, and the second disc offers a French menu and French (but not English) subtitles for the featurettes. --David Horiuchi

Description

Batman Begins explores the origins of the Batman legend and the Dark Knight's emergence as a force for good in Gotham. In the wake of his parents' murder, disillusioned industrial heir Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) travels the world seeking the means to fight injustice and turn fear against those who prey on the fearful. He returns to Gotham and unveils his alter-ego: Batman, a masked crusader who uses his strength, intellect and an array of high tech deceptions to fight the sinister forces that threaten the city.

Customer Reviews:

Dark and ominous, interesting and informative, just the way The Dark Knight should be seen..........2007-07-05

One of the biggest surprises in cinema that said year, `Batman Begins' proves to be everything one could ask for in a superhero movie. It's got some breathtaking action scenes, some great fight scenes and some amazing special effects. What takes this film over the edge though, making it far removed from the previous efforts is that the script is tight, the acting is superb and the characters are so well fleshed out that they become three dimensional. We, the audience, feel like we know Bruce Wayne inside and out and we understand where he's coming from. We don't get that feeling from the previous films. Christian Bale does such a brilliant job with his character that I'm tempted to say he was snubbed come awards season. He truly did deserve some recognition for his work here. He took a character that has been played before with no real depth and transformed him into someone we could relate to and cheer for. He did for Batman what Daniel Craig did for James Bond.

The film may start on the slow side of things as has been commented on before. It's a general retelling of The Dark Knights origin so it's bound to be a lot of story telling versus an over abundance of action. The action does come, just not right away. I actually enjoyed watching Wayne's story slowly unfold. It's very interesting to see where he got his start since the concept has not been pursued in any of the Batman films before this one. The film explores the training Wayne undergoes after his parents are murdered and he flees the country. Upon returning some years later to a city overrun by criminals Wayne makes it his personal agenda to rid Gotham City of the waste and filth that permeates the streets. After returning though, and donning the cape, Bruce finds that struggling to keep a firm grasp on his two personas may be his biggest challenge.

Like I mentioned, Bale does a fantastic job with tackling both Bruce Wayne and Batman, two separate characters who both need delicate attention. He's cocky and self-sure, doubtful and reserved, distant and egotistical, responsible and afraid, all of these things and sometimes all at once, and he handles his emotions so effortlessly he completely sinks into his character and becomes the Bat. Another standout performance comes from rising star Cillian Murphy who devours his role as Jonathan Crane or better known as `The Scarecrow'. He's splendidly evil, the type of character that gets right under your skin and festers. He's perfectly cast. Michael Caine is perfectly cast (and I was skeptical) as Alfred, the family butler and Liam Neeson is always good, and as Wayne's mentor Henri Ducard he's especially effective. Katie Holmes is decent, but her role is somewhat thankless, as is Morgan Freeman's but he still delivers. And let's just say that while Ken Wantanabe kicks butt as Ra's Al Ghul he's no where near as awesome as Neeson as the film comes to a close.

So, with all this talk of actors pulling out the stops I need to mention the brilliance that was and is Christopher Nolan who was, I'm sure, very close to Oscar consideration for his direction here. He effortlessly staged this entire film and delivers wonderfully, from his script to his finished product. The set pieces are fantastic, the action scenes are well choreographed and the pace of the film, the editing is all fantastic and close to perfect. The props, everything from gadgets to the new and totally improved Batmobile, are brilliantly modernized and dare I say "oh so cool". The film deserves our attention and will garner repeat viewings. I'm tempted to say it's better than Sam Raimi's `Spider Man' Blockbusters, but that's open to speculation. With a cast this huge, and equally impressive, and a director this in tune with his subject, `Batman Begins' never falters and remains one of the best films of 2005.

one of the best Superhero movies ever........2007-07-05

Batman Begins is one of the best super-hero movies of all time. I'm a fan of superhero movies and I've seen all the Superman, Spiderman, and Batman films. But I'm not a fanatic. I don't read the comics or know about the "true" stories of these characters. I don't care about that. I just want to see a good movie. Batman Begins was a summer blockbuster in 2005 and it actually tried to do something none of the other summer blockbusters ever do. It tried to tell a story.

From the title, you learn this is a story of how Bruce Wayne became Batman. Probably the first hour of the movie is spent developing the character of Bruce Wayne, showing how he suffered after his parents were murdered, how he abandoned the privelege of his birth for a live of crime and self-inflicted punishment. The first part of the movie works in part because of the great cast. Christian Bale as Wayne is incredible. Other greats such as Liam Neeson, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine and a menacing Cilian Murphy make every moment on screen enthralling.

