Reviews (5)

The Clown Prince of Crime
Well,this cartoon is great.
In one episode,[there are two episodes],Batman & Robin face the Joker on Christmas Eve.
He wreaks havoc on Christmas,blowing up bridges,trying to kill Batman & Robin,and kidnapping three of Gotham City's residents.
Then,finally,they see ''It's a Wonderful Life'' and Joker is in jail.
In another,Joker's face is on fish.
It's very dark,as well.
Well,that's it.

Christmas with the Joker
This is one of the best Batman movies. You'll really like Christmas
with the Joker. Joker's laughing fish is good too but this one is
much better. Christmas with the Joker is about Joker kidnapping Summer Gleason,Commisioner Gordan,and Chief Bullock and is going to
drop them into a pot of boiling acid on Christmas because he doesn't have a family to celebrate with. It's up to Batman and Robin to save the day.

Good Stories, Bad Tape Presentation
"The Laughing Fish" introduced the new era of Batman animation, and it's a solid story. The Joker's licensing scheme and the resultant skewering of corporate financial dealings makes good comedy. This episode is also notable for the introduction of Harley Quinn as Joker's moll--a character who grew so popular in the animated series that DC Comics eventually had to introduce her to the regular DC Universe (Kevin Smith fans will also note that he has named his daughter after her).

While the animation and story are great, this tape is recorded in EP mode, meaning you'll get fuzzy picture and muffled sound. The packaging drops the rating from four stars to two stars.

not a classic but good
the first episode is very good but the second one is more gruesome than entertaining althou it's definitly better than the riddler

The Dark Knight And The Clown Prince Of Crime
Warner Brothers' dark, serious Batman cartoons succeed brilliantly with superior storytelling, excellent voice casting, and gorgeously intimidating graphics.

This tape features two Batman encounters with The Joker, brilliantly voiced by Mark Hamill. Christmas With The Joker is a Christmas Eve telecast in which The Joker and his minions perform acts of sabotage to draw out Batman and Robin. Joker's hilariously demented introduction - "And now, LIVE, from Gotham City, the show that nobody wants to see, but EVERY0NE WILL WATCH!" - alone is worth the price of the tape.

The Laughing Fish is a remake of a 1978 DC Comics Batman story. The Joker has poisoned fish with his laughing toxin, but the poison has no effect on humans. Therin lies the real point; Joker wants legal claim to "his" fish so he can collect enormous profits. Aiding him is his scatterbrained love interest, Harley Quinn, voiced with engaging joy by Arleen Sorkin.

These are the best cartoons anywhere, lightyears better than anything ever turned out by Disney or Hanna-Barbera. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Adult, stylish, and more than a little mean, this full-length animated tale has one very strong thing going for it--it knows how to milk cool. The animation is superior to anything recently devoted to a superhero...or super antihero, in this case. Al Simmons was a government assassin before he was burned to death and sent to hell (plot summary's starting out nicely, isn't it?). After making a particularly bad deal with the devil--to lead Satan's dark armies in exchange for seeing his wife again--Spawn is let loose upon the world. He immediately whacks three mob hit men, making his presence known and getting himself into all sorts of trouble. Spawn is also visited by the Clown, an obese, disgusting Beatrice, guiding our third-degree-burned Dante through this hellish, topside world. There are other nasty characters, but in this first segment a very gratuitous inclusion of a child murderer goes too far for even this mature fare. Spawn isn't fun; there's very little joy in any of this. But the point isn't fun--it's brutal, adult-comic style. And there's plenty of it. --Keith Simanton ... Read more

Reviews (26)

A great transition from the comic book to the screen
Ive been a big fan of the spawn comic book since the very first issue. Living in England its not so easy to get hold of the books, or this animated series. The unrated version is fantastic, a really good move from the book to the screen, all the darkness as been brought to us in this dvd. The extra features such as the extra audio track that runs along with the show by Todd is great, lots of interesting stuff here. I really recomend this dvd to all spawn fans especially all of us in england who dont want to pay a fortune for the vhs tapes of it. I cant wait for season 2. END

The best Spawn movie ever!
Todd McFarlane's Spawn is a great adaption from the comic book series. It captures the dark images, and mystical power. The inferno of Hell shrouds Al Simmons giving him these powers! Unlike the live movie, Al Simmons is already a Hellspawn. But he is tormented by thoughts of his death, five years ago. I like the parts when Spawn kills people, that is cool. I would not recommend this movie to people under 18, because there is much...blood and gore, bad language, and adult content. I have got every censored and uncensored version of Spawn. This one deserves an NC-17 rating, at least that's what I think. Spawn is a very cool movie, throughout the movie it mostly takes place at night, and you can't see Spawn very well sometimes, except for his eyes and cape. Otherwise the rest of him is just mostly a cilouet. The edited version is about half as good as this one, only many people do prefer the uncensored versions of just about every movie. The live movie is very good too. In the animated series, it never actually shows Malebulgia, or you could call him Satan. And it even shows Angela, one of the Hellspawn Bounty Hunters. And in Spawn 3, it shows three other Bounty Hunters. Including Jade, she's pretty cool. Also in Spawn 3, Spawn battles a vampire prostitute. The fat little clown turns into the violator in this movie, and he beats Spawn up pretty bad. And Spawn actually uses his chains to [exterminate] in the animated Spawn series. He even uses his cape sometimes to choke people. It's very cool, and Spawn has a low, scratchy voice, much different from Michael Jai White in the live movie. Keith David is Spawn's voice in this one. I have no clue how many tapes there are going to be in the animated series, but Spawn 1-3 the only ones right now. This is a great movie, buy it, you'll like it.

Spawn is awsome!!!
Spawn with a shadow of a doulbt was one of the best animated series. The story on follds when al simmons,a goverment assasin is betrayed and killed by his boss jason wynn. He then makes a deal with.....wait why am I telling you this. Its spawn for
crying out loud! Its one of the best comics ever made!
I have all videos. There very good. Espissialy the second season. The first season was outstanding too.
This series is very ADULT orienteted. With lots of graphic violence to make a 10 year old cry. The series is awsome bottom line. Its a damn shame they havent thought of making a 4th season but there to busy with the comic and lot has gone on for the comic so were should they start for a 4th season?
the 3rd season left alot of people thinking what was going to happen next. I doublt HBO will want a 4th I just think that.

Over all the spawn series is great.
I also wanted to mention....if people didnt know....this is not a movie. Its episodes from the HBO series. All the spawn videos are from the HBO series. They just put all the episodes together to make it look like a movie. I dont get how this is a collecters uncut mature edition.....THE SERIES WAS FOR MATURE AUDIENCES! And now I see on the front cover its suppose to be
a uncut collecters addition. Well anyways the series on Tv was
wasnt censored either I dont get why they said uncut collecters addition when the damn series was for adults on tv. Well what ever, If you want to buy the tape on sale get it now cause the series is awsome. But for the people who watched on HBO like me who taped it than dont get the tape.
Over all its an awsome show.

Rodd Mcfarlane's spawn
The origional, uncut Spawn, was most likely, the BEST animated film of all time. My name is Kenneth McFarlane, and I've looked up Todd's history, and realized what he went through. I have a game in creation. this started WAY before I knew about spawn, and when i found out that he was creating spawn in high school, i was astonished. I'm 16 years old, and I've come a long way with my story. If my findings are correct, Todd is a distant relative of mine, and if so...Final Darkness should come out, all too well.
-written on the behalf of Todd.
Kenneth Lee Mcfarlane.

This "Commando" isn't Arnold!
"Todd McFarlane's Spawn" appears to be a cartoon remake of the 1985 film "Commando" starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Al, a former Special Forces operative, awakens to find himself a dead, hell-spawned warrior. Al battles evil foes (including some Special Forces operatives) and rescues his former wife's daughter. Take Arnold Schwarzenegger's "Commando", add hellfire and brimstone, and you have "Todd McFarlane's Spawn".

"Todd McFarlane's Spawn" is entertaining (some of the chain tricks *are* used during real life oil drilling), but I prefer Arnold Schwarzenegger's "Commando" (which features Arnold at his peak and young teen Alyssa Milano as Arnold's kidnapped daughter). ... Read more

Reviews (13)

mysterious, and action-packed
This video is great, in fact, i liked spawn so much, i went out and bought myself the entire series (not all at once, of course) i even have both of the live one's, i've even got the edited animates! but, why doesn't todd ever show Melbulgia. It stinks that there is no edited Spawn 3. But you have to see this, lots of suspense, and weirdness! spawn even gets the power to change forms, is that awesome or what! And you might even fall asleep, not becuzz it's boring, but becuzz it's 2 and 1/2 hours. Almost long enough to put on two tapes, anyway, protect the cover good, because the cover is like a holographic pokemon card, the cover is pure shiney foil, even the top, sides and back. What's really awesom is that it features videos by KID ROCK and LIL' CEASE! Buy this movie, you'd have to be crazy not to.

Darker, more tense that the first
The original Spawn series on HBO was a wonderfully executed project, and the second season is just as good. The story is well developed, with plenty of action. Spawn seems much more indestructible in this set than in the first, as he is becoming familiar with the powers bestowed upon him. In fact, there is only one 'counter' display during the entire movie to remind us that Spawn's power is not infinite. The installment answers few questions, and raises even more. There is also more of a Japanimation style to some of the scenes this time around.

While the movie itself is superb, the menu system could have used a little tweaking. The background music that accompanies the main menu isn't in sync at the loop point. Also, on some screens, all the available choices are displayed in text, while on others there are small 'arrow' buttons. Nitpicky details, but details nonetheless.

Spawn proves to be as complex as ever, never fully becoming hero nor villain, still unable to cope with his new existence.

Highly recommended to fans of the series. For the uninitiated, you will get more out of Spawn 2 if you've seen the first installment beforehand. Five stars for the film, four stars for the DVD presentation.

It's Spawn, But Not At His Best
Point given: any Spawn fan will enjoy this video at least a bit, and they wouldn't have an obvious reason not to.
The animation is dark and full of shadows, the voice-actuing is very accurate, and the storyline stays true.

So why shouldn't I give this movie a higher rating?
Well, there are several reasons...

For one thing, after you've watched the movie several times and your familiar with all of it, you'll notice that the animation, despite holding true to a dark and Gothic style, is second-rate. The flow of it is substandard, and reeks of slow-downs and mid-class transitions.

Also, even though the voices are right on the money, the text seems a bit...off.
Considering the first and third animated Spawn movies, and the extent of swearing, cursing, and exclamations used frequently, this PG-13 style of voice-text seems a bit out of place.

I realize that the comic book the movies are based on are kept to a PG-13 level as well, but when you talk about the movies and their own dialouge, you'll come to see the comic book and the films are quite different.

But, as I said before, if you're a Spawn fan, you shouldn't hesitate too much to buy this tape and the others as well.

I Fell Asleep
If you look up my record you will find that I usually review religious works, so I admittedly am not the best person to review SPAWN. Someone gave us the video as a gift and wanted me to look it over. so here goes . . .

NEGATIVE: The language seems to be an attempt to make a statement, but the statement is so overdone the message gets lost. It seems to attempt to be radical, but I've seen some real life stories that were much more radical. The message tries to offer a new twist on the classic struggle between good and evil, but I didn't care enough for the main character to get it. The overall atmosphere of the pice seems to make a statement that might be offensive to some. I am sure that many would expect me to be offended by it. I wasn't offended, I was bored. Actually, my first time through, I fell asleep and had to see it again to get it. My two sons, (age 17 & 21) also watched it with me and they also fell asleep.

POSITIVE: The artistry is excellent. For fans of the series, I am sure it is a great piece. As with many videos (such as Dragon Ball Z) a lot of your enjoyment comes from your previous contact with the series. It does a fairly good job of speaking for those 16-25 year olds who are facing a world of darkness, emotional energy, unwavering established values among the establishment, confusing morality, and rebellion. Younger people might not understand it and older people might not find it interesting.

RECOMMENDATION: It did nothing for me, but if you are already a fan of the series it will probably interest you. I suspect that almost everyone reading this review will be a fan of the series (why else read this). Therefore, my review will be the minority. Enjoy it, but don't take it too seriously.

Way cool second season.
The movie was one of the worst I had seen in my life. I did not have high hope for the animated series but I was very much surprised. The dialogue and, bizzarly enough, the acting are a hundred times as good as the film and the plot and characters are also much more intriguing.

This is the second season of Spawn and it is crammed full of plot developments and great characters. Sam and Twitch get more room here. But since this has stopped airing as of 1999 there has been no fourth season. It's a shame since the one thing I can be sure ofis that the story could have had one hell of a send-off when it finally climaxes.

It's more than likely in syndication somewhere so I'd start watching this if I were you. But be prepared. The violence is quite graphic and the overall tone of the stories ranges from kiddie fiddlers to satanic demons. Needless to say, it's not a cartoon for kids. It's an animated series for adults.

