Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		5.0

Batman 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

"Wait'll they get a load of me!"

Reviewed by Martin Liebman May 27, 2019

Warner Brothers has released Director Tim Burton's 1989 Noir Superhero film 'Batman' to the UHD format (also being released are 1992's 'Batman Returns,' 1995's 'Batman Forever,' and 1997's 'Batman & Robin'). The new release features a gorgeous 2160p/HDR video presentation and an equally engaging Dolby Atmos soundtrack. The included Blu-ray, which has been remastered and also includes the Atmos soundtrack, carries over the supplements previously found on the 2009 standalone DigiBook and the larger Anthology Collection. There is no individual retail release for the remastered Blu-ray; at time of writing, purchasing this UHD set is the only means of obtaining it.

For a full film review, please see Kenneth Brown's writing by clicking here; note that the "Movie" score above reflects my own.

Batman 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The included screenshots are sourced from the included remastered 1080p Blu-ray disc. Watch for 4K screenshots at a later date.

Batman is a visually arresting film, combining reserved, yet colorful, scenes and elements of spectacle against shadowy, gothic, noir-inspired sets, costumes, and photography. Warner Brothers' previously issued VC-1 Blu-ray still holds up today as a well-rounded 1080p presentation, but both this 2160p/HDR UHD, and the bundled Blu-ray (which has also been remastered, though not issued independently of this release), are worlds better, offering the best of both broad structural improvements and smaller adjustments that make the UHD in particular a masterwork of home video picture authoring and easily the best the film has looked since its theatrical release, and probably better in some ways.

Black levels and shadow detail are vital to the presentation; Burton and Cinematographer Roger Pratt create a visual styling that is often dependent on shadow, which reflects both a broad despair around a city under the thumb of violent crime and Bruce Wayne's grieving soul. That is countered by colorful juxtapositions once Jack Napier makes the transition to The Joker, where many scenes yield a barrage of greens, reds, and purples, as well the white facial makeup. Black levels and shadow detail are greatly improved on the UHD compared to the VC-1 Blu-ray (the improvements here, and elsewhere, are less dramatic when compared to the remastered Blu-ray, though certainly there's still a textural improvement and color refinement on UHD that the new Blu-ray cannot match). Blacks are significantly richer and deeper and more complimentary to the photography and lighting. They are dense yet still detailed, full and deep without crushing detail. Shadowy city exteriors -- much of the first act, really -- are a treat, and combined with the first-class textural finesse and grain management make every such shot of reference quality.

Tonal improvements to the broader color spectrum are very welcome. The picture finds an agreeable warmth in many scenes, such as those taking place in Wayne Manor. The warm woods and natural lighting during the day contribute to a healthy skin glow on the UHD whereas the older Blu-ray appears comparatively gray and flat. Such is also found, for instance, in the sequence introducing Jack Napier, where again the vitality and feel for health dwarfs the pasty elder Blu-ray. It's a fairly significant, but welcome, enhancement that breathes a new feel for image health and vitality to the movie while maintaining the darker noir-inspired tones, even in relatively well-lit locales such as these. One of the key color highlights comes in Joker's reveal when confronting Carl Grissom. The adds in white brilliance and the red lipstick allow both to pop, working in conjunction with improved textural qualities where the character's face almost has something of a glittery feel about it. Altogether the elements combine for a striking reveal out of the shadows and one of the film's first color assaults. The character's colorful apparel finds a manicured brilliance to purples, oranges, and teals, all of which pop in light and play nicely against the darker scenes in which they appear, particularly during the film's climax.