Equally enjoying is the transformation of Wayne into Batman. It is portrayed as realistic as it can considering it is a superhero movie. Wayne uses the recources of Lucious Fox at a secret R&D section of Wayne Enterprises. There, he finds all the tools he'll need as Batman, including an incredible Bat-Mobile.

If you are like me, the George Clooney batman movie kind of soured you on the story of Batman. If so, you must watch this movie. The acting is great, the story is crisp, the action and characters are gritty and real. I can't wait for the upcoming sequel in 2008.

Batman, as it should be.......2007-07-04

This movie did a great job at illustrating the origin of Batman, and portraying him as the Dark Knight.

The movie did a great job of overcoming the campiness of some of the earlier Batman movies.

I hope they produce more Batman movies like this one.

The Best "Batman" Movie.......2007-07-02

Excellent movie depicting how batman became batman. Excellent storyline, you're always thinking what's going to happen next. Great acting. This movie should definitely accelerate Christain Bales career. Good action sequences!

The mask of Zero.......2007-06-28

Apparently, the only path to wisdom and a life packed with acts of kindness is arse freezing and sword and/or kickboxing tricks.
Ridiculous movie designed for brainless pimpled teenagers.
Nauseating philosophy wrapping grandiloquent dialogues.

At least the Rambo suite was honest entertainment.

Average customer rating:

Dark and ominous, interesting and informative, just the way The Dark Knight should be seen...
one of the best Superhero movies ever.
Batman, as it should be
The Best "Batman" Movie
The mask of Zero

Batman Begins (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Christian Bale , Michael Caine , Liam Neeson , Katie Holmes , and Gary Oldman
Director: Christopher Nolan
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Star Wars - Episode III, Revenge of the Sith (Widescreen Edition)
Serenity (Widescreen Edition)
Superman Returns (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Fantastic Four (Widescreen Edition)
War of the Worlds (Widescreen Edition)

ASIN: B00005JNJV
Release Date: 2005-10-18

Product Description

Running Time 140 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

Cowritten by the team of David S. Goyer (a veteran comic book writer) and director Christopher Nolan (Memento), Batman Begins is a welcome return to the grim and gritty version of the Dark Knight, owing a great debt to the graphic novels that preceded it. It doesn't have the razzle dazzle, or the mass appeal, of Spider-Man 2 (though the Batmobile is cool), and retelling the origin means it starts slowly, like most "first" superhero movies. But it's certainly the best Bat-film since Burton's original, and one of the best superhero movies of its time. Bale cuts a good figure as Batman, intense and dangerous but with some of the lightheartedness Michael Keaton brought to the character. Michael Caine provides much of the film's humor as the family butler, Alfred, and as the love interest, Katie Holmes (Dawson's Creek) is surprisingly believable in her first adult role. Also featuring Gary Oldman as the young police officer Jim Gordon, Morgan Freeman as a Q-like gadgets expert, and Cillian Murphy as the vile Jonathan Crane. --David Horiuchi

Batman at Amazon.com

All Batman DVDs
Batman Begins 101: A Comic Book Primer
Where Have I Seen Christian Bale?

All Batman Comics and Graphic Novels
Batman Toys
Batman Begins Soundtrack

Stills from Batman Begins (click for larger images)

Customer Reviews:

Dark and ominous, interesting and informative, just the way The Dark Knight should be seen..........2007-07-05

one of the best Superhero movies ever........2007-07-05

Batman, as it should be.......2007-07-04

The Best "Batman" Movie.......2007-07-02

The mask of Zero.......2007-06-28

Average customer rating:

One Laugh After Another!
You Gotta Love The Outdoors!!!
Great Movie
John Candy movies are classics!!
"Don't you know what those are made out of????"

The Great Outdoors
Starring: Dan Aykroyd , John Candy , Stephanie Faracy , Annette Bening , and Chris Young
Director: Howard Deutch
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 0783227884
Release Date: 1998-07-01

Amazon.com

This hit-and-miss 1988 comedy pairs John Candy and Dan Aykroyd in a story of one family's summer vacation all but ruined by the uninvited appearance of another, more loutish family. Howard Deutch (Some Kind of Wonderful) directs from a half-hearted John Hughes script, which reduces Hughes's jokes-and-epiphanies formula (The Breakfast Club, Home Alone) to true gaudiness. On the other hand, Annette Bening makes her screen debut here. The DVD release has a widescreen presentation, production notes, trailer, optional French soundtrack, and optional Spanish subtitles. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

One Laugh After Another!.......2007-02-07

This film cracks me up! I have watched it numerous times over the years and I still find every scene just as funny as I did the first time I watched it!

