Batman: The Motion Picture Anthology 1989-1997 [DVD] [2005]

Box set containing four films from the popular 'Batman' film series. 'Batman' (1989) was the first big screen outing for Bob Kane's caped crusader. The streets of Gotham City are no longer safe for criminals, who are being picked off by a masked vigilante in a rubber suit - dubbed 'Batman' by the press. Reporter Alexander Knox (Robert Wuhl) teams with photographer Vicki Vale (Kim Basinger) in an attempt to discover Batman's true identity - an investigation which leads them to the door of mysterious millioniare Bruce Wayne (Michael Keaton). Meanwhile, crime boss Carl Grissom's (Jack Palance) attempt to rid himself of untrustworthy henchman Jack Napier (Jack Nicholson) does not go according to plan, and after emerging physically - and mentally - disfigured from a vat of chemicals, Napier reinvents himself as the psychotic Joker. In 'Batman Returns' (1992), Oswald Cobblepot was abandoned by his parents as a baby. Thirty three years later, bent on revenge, he returns to Gotham City as the Penguin (Danny DeVito). First he begins a warped campaign to become Mayor, helped by millionaire businessman Max Shreck (Christopher Walken); next, he undertakes a mission to murder every first born son in Gotham - a plan which will avenge his own beginnings. Meanwhile, he has two adversaries to contend with: Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer), the embittered ex-secretary of Max Shreck, and, of course, the old caped crusader himself (Keaton). In 'Batman Forever' (1995), former District Attorney Harvey Two-Face (Tommy Lee Jones) is terrorising Gotham City, when a new villain appears on the scene - the Riddler (Jim Carrey). Together they plot to discover Batman's (Val Kilmer) identity, using a device which can probe the human mind. Meanwhile, the caped crusader has been joined by Robin (Chris O'Donnell), whose trapeze-artist family have recently been slain by Two-Face. 'Finally, in 'Batman and Robin' (1997), Batman (George Clooney) and Robin (O'Donnell) have to stop the vengeful Mr Freeze (Arnold Schwarzenegger) from taking over Gotham City by using his new ice weapon. To make matters worse, the venomous Poison Ivy (Uma Thurman) decides to join forces with Freeze, so making an almost undefeatable double-whammy of a team. Luckily for the caped crusader and his rebellious ward, they can team up with a new tough and courageous new partner - Batgirl (Alicia Silverstone).