Batman - The Animated Series, Volume Three (DC Comics Classic Collection) | 
 enlarge | Director: Bruce Timm
Actors: Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill
Studio: Warner Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $44.98
Buy New: $20.00
You Save: $24.98 (56%)
New (53) Used (20) Collectible (1) from $17.84
Rating:  48 reviews
Sales Rank: 8361
Format: Animated, Box Set, Closed-captioned, Color, Dvd-video, Subtitled, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Number Of Items: 4
Running Time: 609
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.6 x 1.1
MPN: D68800D
ISBN: 1419805541
UPC: 012569688001
EAN: 9781419805547
ASIN: B0007XG43W
Theatrical Release Date: September 5, 1992
Release Date: May 24, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: factory sealed
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Product Description
Gotham City crime czars Scarface and Rupert Thorne battle evil masterminds like the Joker and the Penguin for money power and respect. Kidnappings rise as foe-versus-foe attacks become more vindictive. And just when you thought you knew the good guys from the bad the craziest villains try to go straight triggering one dangerous blowout after another. Amidst all the terror one man walks the fine line between vengeance and justice as often as he balances his crimefighting persona and his billionaire playboy public life. This is the Batman series that introduced a new kind of super hero: cool composed uncompromising. Your Batman collection won't be complete without this compilation!Running Time: 609 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: CHILDREN/FAMILY UPC: 012569688001
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| Customer Reviews: Read 43 more reviews...
The End of an Era September 23, 2008
This set contains the final 29 (one more than the package lists!) episodes of the original "Batman: The Animated Series." After these adventures fans would have to wait a whole three years for new capers set in the animated Gotham, and as the reviews for Volume 4 point out some found those episodes lacking.
But we're talking about the episodes on this set, and there is some strong material here. This set introduces several characters that would go on to play huge roles in the animated Batman mythos. We get the two part introduction of Batgirl (which is made all the more effective by the fact that her alter ego Barbara Gordon has already been introduced). We get another two parter that introduces Ras al Ghul, who makes several more appearances on this volume. And we get the introduction of Scarface, who would go on to be featured in many more episodes and is every bit as interesting as Joker, Two-Face, or Catwoman.
This volume also features some of the most emotionally complex storytelling in the series to date, as well as some genuinely dark and disturbing material. The episode "Read My Lips," which introduces the schizophrenic Scarface, climaxes in a twisted scenario that has a character threatening suicide. Poison Ivy's warped idea of a happy little home in "House and Garden" is chilling. And the episode "Baby Doll" introduces one of the creepiest ideas for a villain yet in a child who literally cannot grow up, and the emotional impact of that is played up to its fullest. Yet these episodes are still entirely appropriate for children, because the truly twisted elements are downplayed and will only be fully understood by adults.
There is also a string of stories involving the supposed reforms of various villains. This allows for further exploration of their motives and desires, and continues the series' hallmarks of treating the "bad guys" with as much care and respect as the heroes.
Unfortunately, the set falls just shy of the dizzying heights achieved by Volume Two. Although the episodes here are still better than some of the early clunkers, there a few that fall short of expectations. "A Bullet For Bullock" spends too much time away from our hero, and "The Terrible Trio" is one of the worst episodes of the series. Luckily, these epsidoes are balanced by absolute joys such as "Harlequinade" (featuring the always entertaining Harley Quinn) and "Trial," in which the villains of Arkham Asylum put Batman on trial for "creating" them.
This set is a must for anyone who enjoyed the previous two volumes. The art style is breathtaking, the voice cast is fantastic, and the storytelling is infinitely more mature than your typical "cartoon show."
BONERTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!! September 11, 2008
This product LITERALITY gave me a massive erection. It's that great (or horrible depending on who you talk to)!
The seldom seen, but the best volume of the Dark Knight's Adventures September 2, 2008
This volume shows the true talent of Batman alone, and with Robin, with even some of the banter that takes you back to the 60's live-action series (done so much better!). We get to see what was at the time, some of his "lost,but not forgotten" foes, such as Hugo Strange (that got a more prominent treating on "The Batman"), The Clock King (giving Bruce & Dick a taste of what life is probably like for The Flash!) and the wierd, sad and dangerous Baby Doll (for me, a perfect blend of The Joker(deformity/genetic variant) and Two-Face(multiple personality), even including an "agent" that is more lethal than Harley has ever been , to date!). The highlights of the set is the premiere of Batgirl and the final episode centering on Alfred's past. Add to this, the inclusion of the entirty of the "Gotham Girls" webisodes, and you get the best of the first of the DC Animated Universe series. And the price of this great set is very easy on the wallet, too!