The DVD is in full screen format, as originally drawn and is in Dolby 5.1 surround. Todd McFarlane says in his commentary that he was working on a darker sequel for the movie. It has since not happened. But I'd keep my fingers crossed, because the toys sell like crazy and the audience is definitely there. ... Read more

Description

Unmasking the Phantasm is just one of the twists in Batman: Mask of Phantasm, "one of the most imaginative films of the past year" (Chuck Rich, Westwood One). Only here will you discover all-new revelations about Batman's past, his archrival the Joker and the most grueling battle of Batman's life - the choice between his love of a beautiful woman and his vow to be the defender of right. Batman: Mask of Phantasm is a "mystery that is genuinely absorbing, suspenseful and moving" (Cincinnati Enquirer) and a film no fan should be without! Can the Dark Knight elude the police, capture the Phantasm and clear his name?Year: 1993 Director: Eric Radomski Starring: Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Dana Delany, Hart Bochner, Abe Vigoda ... Read more

Reviews (127)

Purely amazing entertainment
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is truly a classic. If you love Batman, then this is a must-have--hey, this is a must-have if you like a good action movie. The themes involved are really almost not for kids, to be honest, largely because of the violent content. The Batman theme done by Shirley Walker at the beginning of the movie--oh, man! It's one of the greatest cinematic moments ever, I'd say. There's just something about it. And the story is great--we look into why Bruce Wayne chooses to be Batman and we even get a look at the Joker before he actually becomes the Joker and all. (But they don't show him get dumped into a vat of acid or anything; he's just there in the story.) I think the love story strikes a real chord with anyone who's ever loved and lost, and it really explains why Batman is committed to his life of fighting crime rather than ever getting married or anything like that. It's actually hard to describe--you just have to see it. This is the original Animated Series at its finest. As many have said before, it's actually better than some of the live action Batman films (though I would say just plain better than Batman & Robin, which was the worst of all the films, though not necessarily a horrible movie). It's great. If you don't have Mask of the Phantasm, I highly recommend it.

Finally giving Batman justice...
"Batman: Mask of the Phantasm" is the best Batman movie ever, and one of the greatest movies of our time, I believe. If you think this is for children, you're dead wrong. This movie in fact is more adult than the live action ones. Besides, "Mask" is the first and only fully-animated film to date that has ever held a PG rating(outside of Prince of Egypt); and this one is good without having the good book behind you. The animation was superb(Mr. Malton...), and the plot was absolutely rich. In this film, unlike the others, you actually feel sorry for him when yu glimpse into his past. In this movie, you see Bruce face heart-wrenching desicions; and he's actually heart-wrenched by them. The dark score to the movieadds to it's already ominous setting, and makes the movie all the more spine-tingling for you to watch. Watch this movie if you're a movie lover at all.

Great cartoon film that rivals the live action films....
Many people have seen Batman: the animated series. Well, this movie lives up to that shows potential! Over 3 times as long as the shows length, this gives more time for storytelling and action. What makes this movie great, is the way it tells Bruce Wayne's story about his love for a girl in flashbacks, while connecting that story to the present. A mysterious phantasm is in Gotham city killing off mob bosses. The more Batman investigates, the more he realizes that all the deaths are connected. This movie has great stuff of the origin of the batman suit, as well as Joker's presence in the mob. My non-liking-cartoon family watched this film, and loved it. I highly recommend buying this film. I bought it new for under $10.00 Great buy!!!!1

Best Batman Feature
This is one of the best Batman animated features I have ever seen.The writing was good and Mark Hamill doing the voice of the Joker?G-O-O-D.The soundtrack gets high marks and the actors picked to voice the characters was good.With plans to make a new series of Batman feature films in the works,I would like for Warner Brothers studios to please keep Tim Burton as the executive producer and most important,Michael Keaton as Batman because he is the right actor for the role.

Terrible Disappointment
Although the animation and voice talent was tremendous (even had Abe Vigoda - love that gravelly voice) the story line was so weak and the resolution was not thought through. It was like the producers said "Ooh! Let's have a hot sexual theme because we are now in a theater and can avoid the censors!" Any Batman fan knows he forsook love because of his dedication to his second persona (Batman). In Mask, Batman appears weak and controlled by his libido. I was uncomfortable with the scene implying [physical interaction] had taken place between Bruce and Andrea. The blatant sexual story didn't fit with Batman as how we have come to know him. Nor did it fit with the masterful animated series, which used subtleties so powerfully.

In the Ras-Al-Ghul episodes, his romance with Talia is cinematic, his affection for and implied dalliance (Cat Scratch Fever) with Catwoman fit with the series and Batman's character. Even his chick from the past, Zatana, is acceptable. This is because at all times, Batman remains in control of his emotions. In Phantasm, he acts like a pimply fourteen year old, even spying on Andrea in plain sight with binoculars!

The movie's resolution was extremely sloppy. The Phantasm was a compelling character, but the strength and movement the Phantasm displayed was never explained, like a Scooby Doo episode, when the monster's head is pulled off and reveals weak "Uncle Albert." Also, the Joker and Harley are depressing rather than scary/humorous as in the series.

I love Batman: the Animated Series. I went to a lot of trouble to tape every episode. I even put the tapes in a safe deposit box at one point, when I lived in an apt. with incidents of crime. When I saw the poster for this film, I was dizzy with delight. When I came out of the theater I felt sick to my stomach and almost cried.

I highly recommend the movie Batman and Mr. Freeze: Sub Zero, as well as the Batman Beyond series and movies. They are truer to the Batman characters to say the least. ... Read more

Description

In the original five episodes of the Emmy-winning Batman The Animated Series, Batman must battle The Joker, The Scarecrow, Poison Ivy and more to protect Gotham City. ... Read more

Reviews (38)

The Dark Secret of Gotham City
The landmark animated adventures of DC Comics' caped crime-fighter has arrived on DVD with "Batman: The Animated Series - The Legend Begins". The award-winning animated series is definitely the best comic book adaptation of the famous DC Comics character. This popular series features solid episode storylines, well developed characters, great voice acting, amusing action and a rich music score. Its gothic animation style and dark adult-like tone changed the view of Saturday morning cartoons. The DVD contains five great episodes: "On Leather Wings", "Christmas with the Joker", "Nothing to Fear", "The Last Laugh" and "Pretty Poison". The episodes are presented in their original full screen format. The DVD contains a fine video transfer with some bits of grain and dusts, and a good 2.0 Dolby Digital sound. It also includes a short animation featurette and episodes introductions by producer Bruce Timm. "Batman: The Legend Begins" is a must-have DVD for any fan of this great animated series, and scores a worthy "B-".

the DEFINITIVE Batman
There's no doubt about it. This animated series, which was made after the success of the Tim Burton BATMAN films, is regarded by many as the definititive version of the Dark Knight. This DVD contains the first 5 episodes which were produced. Included are 2 episodes featuring Batman's archfoe, the Joker, as well as adventures which introduce the monsterous Man-Bat, the sinister Scarecrow, and the deadly Poison Ivy. Unlike the live-action movies, this series is intelligently plotted and brimming with character depth and motivation. Also, the wonderful music and dark art-deco design (a cross between the 30's and Gothic styles)provides wonderful richness to the whole thing. The voice acting throughout the series is especially top-notch. Kevin Conroy is perfect as both Bruce Wayne and Batman. Mark Hamill, who replaced Tim Curry, shines as the insane Joker. While the DVD is somewhat skimpy on the extras, this is still a series that respects its audience....both young and old alike. Highly recommended for Bat-fans and fans of animation in general.