Two families come together to make this a great film. John Candy plays the kind, caring family man out to enjoy a family vacation with his wife and two sons at a cabin out in the wilderness in an area he enjoyed staying in as a boy with his family. Dan Aykroyd and his wife and two daughters decide to surprise Candy and his family by joining them on their vacation. Candy's character and Aykroyd's character are brother-in-laws and they are complete polar opposites in every sense of the word. Aykroyd's character is an annoying creep that thinks he's better than the next guy and is always doing the oneupmanship thing whenever he can. Mix Aykroyd's character and that of Candy's character and you have one laugh after another! Sit back, watch and enjoy this film!

You Gotta Love The Outdoors!!!.......2007-01-10

I think this is another one of John Candy's really funny movies!! I can't stop watching it!!!

Great Movie.......2007-01-10

If you like John Candy then you will love this movie - a true Candy Classic.

John Candy movies are classics!!.......2007-01-03

John Candy movies have become classics - I grew up watching him and now I am buying the DVDs so my 2 children can enjoy him, too. He always lit up the screen and made some enjoyable family movies. My 5 year old laughs and laughs at his antics on screen.

"Don't you know what those are made out of????".......2006-11-13

This is by far one of the greatest comedy films of all time, along side classics such as animal house, caddyshack, and the Vacation Series. John Candy and Dan Aykroyd are brother in laws who end up coming together by "chance" at a Cabin in the north woods. Over the vacations time, the families discover new things about each other, strengthen their bonds, oh, and make you laugh until your sides split. This movie has it all, animal talk, overeating, stupid human tricks, "scary stories", action, thrills, and romance. What more could you want in one package. Buy this movie, well worth the price, cause you'll watch it over and over again.

Average customer rating:

One of Mel's best.
Not bad but also not great
Incredibly Funny!
just wow!!
Fantastic Fun

Dracula - Dead and Loving It
Starring: Lysette Anthony , Gregg Binkley , Mark Blankfield , Megan Cavanagh , and Jennifer Crystal
Manufacturer: Castle Rock
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0001ZX0O2
Release Date: 2004-06-29

Amazon.com

In 1995, it was promising to hear that Mel Brooks was creating "the companion piece to Young Frankenstein." He had also brought in the heavyweight of deadpan--Leslie Nielsen. As Lt. Frank Drebin in the Police Squad movies, Nielsen has no peer for silly stuff--just the player Brooks would seem to need for a strong movie, as any fan of Brooks perpetually hopes a new film may rekindle his madcap magic. Alas, the end results in Dracula: Dead and Loving It include a sprinkling of amusements and one big belly laugh. Brooks and his writers use a very tight adaptation of Bram Stoker's novel, but the spoofs can be spelled out as we go, as if they are paint-by-number. Some are jabs at Coppola's version of Dracula, but most are attached to classic Dracula films. If any real pleasure comes from the movie it's thanks to the efforts of the cast. Peter MacNicol plays the crazed Renfield to the letter, Steven Weber has a good time as the tight British Harkin, and Lysette Anthony charms as the doomed Lucy. Brooks and Nielsen ham it up just fine. There's even a surprisingly controlled performance by Harvey Korman (a character spoofing Anthony Hopkins's role in the misfire The Road to Wellville). As with Brooks's period comedies, the film looks better than it needs to and includes a few tricky special effects for good measure. This has nothing to do with the audience laughing--we need bigger jokes. And when you double over laughing in one scene--involving a stake through the heart and a bucket of blood--you want the movie to achieve Brooks's days of glory, when hearty laughter was the norm, not an isolated moment. --Doug Thomas

Description

A comic reinvention of the Bela Lugosi classic about a Transylvanian vampire who works his evil spell on a perplexed group of Londoners. Mel Brooks's Count is a pratfalling evil prince of a guy who believes in long relationships. Brooks portrays vampire hunter Van Helsing, who won't give a bloodsucker an even break.

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary:Commentary by director/co-writer Mel Brooks, co-stars Steven Weber and Amy Yasbeck, and co-writers Rudy De Luca and Steve Haberman
Theatrical Trailer

Customer Reviews:

One of Mel's best........2007-05-20

I first discovered this film when I came across it at the video rental store. I hesitated to rent it for a number of reasons: I had heard nothing of it during it's theatrical release; Mel Brooks had been in a slump for some some time; and it starred Leslie Neilsen, who by that time was known primarily for milking his Frank Drebbin character to death in a number of very lame "comedies". But I rented it anyway and boy, was I glad I did!

The film is a laugh riot from beginning to end. Of course, it helps if you are familiar with the original Dracula story and its' various film incarnations and are attuned to Brooks' comedy style. If you are not up on the latter, just watch it a second or third time to get into the rhythm. Once you've gotten into the flow, you'll find it's a really fun ride.

While Neilsen, Brooks, Weber and Korman are all splendidly amusing, it's Peter McNichol who really steals the show as Renfield. Many people think of Artie Johnson's turn as Renfield in "Love at First Bite" to be the quintessential comedic portrayal of the character, but McNichol is much funnier. I would have given him a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for this one, but unfortunately, he, as well as the film itself, was overlooked by the critics and the Academy. Too bad, as this film deserved better. The critics pretty much savaged this film (and most of Mel Brooks' films after "Young Frankenstein"), but apparently the critics have just forgotten how to laugh and simply be entertained by a movie. You will laugh and be entertained by this movie.

Not bad but also not great.......2007-05-14

This is quite a funny film in some moments, but also a little bit predictable. Its a good laugh if you are looking for a cheap one.

Wouldn't rate it as good as Spaceballs, though worth a watch every so often.

Incredibly Funny!.......2007-05-09

My husband, my sons and I love this movie. It is silly and hilarious. A+

just wow!!.......2007-04-06

I love this movie. I saw it years ago and laughed so hard. I recently thought about and decided to buy my own copy and it was worth it and still as funny as the first time I saw it.

Fantastic Fun.......2007-03-22

I first saw this film many years ago. It was funny then and it still is now. If you've seen Bram Stoker's Dracula, then you need to see this movie. It's a great spoof that makes fun of the movie.

Batman Begins (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Average customer rating:

Not Reinventing the Wheel, But Improving It
Sets a new benchmark for the genre
A great Reboot
The Batman Movie we all wanted to see in the first place!
Does the Special Edition have an Audio Commentary?

Batman Begins (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Starring: Christian Bale , Mark Boone Junior , Richard Brake , Michael Caine , and Morgan Freeman
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000BUYP4Q
Release Date: 2005-10-18

Amazon.com

Batman at Amazon.com

All Batman DVDs
Batman Begins 101: A Comic Book Primer
Where Have I Seen Christian Bale?

All Batman Comics and Graphic Novels
Batman Toys
Batman Begins Soundtrack

Stills from Batman Begins (click for larger images)

DVD Features

Potentially more interesting to fans is "Genesis of the Bat," which covers the comic books that influenced the film, including The Long Halloween, Neal Adams's Ra's Al Ghul from the '70s, Dennis O'Neill and Dick Giordano's The Man Who Falls, and Frank Miller's Batman: Year One and The Dark Knight Returns. Interviewees include DC Comics editor Paul Levitz and artist Jim Lee, but the latter's involvement eventually degrades the featurette into a pitch for DC's All-Star Batman line. Filling out the disc are overviews of four gadgets and eight characters, DVD-ROM features, and a variety of poster-art concepts. To get to the features menu, you have to scroll through a multipage Goyer-scribed comic book, which is a good read, but you can't skip it the next time you want to watch the second disc. Note that the second disc offers a French menu and French (but not English) subtitles for the featurettes. --David Horiuchi

Description

Customer Reviews:

Not Reinventing the Wheel, But Improving It.......2007-04-30

Definitely spend the extra bucks for the 2 disc set This set comes with a really cool bonus disc and a great digest sized comic compiled with some of the great comic book stories that inspired the writers on the film. The bonus features are great, but I'd have liked some of them to be a bit longer--such as the history of Batman featurette. Great documentary on the pre-production and stunts as well as the fight choreography. Unfortunately the only cast member they interview in any depth is Christian Bale (such a shame considering the enormously talented cast this film has) and NO director's commentary or any commentary for that matter. Personally I'd have loved a commentary with the cast and writers.

As for the film: this is most certainly a film about Batman. Who he is, how he came to be, and why he believes what he believes. Basically this film is blissfully nothing like the last two Batman films starring Val Kilmer & George Clooney in the title roles. I loved how the relationship between Gordon & Batman grows over the course of the film and the explanation given for their friendship/partnership is pitch perfect. A very important character to the comic book universe is introduced (Lucius Fox) and Alfred is given new life and a more sardonic sense of humor by actor Michael Caine. I'm not sure why every single Batman flick has him revealing his secret identity to at least one person (a sad tradition started in the first Burton film), but at least here it's much more plausible. The only disappointing aspect of the film is that Batman's detective skills aren't really shown to exist let alone given a chance to shine. Hopefully that's something they'll rectify in the sequel. And hopefully that sequel will be made with the same talented cast and crew. I'd love to see a true Batman onscreen trilogy. It would be wonderful to see Batman start out at one place and have him end in another over the course of 3 films with the same actors in key roles. It seems to be what Raimi is doing with Spider-Man and what Singer almost did with The X-Men. I think the Batman character deserves to be handled with respect and a truly definitive cinematic saga shouldn't be too much for fanboys to hope for. If such a saga is to come, then this film is the perfect place for it to begin.

