Rating:  -
Just rented the second BTAS volume which claims to include the Two-Face intro - as far as I could find, there is no Two-Face intro on this DVD, although it appears like WB DVD originally had that in mind. Two-Face is used in the menu images, he's in the "name the villain" game (along with Rupert Thorne, who also does not appear in any episodes) and, in one intro, Bruce Timm mentions the episode as the series turning point. But, as for the actual Two-Face episode, I could not find it - unless it's a very well hidden easter egg; in fact, thinking that the WB might be very clever, I "flipped" over the DVD, and tried to play it upside down (keeping with the Two-Face coin theme), but alas, nothing was encoded on the reverse either. So my final take is - the episode was originally supposed to be here, but at some point was pulled from the disk.
This is sad, because other than a Two-Face intro, there is really nothing here for anyone. Kids won't like it, as two of these episodes barely even feature Batman (POV and The Forgotten), and the other two are actually kinda scary for kids, as it places them in danger (Underdwellers and Make Em Laugh). The bonus features are amazing in their lack of entertainment value - the "interactive game" segment, who is that for, WB? Even Bruce Timm, in his five second intros, has a hard time mustering much enthusiasm for this set.
WB DVD, let me give you a list of at least four people (all of whom who have worked for you) who might help you point this property in the right direction: Chip Kidd (he designed the BTAS book), Kevin Smith (he named his daughter Harley Quinn, and directed Clerks); Ruth Clampett (she handled the animation art for the Warner Bros. Studio Stores); and Garson Foos (your Rhino division knows how to create for fans AND kids).
Rating:  -
First of all, I want to say that "Batman: The Animated Series" is one of the finest animated shows ever produced for American television. It has a coherency and, above all, a consistency that even much higher profile prime time drama shows frequently lack. One of the things that contributes to this consistency is the fact that characters introduced in earlier episodes often return in later episodes - not just main characters, but villians and side-characters frequently reappear as well.
Putting the episodes out-of-order would ruin one of the best things about the series, the continuing development of the characters as the show progresses. For example, viewers are introduced to Harvey Dent, D.A. in the episode "Pretty Poison" as Poison Ivy's date. Later, Harvey returns to become a well-known villian from the Batman universe. This kind of attention to detail and set up makes the show a lot of fun to watch in order, but would be completely lost if the episodes were not made available *in the order they were produced*.
Additionally, I was rather surprised that so many people disliked the episodes on this DVD. "The Underdwellers", if a bit melodramatic in narrative, shows Bruce Wayne's compassionate side (in both the care he takes of the boy and his anger at one of the least sympathetic villians in the entire Batman series). "The Forgotten" is another episode that shows that Batman is more than your average muscle-bound superhero; he's also a detective, who dons a disguise in an almost Sherlock Holmes-esque manner in order to solve the mystery. My favorite of this disc, though, is P.O.V. - a character study that introduces Officer Montoya (who will re-appear later in the series).
All that being said, I would also like to state that I agree with most of the other reviewers that there's nothing I'd like better than to see a couple of nice, full-featured, well-packaged box sets of this series. I would buy them in a heart beat. I also agree with the fact that a flimsy cardboard DVD package is extremely cheap and not at all what this excellent show deserves. Please, take heed and bring out better discs with better packaging - but keep the order the same!
Rating:  -
OK, so it's not what I envisioned either (box sets, anyone?). But it's here, and that's nothing to shake a stick at. And they're coming out with the next DVD in July, so they're at least trying to speed things up a bit. Apparently they had to limit the episodes to 4 because the two-part Two-Face episodes come next, and 6 would be too many eps for one DVD. I would give this DVD 5 stars, but the first ep really isn't too good, and the Bruce Timm intros could be a lot longer. Peace out, bat-fans.
Rating: -
These reviews are starting to sound like a broken record, but perhaps if enough people read them and stay away from these DVD releases, Warner Bros. will figure out that they can make more money by making the fans happy.
Fox can put entire Simpsons, Futurama, and The Family Guy seasons on DVD. Paramount has no problem producing and selling Star Trek: Next Gen and DS9 season sets that retail for $100. So what is up with Warner Bros. and one of their hottest properties? THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR NOT RELEASING THE ANIMATED BATMAN SERIES IN VOLUMES OF THEIR RESPECTIVE SEASONS!!!
I might have overlooked this decision if Warner released a "Best of" DVD or DVD's devoted to single characters (all the Joker episodes, all the Two-Face episodes, etc.). But instead, we get disks like this one--containing a mere 4 episodes (none of them particularly good) and limited special features. As a fan of the series, I KNOW that there are a lot of reference materials available--just look at the excellent Batman Animated book! This disk has a brief featurette on the voice acting that contains comments from only a single actor(Kevin Conroy).
To top it all off, the disk comes in the paper DVD case that I despise (even AOL sometimes sends out free disks in plastic DVD cases!) with cover artwork that pales in comparison to the actual animation. Bruce Timm, where are you?
Please save your money by not buying this disk! Maybe Warner Bros. can forget these last two disks ever happened and start over from scratch before it's too late...
Rating: -
I recommend that you all follow my example and just download episodes of Batman: TAS online. If Warners is going to screw the hardcore fans over like this, they deserve to have their product illegally appropriated, until such time as they see fit to make it available legally. I have 41 episodes already in addition to the five from the last DVD. It's either that or wait until I'm too old and blind to even see the freaking television before I can get the whole series the way Warners is doing it, the rat bastards.
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