the dark knight forever
well let me put it like this batman has always been a favorite of mine even when bob kane started batman in 1939 we had and insight to what it was all about i think that we all have a little darkness in us but this movie gives mr kane a thumbs up on his creation it also gives a story on how bruce wayne became batman and mark hamill is especially demented as the joker so my review is thumbs up

Wonderful for Older Kids
Great animation, great stories, wonderful villians. This Batman series show the Dark Knight at his best. Batman's endless arsenal of nifty gadgets fascinated my kids. My younger son is four and he was frightened by some of the stories. The episode featuring the Joker especially disturbed him. The Joker is a brilliant villian, but a bit cold and definitely without a conscience. I recommend this movie for older children and adults. My favorite episode was the one with the Scarecrow. When Batman gets sprayed with Scarecrow's gas and faces his deepest fear, we are able to glimpse a human side of the Caped Crusader that he rarely reveals.

The Dark Knight begins here...
Batman: The Animated Series came out while I was in college, which gave me lots of time to watch it. This DVD includes the first five episodes, with such greats as the Joker, Scarecrow and Poison Ivy. Lets face it, "Christmas with The Joker" might be old when compared to the newer episodes, but it is a classic.
The best part is the series can draw on the vast background and the large selection of characters from the comic books and other sources. This would allow the series to develop story arches, use its own history and even shoot out a few full-length movies.
The DVD has great extras, such as how to draw Batman, conversations with Director Bruce Timm about each episode and a 'Life on the Edge Game'. Even the DVD menus are cool. Good for any fan of the Batman! ... Read more

Description

The legend of the fabled Dark Knight continues, in five thrilling episodes from the award-winning Batman: The Animated Series, from battling the killer comedy of The Joker to the first fateful encounter with the diabolical Two Face, Batman explodes into action! ... Read more

Reviews (26)

poor treatment of an excellent series
Like everyone else, I think Warners is doing a severe injustice to the excellent Batman series by releasing it in skimpy disks of four episodes a piece and releasing them in the order they were made instead of the order they were aired. At this time of the series Bruce Timm, who wanted to do a series based for the most part on the comics of the 30s, 40s and the truly great decade of the 70s, was fueding with the then-script editor who appeared to want a Superfriends-esque show with a friendly and socially conscious Batman. Read Batman Animated for more background on this.
The episodes on this disk really don't represent the best the series had to offer. Also, I recently bought a Speed Racer single disk DVD that had 11 episodes and a few extras, so, even if we can't get full season box sets, I don't think that getting 10 episodes a disk is asking too much. After all, Batman: the Animated Series had 110 episodes, which would still give Warners 11 releases if they had released them in ten-episode sets.
The only really good episode on the disk is "POV", a mystery that is actually as much about the Gotham police as Batman, but it does have the gritty urban feel of the comics. In "Be a Clown" Batman is helped by a small child. "What a great concept for the three year olds in our audience," the script editor must have thought, while those of us who grew up on the comics of greats like Adams, Englehart, Rogers, Robbins, O'Neil, Goodwin and Wein can only hang our heads in disgust at this Superfriends-ish development.
The other two episodes on the disk, "The Underdwellers" and "The Forgotten" are among the four worst episodes of the series, along with the awful "Baby Doll" and the episode about Farmer Brown. Again, "The Underdwellers" focus on heroic prepubescents in an attempt to lure that audience is unfortunate and "The Forgotten" since it features an amnesiac Bruce Wayne really isn't even a Batman story at all.
Batman: The Animated Series was far superior to the four awful live action movies, but I hope that anyone unfamiliar with the character doesn't pick up this disk and waits for the truly great episodes like "Heart of Ice" and "Terror in the Sky" to appear.
By the way, why is Warner releasing DVDs of that godawful Superfriends, a television show that was an embarrassment to every DC comics fan I know,and leaving the excellent 90s Superman cartoon on the shelf?

Not the huge boxed set we all want, but still fun
Although I'm generally with the crowd that's clamoring for season-long box sets of this brooding, involving animated series, these single-disc offerings aren't all that bad. In this case, for a few loose bills you get clean, sharp prints of episodes 6 to 9, a brief but interesting piece about the casting of the voice talent for the show, and nice intros to each episode by producer Bruce Timm. Oh, yes-- you also get a little "brain-teaser" game to play, but even my forgiving self can't find it in his heart to praise THAT bit of byte-wasting silliness.

Anyway, I imagine the suits at Warner Brothers figured that the low price would encourage lots of casual purchasing by the parents-throwing-it-in-their-cart-for-the-kids demographic, while rabid fans would STILL pick these DVDs up even though they're not the juicy, packed-to-the-gills-with-extras multi-disc collections they're climbing the walls for. And I guess that strategy is working, 'cause I'M a serious fan and I'm buying these DVDs. But maybe there's a better solution that can please everyone: namely, do both types of products. Sell inexpensive single-disc offerings like this one AND season-long boxed sets with premium extras. Put 'em both in the marketplace and let people buy what they want.

But until that day comes, these DVDs could be worse. At least the episodes are being released in chronological order, instead of being packaged in those horrible "best of" compilations that jump all over the map in time and leave huge gaps in your collection.

Not a great DVD, but great episodes nonetheless!
This series of DVDs from Warner Bros. have made people unhappy. You get only get four episodes when you should get six or seven, they have absolutely NOOOO special features, except that interview with Bruce Timm, which is a plus. But the content of this DVD is of course, the part people should worry about. Of course,there's nothing wrong with these episodes. Theyre MEDIOCRE, that's it. Here they are

The Underdwellers:
A person called the sewer king is "raising" kids harshley in the sewer and forcing them to commit crimes for him.

POV: Three people get away with cash after bullock ruins a raid at an old warehouse, and three cops are interviewed on what happened

The forgotten:
A disguised Bruce wayne goes undercover, is mugged and hit on the head, and wakes up in a dessert with his memory gone, and is forced to mine for a fat guy

Be a Clown:
The mayor's boy runs away, and the joker takes him in and teaches him how to "be a Clown"

Great show - weak DVD's ...
WB really give the impression that they are totally uninterested in doing anything even remotely special with their valuable Batman properties on DVD.
They know there is a market out there for season boxed-sets of this show (due to repeated requests made to them from the public) - why would they choose to ignore this?
My advice would be to vote with your wallet and wait until WB wake up to themselves and treat this award-winning television show with the respect it fully deserves.