Sets a new benchmark for the genre.......2007-04-14

Aside from setting a benchmark for other franchises (perhaps most notably 007) to follow, Batman Begins is a remarkably ambitious and mostly successful attempt to bring some real substance to the comic book genre beyond mere mood. It has a sense of the epic to it, as well as an awareness of the escalation of moral quandaries that come with taking the law into your own hands that haven't been seen in a big-budget summer picture since Clear and Present Danger. It's not just a case of a superhero fighting a supervillain either: the various mobsters, evil geniuses and crooked businessmen are all part of a much larger corruption that ensures that even a semblance of moral balance cannot be restored by the end credits as per other superhero flicks. Christopher Nolan even manages to get strong performances from actors who had long ago drifted into ham and volume like Gary Oldman and Rutger Hauer. It also has a few problems, not least the lack of depth in the photography or Nolan's deficiencies as an action director (not Michael Bay bad, but not particularly good either), but they're outweighed by the pluses.

The 2-disc set boasts an impressive array of extras (including numerous Easter Eggs), although the lovingly crafted comicbook art menu pages can get a little annoying to work your way through at times and it's a shame that only the brief teaser trailer has been included.

A great Reboot.......2007-04-12

I'm going to start off with this... as much as a LOVE comic books movies I originally didn't want to see this movie becasue of Katie Holmes, i'm not the biggest fan of her acting, and when i did see this movie she didn't impress me then either, but the rest of the cast is great!.

Batman Begins s a movie made for a home theater system, it has great visuals and an even better plot. Don't worry if you've never read any of the Batman comics, or if god forbid your only experience is with the previous Batman movies, since this is a reboot there is no previous history.

But why should you buy this edition instead of the one disk edition... two words, bonus features! I adore bonus features. The set includes mini documentaries galore, the trailer that helped get us pumped up months before the movie came out, and a mini comic book ( mini in size not length). However this movie is missing one of my favorite DVD features, the commentary, be it from the actors or the director i love watching movies with commentaries.

All that being said, its a good buy, and i don't think you will be dissapointed.

The Batman Movie we all wanted to see in the first place!.......2007-01-25

There were and are a few grumblings from critics here and there but ultimately this film garnered near unanimous applause and a huge sigh of relief. Batman Begins is not perfect by any measure but is easily the best Batman movie ever, not that it had serious competition from it's predecessors. The first thing director Christopher Nolan does is say the hell with the neon colors, the over the top comic book sensibility, the freakshow circuses, let's take Batman back to his roots. Strip him of all the tarnish and the villians and the crazy gadgets. Let's go to the core of who he is. Who is Batman? Who is Bruce Wayne? How did Bruce Wayne become Batman? Everyone knows the answers to these questions but we never saw these questions answered vividly before our very eyes on the cinematic screen before Batman Begins. One of the genius strokes of this movie is the fact that Batman is not even shown onscreen for the first hour of the film! Unbelievable! That had to have Warner Brothers executives biting their fingernails incessantly. Will those pesky teenagers in the audience sit still as the story of Batman is allowed to unfold at an unhurried pace? Apparently those pesky teenagers weren't so dumb after all since the film was quite a hit. Hey, even adults liked this movie, two birds with one stone.

Christian Bale is the best actor to inhabit this character, ever. Some may have their nostalgia for Michael Keaton but Keaton was very low-key and let the freakshow villians dominate his movies with their antics. Christian Bale's Bruce Wayne/Batman is a marked difference from previous actors, he is involving and fascinating as a character. From the tragedy of his past to the glory of his future, the whole path of this character makes perfect dramatic sense. Michael Caine does his job as Alfred, Liam Neeson is an intelligent villian, Cillian Murphy gets a bit on my nerves, but anyhow, the only person who lets the cast down is Katie Holmes. She's just there to be a pretty face and she's not that pretty! Gary Oldman as Gordan is right on the money. Morgan Freeman, Tom Wilkinson and even Rutger Hauer are terrific supporting characters. Ken Watanabe's short appearance is significant too. That's a lot of name actors!

The script and pacing are terrific, however Batman Begins does have it's faults. Let me list them. There seems to be too many characters and plot points as if Nolan wants to ram a far more epic story into the running time. Then there is the question of the action scenes, Nolan's directing of action is still in it's infancy and there is no action set-piece to take your breath away and go, "Wow, that's amazing!". So the action scenes leave something to be desired and the Batmobile looks like [...] to be honest, but it's design makes sense in light of Nolan's more realistic take on the whole Batman mythology. ( The Batmobile still looks very derivative, admit it! ).

