Batman vs. Two-Face (2017)

Details: By Loron Hays; 17 October 2017

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Batman vs. Two-face (2017) - Blu-ray Review

**Warner Bros. Home Entertainment provided me with a free copy of this Blu-ray I reviewed in this Blog Post. The opinions I share are my own.**

The Dynamic Duo return to sweep the filth from off the streets of Gotham City this week on Blu-ray and, thanks to Warner Bros Animation, their latest animated adventure is destined to become a Warner Bros-released classic. It certainly is one of the more exciting entertainment ventures happening in the DC world of superheroes. Batman vs. Two-Face is THAT interesting.

Now, to be clear, the Batman I am referencing here is not Ben Affleck’s take on the nubbed-ear version of Batman; nor am I referencing Chris O’Donnell’s sad turn at the Boy Blunder. I am talking about the original television incarnation of our beloved Bat-dancing team of Batman (the late Adam West) and (Burt Ward). Recorded before the passing of Mr. West, the two actors lend their voices to the world of Batman for this release and it is glorious.

This animated tale, rendered via computer and directed by Rick Morales, brings back the day-glow and ultra-hip swinging world of Gotham City, complete with the always-entertaining batclimb up and down the sides of buildings. This 70-minute movie hearkens us back to basics; it is a time in our television history when Batman was very dry and very witty. And Robin, as Bruce Wayne’s ward, was all kitsch and camp as he spoke his lines with great zeal and an unmatched eagerness of a very happy sidekick.

Joined by Julie Newmar as Catwoman (who originally played (of three actresses!!!) the character in the series) and William Shatner as Harvey Dent/Two-Face, this new film is set firmly in the established world of the live-action television show from the 1960s. And it is amazing to watch the series come to life once again as, thanks to the dastardly invention of the Evil extractor by one Hugo Strange, Two-Face is at it gain, turning Gotham City into his playground.

Fans of the original series will note that the character of Two-Face never once made an appearance in the original two-year run of the show. It was always rumored to be in the works for Clint Eastwood to take on the role of Harvey Dent but that never came to fruition. Maybe that was always just a rumor, too. But now, with Eastwood no longer a contender in the world of animation, the job of bringing Two-Face to the television world of 1966’s Batman rests squarely on the capable shoulders of Shatner. And, being no stranger to animation, he does so with aplomb.

That’s right, in Batman vs. Two-Face, our caped crusaders are back to doing what they do best. And it is certainly a joy to behold. For those of you in the know, this film is a direct sequel to last year’s smash, Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders and features the voice talents of Jeff Bergman as The Joker and The Bookworm, Thomas Lennon as Chief O'Hara, William Salyers as The Penguin, Lynne Marie Stewart as Aunt Harriet, Jim Ward as Commissioner Gordon and Hugo Strange, Steven Weber as Alfred Pennyworth, and Wally Wingert as The Riddler and as King Tut.

Perhaps West said it best, “The true crimefighter always carries everything he needs in his utility belt.” Batfans, you are going to want to carry this release in yours. And, with its touching dedication to Mr. West, you might even tear up a bit. He is a personality – forever immortalized by Batman – that will be missed for decades to come.

It’s not dark. It’s not demented. It’s not even foreboding. With West and Ward back at the helm, this release is a lot of endless fun. Batman vs, Two-Face is the best sendoff into the great wide open imaginable.

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MPAA Rating: PG for action, some mild language and suggestive content.
Runtime: 72 mins
Director: Rick Morales
Writer: Michael Jelenic, James Tucker
Cast: Adam West, Burt Ward, William Shatner
Genre: Animation | Action
Tagline: Everyone must face their demons.
Memorable Movie Quote: "It's a double-cross. All signs pointing to... Two-Face."
Distributor: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
Official Site: http://www.dccomics.com/
Release Date:
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: October 17, 2017
Synopsis: Warner Bros. Animation and DC Entertainment bring together two of pop culture’s all-time heroes to voice the title characters in the full-length, animated feature film, Batman vs. Two-Face. Captain Kirk himself, William Shatner, voices the villainous Two-Face while Adam West reprises his role as Batman one final time in this movie set within the universe of the classic show.

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Batman vs. Two-face (2017) - Blu-ray Review

Blu-ray Details:

Home Video Distributor: Warner Bros Home Entertainment
Available on Blu-ray - October 17, 2017
Screen Formats: 1.78:1
Subtitles: English SDH
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1; French: Dolby Digital 5.1; Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
Discs: Blu-ray Disc; Two-disc set; UV digital copy; Digital copy; DVD copy
Region Encoding: Locked to Region A

Warner Bros Animation presents Batman vs. Two-Face with a fine-looking transfer. It is so slick, in fact, that some of the animation – especially when the classic Batmobile storms through the Batcave – looks remarkably clean. The aesthetics of the new movie are served well with this release. Colors are bold and unwavering. Black levels are strong throughout and the look of the television series is preserved. The 1080p/VC-1 release dials up the detailed resolution and provides viewers with a very clean look at the computer animation used in bringing the film to life. The transfer is presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1 and includes a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 mix of the soundtrack.

Supplements:

Commentary:

None

Special Features:

With this release, we get the inside scoop on Burt Ward with looks at his life beyond Batman and what he’s been doing for the health and welfare of dogs. We also get a nice tribute to Adam West from Comic-Con this past year and a look at Newmar and Ward discussing their careers. The release comes slipcovered with a digital download and a DVD copy of the movie included.