Welcome to Gotham September 2, 2008
This review focuses on Burton's Batman (Batman89, Batman Returns), Nolan's Batman (Batman Begins, the Dark Knight), and 1992 original Batman: The Animated Series. I'm excluding Schumacher's Batman (Batman Forever, Batman and Robin), the 1960's Batman series, and "The Batman", simply because I believe they are the weakest representations.
To be perfectly honest, I love Burton, Nolan, and BTAS equally. All three interpretations are so different, that they cannot be compared. And it is really annoying that I find people on YouTube trying to see which one is better (most opinions are biased). So here it goes with MY opinions:
BATMAN: Michael Keaton, Kevin Conroy, and Christian Bale have given us excellent performances. Conroy (from BTAS) has the perfect voice for Batman, though the physical depiction seems a bit too much. Bale really acts well as Bruce Wayne, but his voice for Batman is too deep and goofy. To me, Keaton is the ultimate "Bruce". He has the awkwardness and the eccentricity of the character, and plus his hoarse voice for the Bat is far superior to Bale's. It's too bad that he doesn't get that much screen time in both of Burton's films.
VILLAINS: Mr. Freeze, Riddler, Clayface, Mad Hatter, Scarface, Killer Croc, Bane, Baby Doll, Penguin, Clock King, Harley Quinn, Professor Milo, Poison Ivy, and Rupert Thorne appear only on BTAS, and they are marvelous in their own right.
The Scarecrow was better portrayed in BTAS (voice by Henry Polic II) than he was in Begins. Cillian Murphy looked too young as Doctor Crane, and the actual villain was much underused in the film. Two-Face had the scariest appearance in TDK; Aaron Eckhardt was flawless. However, Two-Face in BTAS (Richard Moll) had a much better origin. Years of suppressing anger can do that, you know. Ra's al Ghul is much more interesting in BTAS (David Warner); Liam Neeson's performance in BB was just above average as he wasn't very believable to me. The Penguin, one of my favorite Batman villains, has been blessed with both BReturns and BTAS. Danny Devito and Paul Williams have done superb jobs with this antagonist. Same goes with Catwoman: Michelle Pfeiffer had the better dialogue and better catsuit, while Adrienne Barbeau was a better Selina Kyle, and her chemistry with Batman is deeper.
Finally, for the Joker we have Jack Nicholson (B89), Mark Hamill (BTAS), and Heath Ledger (TDK). All three of them are perfect. Nicholson has the best dialogue, Hamill has the best laugh and look, and Ledger has the best sadism. Three different worlds, three different performances. People on YouTube should understand that.
SUPPORTING CHARACTERS: I couldn't see Michael Caine as Alfred, so it's thumbs down from me. Efrem Zimbalist Jr. and Michael Gough are the ideal Alfred's. Aaron Eckhardt is truly a one-of-a-kind Harvey Dent. I Believe in Harvey Dent! Billy Dee Williams was great in B89, also, and he had the tough and virtuous personality, as did Richard Moll in BTAS. Gary Oldman and Bob Hastings are the definitive Commissioner Gordon's; Pat Hingle is the weakest, but certainly not at all terrible. He's just a bit too short. Morgan Freeman is the one and only Lucius Fox; Brock Peters of BTAS had the better persona, but Freeman had the better chemistry with Batman.
GOTHAM CITY: Burton captured the dark and gothic feel of the hellish city perfectly. It looks as if "Hell came sprouting out of the concrete and kept right on growing. You gotta give credit to Anton Furst, the film's art director, for creating this atmospheric universe. Gotham in BTAS also has its advantages. The towering skyline, the dangerous alleys, and the red sky make it all more mesmerizing. Nolan's Gotham looks hellish, too, but it looks too much like Chicago (filming location for both BB and TDK). But other than that, it succeeds in creating a Faustian nightmare.
EVERYTHING ELSE: The gadgets in BTAS were the most realistic, while the Batmobile for B89 was better-looking. Keaton's Batsuit is classic, while Conroy's cape and cowl is ultimately frightening. The heroines (Basinger, Holmes, and Gyllenhaal) are lovely additions, although I wish Basinger would stop screaming throughout B89. And let's not forget the music: let's give it up for Danny Elfman, Shirley Walker, James Newton Howard, and Hans Zimmer. These are the composers who gave us those catchy Batman themes. We will never forget them or their work.
CONCLUSION: Burton's universe, Nolan's universe, and Timm's universe are near ideal. I love them equally, really. I can't wait for the next film.
Superb. December 9, 2007
Buy It.If your reading this then you obviously need some short and sweet advice. Buy It.
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