Overall, this film was a joy to watch. I saw it on the huge IMAX screen and was very happy to finally be witness to the Batman film we all rightfully deserved. In light of the box-office victory and the critical triumph, this film should not have been called Batman Begins, but instead Batman Redeemed!

Does the Special Edition have an Audio Commentary?.......2007-01-12

Does anyone know if there is an Audio Commentary? (Usually done by the director, writers, actors, etc). I'm looking for the running commentary where the filmmakers talk over the film about the making of it and so on. Post a response if you know. Thanks!

FernGully - The Last Rainforest (Family Fun Edition)

Average customer rating:

Beautiful childrens' movie
Great Movie
Good intentions, disappointing result
Fantastic movie and good DVD
Really good movie

FernGully - The Last Rainforest (Family Fun Edition)
Starring: Tim Curry , Samantha Mathis , Christian Slater , Jonathan Ward , and Robin Williams
Director: Bill Kroyer
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Animation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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Similar Items:

FernGully 2 - The Magical Rescue
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ASIN: B000A9QK78
Release Date: 2005-10-18

Amazon.com

Environmentally friendly animated film with a strong message that doesn't club anyone over the head--but it certainly can't be missed. Zak (voiced by Christian Slater) is a heavy-machine operator whose job is to push over any vegetation in his path. He's shrunken to wee size, however, when Crysta (Samantha Mathis), a fairy of the forest, not only finds him cute but wants him to see the results of his handiwork. They end up battling Hexxus, an evil force imprisoned in a tree, which now wants to destroy all of Ferngully. Robin Williams offers genuine comic relief as a bat named Batty Koda. Agreeable without making much impact, it's a piffle of a film for one that deals with such strong subject matter. --Keith Simanton

Description

Magic and adventure await in FernGully, a spectacular rainforest where a bat named Batty, whose radar has gone haywire, joins together with Crysta, Pips and the Beetle Boys to save their marvelous world from the evil Hexxus. Ignoring the warnings of her friends, Crysta, the curious tree fairy, explores the world beyond FernGully. She discovers Zak, a real live human who is helping demolish the rainforest. Once Zak sees the beauty and magic of FernGully, he vows to save it. But it may be too late. The Diabolical Hexxus is on the loose and intent on destroying all of FernGully. This animated feature rocks with an original score performed by Sheena Easton, Raffi, Tone-Loc and others.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful childrens' movie.......2007-05-13

This is a gorgeous movie about the fairies of the forest and how man's actions have a huge impact on the environment. It has its moments of sadness as well as its moments of laughter and is definitely a classic among the chidren's movies and should be added to every collection! An incredible and effective way to educate the youth of today and a movie that should be seen by generations to come.

Great Movie.......2007-03-11

Wonderful family movie. Cute story with great characters and catchy tunes! Big hit with the kids (of all ages)!

Good intentions, disappointing result.......2007-03-09

It is unfortunate that with such good intentions, this film is hard to watch because of ugly animation and too many clichés! I hoped to find a good film for children, to raise awareness about respecting the environment, and had to force myself to stay until the end of this movie. Hope something better will be made soon: we need this kind of theme, but with quality, beauty, real humor and finesse.

Fantastic movie and good DVD.......2007-01-12

This movie is absolutely beautiful. Between the storyline and artwork it's hard to choose where to start. It's an environmentally conscious movie about the Australian rainforest and the fairies that live there. The animation team took a week long trip to Australia and studied the rainforest. So, there's nothing half-baked about this movie. The bright colors are sure to attract people of all ages and the songs aren't corny. I grew up on this movie and the villian wasn't too scary for me. It just depends on the kid.
If you love animation, the half hour segment From Paper to Tree is a worthwhile watch especially if you loved this movie as much as I did. The 1992 Featurette is only about 6 minutes long and is like a short extension of From Paper to Tree. I didn't see the Still Gallery on the second disc, but I might not have looked hard enough for it. Other than that, the commentary and other extras on the first disc are the only other things on the DVD's worth watching. I would definitely buy this DVD set just for the extras mentioned, but the movie's great as well and deserves to be a part of anyone's collection.

Really good movie.......2007-01-12

I watched this movie when I was a little girl and loved and I still enjoy watching it. It's so much better then the crap on TV these days. I would recommend it to anyone. Robin Williams is a hoot in this, and there are so many good lines.

Average customer rating:

In the jungle you must wait, untill the dice reads 5 or 8
I love this
Unique ...
Wild Story!!!!!
Time to revisit this great classic.

