Batman: The Movie

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.

Really, Just watch it. You shall not be disappointed in how much you will be disappointed. Like a basic wine ages to become a prime vintage, Batman 1966 is one of a kind. Get it while you can.

you cant even tell its from the 1960s, it looks amazing. very fun movie! get it!

Excellent adaptation of the awesome tv show to the Big Screen! Nice to go back in time to this classic movie and tv series when Superhero films were not as dark as today, but full of humour, puns, big words and a sense of humor/camp. Adam West, Burt Ward and Company are perfect, or shall I say purrr-fect in their roles. Upon my umpteenth viewing, I really appreciate how the film takes some breathing room to develop more of Bruce Waynes romantic side. Too bad hes/Batman is being foiled and fooled again by Catwoman. The colors, the camera angles, the sets are amazing, not to mention expanding the television series in its use of not just the Batmobile, but the bat-copter and bat-boat. The pace moves well and the ending is far more interestingly absurd than one might imagine even by the shows standards.

I rented this for viewing with a Girlfriend and her two Grandsons ( 11 and 9 ). We watched it for about 45 minutes and they ( the boys ) got up and left the room. We watched it for a few more minutes and I got a peck on the Cheek and an at-a-boy for my effort. Just about then we heard some commotion coming from the other end of House. When we went to see what was going on the two Boys where play fighting like Batman and Robin. Im not kidding, their Mother went looking for the camera and said lets get a picture before they go back to their x-box. They tired out and wanted to watch it from the beginning, which we did. I had not watched this since I was their age ... this Movie is pure magic.

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 have now seen this movie maybe fifty times and still counting. My four-year-old son is ADDICTED to Batman, the Batcopter, the Batcycle, the Penguins sub, etc. With the bigger-than-TV movie budget that allowed for these toys plus the presence of four bat villains, this is a must for fans of the BATMAN TV series. Adults will also appreciate -- perhaps after repeated viewings -- director Les Martinsons adept staging in long, well-timed comic takes among the villains. The bad guys are expert actors all, with relative novice Lee Meriweather (subbing for Julie Newmar, who was shooting McKENNAS GOLD during the hiatus) acquitting herself admirably as a comedic villain. And does she look an ABSOLUTE KNOCKOUT as both Catwoman and as Russian Cold War hottie, Miss Kitka. Adam West certainly owns this incarnation of Batman, and wait til you hear how Burt Ward got the part of Robin! Kudos also to Nelson Riddles jazz score, which I finally felt compelled to seek out (and found!) as a CD. Of course, we listen to this in the car all the time, and I have yet to get bored with the paradoxical variety of tonal colors despite the narrow instrumentation for jazz band. The script by Lorenzo Semple Jr. who wrote all? most? much? of the first season is slyly funny and supports both goofiness and a coherent narrative. Basically, its fun, nostalgic, and a great take on -- and execution of -- the material. The commentaries from Adam West and Burt Ward are a little spare on info, but still welcome, as is the extra feature about the Batmobile. In all, a near PURRRR-fect DVD, and a cheap guilty pleasure at a relatively low price.

I gave this to an 8 year old who loved it.

As a child I would watch Batman with Adam West and I could not wait to get home to sit in front of the TV to see it. Just the sounds and even the sounds of the words they put up were even more aluring.POW, BANG! Ahh,the memories,I have a grandson who now, loves the Batman that is for this generation and I must say, Batman has come along way but is still here.One of the best Batmans I know is in this movie,you go Batman, your reign is not over. Watch this movie and the memories of your childhood will come flowing back in no time!

Brought back memories. My husband enjoyed it as well.