The Serials - Batman Begins On Film (1943-1949)

'Batman - The Complete 1943 Movie Serial Collection' - Batman's first appearance on film. This might as well be called "Guy In Flimsy Batsuit," 'cause this ain't the Batman we all know and love. Lots of kinks to work out, but with it's rampant racism and American patriotism, it makes for interesting propoganda viewing. Four hours, at that.

'Batman and Robin - The Complete 1949 Movie Serial Collection' - The "sequel" to the '43 serial, this one isn't peppered with the anti-Japanese rhetoric of the original and features a much dorkier villain. Plus, the Batsuit looks even worse (his ears look more like devil horns). Still, not a bad follow-up.

Batmania Begins - Camp In The 60's (1966-1968)

'Batman - The TV Series' - You'll never have more fun watching anything else. Where's the DVD?

'Batman - The Movie' - The movie that was released theatrically after the first season ended, this is just as much fun as the TV series. Gotta love the rubber shark.

'Batman - Holy Batmania' - Holy special features! This DVD is a Batman fan's dream!

Adam And Burt Return (2002)

'Batman - Return to the Batcave' - Very silly, but very funny. It's nice to see Adam West and Burt Ward embrace their type-casted positions like this. A lot of love seems to have went into the making of this TV movie.

The Batman Blockbuster Era (1989-1997)

'Batman' - My favorite movie. EVER. Michael Keaton is Batman in the same sense that Sean Connery is James Bond, and Jack Nicholson is perfect as the Joker. A few liberties were taken here and there in regards to Batman's origin, but I don't care. I must have seen this movie 1,000 times.

'Batman (Two-Disc Special Edition)' - Ah, the Special Edition. Bonus features galore, unless you simply MUST have the production notes from the original snapper-case DVD, this is the only edition of the film you'll need.

'Batman Returns' - Batman goes goth. In some ways, a better movie than the original. Much more sinister, and Catwoman plays a much better love interest than Vicki Vale (obviously).

'Batman Returns (Two-Disc Special Edition)' - The Special Edition. Yay. Again, unless you adore production notes, this is the only one you'll need.

'Batman Forever' - Batman Returns scared kids, so Warner Bros. decided to go with a lighter approach in the form of Joel Schumacher after Tim Burton dropped out (along with Michael Keaton). This movie actually has the best storyline of the franchise, but there's some hints of camp, which is why it's not considered GREAT.

'Batman Forever (Two-Disc Special Edition)' - The coolest part about this SE is the deleted scenes you get. I used to have the trading cards and wondered why certain screen shots were not featured in the movie; now I know why! Again, production notes, yadda yadda...

'Batman & Robin' - Yeesh. Batman & Robin represents everything EVERYBODY dislikes about Hollywood: it's big, it's loud and it's dumb... and that's just the opening credits sequence! Definitely the worst of the franchise, this movie put Batman on hiatus for eight years.

'Batman & Robin (Two-Disc Special Edition)' - Get it to understand why Batman & Robin turned out the way it did, and how Joel Schumacher is NOT the main reason it sucked. Also interesting is how he apologizes at least five times throughout the special features; I forgive ya, Joel.

Bat Boxes (1989-1997)

'The Batman Legacy (Four Film Giftset)' - All the snapper-case DVD's in one handy package.

'Batman - The Motion Picture Anthology 1989-1997 (Batman / Batman Returns / Batman Forever / Batman & Robin) (Two-Disc Special Edition)' - All the Special Editions in one handy package. GET THIS!

Batman Reborn (2005-?)

'Batman Begins (Two-Disc Deluxe Edition)' - After eight years, Christopher Nolan has put Batman back in the limelight. The result: the best live-action representation of Batman ever made (objectively; I still prefer Burton's two films). Pretty much everything about this movie oozes greatness. Bravo to all involved. Here's to a (hopefully) long run of (hopefully) great sequels.

BATMAN - ANIMATED

Batman & Scooby Snacks (1972)

'Scooby Doo Meets Batman' - Rooby Rooby Roo! Great for littlekids and for those of you who grew up with the Scooby Doo series.

Batman & Friends (1973-1985)

'Challenge of the Super Friends - The First Season (DC Comics Classic Collection)' - Ah, remember this? A great trip down memory lane, before Batman took himself seriously.

'Super Friends, Volume Two' - Ditto.

Batman - The Animated Series (1992-1995)

'Batman - The Animated Series, Volume One (DC Comics Classic Collection)' - Simply incredible. The first episode to be aired (in primetime, no less) was "The Cat And The Claw," and I haven't stopped watching since then. You want Batman? THIS is Batman. No camp. No stupid "ice" puns. Coupled with Batman Begins, this is the essential representation of the character.

'Batman - The Animated Series, Volume Two (DC Comics Classic Collection)' - More Batman! Don't you just love these handy-dandy box sets?

'Batman - The Animated Series, Volume Three (DC Comics Classic Collection)' - Ah! More! The last volume to feature the "classic" design of the show.

The New Batman Adventures/Gotham Knights (1997-1999)

'Batman - The Animated Series, Volume Four (From the New Batman Adventures) (DC Comics Classic Collection)' - The style changes, but still a great series of episodes. Unfortunately, this is the last volume of the Animated Series. What a good run it was.

Batman - The Animated Films (1993-2003)

'Batman - Mask of the Phantasm' - The BEST animated Bat-flick. Everything great about the series is put into this movie, with even better animation.

'Batman & Mr. Freeze - Subzero' - The second best animated movie. Anything involving Mr. Freeze (or Ra's Al Ghul) is gonna be good, and this doesn't disappoint. In the same vein as the design of the '97-'99 run of the show.

'The Batman Superman Movie' - Batman & Superman vs. the Joker & Lex Luthor. Actually a three-part episode consolidated into a feature film, this was taken from the Superman Animated Series. Lotsa fun.

'Batman - Mystery of the Batwoman' - The last, and weakest, animated movie. Recommended, just don't expect the greatness of what came before.

Batman In The Future (1999-2001)

'Batman Beyond - The Complete First Season (DC Comics Classic Collection)' - *NEW* Bruce Wayne is an old codger who trains young Terry McGinnis as Batman. An excellecnt show. This box set basically renders 'Batman Beyond - The Movie' obsolete, as that DVD is made up of the two-part pilot episode plus four bonus episodes, all of which are featured on this set. The curse of the snapper-case is finally broken!

'Batman Beyond - Return of the Joker' - I was suckered into buying this, as the uncensored version was not available at the time. Still, an interesting alternative to own.

'Batman Beyond - Return of the Joker (The Original Uncut Version)' - More brutal than the kiddie-friendly version, this is pretty much tied with Sub-Zero as the second best animated Batman film. You MUST see this.

Batman & Justice League (2001-?)

'Justice League - Season One (DC Comics Classic Collection)' - *NEW* Finally! Toss away those snapper-case DVD's and make room on your shelf for the real deal. The show isn't obsessively dedicated to Batman (obviously), but who cares? This is great stuff.

A New Approach (2004-?)

'The Batman - The Complete First Season (DC Comics Kids Collection)' - *NEW* I can dig it, but I wouldn't consider it essential. Typical, run of the mill modern saturday morning cartoon fare. Get this if you must.

'Batman vs. Dracula' - The first movie based off the new 'The Batman' television series. Good, but nothing special. I hate to sound negative, but I just can't bring myself to love this show or this movie.

BAT SPOOF

Bat Thumb (2001)

'Bat Thumb' - Heh. Thumbs are funny. Nothing essential, but a good laugh for Batman fans.