Jumanji (Collector's Series)
Starring: Robin Williams , Jonathan Hyde , Kirsten Dunst , Bradley Pierce , and Bonnie Hunt
Director: Joe Johnston
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000031EGV
Release Date: 2000-01-25

Amazon.com

After the success of Jurassic Park in 1993, the floodgates opened for digital special effects, and Jumanji is nothing if not a showcase for computer-generated creepiness guaranteed to give young children a nightmare or two. Whether that was the filmmakers' intention is up for debate, since this is a PG-rated adventure revolving around a mysterious board game that unleashes a terrifying jungle world upon its players, including gigantic spiders, huge mosquitoes, a stampede of rhinos, elephants, and every other jungle beast you can imagine. Robin Williams plays a man-child who's been trapped in the world of "Jumanji" for 26 years until he's freed by two kids who've discovered the game and released its parade of dangerous horrors. A chaotic and misguided attempt at family entertainment, the movie does offer a few good laughs, and the effects are frequently impressive, if not entirely convincing to the eye. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

In the jungle you must wait, untill the dice reads 5 or 8.......2007-04-22

I saw this movie for the first time when I was like 9 or 10. I was so into it. I went out and bought the game right after seeing it. It all starts out with a little boy "Alen" is having a tough time. He is poicked on at school, does not have any friends and his parents want him to go to a school in which he does not want to go. Then one day he goes to a place where there is a company doing construction. He hears drums playing. He finds a game called Jumanji. He runs home and hides it. Then his parents leave to do something and him and a girl start playing. Things start to happen as they do. Bugs start flying around and bats start flying. The game comes alive. Then the boy rools something and the game bord tells him "in the jungle you must wait until the dice reads 5 or 8. He is sucked into the game. The girl gets so affraid that she runs out of the house with bats chasing her. Like 20 years go by and a lady and her sisters 2 kids (I think it was her sister) move in. The kids find the game and start playing. One of them rolls a 5 or 8 and the man is set free. He has aged as the time has gone by. He ends up playing the game with them to finish it. But he needs to get the girl whom played with him all those years ago to play as well because it is her turn. She screams when he arrives to ask her and he tricks her into playing. They all play the game and alot of crazy exciting things happen. I can not tell you what happens because that would ruin it for you. Buy this movie. It is well written. Has good acting from people such as Robin Willams, Kirsten Dunst, and Bradley Pierce. It will make you laugh and suck you in just like the game did Alen.

I love this.......2007-03-10

I like pretty nearly anything Robin Williams is in, but this was great for the whole family - a perfect vehicle for Williams' brand of slapstick humor.

Unique ..........2007-01-29

... is, I think, the best word for this film. As stated in an earlier review, most films are take-offs on dog-earred, thumb-smudged plots and tend only to restate what has been done before. This is especially true of many of today's productions where the film is an out-and-out remake of the earlier film. Often the title is not even changed.

But this story is different. I can't remember any film which has the same idea -- of a boy finding a board game and playing it with his friend only to unleash dire results.

The tale has been recounted in other reviews, so no need for me to restate it. Let's just say that this is a refreshing breath of air in an industry which has become stale in it's repeatition. Visuals are nice, but one can tell they are computer generated.

Older kids and adults will enjoy the story, I think, though I would be cautious about very young children watching. The movie could easily inspire dark dreams for those under age 8 (or so).

The film flows and has a really nice, unexpected twist at the end. Well worth the build up. I think most who watch the movie will like it. And of course it features Robin Williams.

*** Recommended ***
~P~

Wild Story!!!!!.......2006-12-12

A boy is sucked in to a game, now he and his 3 friends must finish the game. Robin Williams it is one of the greatest!!!!!
This is for all the Family.

Time to revisit this great classic........2006-08-14

Watching Jumanji with kids under the age of 10 will really put this movie into persective for you. I know its Robin Williams and I know its Jumanji, but its good family entertainment, and on that nobody disagrees.

Special effects are a little light by today's standards, but thats really limited to the scenes with the lion and the ubiquitous monkeys, everything else comes off in fairly realistic manner even on a large format digital display. This movie is just great fun, with a terrific twist at the end.