Four stars only for the eps themselves
Batman: The Animated Series is probably the best cartoon produced for Saturday mornings of the '90s. (Of course, if you're reading this, you already know *that*...) So, getting released on DVD should be no surprise. But in sets like this? Please.

Warner owns Rhino. And, if you've seen Rhino's cartoon DVD sets (which include Gigantor, G.I. Joe, the Transformers, and other shows), you *know* that that's a good thing. So, why doesn't Warner just pump out their own shows (and the other assorted cartoons they own) in deluxe box sets of about 25 eps apiece? It'd certainly be the best option, especially since this disc (which is, like the previous release, in production order) has four episodes that are fairly yawn-worthy. And it's best not to get into WB's policy on "extras" on cartoon DVDs.

Unless you really want these eps on DVD, you might as well pass, and wait for WB to come to its' senses. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Fine Story, Marred by Poor Package
The "Robin" in this package, of course, is Dick Grayson, the son of trapeze artists murdered by gangsters attempting to extort "protection" money from the circus' owner. In taking Dick as his ward, Bruce Wayne attempts to protect the boy from some of the suffering Wayne himself has endured from being orphaned; in training Dick to be a young crimefighter, Batman helps the boy to sublimate his personal grief into benefitting the cause of justice for all. In this story, we see what happens when Dick is old enough to chafe at being the "boy wonder" while discovering the man responsible for his parents' death. The interplay between Dick's struggling to be a man on his own and Bruce's unspoken paternal affection makes for a solid story.

Unfortunately, this tape is not recorded in the SP mode. As a result, we get blotchy picture and indistinct sound. This story deserves better packaging.

The origin of Robin
The origin of Robin was well done in these two episodes. It gives everyone a chance to see how Dick Grayson's life was shattered in an instant and how his life as Robin began. Batman was portrayed as a compasionate person but also as someone who doesn't know how to express his feelings. It was interesting to see that side of both Batman and Robin. These kind of character developments are often overlooked in an animated series. I'm glad and grateful that this animated series took the time and care to express both the heroes and the people they were outside of the masks that they wore. Well done... ... Read more

Description

Prowling the night in his quest to protect the innocent and punish the guilty, Batman pits brains, brawn and Bat-technology against arch-enemies including the fowl-tempered Penguin, the dangerously seductive Catwoman, sub-zero psycho Mr. Freeze and more. Watch the ultimate crime fighter in these four thrilling episodes from the animated series! ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Amazing Television Show
This ranks as quite possibly the greatest Animated Show ever created. The episodes (and the movies) are pure genius. I have been a fan since it first came out. The episodes may be great, but the DVD is poor. Four episodes is nothing. There are 109 episodes in this series, not counting the crossovers with Superman and Static Shock. There is news that Box Sets are on their way. Hopefully this is true. All Batman fans know that this classic television series deserves the box set treatment. Looks like we're finally getting what we wished for....let's just not push it!

I've got batman in my dvd player
This DVD is a welcome addition to the growing Batman: TAS DVD collection (keep 'em coming, WB!). The first two episodes, Two-Face Parts I & II, are possibly the darkest episodes yet released on DVD, but also quite good. "It's Never Too Late" is almost a preachy episode about a crime boss needing to change his ways and so on, but the lesson it teaches is a good one for people today, especially those who are into crime and so on. Actually, I'd say there's probably too much of Rupert Thorne on this DVD--not that it's necessarily a bad thing, but I wanted to see more supervillains, personally. Lastly, "I've Got Batman in My Basement" is a nice story about kid detectives saving Batman's hide and tangling with the Penguin and his goons. All in all, it's a great DVD. I like the idea of making a box set for this stuff, but individual DVDs are all I can afford right now anyway, so I won't complain about that because it's either this or nothing for me. I say, patience, and enjoy the Batman we have for now. I highly recommend this DVD.

While We Are Still Young
I am a very big batman fan. I watched Batman: The Animated Series as I grew up and I thought it captured the essence of batman and his world magnificantly. In my opinion, the original batman animated series was one of the best shows in animation ever. I am beyond greatful that Warner Brothers have started to release the series on dvd and vhs. I have the first two volumes and I loved them. The only thing I am concerned about is how the shows are being released. It will take to long to release the entire series at this present rate. I don't want to sound bitter but it's true.

Heads up!
Just a little heads up for those interested in this disc. Toonzone is reporting that WB plans on doing box sets of BTAS (both series) at some point in the future. Also, Columbia House is currently releasing all of the episodes on DVD (6 per disc). 10 discs are reportedly available. No extras on the CH version. The video transfer is supposed to be id to the WB transfer. Choose wisely!

There are going to have to be a lot of these....
Well, I love this show. I have bought the previous two Batman TAS DVDs. I love that I have these on DVD, but my biggest complaint is the number of episodes. FOUR?

There were 85 total episodes of the show? I was very happy to see this DVD coming out 6 months after the last, but at this rate we will need 11 years to collect 22 DVDs to have the collection. Are you kidding me?

I just got the "Family Guy" 4 DVD set of the first two seasons. It has 28 episodes packaged nicely. Why don't they do this?

I have the identical complaint about the Justice League DVDs. The SHOWS are the best! Warner Bros. is just packaging them slowly and conservatively. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Never mind the cold, feel the Heat!
The origin of Mr. Freeze "Heart of Ice" kicked-[butt]! Too bad it wasn't included in this package. Instead we are treated to the worst of the Mr. Freeze episodes. And the packaging is misleading as Mr. Freeze is only in one episode and the other is about Batman villain Maxie Zeus (which is far superior and worth the purchase).

Fine Stories, Poor Presentation
This volume of the ADVENTURES OF BATMAN AND ROBIN series exemplifies the creativity we have seen in Warner Bros. animation during the end of the twentieth century. "Heart of Ice" explores the urban legend of Walt Disney's interest in cryogenics and produces a media magnate so obsessed with immortality that he enlist Mr. Freeze's help. "Fire from Olympus," featuring Maxie Zeus (a deranged criminal who believes he is the ancient god) depicts Batman's Rogues Gallery as other members of the ancient pantheon. These programs bear repeated viewing, because they have rich concepts executed well.

That said, this tape offers a poor value, because it is not record in SP mode. You will get fuzzy sound and picture. This series deserves better packaging.

batman's face and the series
This animred series are so wonderful that it was superb because of terrific animatin superb dark colours,shadinding,sound,characters.The new batman and robin adventure's is not so good as the animated series because the batman,s face is too long and the suit is funny,joker's face was not sogood.The batmobile of the animated series was terrific.

