Batman: The Movie

My young teen boys get a kick out of these. One of the best values around if you’re into the classic Batman tv series. Lots of episodes! Good quality picture. Fun blast from the past.

A bit much, right? Sorry about that, but this Batman incarnation is silly and fun and serves as a nice occasional break from the dark knight of todays movies. Actually, I didnt watch this Batman too much when it was on TV way back then. My 10 year-old daughter saw a PBS special about super heros on TV in the old days and wanted the pic and, being an old coot, now, I indulged her and ordered it. Surprisingly, I find it much more fun, these days. The video was used, very inexpensive, but in fine condition. The vendor got it to us in a timely manner. I am happy with this order, as I tend to be will all of my amazon purchases.

The film adaptation of the popular ABC TV series from 1966-68 has it all, action, adventure, romance, danger and comedy. Adam West and Burt Ward were excellent in the roles of Batman and Robin. Lee Meriwether(who replaces Julie Newmar due to a prior commitment)was at her sexiest as the Catwoman, and Frank Gorshin, Burgess Meridith and Cesar Romero were hilariously enjoyable as the villains. The special features contains a featurette with Adam and Burt talking about the behind the scenes stories, also there is a tour of the Batmobile with its creator, George Barris. This movie is a treat for kids as well as adults, it may not be the TV series we hope for, but it is close enough!

DVD is good quality but packaging could be better

I always liked the Batman TV show and I think it was a very smart move to make this movie with the 4 most known villains. Each one had nice parts. Ive always liked the Riddlers laugh and the Jokers as well. I sure wished that Julie Newmar had been in the role of Catwoman. Theres no other Catwoman like Julie Newmar. All in all the movie has its laughs and great moments. This movie is a must have for all Batman fans of the 60s.

A little long, but full of the kind of fun that the Batman series started. It has some overly funny sequences, such as the fake shark that clamps onto Batmans leg and will not let go; and the bomb chase that has Batman running while carrying a smoking bomb along a pier, trying desperately to dispose if it, but being thwarted over and over by civilians who keep getting in the way to prevent it. The movie also features four of Batmans arch enemies.

While most Batman fans are familiar with Christopher Nolans Dark Knight or the Tim Burton series (most Batman fans try to purge themselves of the horrible Joel Schumacher films) this is the one that started it all. Adam West of Family Guy fame stars as the Caped Crusader and he has his trusty sidekick Robin (Burt Ward) and Alfred, who wears a mask and drives the Batmobile in one scene. The plot is fairly standard: Four of Batmans greatest foes The Joker, The Riddler, The Penguin and Catwoman plot to disrupt global politics by kidnapping the UN Council by using a dehydrator. The costumes are bright, the villians are over the top and Adam West pulls his clean cut Bruce Wayne swagger with Ms. Kitka or Catwoman. Very funny and entertaining film. Some memorable moments include Batman vs a shark, Robin literally lowers himself to hand Batman his anti-shark Batspray and the helicopter is left unpiloted for a good while, a dolphin sacrficing itself to save Batman and Robin (off screen) and Batman and Robin jogging through Gotham to rescue the UN Council giving the villians enough time to kidnap the ambassadors and get away. Classic.... The Blu-ray is amazing, the film looks very good on HDTV and the film reminds us of a different and gentler Batman, a good introduction for kids, a great trip down memory lane and an amusing trip for the rest of us.

This is the first live action Batman movie, and its really goofy. The special effects are really dated now, the shark at the beginning was very fake looking, and everything Batman owns has to have Bat attached to it. The villains are cool. The Joker is still my favorite Batman villain, and Caesar Romero is a great Joker. Not as good as Heath Ledger or Jack Nicholson, but still good. The Penguin was cool. The Riddler was good. Catwoman was good. The plot of the movie is over the top and very weird. Not much I can say about this one. If you are a fan of Batman, youll want to see this to see how Batman became a comedic hero. Still a good, enjoyable movie.

