Batman: The TV Series (1966) Review

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(More customer reviews)For those of you who don't know what the problem is, this is what's keeping the series from being released on dvd and vhs. Warner Brothers owns the character of Batman, while 20th Century Fox owns the series. And all of us Batman fans have to suffer while these suits argue over minute technicalities. But logic would dictate that if the 1966 movie could be released, then the series can be released. So enough you suits! Stop bickering and release the series. In case you can't figure this out, the longer you can't make up your minds, the longer you're not making ANY money. Duh??? Well, to all you batfans out there, you probably don't need me to tell you that this was a wonderful series that combined adventure, suspense, comedy, and sometimes drama. On one extreme, we have hilarious episodes like the one where the Penguin runs for mayor. On the other extreme, there are some surprisingly frightening episodes like 'The Joker Is Wild.' What makes this series so great is that whether it is hilarious or suspenseful and frightening, IT HOLDS YOUR ATTENTION at every moment. Another great thing about this series is that while Batman provides the stability, it is often the villains who are entertaining. So we might cheer for Batman but allow the villains to entertain us. But if you are a Batman fan, you probably already know this. All I can say is, in the meantime, the 1966 Adam West movie, the Tim Burton movies, the animated series, and the animated movies are available. And 'Return to the Batcave' (2003) is a MUST HAVE. So maybe these things that are available on dvd and vhs can tide us over until these suits stop bickering and making excuses. It's been almost 40 years! We Batfans have been more than patient with you! IT's PAST TIME!

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Batman (1996) Review

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(More customer reviews)The worldwide success of Christopher Nolan's "Batman Begins" has prompted Warner Bros. to finally release Tim Burton's 1989 "Batman" with an extra disc of special features...and this is an event worth cheering about!
A groundbreaking cinematic achievement (and one of the most expensive films ever produced, to that time), "Batman" was a tremendous gamble, and the story behind the ten-year struggle to bring it to the screen is fascinating! It is a tale of visionaries, beginning with Michael Uslan, a young student/Batman fan, who not only convinced his university to include comics in their curriculum, but, fired up by Richard Donner's "Superman", knew a Batman film could be just as powerful, and took the idea, with Batman creator Bob Kane's blessing, to Hollywood; of Peter Gruber and Jon Peters, who listened to Uslan, after every studio had passed on it, saw the potential, and decided to gamble; of Sam Hamm, who had a "Batman" script in his head, praying to get the chance to write it; and, most importantly, of Tim Burton, whose dark, quirky sensibilities made him THE director to film it, despite only two feature films to his credit.
This remarkable story, with archival footage and new interviews, is the highlight of disc two, but there is much, much more! Did you know that Robin was scripted to make an appearance in the first film? That Sean Young, not Kim Basinger, had been cast as Vicki Vale? That the Batmobile, designed by Oscar-winner Anton Furst, could actually do 95 mph (and that Tim Burton drove it, once?) That the room where disfigured Jack Nicholson received his unsuccessful plastic surgery was actually a studio prop room? Each chapter is a revelation!
Not that there aren't a few disappointments in the presentation; there is no chapter with deleted scenes (although a few moments are shown that never made it into the finished film...a little girl, seeing Batman, asks, in all seriousness, "Is it Halloween?", which causes him to pause, and grin); the 'History' of Batman, despite a wealth of photos and clips from the comics, serials, and graphic novels, does not offer a single visual from the campy 60s TV series (whether this was a refusal by 20th Century Fox, who produced the series, to permit their use, or an attempt to distance the movie from the "ZAP! BAM! POW!" silliness is not explained). Also, the brief appearance of screen legend Jack Palance, as 'Boss Grissom', is largely ignored, other than in Tim Burton's audio commentary, which is surprising. Still, many of the cast share their memories (Billy Dee Williams still expresses disappointment that he didn't get to play 'Two-Face'; Robert Wuhl, regret that after they rewrote his death scene to allow his character to survive, he never appeared in another film in the franchise).
I guess what I'm saying, is...chuck your old copy of "Batman", and replace it with THIS one!
You'll be glad you did!

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After witnessing his parents brutal murder as a child, millionaire-philanthropist Bruce Wayne pledges his life to fighting crime disguised as Batman. His long-time nemesis, The Joker, has sinister plans for the citizens of Gotham City. His greed is matched by his obsession with photojournalist Vicki Vale. But Batman is there to counter the Joker's every move. With the fate of Gotham and Vicki in the balance, will good or evil prevail?

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Batman - The Movie (1966) Review

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(More customer reviews)The key things to know about the DVD are:
1) The colors jump off the screen, it is a great transfer
2) The featurette with Adam West (Batman) and Burt Ward (Robin) is good, though they cover a lot of the same ground in the commentary
3) The Batmobile feature is very cool
4) The commentary is awesome. Adam and Burt have a great chemistry and really seem to love both the movie and the show. Their tongues are firmly in their cheeks druing the commentary (Adam West's views on Bruce Wayne alone are worth the price of admission), but you will learn about the production and such secrets as:
Why did ABC tear down the Batcave so quickly after cancellation?
What did Burt Ward really think about the BatCycle?
How and why did Lee Meriweather get to play Catwoman?
Why did Adam and Burt have to spend two hours each week getting oxygen at the Fox infirmary?
The team at Fox had a lot of love for this movie and it shows. Buy this DVD and get Fox to release some series episodes with Adam, Burt, Julie Newmar (Catwoman) and Frank Gorshin (Riddler)doing commentary!

