Reviews - DVD - Mask of the Phantasm (Mini-DVD)
Packaging
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Release Information:
Announce Date: 3/21/05
Street Date: 4/26/05
MSRP: $14.96
Packaging Type: Thin Case
Media Quantity: 1
Sound Track Language: English
Run Time: 76 |
Aspect Ratio(s):
Original Aspect Ratio - 2.66, Original Aspect Ratio - 1.33
Audio
English: Dolby Surround Stereo 2.0
Francais: Dolby Surround Stereo 2.0
Edition Details:
• Encoding: Region 1
• Animated, Color
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Official Synopsis: Unmasking the Phantasm is just one of the twists
in Batman: Mask of Phantasm, "one of the most imaginative films of the
past year" (Chuck Rich, Westwood One). Only here will you discover
all-new revelations about Batman's past, his archrival the Joker and the
most grueling battle of Batman's life - the choice between his love of a
beautiful woman and his vow to be the defender of right. Batman: Mask of
Phantasm is a "mystery that is genuinely absorbing, suspenseful and
moving" (Cincinnati Enquirer) and a film no fan should be without! Can
the Dark Knight elude the police, capture the Phantasm and clear his
name? Year: 1993 Director: Eric Radomski Starring: Kevin Conroy, Mark
Hamill, Dana Delany, Hart Bochner, Abe Vigoda
Review (James Harvey): Remember the Mini-DVD format? Well,
there’s a reason you don’t. Introduced and then discontinued in the
blink of an eye, the Mini-DVD format was meant to be a cheap movie-only
alternative for those who had no interest in the bonus features on their
DVDs, The Mini-DVDs, which worked in both a Mini-DVD player and a
full-size DVD player, featured just the movie and nothing else. No
extras, no menus, no nothing. Once the disc was inserted into the
player, the movie would boot up and that would be it. As you can expect,
these didn’t take off, even with their $5.99 bargain price tag.
As per the Batman: Mask of the Phantasm Mini-DVD, since there are
no extras and we’ve already reviewed the main feature elsewhere in the
site, we’ll take a quick look at the audio/video quality of the
Mini-DVD. The video is standard, looking exactly the same as the DVD
release (which is no real surprise given the small amount of space the Batman:
Mask of the Phantasm takes up on its’ DVD release). The video is
full-screen and looks as good as it can on Mini-DVD. Not great, but not
horrible, just like the original DVD release to Batman: Mask of the
Phantasm. Is this worth picking up? Well, since the Mini-DVD format
is discontinued and this originally-priced $5.99 disc will now cost you
upwards of $30, I’d say “no” and just pick up the regular DVD release of
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm.
It’s amazing that, as of December 2008, there has been no “Special
Edition” release of Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, but we’ve had
the film re-issued as a Mini-Disc, part of a “Two-Movies-For-One”
flipper disc release, reissued in new Amaray packaging, and released in
a 3-Disc box set. I understand that just reissuing the film is likely
cheaper than making a whole new edition, but if any of these multiple
releases are any indication, it’s obvious that the demand is there for a
new Batman: Mask of the Phantasm DVD release. Maybe Warner Home
Entertainment will see fit to release a new edition someday, but, for
now, skip this Mini-DVD and seek out one of the low-priced alternatives
available, |
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