Some TV shows and movies date themselves, but Adam Wests Batman is so perfectly cartoony that it will never grow old. Rotten Tomatoes gives this 1966 movie 81%! This is a review for the 2008 Special Edition DVD reissue. [Edited to add 07/15] When I wrote this review, Batman: The Movie was only available in DVD. After the (finally!) release of the TV series on BluRay/DVD, this movie has been released on BluRay. Ive been told the extras are different. The movie starts out with this dedication, which exemplifies the campy humor, fake seriousness and double entendres of the movie and TV show: We wish to express our gratitude to the enemies of crime and crusaders against crime throughout the world for their inspirational example. To them, and to lovers of adventure, lovers of pure escapism, lovers of unadulterated entertainment, lovers of the ridiculous and the bizarre ... To fun lovers everywhere... this picture is respectfully dedicated. If we have overlooked any sizable groups of lovers, we apologize. -- The Producers Batman and Robin go in a huddle with Commissioner Gordon and Chief OHara after Batmans hilarious fight with a shark, on a rope ladder, hanging from the BatCopter, where he hits the shark and it sounds exactly like hes hitting a rubber fish, said rubber shark finally repelled with a handy can of Bat Shark Repellent. The crime duo had been tracking a yacht, which mysteriously disappeared in the middle of the ocean. The four huddlers come to the horrible conclusion that they are up against four supercriminals working together: Batman: Pretty fishy what happened to me on that ladder. Commissioner: Where theres a fish there could be a Penguin. Robin: It happened at sea. See? C for Catwoman. Batman: The exploding shark was pulling my leg. Commissioner: The Joker! Chief OHara: It all adds up to a sinister riddle. Riddle-er. Riddler? Aaargh!! Yes, the fab four criminals are after the yacht owners new invention, the Total Dehydration Machine. With it, you can turn a person into a pile of colored dust. Later, just add water, and the person pops back up. How will our favorite crime fighters defeat them, especially when Catwoman dons the disguise of a Russian reporter to get close, very close, to Bruce Wayne? Dressed in a leopard skin hat and coat, she first introduces herself to Batman at a press conference: Comrade Kitayna Ireyna Tatanya Kerenska Alisoff. I am from the Moscow Bugle. Aaargh again! This movie is great fun to watch, with all sorts of verbal and visual jokes. And everybody seems to be having a great time. The movie is presented in widescreen 1.85:1 aspect ratio. The menu and extras, however, seem to be TV-sized. Heres the extras on the 2008 Special Edition DVD: 1. Commentary. You can watch the movie with commentary by Adam West (Batman) and Burt Ward (Robin). As theres only two commentators, there are some pauses, but it was fun. Like me, you may wish that Julie Newmar had played Catwoman in the movie. Ward remembers that Newmar was busy filming MacKennas Gold and not available. West says: These tights were not terribly comfortable. Ward: Holy Understatement! I called them my python pants, because they strangled me to death. The TV show ran for three years on ABC. Ward remembers that the Bat Cave was a very expensive set. When we were cancelled, if they hadnt destroyed it, NBC was gonna pick up the show and we would probably still be shooting today. 2. Batman Featurette. This is a 30 minute short with interviews with Burt Ward and Adam West, accompanied by movie outtakes and stills. Ward remembers that he had a great stuntman, but he still kept getting hurt. During the first episode, four days in a row in the emergency hospital. I didnt think I was going to survive the first week. West remembers that the TV show had 250 guest stars, including the people who pop up out of the window while Batman and Robin are doing their infamous wall-walk. This was a coveted guest appearance and people who wanted to do it but couldnt get the scheduling included Frank Sinatra! The short ends appropriately, with Ward crying, Holy DVD, Batman! 3. Batmobile Revealed, with George Barris. This short is an interview with the designer and builder of the original BatMobile. I dont know about you, but THATS the BatMobile I want! It includes a hilarious remembrance of being arrested in Fargo North Dakota for driving the BatMobile with no windshield wipers and incorrect taillights. 4. From the Vaults of Adam West. These are photos and stills from Adams collection. 5. Behind the Scenes Still Gallery. More photos. 6. Theatrical Trailer 7. Spanish Theatrical Trailer 8. Teaser 9. Planet of the Apes Cross Trailer. A theatrical preview showing snippets from Charleton Hestons Planet of the Apes to introduce the remake of the same movie. 10. Languages available: English stereo, English mono, French mono Captions available: English, Spanish This movie is a lot of fun, but you have to put your silly hat on, or youll just be groaning as you watch it! After you watch the movie, watch the great 2-disc TV special

I had the pleasure of watching this movie -- and the accompanying TV series -- in two different, but equally enjoyable, phases: First, as a 4th grader when they were first released in the 60s -- when I took them at face value as super hero adventure stories; and later, as an adult, reveling in the campy humor and the droll, dead-pan delivery of Adam West. This is a very corny movie -- but in a good way! Lots of fun. I especially enjoyed watching it while listening to the commentary by West and Burt Ward. And by the way, though Im not a kid any more, I still want that Batmobile in my garage, and want to take the Bat Boat out for a high-speed run!