Product Description

The aging Bruce Wayne has hung up the cape of the once invincible Batman and the reign of Dark Knight seems to be coming to an end. When a brave, young high school kid named Terry McGinnis stumbles onto the secret of Batman's true identity, a new alliance is forged. And an awesome new hero is born.
Genre: Feature Film Family
Rating: NR
Release Date: 2-MAR-2004
Media Type: DVD

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #25394 in DVD
• Brand: BATMAN BEYOND
• Released on: 1999-12-21
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, Dubbed, DVD, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
• Original language: English, French
• Subtitled in: English, French
• Dubbed in: French
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds
• Running time: 132 minutes

Amazon.com
It's difficult to imagine the people of Gotham City walking the streets without their Dark Knight to protect them. But in this animated Batman tale set in the not-too-distant future, Bruce Wayne (a.k.a. Batman) decides to call it quits and retire the Bat-suit. After Wayne retreats to his mansion to live the life of a hermit, Gotham is soon overrun by criminals and gangs with such catchy names as the Jokerz. In this hive of villainy lives a young man by the name of Terry McGinnis. Like Wayne, his father had been killed, leaving him traumatized and seeking revenge (all comparisons though, should end there). As luck would have it, he stumbles across the Wayne mansion and eventually the Batcave. Now an old dusty relic, the once proud Batcave lies dormant like a wax museum, displaying trophies of Batman's career. Among these artifacts is the latest-model augmented Bat-suit, boasting flying capabilities and enough power to make Superman look like a wimp. Naturally the exuberant Terry takes the suit and embarks upon a mission of revenge against the duplicitous antagonists responsible for his father's death.

This is by no means a run-of-the-mill take on the Dark Knight. Like Warner's Emmy Award-winning cartoon of Batman in the present day, the story and action is tight and well thought out. From the opening credits (which are eerily reminiscent of David Fincher's unsettling opening shots in Seven), you enter a world in need of a hero. Unlike the later live-action movies, Batman Beyond will strike a chord with fans of the DC comic. This world of Gotham is darker, edgier, and filled with detestable bad guys. No more puns, no more chumming up to the police, and no more letting up on the violence. This is a Batman for the future and one that will have you rooting every time he inflicts his dark sense of justice upon a wrongdoer. (Ages 11 and older) --Jeremy Storey

Customer Reviews

Batman Beyond DVD goes BEYOND expectations
This is something of a rarity. Not only do you get the first two episodes of Batman Beyond, or 'the Movie' as they call it, but you get four more episodes as well. This, is just speaking on the value vs. the VHS version. The VHS version gives you 'The Movie' and that's it. The DVD gives you tons more value, and it has a french language track for those of you who's Primary language is French. Oui? Now. On to the story. Batman Beyond as a whole is a wonderful departure but continuation of the legacy of Batman. We get to see Bruce Wayne, not as the hero, but as a mentor for a new Batman. Set in the future of Gotham City, Bruce Wayne has long since hung up his cowl (although the opening scene has him as Batman but I don't wish to spoil it) and has sit by and watched his own company become corrupt. There are some nice references to the original Animated Series and it ties in beautifully. If you're an Animated Series fan, I HIGHLY recommend this great value on DVD. If you don't have a DVD player, get one instead of buying the VHS version.

Too Bad It's Considered A "Kiddie Flick"
It is truly unfortunate that the animated film is considered "fodder" for children in this country. In Europe and Japan animation is given the respect that it so richly deserves. The writers and artists struggle long and hard to produce quality stories and they are entitled to some recognition.

The genre is no better served than in this latest in the continuing saga of one Bruce Wayne, AKA Batman. To place the character as an elderly man who finds a worthy successor in the form of student Terry McGinnis was truly genius at work.

The film has its share of violence that is essential to plot development. Persons who feel that the violence is inappropriate for children need to know that this is not a film designed solely for small fry. It is a movie for anyone who has ever thumbed through the pages of the comic book or sat in the theater watching the exploits of "THE DARK KNIGHT."

As was in the case of the other Batman series, Kevin Conroy provides the voice of the mature Bruce Wayne; Will Friedle provides the right vocal balance between student and "superhero."

Rumor has it that the "Batman Beyond - Return of the Joker" is being edited to "tone down the violent content." If this is true, then one might want to buy "Batman Beyond - The Movie" before it is recalled and receives a hatchet job.

Don't buy if you want/own season 1
Great DVD! Starts off the Batman Beyond series. The stories are interesting and though the style animation is not exactly new, but has the new and unique intersting twist of being staged in the future. They have done a great job with it.

ONE WARNING!!! If you want season one do not buy this! There are 13 episodes on season one and this DVD has 6 of them! This would get 5 stars if you were not able to get all of them on the season one DVD. I felt just a little ripped off.