Fire and Ice runs Hot and Cold
This video was released when Batman the Animated Series was re-marketed as The Adventures of Batman and Robin. So what you get is the second episode of the series featuring Mr. Freeze instead of the far superior "Heart of Ice," because Robin appears in this one. It's a decent episode, with a not-so-subtle wink at the urban legend that Walt Disney had himself frozen. Amusement park creator Grant Walker wants to become like Mr. Freeze so that he can live forever. Still, the tragic figure of Mr. Freeze comes through intact, when Freeze tries to show Walker that immortality is not all it's cracked up to be.

The other episode, "Fire from Olympus," features second rate Batman villain Maxie Zeus, and the video actually makes him a better villain than his many years in the comics. The episode's backgrounds, including a Greek Pantheon built atop a skyscraper, shows just the sort of detail that made this series special.

Batman at his best
This is the best of the Batman Tapes it has the best story Mr freeze is the best. He does everythng for his wife. For Love. Its hard to fight that even if your Batman ... Read more

Reviews (5)

The best tape of all Batman&Robin Adventures
I love all tapes of the " Batman and Robin Adventures",
but I think this one is the best. I loved the character of
the Penguin and his umbrellas. I gave four stars, because
there are better episodes of Batman and the nice figure
Penguin......

Weakest Entry in Series; Poor Product Packaging
The Penguin in the Dini-produced Batman animated series has a spiritual malignancy that should repulse just about anyone. Given, he retaliates against a society which has rejected him due to his physical appearance (the design and the demeanor of the character owes more than a little to the live action BATMAN RETURNS), but Dini assures us that the Penguin's intellect could have flourished under other circumstances. His hurt pride, however, leads him to behavior that engenders little sympathy with the audience.
"Almost Got 'Im," featured on this tape, offers a fun examination of how various members of the Gotham City Rogues Gallery view their own powers and abilities; the resulting character deflation makes for good fun.
Just a quick note here (I've added this comment to every tape in this series I have reviewed)--while I think the Dini-produced animated Batman has been one of the hallmarks of 90s animation, I do not advise buying the tapes in this series because they are not recorded in SP mode. You will get fuzzy pictures and sound. It is a shame that these excellent programs do not get the packaging they deserve.

Almost Got I'm
Almost Got I'm is about all of this villans in a group. They sit at a round table telling story's about the time they had a fight with Batman. The villans were The Joker, Two-Face, Killer Croc, Poison Ivy, and The Penguin. But, batman is dressed up as Killer Croc.

Worst in the series
Very disappointing...I didn't really like the Penguin's character to begin with but this video really doesn't help his cause all that much. I love the animated series and have collected all of them. I watch them with great interest but this one actually put me to sleep...I guess I can't really describe how boring these episodes were with words. If you would like to see the lamest episodes..please be my guest..but if you would like to see how great this animated series really is..check out the riddler, batman and practically any other tape...sorry WB..this one just didn't make the cut and should be given away in a buy one get one free sort of deal..what a waste of money..how sad for such a good collection of tapes....

Adventures of Batman & Robim, the-the penguin
Adventures of Batman & Robin, the-the penguin by adventures of batman e robin(Primare Contributor) ... Read more

Reviews (5)

BAD-GIRL!
Once again a character's origin surpasses that of DC comics. The animated series did a fine job in developing the Harvey Dent/Two-Face characterization, but that isn't the episode featured here. This one puts Barbara Gordon/Batgirl in the spotlight and hits a punch! She is as feisty, intelligant and capable heroine who is belittled by her mentors until she rescues them and wraps-up the case. This reminds me a lot of the 1960's tv version played by Yvonne Craig and not the DC version who always downgraded the character.

Batman's Heroic Failure; Poor Product Presentation
The Paul Dini-produced Batman series perhaps does more to humanize the character than other television and screen versions have to date. One important element, Batman's relationship with Harvey Dent/Two-Face, plays an important role in these stories. As Bruce Wayne's friend, Harvey Dent has always played an important role in BW/Batman's life. Yet Batman can only seek treatment for his emotionally disturbed friend; Dent/Two-Face keeps Batman's distinction between justice and punishment clearly defined. Batman is a better hero because he learns through attempting to help Harvey Dent and preventing Two-Face's criminality that justice cannot always rely on permanent fixes; it, like freedom, requires constant vigilence.
Just a quick note here (I've added this note to every tape in this series I have reviewed)--while I think the Dini-produced animated Batman has been one of the hallmarks of 90s animation, I do not advise buying the tapes in this series because they are not recorded in SP mode. You will get fuzzy pictures and sound. It is a shame that these excellent programs do not get the packaging they deserve.

An Excellent Video! But should be called "BATGIRL"
This is a great Batman video to add to your collection! It contains the two-part storyline "Shadow of the Bat," which features Two-Face as the central villain in a plot to destroy Commissioner Gordon. The true story revolves around Barbara Gordon's attempt to save her father, which results in her transformation into BATGIRL. This video shows Batgirl as a novice superhero with Batman and Robin trying to make heads or tails of Batgirl's existence. It's a fun, humorous, and intriguing new take on the origin, and ultimate acceptance, of Batgirl. Highly recommended!!!

Great but Better Retitled
Though the two-parter on this tape, 'Shadow of the Bat' is a fantastic story, it would have been better released as the Batgirl video. The episodes do not explain Two-Face's origins but show how and why the Batgirl came about. Watch it. Decide for yourself.

I think it is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
because it has a lot of action in the awesome Batman movie with-Two-Face andRobin!!!also because-Two-Face is crazy and cool!!! ... Read more

Description

Unmasking the Phantasm is just one of the twists in Batman: Mask of Phantasm, "one of the most imaginative films of the past year" (Chuck Rich, Westwood One). Only here will you discover all-new revelations about Batman's past, his archrival the Joker and the most grueling battle of Batman's life - the choice between his love of a beautiful woman and his vow to be the defender of right. Batman: Mask of Phantasm is a "mystery that is genuinely absorbing, suspenseful and moving" (Cincinnati Enquirer) and a film no fan should be without! Can the Dark Knight elude the police, capture the Phantasm and clear his name?Year: 1993 Director: Eric Radomski Starring: Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Dana Delany, Hart Bochner, Abe Vigoda ... Read more

Reviews (127)

Purely amazing entertainment
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is truly a classic. If you love Batman, then this is a must-have--hey, this is a must-have if you like a good action movie. The themes involved are really almost not for kids, to be honest, largely because of the violent content. The Batman theme done by Shirley Walker at the beginning of the movie--oh, man! It's one of the greatest cinematic moments ever, I'd say. There's just something about it. And the story is great--we look into why Bruce Wayne chooses to be Batman and we even get a look at the Joker before he actually becomes the Joker and all. (But they don't show him get dumped into a vat of acid or anything; he's just there in the story.) I think the love story strikes a real chord with anyone who's ever loved and lost, and it really explains why Batman is committed to his life of fighting crime rather than ever getting married or anything like that. It's actually hard to describe--you just have to see it. This is the original Animated Series at its finest. As many have said before, it's actually better than some of the live action Batman films (though I would say just plain better than Batman & Robin, which was the worst of all the films, though not necessarily a horrible movie). It's great. If you don't have Mask of the Phantasm, I highly recommend it.