This edition of the DVD has been completely remastered over the original issue, and the quality is in the amazingly clear images and awesome 5.1 audio. A nice "making of" documentary to go along with an FX team commentary and storyboards if you're all that interested in this flick. All in all a high quality release. 5 Skeeters

Dracula (75th Anniversary Edition) (Universal Legacy Series)

Average customer rating:

The first of the classic "universal" monsters...Dracula!
Why Wait For October 31st?
EXCELLENT
A classic
I never drink... wine

Dracula (75th Anniversary Edition) (Universal Legacy Series)
Starring: Bela Lugosi
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

( D ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B000GPIPSS
Release Date: 2006-09-26

Amazon.com essential video

When Universal Pictures picked up the movie rights to a Broadway adaptation of Dracula, they felt secure in handing the property over to the sinister team of actor Lon Chaney and director Tod Browning. But Chaney died of cancer, and Universal hired the Hungarian who had scored a success in the stage play: Béla Lugosi. The resulting film launched both Lugosi's baroque career and the horror-movie cycle of the 1930s. It gets off to an atmospheric start, as we meet Count Dracula in his shadowy castle in Transylvania, superbly captured by the great cinematographer Karl Freund. Eventually Dracula and his blood-sucking devotee (Dwight Frye, in one of the cinema's truly mad performances) meet their match in a vampire-hunter called Van Helsing (Edward Van Sloan). If the later sections of the film are undeniably stage bound and a tad creaky, Dracula nevertheless casts a spell, thanks to Lugosi's creepily lugubrious manner and the eerie silences of Browning's directing style. (After a mood-enhancing snippet of Swan Lake under the opening titles, there is no music in the film.) Frankenstein, which was released a few months later, confirmed the horror craze, and Universal has been making money (and countless spin-off projects) from its twin titans of terror ever since. Certainly the role left a lasting impression on the increasingly addled and drug-addicted Lugosi, who was never quite able to distance himself from the part that made him a star. He was buried, at his request, in his black vampire cape. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

The first of the classic "universal" monsters...Dracula!.......2007-06-30

What else can be said about this classic tale of the macabre. Bela lugosi set the standard for all vampires to this very day. The movie is a masterpiece of cinema. This latest release has about the sharpest, cleanest print ever seen. There is now detail in the film that probably has not been seen since it's original theatrical run, over 75 years ago! There are some places with grain and some film wear, but considering it is 75 years old, it holds up well. The sound, however stated as "re-mastered" is distorted and has hiss that i'm sure could have been eliminated with today's modern electronics. The only print to have proper sound is the Original DVD release. Even the Legacy collection has the distorted sound, which i own also, and hoped it would have been fixed in this release. The supplimental material is great and enjoyable. The Philip Glass score has always annoyed the heck out of me and should have been erased long ago! It is the errie silence that makes this film scary. All in all, a great addition to any monster fan's libray. Dracula is the original monster, in all his glory and Bela lugosi, who was a very underrated actor, is marvelous and an icon the world over. A historical note: Bela only played Count Dracula twice, once in this film of course, and 17 years later in "Abbott & Costello meet Frankenstein"! It's amazing how a single performance in a film would secure him such a place in history. Just watch his facial expressions and body movements, truly spectacular, something no CGI could ever duplicate today! So, Curl up on a stormy halloween night and go back to a time when blood and gore was left to the imagination.. That's what made it so scary...and timeless. Universal set the stage for all monsters then and now. Oh, and don't forget to pick up Frankenstein too!

Why Wait For October 31st?.......2007-04-07

I'm not sure what was more enjoyable...watching this classic tale in black & white or watching my son get spooked without the blood and gore found in the horror films of today. A must have for horror film collectors or anyone that appreciates Bela Lugosi's contributions to the genre.

EXCELLENT.......2007-03-20

THIS IS CLASSIC HORROR WITH OUT THE BLOOD AND GUTS , THIS IS WHAT STARTED THE HORROR GENRE , BELA LUGOSI IS THE ORIGINAL DRACULA.

A classic.......2007-03-09

Got my kids to actually sit down and watch it with me. Teenagers! When we did research on the history and background of the film and actors they enjoyed the movie so much more. They said it helped put them in the mindset of the 1940's movie goer and felt the sheer terror they felt watching Dracula come to life.

I never drink... wine.......2007-03-09

Bram Stoker's vampire novel has been remade dozens of times, but perhaps the best adaptation is the classic Bela Lugosi version. Fairly faithful to the novel and dripping with gothic atmosphere, what really makes "Dracula" stand out is the bone-chillingly charming performance by Lugosi.

A solicitor, Renfield (Dwight Frye), is travelling to Count Dracula's castle for a real estate deal, despite the locals freaking out and crossing themselves whenever Dracula's mentioned. He soon finds out why -- the Count (Lugosi) is a vampire, who enslaves a mad Renfield to his will. Soon after, a ship with a dead crew (and Renfield and Dracula in the hold) arrives in England.

Soon Dracula has moved into his new home, Carfax Abbey, and is insinuating himself with the Seward family -- and especially with pretty Lucy Westenra, who dies

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