From: MANEJWZA@ctrvax.vanderbilt.edu ()
Subject: Zafar's Review Machine--BTAS:"The Forgotten"
Organization: Vanderbilt University 
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 00:34:22 GMT
X-News-Reader: VMS NEWS 1.21

Batman The Animated Series:

10/8   "The Forgotten"

Story by: Dennis and Mueller
Written by: Derek
Directed by: Dickerson

And now, for a synopsis:

	Bruce Wayne is investigating at the mission for homeless people.
He finds out that many people have disappeared includind a volounteer named
Dan Reily.
	Bruce Wayne dresses himself like a homeless and colors his hair white.
He drives throught the city and then walks into an alley where he is jumped
by three men.  He kicks themoff but his clobbered by a fourth losing his
memory.
	He wakes up in barn in a bed where he meets Reily and a guy named
Selbo Smith.  Outside, the Boss (this huge pig of a man who is constantly
eating) orders everyone to work. He points to a man who is then grabbed
and thrown in a metal box screaming to let him out.
	Meanwhile, at the Wayne Manor, Alfred notices that Batman is not
in his room and the windows are opened.
	Bruce is pushing a cart in an underground mine where people are
digging.  Reily and Smith discuss their backgrounds.  We find that Smith
was unemployed, Reily was a volounteer, and that both were taken away.
All of sudden, the mine caves in.
	Bruce and Reily come out and helps Smith.
	Alfred notices that the Batmobile is still in and that all of his
cars (about a hundred fancy autos) are there except for the Studebaker.  He
puts a tracking on it and discovers its location.
	
	Meanwhile, we see Bruce walking in a large hall and looking at a mirror
which shows him as thin and short.  Then there is a large laugh as the Joker
snatches him away through a glass and down a tall building.  Bruce lands
on the ground and the Joker is gone.  He is in a suit and many people come
off the street as Bruce hands them money.  Then we see tears in his eyes.

	Bruce wakes up from his nightmare in the bed.  He finally understands
what the rescue mission was all about--that the Boss was stealing homeless
people off the street to work for him so that their identity would not be
questioned.  But he still didn't know who he (Bruce) was.
	Dan Reily refuses to be put in a box and him and Bruce get into
a fight with the Boss' men. They get beaten and are put in metal boxes.
	Alfred tracks the Studebaker and removes it's homing device and places
it on the truck that is leaving for the hideout where Bruce and company were.
	Bruce and Reily in the metal boxes are going mad.  Bruce can't remember
anything and Reilly is afraid that he will not see his family anymore.
	Bruce then relapses into another dream remembering his past as a boy
in his parents arms and then getting rich and then becomes the Batman.
	He awakes and kicks the box open.  A whistle is blown and dogs are
let lose to chase Bruce.  Bruce goes into a dangerous cavern where he is
cornered and then leaps over some rocks.  He begins to climb the walls.
	Alfred is then shown flying the Batplane throught he cavern.  The bat
comp won't land because of the treacherous cavern.  He finally passes over
Bruce and then lands.  Alfred gets out clumsily and says,"I claim this land
to be Spain!" (Gee I hope I got that right)  
	
	Batman (yes Batman!) enters in the Boss' chamber and the Boss fires at
him.  Batman escapes throwing the two men and leads them to the mine. Boss
and his men follow him and search.  Batman takes them out one by one and sends
them back to the Boss in a cart.  The Boss uses his lanterns and ends up losing
his men to Batman.  Batman then follows Boss up an elevator and into a corner
near some explosives.  The Boss trips and his lantern lights on fire.
Batman grabs the Boss and then jumps down a water flume. The mine explodes
and the escape unharmed.
	
	Bruce Wayne tells Reily and Smith that he is actually 'the' millionaire
Bruce Wayne.  He offers them a job if they need one.

Wow!  Sorry but these are getting longer.

Comments:  In my opinion, this is one of the best episodes they have shown
since I began seeing them.  The story is dramatic and original.  The animation
is good.  Escpecially the scenes with the Boss eating and the Batplane
flying around (although Alfred looked goofy as usual).  There was quite
a bit of "Lock Up" action and the metal box idea was good.  The best
thing about this episode was the music.  The jazzy western guitar and harmonica
was brilliant.  I liked it when the music kicked in during the chase scenes.
The second best things were the dream scenes. The Joker dream scene was
king of surprising.  It looked like I was was watching a lengthy film in
but a half hour.  There were no stupifying lulls like that stupid episode
with the plant woman.

Numbers:
(out of 10)

Plot: 9  Original but had only a decent ending.
Character: 8  Reily, Bruce, and the Boss where depicted well.
Special FX and action: 7  Exciting and full of fight scenes, no special FX here
Animation: 9   There were no apparent problems here.  The scene where the Boss
		was eating and when Batman was hiding in the shadows were well
		done.
Music: 10  I loved the theme music here and ecspecially the main track.

Overall: 8.6  Real good!

Tommorow: Mob at War!  Batman is pursued?


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