Batman: The Movie (Special Edition)

Some TV shows and movies date themselves, but Adam West's 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. I've 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 O'Hara after Batman's hilarious fight with a shark, on a rope ladder, hanging from the BatCopter, where he hits the shark and it sounds exactly like he's 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 there's 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 O'Hara: "It all adds up to a sinister riddle. Riddle-er. Riddler?"Aaargh!! Yes, the fab four criminals are after the yacht owner's 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.Here's 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 there's 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 "MacKenna's 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 hadn't 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 didn't 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 couldn't 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 don't know about you, but THAT'S 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 Adam's collection.5. Behind the Scenes Still Gallery. More photos.6. Theatrical Trailer7. Spanish Theatrical Trailer8. Teaser9. Planet of the Apes Cross Trailer. A theatrical preview showing snippets from Charleton Heston's "Planet of the Apes" to introduce the remake of the same movie.10. Languages available: English stereo, English mono, French monoCaptions available: English, SpanishThis movie is a lot of fun, but you have to put your silly hat on, or you'll just be groaning as you watch it! After you watch the movie, watch the great 2-disc TV special " Batman - Holy Batmania ". Great bios and additional information about all facets of the "Batman" TV show and this movie. Someday, the TV show will come out on DVD, and I'll get that, too!EDITED TO ADD October 2014: At last, the TV show is coming out on DVD and BluRay on 11/11/14! Batman Complete Series (DVD) Happy Reader

Funny, classic and a good movie!

Batman, the movie is essentially a longer (just over an hour and a half) version of one of the very campy 1960s TV series episodes. It was actually filmed between seasons one and two of the show. It is basically a team-up between the series' villains, Joker (Cesar Romero), Penguin (Burgess Meridith), Catwoman (Lee Merriweather, who took over for an unavailable Julie Newmar), and Riddler (Frank Gorshin). Of course, they try to lure Batman into a trap, part of which includes kidnapping Bruce Wayne. Like the TV show, the movie is very campy and tongue-in-cheek. The two most memorable scenes are probably Batman running around trying to dispose of a huge bomb without endangering anything from puppies to nuns (my Torts professor in law school could have easily made an exam question out of that), and the shark repellant scene. Of course, the 60s series is totally different from any recent versions of Batman which make the character very dark and violent. But, given the time in which the show aired, that is what they could get away with and they were not going to change the tone of the movie to be inconsistent with the show.For those who get the special edition Blu-Ray, the extras include two commentary tracks on the movie. One by the screenwriter, and a great one with Adam West and Burt Ward, who are pretty hilarious. Then there are a series of featurettes, the main one titled Batman: A Dynamic Legacy, which is a 30-minute retrospective on the impact of the series. Then there are separate features on the heroes and the villains of the show, and a feature on the Batmobile. It also includes the featurette from the original 2001 DVD release that contained interviews with the surviving cast members. So, if you like watching the extras, there is a lot there for you.Overall, you have to go into this knowing what it is and what it is not. If you are not a fan of the 60s TV show, then watching this is going to be a waste of time. It has the same cheesy, campy tone, and the plot makes as much sense (or does not) of any of the plots in the TV episodes. It is funny in parts, eye-roll inducing in other parts, and you have to know you are not getting anything close to "The Dark Knight" version of the character. While the movie does look and sound pretty good in HD, I would not say it got an over-the-top restoration like some older movies have, so really the main reason to get the Blu-Ray over streaming it is for the extras, because you have the tv series on disc, and/or just a preference for physical media. If you are in one of those categories, it is a good pickup.

This was a great action movie when it first came out in 1966. Even today it's still entertaining to Batman fans over the years! A great DVD with interactive menus. My only problem is it's Stills Gallery section doesn't work. When I pressed 'PLAY', it just takes me back to Bat Features menu? Still enjoyed the DVD for the 1966 Classic Movie and seeing the Batcopter, Batboat and the Batcycle too.

The old ones are the best!!My grandson enjoys this so much. He is 4. There is no thought process needed. Where there is a bomb it has the letters b-o-m-b spelled out on it. The shark repellent is so hilarious as is the rubber shark fixed on batman's knee and, which later throws itself in front of a torpedo to save the duo. I never tire of watching something I thought was thrilling in my younger days to how simplistic I see it now. (Aahh memories.)I would recommend to any parent or grandparent. The innocence of this crime fighting duo is to be applauded. No drugs or violence or swearing, and of course you could never guess who the people are without their masks on!! ( my grandson wasn't certain, but thought he was so clever when he guessed correct) All the family love it. GREAT BUY 11/10 FANTASTIC PURCHASE ENJOYMENT 11/10

Had upgraded the complete series of Batman from DVD to Blu-Ray, so just had to do the same with the movie as it's as much part of Batman '66 as anything else! Haven't watched it yet but have just finished viewing Season One of the show in High-Definition so the movie is next! Nice to see that all of the special features from the DVD special edition have been ported over ( I think), to this Blu-Ray, as well as quite a few new ones including a second commentary with Lorenzo Semple, Jr who was the movie's screenwriter as well as the best and most gifted writer on the series, and also the show's script editor on all 3 seasons. Favourite line of the movie is Batman catching Riddler, Penguin, Joker and Catwoman in on the act, and the Cowled Crusader saying in complete contempt and utter disgust - "STOP! You FILTHY CRIMINALS!!!" 😂

Love it! Watched Batman as a small boy growing up in the early 70's. I loved it back then. But, as a Teenager, I didn't get it. Thought it was cheesy and camp. (What did I know?) Then, as I got older I realised (through re-runs on the telly) that it was meant to be like that. It's all things to all people. A Superhero to the Kids. And a great laugh to the adults. Anyway, after hearing about the T.V Series being released next week (for the first ever time on any format, and in a limited Blu Ray edition with all 120 Episodes) I thought I should buy the film to make sure I was right (didn't really sit all the way through the re-runs) before ordering the expensive Box Set. I needn't have worried. Watched it twice already. Had me laughing all the way through. Can't wait till next week!

Bought as a replacement for an old video that wore out. We love this film and watch it often. It's so corny and old fashioned and.......well, just fabulous. Great price for a great film.