DVD Review: "Batman the Brave and the Bold"
Danny Alves
WHAT IT'S ABOUT: Batman and fellow DC Comic Super Heroes give evil a one-two punch in the sophomore season of the fun, witty, and suspenseful TV series!
This thrilling 2-disc collection features Batman teaming with the Green Lantern Corps, Aquaman, Plastic Man, Blue Beatle, Green Arrow, Captain Marvel, the Metal Men, and Firestorm to fight the forces of evil.
The Phantom Stanger and The Spectre even aid the Dark Knight in closing the case of the man who took his parents away from him!
Villains from the ruthless Ra’s Al Ghul to the vengeful Black Adam, the stellar powered Evil Star and the super intelligent Gorilla Grodd push Batman and his crime-fighting compatriots to their limits.
Go along with Batman through 12 Action-Packed Episodes that reveal justice is blind… as a Batman!
FILM: The (not quite so) Dark Knight Rises again in the second season of this Cartoon Network series. What sets this Batman apart from the many iterations from comic to film is the delicate blend of 60’s kitsch with a ‘00s action sensibility and a much lighter Knight. Obviously meant for kids, this Batman is not the dark and brooding hero we have come to know as of late (and, of course, the villains are much more comical compared to the twisted darkness of the comics and Nolan films.)
But, what really stands out in this series is the stories told. “Batman: The Brave and the Bold” does not merely stand on the easy “bad guy commits crime, Batman hunts bad-guy down and brings him to justice”, rather, almost every episode has a very distinct flavor and originality usually seen in only the Special Episodes of most cartoons.
From the Ultra High-Concept “Death Race to Oblivion” (which is a take-off from “Death Race 2000”), to the funny “Aquaman’s Outrageous Adventures” chronicling Aquaman’s attempts to take a vacation with his family while trying to stay out of trouble., to the just bizarre “Clash of the Metal Men” where humanoid Metals have to fight Animated Gas (yeah… I know…), there is always something fresh and new in each episode.
The Brave and the Bold, is the perfect holdover until our collective appetites are whetted with next year’s “Dark Knight Rises”.
VIDEO: For a recent cartoon release, the transfer is more than adequate! Colors are vibrant and the picture is sharp. The dark scenes are also handled well.
AUDIO: A nice Dolby Surround mix, good audio fun for the kiddies!
SPECIAL FEATURES: Zip, Zilch, Bupkus… HUGE disappointment.
OVERALL: An actually fresh and fun interpretation of the Dark Knight, surprisingly good!
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