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good movie,fast service,just like i remember it,makes me feel young again,thank you,would recomened to others
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It sure would be nice if someone would put out more of these old T.V. shows on DVD's. (Like Batman, Hazel, Green Acres, Here Come the Brides, Petticoat Junction, to name a few.) Some shows have one or maybe two seasons out and then they quit. I for one would like more seasons put out because it sure is better than what is on T.V. today.
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I am a big fan of Christopher Nolan's recent and much more serious films about Batman. They feature brilliant performances by nuanced actors. But, I also feel like those movies tend to bombard the viewer with a pessimistic worldview which can be very unhealthy if unmediated by good philosophy. This film, featuring Adam West, Burt Ward, Lee Meriwether, Cesar Romero and Burgess Meredith is simply good fun with a twist on the Batman/Catwoman attraction.
Originally a theatrical spin-off of the 1960's television show, "Batman" this movie overcomes a cliched plot driven both by the style of the series and conventional wisdom surrounding the supposed juvenile qualities of comic books. (Lest we forget, it was released in 1966, twelve years before Christopher Reeve's wonderful "Superman" gave birth to the mature production of comic book movies).
Give this film a chance. It is very earnestly put together, and Adam West still speaks fondly of his days as Batman. It has earned an irrevocable place among pop presentations of the Batman character, and provides a respite from the gloom of the contemporary Batman films.
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There was something that was truly magical and unique about the 1960's, a time when network television was a major conduit for cultural experience, and fad after fad seemed to explode on the scene. With its campy, comedic, take on the classic comic book character, zany super villains, and unique two episode a week format, Batman quickly became a cultural phenomenon, when it ran on ABC in the spring of 1966. Making stars of Adam West as Batman, and Burt Ward as Robin.
20th Century Fox, and producer William Dozier, actually brought two classic characters from the 1930's to television that year. Besides Batman, The Green Hornet, a classic crimefighter who originated in radio serials, also ran on ABC for one season, starring Van Williams as the Hornet, and Bruce Lee as Kato. It is remarkable that neither Batman, or The Green Hornet, is not yet available on DVD.
Batman: The Movie was released in the summer of 1966, after the first season of Batman had already aired, and was basically an extension of the series. The characters, style, and settings, were already familiar to audiences at the time. The movie got into detail about things like the Batcave, stately Wayne Manor, and Bruce Wayne's personal life. Exotic modes of transportation, the Batcopter, and ultracool Batboat, thrilled and delighted fans. It was a brilliant idea to pit the caped crusaders against four supervillains. Together, The Penguin (Burgess Meredith), The Riddler (Frank Gorshin), The Joker (Cesar Romero), and The Catwoman (Lee Meriwether), made up the 'United Underworld'. These classic characters from the comics, had already made the transition to television, thanks to the superb performances of Meredith, Gorshin, Romero, and Julie Newmar during the first season of Batman. Newmar however, was unavailable to play The Catwoman. Sexy, svelte, and a former Miss America, Lee Meriwether (Time Tunnel, Barnaby Jones) was the purrfect choice for the role as the feline villainess.
The film also features regular characters, Alfred the butler (Alan Napier), Commissioner Gordon (Neil Hamilton), Chief O'Hara (Stafford Repp), and Aunt Harriet (Madge Blake). The plot is rather silly, and largely designed to showcase the film's many action sequences. The United Underworld have kidnapped Commodore Schmidlapp (Reginald Denny), to get his invention, a dehydrator ray. The device can remove all the water from a human body, a leave only a pile of powder. Hoping to lure Batman to the crooks dockside hideout, The Catwoman, in disguise as Miss Kitka, a Russian reporter, gets involved with Bruce Wayne, setting him up to be kidnapped, and taken on a night flight on one of the Penguin's flying umbrellas. Batman makes a memorable, and exasperating attempt to dispose of a bomb on a pier. The Penguin masquerading as Schmidlapp, is taken to the Batcave with five dehydrated crooks who are destroyed, when they are rehydrated with heavy water. The villains proceed with their plot, and dehydrate the members of the United World Headquarters, and head out to sea in the Penguin's sub. The Dynamic Duo force the sub to the surface, and finish off the crooks in a furious battle. Adam West and Burt Ward get a heavy duty workout, on the land, in the air, and at sea. The film made them even bigger stars. Lee Meriwether rocks, in a dual role. And Burgess Meredith is magnificent, as the cranky Penguin.
The multitude of extras in this edition is fantastic. In one commentary track, West and Ward, share some warm and humorous remembrances. Writer Lorenzo Semple has a more detached view of the film, and shares his thoughts in a second commentary track. There are also a number of excellent featurettes covering various facets of the film, the TV series, and the Batmania phenomenon. The interactive Batmobile feature is highly detailed, though it takes a while to go through. The whole package is delightful, and looks fantastic on blu-ray. The price is very reasonable, and is simply a must have for any Batfan of the 1966 program, particularly as the release of original series does not appear imminent.
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I bought this for my three year old because he likes Batman and the new Batman movies are not appropriate for his age. He loves this movie and has watched it over and over again. I wish they would release the 1966 series since he enjoys this movie so much.
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