Batman - The Movie (Special Edition)
Starring: Adam West, Burt Ward, Lee Meriwether, Cesar Romero, Burgess MeredithDirector: Leslie H. Martinson
Studio: 20th Century Fox
MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Format: Color, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
Running Time: 105 minutes
DVD Release: July 1st 2008
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DVD Review
When Batman (Adam West) and Robin (Burt Ward) get a tip that Commodore Schmidlapp (Reginald Denny) is in danger aboard his yacht, they launch a rescue mission. But the tip is a set-up by four of the most powerful villains ever, who seek to defeat the Dynamic Duo once and for all! Armed with a dehydrator that can turn humans into dust, the fearsome foursome intends to take over the world! Can the Caped Crusaders use their high-flying heroism and groovy gadgetry to declaw Catwoman (Lee Meriwether), ice the Penguin (Burgess Meredith), upstage the Joker (Cesar Romero), and stump the Riddler (Frank Gorshin) in time?
User Reviews
I forgot how good this was - Rating: 5/5
I forgot how good this was. This movie is amazing and a laugh riot. Some of the Batman movies are bad (B&Robin, B-Forever)but this is the only one to poke fun at itself and not be serious. Its so campy and over the top.. I mean, the scene "sometimes you just cant get rid of a bomb" is classic. This should be in any Batman fans collection and is worth the rewatch. Beautifully remastered and tons of special features, its definately worth it.
Good delivery, bad follow up - Rating: 1/5
The delivery of this item was top-notch. It got here pronto and in perfect shape, just like the majority of the good reviews about this vendor said it would. I chose to buy this item for my little boy from Electric Fantasies because the business had such good reviews.
Unfortunately, when I got it, it was the wrong thing. Let me be clear -- THAT IS ENTIRELY MY FAULT. I was looking for a DVD of Batman, and what I bought, accidentally, was a UMD movie for PSP. It came up in the search I put into Amazon for the DVD, and I did not look closely enough before buying.
However, I have now written to the company THREE times. Each time was two weeks apart. I have asked if it is possible to return the item (it has not been opened) for all or partial credit and get a DVD instead. I don't have a PSP and I don't want one. Of course, I offered to pay the shipping and any additional costs that may be accrued in acquiring the DVD. And, I also said that if the DVD cost less, that I would be happy to let the profit be kept.
I do not think that it is unreasonable to ask for a simple yes or no answer, especially in light of the fact that I have tried to be upfront and conciliatory about the matter. As I stated, good, professional delivery -- bad follow up. Make sure you know exactly what you are getting with this vendor, or you will be stuck with something you don't want.
Never forget your shark repellent - Rating: 5/5
Batman: The Movie is a tie-in to the camp classic Batman TV series starring Adam West and Burt Ward. The long running problem with this series is how easy it for people to insult it and say how it tarnished Batman's name. These people obviously did not get the joke, or they have honestly never picked up an actual Batman comic from the 60s (Look up "Bat-Baby" and then tell me this series wasn't tame in comparison to the actual comics back in the day). This movie is the only film on DVD that shows true parody of the censorship act that comics had undergone during the late 50s and throughout the 1960s. This show, whether you like it or not, saved Batman from extinction so that he could move into the more serious medium we have today.
Enough about the history of the show! Batman: The Movie takes the manic energy of the infamous TV show and takes it up a notch (something that seemed impossible). The film is just downright funny, plain and simple- especially if you fully understand what it is that they are making fun of (bad, campy, propaganda filled comics of the 1960s). Sure, with films like Batman Begins and The Dark Knight it's hard to take Adam West seriously, but then again you aren't supposed to take him seriously in the first place!
The plot is ridiculous, yet consistently entertaining as the dynamic duo of Batman and Robin are pitted against the fiendish supervillian team which consists of the wisecracking Joker (Cesar Romero), the sneering Penguin (Burgess Meredith), the scheming Riddler (Frank Gorshin), and the seductive Catwoman (Lee Meriwether). What is the villains' dastardly plan? To dehydrate the world's leaders into dust and hold the world at ransom! Batman and Robin will have to pass through a multitude of fiendish gizmos and traps in order to prevent universal chaos, but on the way they will undoubtedly bring laughter to the audience.
From an exploding shark, questions with an answer involving a machine gun toting sparrow, and cheesy romantic interludes this movie is a riot! Adam West's and Burt Ward's deadpan delivery of their lines is always perfect given the absurd nature of the situations they constantly find themselves in.
Anyone who doesn't get this series' humor and thinks it's a stain on the Batman franchise seriously needs to lighten up and go back to the older comics and find out how great their beloved Caped Crusader was during the censorship laws. Doing that, you'll probably have a greater appreciation for the humor of the Adam West era of the character's development.
So if you like comics or just like manic paced comedies with straight-faced acting (See: The Naked Gun, Get Smart) Batman: The Movie is definitely worth looking into!
I recommend buying the `Holy Special Edition' version of the film most because it has the best packaging and sets you up for comedy; the new DVD case is obviously modeled off of the Tim Burton Batman film's cases and just looks too serious considering the subject material contained within. I don't know about you but I like my DVD cases and art to tell me what I'm in store for. Putting the case aside both DVDs come with the same special features- features that are sure to make any Bat-Fan smile!
If you haven't already done it: Do yourself a favor and purchase 'Batman - The Movie'
What a nostalgia flashback - Rating: 4/5
While this is pretty much a bare-bones DVD release, for me it is an entertaining "guilty pleasure". When this first was released in the theatres in 1966, I was a 5 year old Batman obsessed kid. I remember my wonderful twin great aunts taking me to the movies to see this cheese-fest. While it's no technical marvel, it is a very fun addition to the 60's TV show era of the Batman legacy. And for just a few dollars, it's well worth re-living the the memories associated with it.
Excellent Buyer - Rating: 5/5
I purchased the item. It was delivered very quickly. I realized I had ordered a PSP instead of a DVD. It was my fault; however, the buyer was very understanding, accepted my return and refunded the amount in full. I am very impressed with this buyer.