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The New Adventures of Batman - (DC Comics Classic Collection) (1977) Review

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(More customer reviews)Featuring the voices of Batman's Adam West and Burt Ward as Batman/Bruce Wayne and Robin/Dick Grayson, The New Adventures of Batman (1977) was the 2nd Batman animated series produced by Filmation for CBS following their 1968 Batman animated series.
Though Filmation retained most of the '60s show's character designs and production art for the '70s series, The New Adventures of Batman's use of rotoscoping (tracing over live footage) coupled with West and Ward's vocal performances gave the '70s show its artistic edge. Like most Filmation shows, educational messages were addressed at the end of every episode via "Bat-message."
The New Adventures of Batman is a 2-disc Complete Series set featuring all 16 episodes; Full Frame (1.33:1) video; Dolby Surround Stereo audio; plus the following Special Feature:
"The Dark Knight Revisited": Featurette examines the legacy of Filmation and its depiction of the DC character through interviews; and explores the split between Filmation's lighter comedic version of the character and the darker brooding Detective Comics version of the time.
Episodes:
1. The Pest
2. The Moonman
3. Trouble Identity
4. A Sweet Joke On Gotham City
5. The Bermuda Rectangle
6. Curses! Oiled Again!
7. Bite-Sized
8. Reading, Writing & Wronging
9. The Chameleon
10. He Who Laughs Last
11. The Deep Freeze
12. Dead Ringers
13. Birds Of A Feather Fool Around Together
14. Have An Evil Day (Part 1)
15. Have An Evil Day (Part 2)
16. This Looks Like A Job For Bat-Mite!Classic '70s Filmation series finally on DVD!

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The New Adventures of Batman is an animated series produced by Filmation in 1977 featuring the adventures of the DC Comics superheroes, Batman, Robin and often Batgirl. In this series, Batman, Robin and Batgirl battle various villians in Gotham City. Complicating things however is the presence of Batmite, a other-dimensional imp who considers himself the biggest fan of Batman and insists on helping him, regardless of whether Batman wants it or not.DVD Features:Audio Commentary:"Bat-Commentary" - An audio commentary from Filmation historian Michael Swanigan and Filmation founder Lou Schiemer on two of the episodes from the series.Documentary:Dark Versus Light Filmation and the Batman - (1977 marked Batman's return to television in Filmations New Adventures of Batman. Â With interviews ranging from the President of DC Comics to the President of Warner Bros. Animation, the legacy of Filmation will be examined from animation style, to how this core DC character was depicted in this series.

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Scooby-Doo Meets Batman Review

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(More customer reviews)The "Scooby Doo meets Batman" DVD is campy fun featuring the two appearances made by Batman & Robin on The New Scooby Doo Movies (1972-1973). In "The Dynamic Scooby Doo Affair", The gang teams up with Batman & Robin for a wacky showdown in the funhouse against the Joker & the Penguin. In "The Caped Crusader Caper", Batman & Robin join the gang to once again stop the crazy villainous duo Penguin & Joker, this time from attempting to steal a flying suit from the word fumbling Professor Flakey. There are some cool extras like elapsed time footage of animators drawing both Scooby & Shaggy and interview clips of the original voice actors. As cool as this DVD is though, you may want to instead invest in the upcoming 4 DVD set release "The Best of the New Scooby Doo Movies" featuring 15 out of the 24 that aired including both of these Batman & Robin episodes. However, if you're only interested in the Batman & Robin appearances then this DVD is for you.
Goofs:
*There are always some animation slip ups in cartoons, but not always as hilarious as Batman with no pants! Watch for it!
Trivia:
*"The New Scooby Doo Movies" are double the length of an episode of the original "Scooby Doo Where are You?" show. They were aired in an hour block. On DVD they run around 40 minutes each.
*"The Best of the New Scooby Doo Movies" 4 DVD box set features episodes with guests the Three Stooges, Jonathan Winters, Don Knotts, Laurel & Hardy, the Harlem Globetrotters, Don Adams, Speed Buggy, Mama Cass, and Dick Van Dyke. Curiously, episodes with the Addams Family, Phyllis Diller, Sonny & Cher, Sandy Duncan, Davy Jones, Jerry Reed, Tim Conway, toon characters Josie & the Pussycats and Jeannie & Babu were not included. Instead the set chooses to have the multiple appearances by the Stooges (2), Batman & Robin (2), Knotts (2) and the Globetrotters (3).

*Both Shaggy & Robin are voiced by radio personality Casey Kasem.
*The genius Don Messick who is of course Scooby also voiced Astro from the Jetsons, Droopy the dog, Boo Boo & Ranger Smith of Yogi fame, Dr. Quest & Bandit from Jonny Quest, Papa Smurf & Azrael from The Smurfs and that goofy dog Mutley from Wacky Races...just to name a few!
Also recommended: The 4 DVD set Scooby Doo Where Are You? - Seasons 1 & 2 (which is actually the entire series!)


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They move like shadows in the night. Protecting the innocent, thwarting injustice and stuffing themselves with Scooby snacks! That's right - the most legendary names in crime-fighting history join forces as Scooby-Doo and the Mystery, Inc. gang team up with Batman and Robin. The action begins as The Joker and The Penguin try to cash in on a crooked counterfeiting scheme only to be foiled by the Dynamic Trio of Batman, Robin and Scooby-Doo! But, The Joker and The Penguin return to try and steal a flying suit until Scooby-Doo and the gang prove that with a little Bat-help, they have what it takes to bring the sky-high scoundrels back to earth!DVD Features:DVD ROM FeaturesInteractive MenusMusic VideoOtherScene AccessTheatrical Trailer

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