Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Randy Miller III June 6, 2019

Note: Please read my separate 4K UHD review of this title for 20 additional 1080p screenshots.

Aside from a six-issue comic book series published several years back by DC Comics and IDV Publishing, I can't think of a single time where Batman and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ever crossed paths...despite their combined franchise lifespan of well over a century. Why did it take this long? Foregoing location differences, the team-up (or showdown) seems like a perfect fit: both mostly fight crime at night, and...um...are skilled martial artists, and...well, not much else. That's the logical extent of this new animated crossover from Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment, in partnership with Nickelodeon (current owners of the TMNT franchise), and guess what? It's enough to work, both as a satisfying detour for each franchise and a solid, entertaining story that doesn't wear out its welcome. There are a few trouble spots along the way, but I can't imagine anyone with a foot in both camps walking away disappointed.

The setup is thankfully minimal, and more or less cemented before the opening titles: Barbara Gordon (AKA Batgirl, voiced by Rachel Bloom) witnesses a research facility break-in by the Foot Clan, which is thwarted by four mysterious green fighters. Turns out that Leonardo (Eric Bauza), Donatello (Baron Vaughn), Raphael (Darren Criss), and Michaelangelo (Kyle Mooney) arrived in Gotham while tracking Shredder (Andrew Kishino), who has been stealing experimental devices from all over Gotham in recent weeks. His next target will likely be Wayne Enterprises -- and combined with the testimony of Batgirl, it's not long before Batman (Troy Baker) faces off with both sides of these intruders from New York City. But how long will the "vs." in Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles last?

Turns out, not very long...but that's OK since, even as reluctant comrades, their wildly different styles and attitudes keep things from getting too homogenized. That's probably the greatest strength of Batman vs. TMNT: it's lead characters are strong and well-established enough to be completely comfortable in their own skin. This unavoidable culture clash makes for a few well-timed gags, fourth-wall breaking, and satisfying moments that probably could have happened 20 years ago. Things unfold at a steady clip as Batman and The Turtles get deeper into the mystery, which also involves other members of the Rogues' Gallery including The Penguin, Two-Face, Mr. Freeze, Ra's Al Ghul, The Joker, and several others. This sounds like a lot on paper but everything's balanced reasonably well, even after Robin and Batgirl join the team full-time. Again, it's the use of established characters that ensures Batman vs. TMNT stays light on its toes; as long as you're familiar with everyone involved, you'll have no trouble keeping up.

There are a few problems along the way, however. Although I'm not a particularly seasoned follower of DC's direct-to-video animated titles, the recent ones I've watched seem to be getting progressively cheaper-looking in the animation department. Batman vs. TMNT is no exception: the character designs are, more often than not, a little simplistic and the action is rarely as fluid as it needs to be. This cripples the impact of certain moments...especially those meant to be either serious or suspenseful, such as the mutation of a few baddies during the film's second half. These creatures look (and sound) more goofy than intimidating, like something from a young kid's show...so it was hard to remain fully interested, since this PG-13 production is clearly aimed at older kids and their parents. This brings me to my other complaint: the sporadic bloody violence, which includes a few nasty puncture wounds, a shattered nose, and a barely-concealed beheading. These moments seem really out of place within the movie's typically lighter tone, and will unfortunately -- or at least hopefully -- keep much younger kids from watching it. Batman vs. TMNT certainly earns that PG-13 rating, and I'm probably not alone in wishing two different cuts were made available.

But for the most part, Batman vs. TMNT is a lot of fun and much better than expected. There's a lot of well-placed fan service, sharp dialogue, solid action, several twists and turns, and an overall well-crafted atmosphere that ties both universes together neatly. Warner Bros.' Blu-ray offers a decent but not overwhelming amount of support, including a good-to-great A/V presentation and a few short but mostly enjoyable bonus features. A separate 4K/BR combo pack is also available, which predictably boosts the visuals a bit. Both include a Digital Copy for good measure.

Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original 1.78:1 direct-to-video aspect ratio, Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles looks very good on Warner Bros.' Blu-ray. The animation feels a little cheap in several key areas -- character design details, movement, even composition -- but there are no problems with the disc authoring, aside from typical format limitations such as color gradient banding and a few jagged edges. Considering the title characters, it's no surprise that Batman vs. TMNT is very dark at times; some colors are purposefully muted and most areas are bathed in shadow. The good news is that this Blu-ray handles those dark areas fairly well (again, within format limitations), showcasing a solid amount of shadow detail and reasonably strong contrast levels when needed. Other colors pop out against the darker shadows, such as in the Batcave and establishing shots, but these are understandably a lot better defined on the separately available 4K edition. Overall, this 1080p transfer is basically on par with most recent DC animated productions and, aside from my subjective complaints about the character designs, there's really not much to complain about.

Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Normally the audio section of any disc review is a little tough to write about, since the large majority of action-oriented films mixed for surround sound are very similar in style: dialogue mostly up front, music all around, a few panning effects, and maybe even a few good moments of deep low end to keep the subwoofer awake. But Batman vs. TMNT doesn't always follow those rules to the letter, and I'm not sure if it was a conscious decision by the creative team or some kind of slight defect. Dialogue is completely up front -- and I mean completely -- in just about every scene, even in more spacious areas and regardless of character placement. Certain sound effects feel similarly cramped, although the music and some ambient noises do seem to drift into the rear channels on occasion. This odd audio mixing can't help but feel somewhat claustrophobic -- but while experimenting with my receiver settings seemed to massage the "problem" areas, I've still got to dock the overall score a half-point because it just sounds a little off at times.

Still, there are a few respectable highlights: I really enjoyed Kevin Riepl's original score (which uses a mixture of traditional instruments and throws in a good amount of synth along the way), while most of the hits and weapon clangs had a solid amount of weight behind them. At least one scene involving a pretty horrific hallucination also employed a few decent panning effects. Overall, this is a decent-sounding track more often than not...but due to the somewhat crowded dialogue mixing, would likely never be confused with a theatrical-quality production.

Optional English SDH subtitles are included during the film and extras, as well as a handful of foreign dubs and subs.

Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Warner Bros.' two disc Blu-ray/DVD combo pack arrives in a dual-hubbed keepcase with a Digital Copy code and an embossed slipcover. The extras are light but entertaining, although they don't all focus on the main feature.

• Cowabunga Batman! When Comic Book Worlds Collide (12:31) - This featurette gives an overview of both franchises, the unique challenges and rewards of uniting them, and other interesting team-ups in comic book history. Featured participants include writer Marly Halpern-Graser, voice actor Eric Bauza (Leonardo) and Rachel Bloom (Batgirl), storyboard artist Chris Copeland, director Jake Castorena, producer Ben Jones, and more.

• Fight Night in Gotham (18:06) - Another like-minded piece with many of the same participants. This time, however, it takes a closer look at the fight sequences and storyboarding, from the creative team's favorite stunt actors (Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, etc.). Some pretty interesting ground is covered, including the very different fighting styles and techniques used by the main and supporting characters on both sides.

• A Sneak Peek at Batman: Hush (9:18) takes a look at the DC Universe's upcoming animated movie, offering comments from select members of the voice cast and crew including director Justin Copeland, producer James Tucker, voice director Wes Gleason, and writer/producer Jim Krieg, who talk about developing the original story, assembling the voice cast. and other topics. There's also artwork from the original comic series by Jim Lee and Jeph Loeb, concept designs, and a few short clips from the soon-to-be-released product. If this all sounds familiar, it's because this featurette was also included on Justice League vs the Fatal Five.

Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I honestly didn't know what to expect out of Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but this DC animated movie is an entertaining and worthwhile production. The plot is fine enough, but where it really shines is in the mostly well-matched character interactions and a satisfying blend of comedy, action, and even a little horror. The addition of Batgirl, Robin, and a few supporting villains also kept thing interesting without bogging down the plot too heavily. Still, there were a few speed bumps along the way: some of the blood and harder violence felt out of place, the voice acting was somewhat lackluster, and the budget animation short-changed a few action sequences and suspenseful moments. Still, I had a good time and will be watching it again soon enough, although the aforementioned blood will keep me from sharing it with my daughter for at least another year or two. Warner Bros.' Blu-ray provides a bit of support, but it's not overwhelming: the audio mix sounds a little cramped and the bonus features, while appreciated, are nothing to write home about. Nonetheless, this one's still recommended for established fans of Batman, TMNT, or both.