BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN - PART TWO (2021)
Label: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
Region Code: A
Rating: R
Duration: 87 Minutes
Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1 with Optional English Subtitles
Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (1.78:1)
Director: Chris Palmer
Cast: Jensen Ackles, Naya Rivera, Josh Duhamel, Lilly Burke, Titus Welliver, David Dastmalchian, Troy Baker, Amy Landecker, Julie Nathanson, Jack Quaid, Fred Tatasciore, Alastair Duncan, Frances Callier, Greg Chun, Gary Leroi Gray, Jim Pirri, Katee Sackhoff, Alyssa Diaz, Robin Atkin Downes,
John DiMaggio, Laila Berzins, Zach Callison, Gary LeRoi Gray, Rick Wasserman.
Based on the iconic mid-1990s 13-issue DC story from Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale, Batman: The Long Halloween, Part Two is the second half, 'natch, of the iconic storyline, with Batman (Jensen Ackles, Supernatural) teaming-up with Police Captain James Gordan (Billy Burke, Lights Out) and upcoming District Attorney Harvey Dent (Josh Duhamel, Netflix's gone-too-soon Jupiter's Legacy) to take down the Holiday killer. The first half of the story was a noir-ish detective thriller while the other half seen here is more action-packed and weird. The start of the film feature Bruce Wayne under the venomous thrall of Polson Ivy (Katee Sackhoff, The Mandalorian), until he is freed by Catwoman (the late Naya Rivera, Glee). We discover that Wayne and his crime-fighting alter-ego Batman have been under Ivy's spell for over a month, she having been recruited by Carmine "The Roman" Falcone (Titus Welliver, TV's Bosch), who facing the threat of the Holiday Killer has teamed-up with a trio of Batman's rogue's gallery, including Scarecrow (Robin Atkin Downes, The Strain) and the Mad Hatter (John DiMaggio, Futurama), both of whom get some solid screen time, with some great nightmare sequences with Scarecrow and his fear-toxin.
We also get the continuing story of District Attorney Harvey Dent's crumbling marriage and his willingness to bend the law a little at a time in pursuit of the Falcone crime family, compounded by a disfiguring acid-attack that send him over the edge, creating the villainous coin-tossing alter-ego Two-Face.
This half is certainly not wanting for dramatic elements, we have Batman dealing with his family's connection to the Falcone crime syndicate, his relationship with Selina Kyle/Catwoman, feuding crime families and their own inter-family drama/traumas, and of course, Batman's pursuit to unmask and stop Holiday while trying to help his friend Dent. On top of all the dramatic elements we get some terrific looking animation, plentiful action sequences and more of Batman's iconic rogues gallery including The Penguin (also voiced by Dastmalchian), The Joker (Troy Bake, Batman: Arkham Knight), and the return of Solomon Grundy (Fred Tatasciore, Looney Tunes Cartoons).
Audio/Video: Batman: The Long Halloween - Part Two arrives on Blu-ray from WBHE in 1080p HD framed in 1.78:1 widescreen. Like Part One the bold-lined animated style looks great in 1080p, the visuals are well-defined with deep color-saturation, it has excellent contrast and looks wonderful in motion.
Likewise, as with Part One audio comes by way of English DTS-HD MA 5.1 with optional English subtitles, and it's a lively and atmospheric presentation with an effective sound design gives weight to moments of action and carnage, and the Michael Gatt score sounds great.
Extras on this release include a new animated Blue Beetle cartoon that is a delightful throwback to the goofy superhero toons of the 60's and early 70's. This one includes appearances from Captain Atom, The Question, Nightshade and baddie Doctor Spectro. It's super-goofy with a cool retro animation vibe.
We also get sneak peaks of A Sneak Peek of the forthcoming Injustice (8 min) animated film plus they recycle sneak peaks for Batman: The Dark Knight Returns - Part Two (7 min) and Batman: Hush (9 min) which were available previously and have since been released. Another cool bonus is the inclusion of the Batman: The Animated Series episodes Two-Face, Part 1 and Two Face, Part 2, which run 22 minutes each. I was a bit disappointed we do not get any Batman: The Long Halloween specific extras, would have appreciated featurettes along the lines of looking at the voice cast and a comic to animation film comparison, but hopefully we get something on the 4K UHD coming in 2022 that will combines both films into one.
The single-disc release arrives in a standard eco-friendly keepcase with a single sided sleeve of artwork featuring a cool illustration that looks great, and looks even cooler when set side by side with Part One, forming a cool combined image. Inside there's a digital code for an HD digital copy of the film.
It's also worth noting that in 2022 Batman: The Long Halloween, Part Two will be available on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack as a combined film presentation with Batman: The Long Halloween, Part One, so if you're looking for the UHD you might want to wait for that complete set.
Special Features:
- DC Showcase – Blue Beetle (New Animated Short) (16 min) HD
- A Sneak Peek at the next DC Animated Movie – An advanced look at Injustice. (8 min) HD
- DC Universe Movies Flashback, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2 (7 min)
- DC Showcase – Blue Beetle (New Animated Short) (16 min) HD
- A Sneak Peek at the next DC Animated Movie – An advanced look at Injustice. (8 min) HD
- DC Universe Movies Flashback, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2 (7 min)
- DC Universe Movies Flashback, Batman: Hush (9 min) HD
- From the DC Vault: Batman: The Animated Series – “Two-Face, Part 1”, (22 min) HD
- From the DC Vault: Batman: The Animated Series – “Two-Face, Part 1”, (22 min) HD
- From the DC Vault: Batman: The Animated Series – “Two-Face, Part 2” (22 min) HD
Screenshots from the Blu-ray:
Extras:
