  Batman Begins is out again on DVD, but beware: The new limited-edition giftset contains the same discs and extras as the previously released Deluxe Edition.
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Batman Begins again. With the imminent release of The Dark Knight in theatres next week, Warner Bros. is going Bat-alistic.
Five Batman-related DVD releases hit stores today -- three for adult fans of the DC Comics franchise, plus two animated series for children.
The jewel fixed on the Caped Crusader's black cowl is Batman Begins: Limited Edition Giftset.
This set revives the two-disc Deluxe Edition -- with no changes -- and then adds a clutch of collectibles. Those goodies are cool but are not enough to warrant buying the giftset if you already own the original deluxe edition. So be forewarned. For first-time buyers, however, the set is worth it. Batman Begins also debuts on Blu-ray.
The collectibles are: A lenticular insert with Batman and his bat horde in a 3D hologram; a 138-mb flash drive emblazoned with the iconic Bat symbol and preloaded with "exclusive content" from Dark Knight; five Batman Begins postcards connected accordion-style; a $10 coupon to see the sequel by
Sept. 30 in any participating theatre in Canada; and a disc with a two-minute "sneak peek" of The Dark Knight (it is all fast-edit glimpses, with no real insight).
As for the widescreen-only deluxe edition, it is generous with analysis and shows exactly how Batman Begins was created and how it led to the dramatic revival of the franchise.
Comic book history lessons show the rise of the character. Plus you get: Detailed making-of insights, such as the development of the cape-and-cowl costume and the new Batmobile; visits to the miniatures set and how they were integrated into the CGI; an interactive, on-screen Batman comic book; and the hilarious five-minute MTV send-up, Tankman Begins, with Jimmy Fallon.
British director Christopher Nolan (of Memento fame) shows the passion that led him to get involved in Batman Begins and continue that with The Dark Knight. He says he had the obligation to be "extremely reverent to the history of the character, the mythology of Batman."
After examining thousands of Batman comics and all past film versions, Nolan says he realized "the original story had never been addressed on film or, really, even in the comics. That is to say there really isn't a single definitive account of the journey of Bruce Wayne into Batman. So there are fascinating gaps in the mythology there to be played with."
It was that element that helped turn Batman Begins into a comic book classic, one of the best superhero movies yet made.
"The best explanation offered by the comics," Nolan says, "was the notion of him using fear against those who would use fear themselves. When he is looking for the most intimidating symbol he can think of, he gravitates toward the thing that has frightened him the most as a child. Essentially, Bruce Wayne becomes his own worse fear."
The bat cape-and-cowl outfit, with its operatic design and animal-like quality, extends the gothic metaphor, Nolan says. "The costume has to be frightening or it has no purpose."
It is that sophisticated pyschology that serves as a primer for anyone who wants to really get into The Dark Knight as more than a summer popcorn movie.
The limited-edition gift set is on the wave that the DVD industry is riding. Both in Blu-ray and standard DVD, gift sets are the most significant growth sector. Warner Home Video is reporting a 26% growth this year. Its recent Dirty Harry set is a best-seller, prospects are good for Batman Begins and Warner is planning collector editions of Casablanca and The Flintstones for the fall.