Finally giving Batman justice...
"Batman: Mask of the Phantasm" is the best Batman movie ever, and one of the greatest movies of our time, I believe. If you think this is for children, you're dead wrong. This movie in fact is more adult than the live action ones. Besides, "Mask" is the first and only fully-animated film to date that has ever held a PG rating(outside of Prince of Egypt); and this one is good without having the good book behind you. The animation was superb(Mr. Malton...), and the plot was absolutely rich. In this film, unlike the others, you actually feel sorry for him when yu glimpse into his past. In this movie, you see Bruce face heart-wrenching desicions; and he's actually heart-wrenched by them. The dark score to the movieadds to it's already ominous setting, and makes the movie all the more spine-tingling for you to watch. Watch this movie if you're a movie lover at all.

Great cartoon film that rivals the live action films....
Many people have seen Batman: the animated series. Well, this movie lives up to that shows potential! Over 3 times as long as the shows length, this gives more time for storytelling and action. What makes this movie great, is the way it tells Bruce Wayne's story about his love for a girl in flashbacks, while connecting that story to the present. A mysterious phantasm is in Gotham city killing off mob bosses. The more Batman investigates, the more he realizes that all the deaths are connected. This movie has great stuff of the origin of the batman suit, as well as Joker's presence in the mob. My non-liking-cartoon family watched this film, and loved it. I highly recommend buying this film. I bought it new for under $10.00 Great buy!!!!1

Best Batman Feature
This is one of the best Batman animated features I have ever seen.The writing was good and Mark Hamill doing the voice of the Joker?G-O-O-D.The soundtrack gets high marks and the actors picked to voice the characters was good.With plans to make a new series of Batman feature films in the works,I would like for Warner Brothers studios to please keep Tim Burton as the executive producer and most important,Michael Keaton as Batman because he is the right actor for the role.

Terrible Disappointment
Although the animation and voice talent was tremendous (even had Abe Vigoda - love that gravelly voice) the story line was so weak and the resolution was not thought through. It was like the producers said "Ooh! Let's have a hot sexual theme because we are now in a theater and can avoid the censors!" Any Batman fan knows he forsook love because of his dedication to his second persona (Batman). In Mask, Batman appears weak and controlled by his libido. I was uncomfortable with the scene implying [physical interaction] had taken place between Bruce and Andrea. The blatant sexual story didn't fit with Batman as how we have come to know him. Nor did it fit with the masterful animated series, which used subtleties so powerfully.

In the Ras-Al-Ghul episodes, his romance with Talia is cinematic, his affection for and implied dalliance (Cat Scratch Fever) with Catwoman fit with the series and Batman's character. Even his chick from the past, Zatana, is acceptable. This is because at all times, Batman remains in control of his emotions. In Phantasm, he acts like a pimply fourteen year old, even spying on Andrea in plain sight with binoculars!

The movie's resolution was extremely sloppy. The Phantasm was a compelling character, but the strength and movement the Phantasm displayed was never explained, like a Scooby Doo episode, when the monster's head is pulled off and reveals weak "Uncle Albert." Also, the Joker and Harley are depressing rather than scary/humorous as in the series.

I love Batman: the Animated Series. I went to a lot of trouble to tape every episode. I even put the tapes in a safe deposit box at one point, when I lived in an apt. with incidents of crime. When I saw the poster for this film, I was dizzy with delight. When I came out of the theater I felt sick to my stomach and almost cried.

I highly recommend the movie Batman and Mr. Freeze: Sub Zero, as well as the Batman Beyond series and movies. They are truer to the Batman characters to say the least. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

A great transition from the comic book to the screen
Ive been a big fan of the spawn comic book since the very first issue. Living in England its not so easy to get hold of the books, or this animated series. The unrated version is fantastic, a really good move from the book to the screen, all the darkness as been brought to us in this dvd. The extra features such as the extra audio track that runs along with the show by Todd is great, lots of interesting stuff here. I really recomend this dvd to all spawn fans especially all of us in england who dont want to pay a fortune for the vhs tapes of it. I cant wait for season 2. END

The best Spawn movie ever!
Todd McFarlane's Spawn is a great adaption from the comic book series. It captures the dark images, and mystical power. The inferno of Hell shrouds Al Simmons giving him these powers! Unlike the live movie, Al Simmons is already a Hellspawn. But he is tormented by thoughts of his death, five years ago. I like the parts when Spawn kills people, that is cool. I would not recommend this movie to people under 18, because there is much...blood and gore, bad language, and adult content. I have got every censored and uncensored version of Spawn. This one deserves an NC-17 rating, at least that's what I think. Spawn is a very cool movie, throughout the movie it mostly takes place at night, and you can't see Spawn very well sometimes, except for his eyes and cape. Otherwise the rest of him is just mostly a cilouet. The edited version is about half as good as this one, only many people do prefer the uncensored versions of just about every movie. The live movie is very good too. In the animated series, it never actually shows Malebulgia, or you could call him Satan. And it even shows Angela, one of the Hellspawn Bounty Hunters. And in Spawn 3, it shows three other Bounty Hunters. Including Jade, she's pretty cool. Also in Spawn 3, Spawn battles a vampire prostitute. The fat little clown turns into the violator in this movie, and he beats Spawn up pretty bad. And Spawn actually uses his chains to [exterminate] in the animated Spawn series. He even uses his cape sometimes to choke people. It's very cool, and Spawn has a low, scratchy voice, much different from Michael Jai White in the live movie. Keith David is Spawn's voice in this one. I have no clue how many tapes there are going to be in the animated series, but Spawn 1-3 the only ones right now. This is a great movie, buy it, you'll like it.

Spawn is awsome!!!
Spawn with a shadow of a doulbt was one of the best animated series. The story on follds when al simmons,a goverment assasin is betrayed and killed by his boss jason wynn. He then makes a deal with.....wait why am I telling you this. Its spawn for
crying out loud! Its one of the best comics ever made!
I have all videos. There very good. Espissialy the second season. The first season was outstanding too.
This series is very ADULT orienteted. With lots of graphic violence to make a 10 year old cry. The series is awsome bottom line. Its a damn shame they havent thought of making a 4th season but there to busy with the comic and lot has gone on for the comic so were should they start for a 4th season?
the 3rd season left alot of people thinking what was going to happen next. I doublt HBO will want a 4th I just think that.

