“Batman: The Motion Picture Anthology 1989-1997” Debuts On Blu-Ray™ Hi-Def March 10 From Warner Home Video
(February 24, 2009 – Burbank, CA) – Batman is back sharper than ever on March 10 when Warner Home Video releases “Batman: The Motion Picture Anthology 1989-1997” in Blu-ray™ Hi-Def. The first four Warner Bros. Batman films, which grossed more than $1 billion worldwide, started the film franchise 20 years ago on its road to becoming a global phenomenon and ultimately one of the top ten most successful film franchises in motion picture history. “Batman: The Motion Picture Anthology 1989-1997” features more than 18 hours of bonus content including documentaries from directors Tim Burton and Joel Schumacher, deleted scenes and music videos. In addition there will be a digital copy of “Batman: The Movie” which allows consumers a single non-transferable download of the full-length film to their iPod or PC. Available as a collection only, “Batman: The Motion Picture Anthology 1989-1997 Blu-ray™ Hi-Def” will sell for $129.95 SRP. “Batman: The Motion Picture Anthology 1989-1997” is currently available in DVD for $79.92 SRP. About the Batman FilmsIn 1989, director Tim Burton (“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”) introduced a new cinematic version of one of the most complex and intriguing characters in popular culture. With his modern film vision of Batman, Burton cast off the 1960s camp depiction of the Dark Knight and launched one of the most successful comic book film series ever. Starring Michael Keaton as Batman and Academy Award®-winner Jack Nicholson as The Joker, “Batman” was the top grossing movie of 1989 with a box-office total of more than $250 million. Burton and Keaton returned for the second installment, “Batman Returns,” joined by co-stars Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman and Danny DeVito as The Penguin. In 1995, Burton passed the reins to Joel Schumacher (“The Number 23,” “The Phantom of the Opera”) who injected the franchise with his unique style and included even more star power and action. Schumacher’s “Batman Forever” and “Batman & Robin” features Val Kilmer and George Clooney, respectively, as the Caped Crusader and included all-star casts with Jim Carrey, Nicole Kidman, Drew Barrymore, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tommy Lee Jones and Uma Thurman. “Batman” (1989) Tim Burton’s direction and Michael Keaton’s performance combine perfectly in this first film to capture the sinister atmosphere of Gotham City and the brooding nature of Batman. Jack Nicholson almost steals the movie as the maniacal villain, The Joker and Kim Basinger is Vicki Vale, the beautiful and resourceful photojournalist desired by both men. Featuring songs by Prince and a score by Danny Elfman, “Batman” won the 1990 Oscar® for Best Art Direction/Set Decoration. Special Features: Behind the Story • Commentary by director Tim Burton • On the set with Bob Kane• “Legends of the Dark Knight: The History of Batman” – The Batman Comic Book Saga as reinvented and reinterpreted over nearly seven decades• “Shadows of the Bat: The Cinematic Saga of the Dark Knight Parts 1-3”:
• “Shadows of the Bat: The Cinematic Saga of the Dark Knight Part 6: Batman Unbound” - Cast and crew discuss the casting, controversies, and fan anticipation and reaction to the fourth installment of the Batman Franchise
• “Beyond Batman” Documentary Gallery
• “Look into My Eyes” by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
• “Gotham City” by R. Kelly
• “Foolish Games” by Jewel BATMAN and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC Comics. With operations in 90 international territories Warner Home Video, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, commands the largest distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace. Warner Home Video's film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Home Video and New Line Home Entertainment. About DC Comics DC Comics, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world and home to such iconic characters as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the Sandman. These DC Super Heroes and others have starred in comic books, movies, television series (both animated and live-action) and cyberspace, thrilling audiences of all ages for generations. DC Comics’ Web site is located at www.dccomics.com. BATMAN and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC Comics.# # #
- “The Road to Gotham” “The Gathering Storm” “The Legend Reborn”
- “Visualizing Gotham: The production design of Batman” “Building the Batmobile” “Those Wonderful Toys: The Props and Gadgets of Batman” “Designing the Bat-Suit” “From Jack to The Joker” “Nocturnal Overtures: The Music of Batman”
- “Batdance” “Partyman” “Scandalous”
- BatmanVicki ValeAlexander KnoxCommissioner GordonHarvey Dent
- The JokerBob The Goon
- BatmanAlfred
- The PenguinCatwomanMax Shreck
- “Gotham City Revisited: The Production Design of Batman Returns”“Sleek, Sexy and Sinister: The Costumes of Batman Returns” “Making-up The Penguin” “Assembling the Arctic Army” “Bats, Mattes and Dark Nights: The Visual Effects of Batman” “Inside the Elfman Studio: The Music of Batman Returns”
- “Face to Face” Music Video by Souixsie and the Banshees
- Theatrical trailer
- Out of the Shadows: The production design of “Batman Forever” - Barbara Ling explains how each location in famed Gotham City was modernized and customized to each character
- BatmanRobinDr. Chase Meridian
- The RiddlerTwo-Face
• “Shadows of the Bat: The Cinematic Saga of the Dark Knight Part 6: Batman Unbound” - Cast and crew discuss the casting, controversies, and fan anticipation and reaction to the fourth installment of the Batman Franchise
• “Beyond Batman” Documentary Gallery
- “Bigger, Bolder, Brighter: The production design of Batman and Robin” - Take a look behind the scenes of the biggest character environments and the unique new inventions
“Maximum Overdrive: The Vehicles of Batman and Robin” - Highlights on the redesign of the Batmobile, Robin’s motorcycle, and the Mr. Freeze machine
“Dressed to Thrill: The Costumes of Batman and Robin” - The design and manufacturing of the hot and heavy, and certain anatomically correct costumes is discussed by the costume crew
“Frozen Freaks and Femme Fatales: The Makeup of Batman and Robin” - Check out all of the details that go into the special effects make-up and hair as the crew transforms the actors into their characters
“Freeze Frame: The Visual Effects of Batman and Robin” - With more technology available than previously seen in Batman movies, filmmakers pushed the envelope in using visual effects
• “Look into My Eyes” by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
• “Gotham City” by R. Kelly
• “Foolish Games” by Jewel BATMAN and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC Comics. With operations in 90 international territories Warner Home Video, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, commands the largest distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace. Warner Home Video's film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Home Video and New Line Home Entertainment. About DC Comics DC Comics, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world and home to such iconic characters as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the Sandman. These DC Super Heroes and others have starred in comic books, movies, television series (both animated and live-action) and cyberspace, thrilling audiences of all ages for generations. DC Comics’ Web site is located at www.dccomics.com. BATMAN and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © DC Comics.