The Blu Room: Batman…the Musical? {#3}

Blu-ray Reviews, Features, Film, Reviews, Top Story

I have it on good authority that the suits at Warner Bros. have commissioned a Batman musical for Broadway. Not wanting to wait until 2011 for a sequel to grace theaters the world over, the musical will incorporate songs by rock legends the Rolling Stones and ZZ Top. Set just after The Dark Knight, the theme of the Batman will be “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”: used to describe Batman as an outcast, in a city that would rather vilify him than embrace. As the mega-billionaire Bruce Wayne, his theme will be Top’s “Sharp Dressed Man.” In addition to these tracks, a few new originals will be recorded. Working titles include: “Sympathy for the Bat” and “Stop Looking at My Scars.”

Okay, I lied.

But I needed to come up with a clever way to introduce my takes of a quartet of Blu-ray releases. Let’s begin.

Fox Home Entertainment / 1966 / 105 Minutes / Unrated
Street Date: July 01, 2008
(Buy it at Amazon)

To discuss Batman: The Movie all you need to do is call it what it is: camp. Not summer camp or anything cutesy like that, but camp as in “not to be taken seriously.” Having grown up watching the reruns of the ’60s television series on Nick-at-Nite, I knew what I was getting. Hammy overacting, bad special effects, where-do-they-come-up-with-these-costumes costumes, and unforgettable special gadgets like shark repellent Batspray. This movie was originally planned as the pilot episode of the series but would be released in theaters between the first and second season. With a bigger budget, all the major players are here – except for Julie Newmar as Catwoman. The villains have an over-the-top charm about them. Frank Gorshin acting like an excited little kid as the Riddler, Burgess Meredith as the croaky Penguin and Cesar Romero as the Joker (gotta love the dark mustache covered with white face paint). And while Adam West is the star as Batman (now residing on the TV tube as the mayor of Quahog on Family Guy), it is his boy wonder, Robin (Burt Ward), who takes the cake as the supreme king of camp when trying to solve a few clever riddles. Let’s just say plausible logic is not one of his strong points.

Batman: [reading a riddle] What has yellow skin and writes?
Robin: A ball-point banana!

Honestly, Robin, “a ball-point banana”? Stop it right there. Jeez Louise. Lock him in the trunk of the Batmobile or something. I don’t know who’s dumber: Robin for saying it or Batman for believing it.

(Still grating my teeth while thinking of Robin’s ineptitude) The Blu-ray release has a stellar video transfer. The 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encode of this vintage camp classic is as slick as they come. Very above average job by Fox – unlike the effort that went into restoring Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. On the audio front the surround sound is ehh…but considering this is a forty-year-old film that’s to be expected. Still, the BD has a new DTS-HD Lossless Master Audio 5.1 Surround track so it’s got that going for it.

“Holy Special Edition, Batman!” This release has quite a number of extras to keep you entertained well after the shark repellent wears off. From the looks of it, all features from the original DVD release have been ported over to the BD. Starting things off are two audio commentaries. Unless you are a Batman aficionado and wear a utility belt to bed, you probably won’t bother with the screenwriter track by Lorzeno Semple, Jr. Stick with the first track and hear the amusing, if not dynamic, duo of Adam West and Burt Ward. Fans of motion picture soundtracks will get a kick of listening to an isolated score in DTA-HD MA.

Also included is the 2001 featurette created for the film’s 25th anniversary, a trivia track, a video tour of the Batmobile, still galleries, and theatrical trailers. (The video tour, still galleries and the theatrical trailers are all presented in HD.)

Exclusive content created for this release includes a nice, 28-minute overview about Batman’s legacy in comics and the original TV series. Definitely one of the highlights of Blu-ray – way to go Fox! Making good use of archival footage shot during all areas of the original production are features on the rogue’s gallery (aka “Gotham City’s Most Wanted”) and the costumes from the movie (“Caped Crusaders: A Heroes Tribute”). And for those looking for some interactivity, there’s an interactive map feature that when activated during the movie brings up factoids and various info about the movie (characters, vehicles, et al.)

A quality release for a campy movie, overall. Batman brethren will love it. (It’ll put a smile on your face.)

Warner Home Entertainment / 2004 / 134 Minutes / Rated PG-13
Street Date: July 08, 2008
(Buy it at Amazon)

If Batman: The Movie is camp, then Batman Begins falls into the serious comic book film category. I could easily go on a tangent and mockingly question “why so serious?” but that would be way too easy. For Begins it was director Christopher Nolan’s intent to place the caped crusader in a real-world environment. A metropolis that could mirror any number of big cities in the United States – Nolan settled on Chicago for exterior shots. As the fifth Batman movie produced at Warner Bros. there’s no question that it’s better than its predecessors. It’s so good that it feels like Nolan literally took a toothbrush and brushed away the bad taste that was left in our mouths after director Joel Schumacher flushed the dark knight (and his foul-smelling nipple-enhanced Batsuit) down the commode. The film is elevated by how he treats the story. While there is some bits humor, for the most part everything’s played straight. Christian Bale dons the black rubber suit and is admirable in the role, putting a majority of Batman diehards at ease. And what a supporting cast. You know something special is going on when the lower rung of the play card includes esteemed actors and Oscar nominees (Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, and Gary Oldman). Their roles may be small, but they are integral to this realistic portrayal of the Batman.

The toughest sell about Batman Begins is probably its rogue’s gallery. The villains Nolan and co-screenwriter David S. Goyer picked are two that may be alien to those who only know Batman from the movies. Cillian Murphy is the creepy Scarecrow and Liam Neeson sure does relish his bad-guy persona. Seeing Neeson up against Bale, well, it makes for an interesting we-can-only-dream Batman vs. Darkman scenario. (Just like The Prestige was all about Batman vs. Wolverine.)

Sizing up the bells and whistles of this BD package, we get a 2.40:1 widescreen image and 1080p/VC-1 video. Sharing an identical encode with the HD DVD release, the picture is immaculate. Black is of course the most dominant color in the film and remains solid throughout. The main audio is the English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround track. The quality of the audio is demo material if you have the home theater setup for it. Scenes worthy of cueing up and impressing friends include the Batmobile chase and the destruction of Gotham’s elevated train.

Inspecting the back of the BD keepcase, all the original features found on the HD DVD and the two-disc standard releases have been ported over. While it would have been a plus to have included some kind of audio commentary (note: director Christopher Nolan has only done commentaries for three of his films – Following, Memento, and Insomnia) or deleted scenes, we have to be content with a one-hour and 44-minute documentary that’s divided into eight parts. Each featurette is a mix of on-set interviews and EPK footage. It doesn’t matter where you start, but it’s probably best to start from the film’s conception (“Genesis of the Bat”) to execution (see the “Batmo…um…Tumbler” in action, plus learn about the action scenes with minimal CGI). Those worried about the Batsuit’s look – perhaps the inclusion of hardened nipples – should watch the 8-minute “Cape and Cowl” to see the black rubber.

Aside from the featurettes is a still gallery with emphasis on the marketing campaign; the theatrical trailer (in HD); a Batman Begins spoof (“Tankman Begins”) that aired as part of the 2005 MTV Movie Awards; and Confidential Files – text pages with facts and story points not part of the film. The only new exclusives to this BD release are a PIP track that suffers from dead air from time to time, but nonetheless includes plenty of behind-the-scenes footage. And meant to wet your appetite for the upcoming Dark Knight release is The Dark Knight IMAX Prologue, which is the entire opening sequence presented in full HD.

This release, with its awesome visuals, sound and supplemental content, is a no-brainer purchase for any Blu-ray owner.

Now for something completely different.

Paramount Home Entertainment / 2007 / 121 Minutes / Rated PG-13
Street Date: July 29, 2008
(Buy it at Amazon)

Another passion project by Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese. No, it isn’t a sequel to The Last Temptation of Christ. Nor is it a gangster or crime opus to go alongside Goodfellas or The Departed. But a correlation can be made between those two films and this project: the use of the classic Rolling Stones track “Gimme Shelter”. Just like he did with The Last Waltz, Scorsese helms another rock documentary. 2008’s Shine a Light is about a pair of shows the Rolling Stones did at New York’s famed Beacon Theatre. But the documentary is rather plain and by-the-numbers. The first few minutes is in black and white with Scorsese trying to correlate with lead singer Mick Jagger about the concerts, from music selections to where cameras will be placed. Interspersed throughout the concert, usually in between songs, are vintage clips showing the youthful Stones. The clips are used to emphasize the band’s staying power since the members are well into their sixties. Nothing of interest is gained by listening to these sound bites and to be honest they are rather humdrum. The only thing going for Shine a Light is the revolving jukebox of hits the Stones play to entertain their fans. It is the concert sequences that sell the picture. From Jagger dancing erratically on stage to Keith Richards puffing away on a cigarette, it’s all about the presentation. Some of Scorsese’s shots from multiple cameras look great on a big HD screen television. And the tunes selected include pop classics like “Satisfaction” and “Start Me Up,” and a cover of Muddy Waters’ “Champagne & Reefer” with special guest Buddy Guy. Other guests include Jack White (of the White Stripes) and Christina Aguilera.

Even with the amazing performances Shine a Light is unfulfilling. It’s trying to be a concert film while also being a fly-on-the-wall look and a retrospective about the Hall of Fame band all at the same time. But only the concert works as a whole.

Presented at a 1.78:1 ratio, with a 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encode, the concert looks good, but the offstage scenes and vintage clips in black and white aren’t appealing for high-def aficionados. The audio, on the other hand, has three options for which to listen: Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround, DTS-HD Lossless Master Audio 5.1 Surround and uncompressed PCM 2.0 Stereo. The tracks are fairly front heavy without much presence in the rears.

The supplements are surely lacking on this release. Included is a 16-minute supplemental featurette (HD), which is just a montage of different clips and behind-the-scenes footage, like rehearsals and older interviews. A little better are four bonus tracks that can be played individually or by pressing the “Play All” icon: “Undercover of the Night,” “Paint it Black,” “Little T&A” and “I’m Free.”

Strangely, “Gimme Shelter,” the song that’s been in numerous Scorsese film is nowhere to be found.

Good audio overall (if you enjoy sixty-year-old rock stars), but a paltry selection of features makes this a BD release for the Rolling Stones’ faithful only.

Eagle Rock Entertainment / 2008 / 122 Minutes / Unrated
Street Date: June 24, 2008
(Buy it at Amazon)

If Shine a Light isn’t enough “satisfaction” for you, how about a band that gained stardom in the ’80s thanks to the advent of MTV and the music video. ZZ Top’s “Legs” and “Sharp Dressed Man” were to MTV like the Thursday night comedy block is to NBC. This trio from Texas is unmistakable. Well, two are (Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill), because of the long beards they sport. Yet, ironically, the band’s drummer (Frank Beard) is beardless. Like its title implies, Eagle Rock Entertainment’s ZZ Top: Live in Texas is just that: a concert film – and the band’s first ever live concert release. There are no vintage clips or sound bites, just a 17-track set of many of the band’s famous hits.

I must admit, as a casual listener of ZZ Top the track list alone is not very spaced out; most of their biggest hits play one right after another. This is especially true of tracks 12-14 (“Gimme All Your Lovin’,” “Sharp Dressed Man,” and “Legs”). But it’s got a nice visual presentation throughout with a small stage and light show. Nothing cutting edge like the million-dollar concerts U2 has had. Twenty-plus years after a number of popular music videos, the threesome is a nice slice of nostalgia and a reason why it’s good to remember (and love) the eighties.

Looking beyond the concert, the bells and whistles of the BD release are to be admired. Shot in 2007 using HD cameras, you get a rich color palate with black being the dominant color. Similar to Shine a Light is three audio options: English DTS-HD Lossless Master Audio 5.1 Surround, DD 5.1 Surround and PCM 2.0 Stereo. Choices number one and three make for a nice aural experience. Your subwoofer will get a nice workout to the low bass that resonates, while the DTS-MA mix does a nice job with the surrounds.

Beyond the concert are three featurettes (two of which have nothing to do with the concert itself – try an 18-minute poker game and a quick 5-minute look at a photo shoot). Plus there’s a bonus performance of the band performing Jimi Hendrix’s “Foxy Lady”, which was not included in the main feature. Lastly, there is an 8-page collectible booklet with photos and liner notes by ZZ Top biographer Tom Vickers.

Ah, the perfect gift for that ZZ Top fan in your family. Just a straight-up concert film taken from the band’s 2007 tour. Do yourself a favor and pick it up (and maybe a pair of “cheap sunglasses” too).

Travis Leamons is one of the Inside Pulse Originals and currently holds the position of Managing Editor at Inside Pulse Movies. He's told that the position is his until he's dead or if "The Boss" can find somebody better. I expect the best and I give the best. Here's the beer. Here's the entertainment. Now have fun. That's an order!