BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN DELUXE EDITION

IF YOU

were not aware that Warner has been producing feature-length direct-to-video films based upon DC Comics characters for 15 years and counting, you’re really missing out. Often closely based upon specific storylines, they bring to life compelling explorations of some of our heroes’ most popular exploits. Each has a unique visual esthetic that honors the various artists, and most feature different voice actors to suit the writers’ distinct interpretations of these enduring icons.

One of the darkest tales is Batman: The Long Halloween, adapting Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale’s 13-issue series of the same name. We get to meet The Caped Crusader in his early days, when ally Captain Gordon of the GCPD introduces him to district attorney Harvey Dent, forming a justice-seeking triad of sorts. In short order, a holiday-themed serial killer begins targeting organized crime figures, inadvertently paving the way for costumed “freaks” to seize control of Gotham, and the investigation will take a heavy toll on all involved. Owing to the length of the source material, The Long Halloween was originally released in two separate parts, now assembled into a single mega-movie and upscaled to 4K for the first time in this Deluxe Edition.

The 16:9 image is crisp and genuinely striking, with none of the ringing that sometimes occurred in early DC animated HD Blu-rays. The use of out-of-focus backgrounds adds a true cinematic feel. High dynamic range is evident in the glow from windows or inside a pumpkin, in Batmobile headlights and more. Colors are dependably vibrant. We need only compare to the included 1080p Blu-ray which, while outstanding, displays a step down from

Ultra HD in all aspects of video quality.

The Gotham City locale is like a living character unto itself and, as such makes its presence known with its own unique sound, even in quieter moments. Scenes such as an early rooftop chase fairly flaunt their reliance upon bold sonic storytelling, whereas a spectacular, violent Chinatown alley fight is simply reference-caliber, as is an athletic battle with a certain plant-powered villainess. Sharp gunshots are plentiful and the directional panning here is as good as it gets. The aggressive usage of the surround channels is inspired throughout, with respectable low-end reinforcement.

Those previous releases contained two original animated shorts, absent here, but carried over are four pertinent episodes of Batman: The Animated Series, looking terrific in HD. New on the 4K and HD platters is an excellent mini-documentary with Loeb, the filmmakers and others going deep on the influences and the complex underlying psychology.