The 2160p resolution is a boon to the film. Grain is well manicured and consistent in density. It lends a beautiful complimentary feel to the picture that solidifies the textural might that comes thanks to the exacting source and thorough work performed to bring the movie as close to visual perfection as the format allows. Whether rough urban Gotham scenery, nicely appointed clothes, or expertly revealing skin textures, there's practically no end to the movie's handsome definition, crisp lines, and perfectly detailed characters and locations. It's of natural film quality through-and-through. The image is a touch soft by its nature but its attention detail and all of the complexity the medium and the format allow are on full display. With the HDR color spectrum, the film source, and the refined textural presentation, this is a breathtaking cinematic presentation and one of the finest the UHD format has yet seen.

Batman 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Batman features a newly remixed Dolby Atmos soundtrack which is actually the default audio presentation on both the UHD and the Blu-ray. Perhaps Warner Brothers is indeed listening to complaints about the company's odd defaults to lesser tracks. Under that Atmos configuration, Danny Elfman's opening title music has never sounded richer, larger, more alive, more effortlessly and perfectly immersive. The level of individualized clarity to every note and the total orchestral completion grants the title sequence the heft, fun, and narrative-complimentary foundation it has always deserved. Score throughout follows suit, playing large with perfectly balanced detail and full stage saturation. Prince's pop songs, arguably the most controversial aspect of the entire production, offer rich vocal and instrumental clarity and fluid stage spacing.

Gunshots during the Axis Chemical shoot-out offer superior depth and quality feel for impact through the whole stage. Steam blows around the stage and chemicals spill from broken vats with superior placement and movement. A car chase in chapter 22 offers more of the same, with some impressively defined full-stage crashing effects where crunching metal and spilling items are a result of the high-speed maneuvers. The Batmobile's engine roars with impressive depth and detail. The climactic action sequence is a symphony of cracking and creaking wood, blaring bells, a whirring helicopter, and plenty of other elements that encase the listener on all sides and above with the added Atmos overhead channels. The track folds in superior environmental effects, too, notably prior to a robbery on Gotham's busy streets at film's open and in several scenes inside the bustling newspaper offices. Dialogue is perfectly clear and detailed with firm front-center placement; nice reverb accompanies as the situation allows, such as during the scene introducing Harvey Dent early in the film. This is a terrific presentation in all facets and the perfect compliment to the reference quality visuals.

Batman 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Batman's UHD disc contains only a legacy commentary track with Director Tim Burton. The included remastered Blu-ray has that track in addition to all of the supplements that Warner Brothers included with both the Anthology set and the standalone DigiBook release. For convenience, find below a breakdown of what's included. For full supplemental content reviews, please click here. This release includes a Movies Anywhere digital copy code and ships with a non-embossed slipcover.

• Audio Commentary: Director Tim Burton.
• On the Set with Bob Kane
• Legends of the Dark Knight: The History of Batman
• Shadows of the Bat: The Cinematic Saga of the Dark Knight
• Batman: The Heroes
• Batman: The Villains
• Beyond Batman
• Batman: The Complete Robin Storyboard Sequence
• Music Videos
• Theatrical Trailer

Batman 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Tim Burton's Batman is this reviewer's second-favorite Superhero film, right behind 1978's Superman. The film is a masterwork of set design, shadow and light, cinematography, and total production workmanship. The story plays complimentary to the aesthetics, the acting is first-rate, and there's an interesting dichotomy between light and dark, with the villain taking on the outward characteristics of the former and the hero the outward -- and also in many ways inward -- characteristics of the latter. Keaton and Nicholson play very well against one another and the film is full of terrific support performances from Pat Hingle, Billy Dee Williams, Robert Wuhl, Jack Palance, Kim Basinger, and William Hootkins. Warner Brothers' UHD (as well as the remastered Blu-ray) is exquisite. Perfect film-sourced 2160p/HDR picture, wonderful remixed Dolby Atmos audio, and a healthy collection of ported extras make this one of the best UHD releases yet and a must-own disc. About the only part of this release (and the others in this series) that's awful is the box art. Fortunately better looking SteelBooks are on the way, though nothing compares to the simple original poster art featuring the Batman logo against a black background. Batman on UHD earns my highest recommendation.