Over all the spawn series is great.
I also wanted to mention....if people didnt know....this is not a movie. Its episodes from the HBO series. All the spawn videos are from the HBO series. They just put all the episodes together to make it look like a movie. I dont get how this is a collecters uncut mature edition.....THE SERIES WAS FOR MATURE AUDIENCES! And now I see on the front cover its suppose to be
a uncut collecters addition. Well anyways the series on Tv was
wasnt censored either I dont get why they said uncut collecters addition when the damn series was for adults on tv. Well what ever, If you want to buy the tape on sale get it now cause the series is awsome. But for the people who watched on HBO like me who taped it than dont get the tape.
Over all its an awsome show.

Rodd Mcfarlane's spawn
The origional, uncut Spawn, was most likely, the BEST animated film of all time. My name is Kenneth McFarlane, and I've looked up Todd's history, and realized what he went through. I have a game in creation. this started WAY before I knew about spawn, and when i found out that he was creating spawn in high school, i was astonished. I'm 16 years old, and I've come a long way with my story. If my findings are correct, Todd is a distant relative of mine, and if so...Final Darkness should come out, all too well.
-written on the behalf of Todd.
Kenneth Lee Mcfarlane.

This "Commando" isn't Arnold!
"Todd McFarlane's Spawn" appears to be a cartoon remake of the 1985 film "Commando" starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Al, a former Special Forces operative, awakens to find himself a dead, hell-spawned warrior. Al battles evil foes (including some Special Forces operatives) and rescues his former wife's daughter. Take Arnold Schwarzenegger's "Commando", add hellfire and brimstone, and you have "Todd McFarlane's Spawn".

"Todd McFarlane's Spawn" is entertaining (some of the chain tricks *are* used during real life oil drilling), but I prefer Arnold Schwarzenegger's "Commando" (which features Arnold at his peak and young teen Alyssa Milano as Arnold's kidnapped daughter). ... Read more

Amazon.com

From the mind of comic-book maestro Todd MacFarlane comes the second season of episodes of the animated Spawn. Highly stylized animation and provocative story lines make Spawn a sophisticated cartoon sometimes more appropriate for older audiences. Murder victim Al Simmons has returned from hell to earth as a "hellspawn," a soldier for the army of darkness sent to collect more souls for hell. The injustice of his death and his former life as a dedicated husband throws a wrench into hell's plan--Spawn remembers his human life and fights the inclination to do evil. Still, he is vengeful and he walks the line between killing for justice and just plain killing.

In these episodes, Spawn meets the man who assassinated him and becomes suspect of the organization that ordered him killed. Jason Wynn, the leader of the group, has plans to sell weapons of mass destruction stolen from the military. Spawn's former wife Wanda has since remarried Terry Fitzgerald, with whom Spawn must reconcile. Terry is hot on the trail of the missing arms, and Wynn and his assassins, including the highly trained Merrick, set out to kill Terry, Wanda, and their daughter Cyan. Spawn foils the plot while realizing the hard truth that Wanda has a new life. Spawn 2 is the slick and darkly realized animated adaptation of the popular comic book of the same name. It features the voice talents of Keith David (Spawn), who appeared in Dead Presidents, Denise Poirier (Merrick), and John Rafter Lee (Wynn), who also is the voice of Aeon Flux and Trevor Goodchild in the popular animated series Aeon Flux. --Shannon Gee ... Read more

Reviews (13)

mysterious, and action-packed
This video is great, in fact, i liked spawn so much, i went out and bought myself the entire series (not all at once, of course) i even have both of the live one's, i've even got the edited animates! but, why doesn't todd ever show Melbulgia. It stinks that there is no edited Spawn 3. But you have to see this, lots of suspense, and weirdness! spawn even gets the power to change forms, is that awesome or what! And you might even fall asleep, not becuzz it's boring, but becuzz it's 2 and 1/2 hours. Almost long enough to put on two tapes, anyway, protect the cover good, because the cover is like a holographic pokemon card, the cover is pure shiney foil, even the top, sides and back. What's really awesom is that it features videos by KID ROCK and LIL' CEASE! Buy this movie, you'd have to be crazy not to.

Darker, more tense that the first
The original Spawn series on HBO was a wonderfully executed project, and the second season is just as good. The story is well developed, with plenty of action. Spawn seems much more indestructible in this set than in the first, as he is becoming familiar with the powers bestowed upon him. In fact, there is only one 'counter' display during the entire movie to remind us that Spawn's power is not infinite. The installment answers few questions, and raises even more. There is also more of a Japanimation style to some of the scenes this time around.

While the movie itself is superb, the menu system could have used a little tweaking. The background music that accompanies the main menu isn't in sync at the loop point. Also, on some screens, all the available choices are displayed in text, while on others there are small 'arrow' buttons. Nitpicky details, but details nonetheless.

Spawn proves to be as complex as ever, never fully becoming hero nor villain, still unable to cope with his new existence.

Highly recommended to fans of the series. For the uninitiated, you will get more out of Spawn 2 if you've seen the first installment beforehand. Five stars for the film, four stars for the DVD presentation.

It's Spawn, But Not At His Best
Point given: any Spawn fan will enjoy this video at least a bit, and they wouldn't have an obvious reason not to.
The animation is dark and full of shadows, the voice-actuing is very accurate, and the storyline stays true.

So why shouldn't I give this movie a higher rating?
Well, there are several reasons...

For one thing, after you've watched the movie several times and your familiar with all of it, you'll notice that the animation, despite holding true to a dark and Gothic style, is second-rate. The flow of it is substandard, and reeks of slow-downs and mid-class transitions.

Also, even though the voices are right on the money, the text seems a bit...off.
Considering the first and third animated Spawn movies, and the extent of swearing, cursing, and exclamations used frequently, this PG-13 style of voice-text seems a bit out of place.

I realize that the comic book the movies are based on are kept to a PG-13 level as well, but when you talk about the movies and their own dialouge, you'll come to see the comic book and the films are quite different.

But, as I said before, if you're a Spawn fan, you shouldn't hesitate too much to buy this tape and the others as well.

I Fell Asleep
If you look up my record you will find that I usually review religious works, so I admittedly am not the best person to review SPAWN. Someone gave us the video as a gift and wanted me to look it over. so here goes . . .

NEGATIVE: The language seems to be an attempt to make a statement, but the statement is so overdone the message gets lost. It seems to attempt to be radical, but I've seen some real life stories that were much more radical. The message tries to offer a new twist on the classic struggle between good and evil, but I didn't care enough for the main character to get it. The overall atmosphere of the pice seems to make a statement that might be offensive to some. I am sure that many would expect me to be offended by it. I wasn't offended, I was bored. Actually, my fir