Batman: The Movie

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!

Classic American production, what a great view. I would advise anyone to show the new generation this masterpiece. It reminds me of watermelon Sundays and hot summer nights when my heart was young and gay. Adam West the majestic somber faced master, with his devoted Burt Ward rallying as the perfect foil parrying and cavorting through the majestic sets of a magnificent bygone era. This movie represented the zenith of entertainment on this planet. The only series to go near it, was the Star Trek original with Captain Kirk, and the crew of the good ship enterprise, reward yourself and buy this, then purchase the box set of the complete series. I have not opened my set yet, I am still savoring the bouquet of the the haunting memories that linger within my soul.

This is not a movie with good acting or production value. Its fun because its funny, even though its not supposed to be. All the gadgets are labeled and theres even a big fight scene where words like BLAM! are superimposed on the screen. Its also fun because its a little snapshot of the 60s. Its also fun because Batman and Robin are so gay.

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

Detective Comics from the late 30s and 40s portrayed Batman as a crime fighting detective / vigilante. The nonsensical and totally absurd TV series / movie was based on what the books had become by the 50s and early 60s. A low point in sales for DC at the time. Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 (May 1939). The character was originally written in the style of the pulps and this influence was evident with Batman showing little remorse over killing or maiming criminals and was not above using firearms. Batman proved a hit character, and he received his own solo title in 1940. By 1942, the writers and artists behind the Batman comics had established most of the basic elements of the Batman mythos. In the years following World War II, DC Comics adopted a postwar editorial direction that increasingly de-emphasized social commentary in favor of lighthearted juvenile fantasy. The impact of this editorial approach was evident in Batman comics of the postwar period; removed from the bleak and menacing world of the strips of the early 1940s, Batman was instead portrayed as a respectable citizen and paternal figure that inhabited a bright and colorful environment. It has also been suggested by scholars that the characters of Batwoman (in 1956) and Bat-Girl (in 1961) were introduced in part to refute the allegation that Batman and Robin were gay, and the stories took on a campier, lighter feel. In the late 1950s Batman stories gradually become more science fiction-oriented, an attempt at mimicking the success of other DC characters. By 1964, sales on Batman titles had fallen drastically; Bob Kane noted that as a result DC was planning to kill Batman off altogether. Editor Julius Schwartz was soon assigned to the Batman titles and presided over drastic changes. Beginning with 1964s Detective Comics #327 (May 1964) - cover-billed as the New Look - Schwartz introduced changes designed to make Batman more contemporary and return him to more detective-oriented stories. And then came the TV series and movie. Although both the comics and TV show were successful for a time, the camp approach eventually wore thin and the show was canceled in 1968. In the aftermath the Batman comics themselves lost popularity once again. As DC Comics editor Julius Schwartz noted, When the television show was a success, I was asked to be campy, and of course when the show faded, so did the comic books. Starting in 1969, writer Dennis ONeil and artist Neal Adams made a deliberate effort to distance Batman from the campy portrayal of the 1960s TV series and to return the character to his roots as a grim avenger of the night. ONeil said his idea was simply to take it back to where it started. I went to the DC Comics library and read some of the early stories. I tried to get a sense of what Bob Kane and Bill Finger were after.ONeil and Adams first collaborated on the story The Secret of the Waiting Graves (Detective Comics #395, Jan. 1970). Few stories were true collaborations between ONeil, Adams, Julius Schwartz, and inker Dick Giordano, and in actuality these men were mixed and matched with various other creators during the 1970s; nevertheless the influence of their work was tremendous. Giordano said, We went back to a grimmer, darker Batman, and I think thats why these stories did so well . . . Even today were still using Neals Batman with the long flowing cape and the pointy ears. In essence, DC Comics hated the way the Batman TV series / movie butchered their crime-fighting detective. The proper and most accurate point of reference that one should subscribe to are the original comic books - Tim Burton it seems did to a degree and Christopher Nolan has most definitely given us the best portrayal of the classic Batman. At the end of the day, if you like the campy style, thats fine. I just like keeping up with all the historical facts of a fictional character spanning almost 70 years. For reference, parts of this commentary was accessed from Wikipedia and yes I do have a comic book collection into the thousands with several hundred Batman books dating back to the early 60s. Its interesting that a lot of people seem to think that comic books are for kids only and that they should just provide slapstick entertainment, devoid of intelligent dramatic dialogue and social commentary. In fact comic books have been a great study resource because of their anthropological reflections. Look at what Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko and many other great storytellers and artists did in the early 60s at Marvel Comics. Super hero comic books that were wonderfully entertaining, incredibly scripted, dialogue that was realistic, dramatic, fun, quirky, serious and occasionally touching on social commentary. What a great balance. Its little wonder Marvel Comics has remained at the top of its field and even better that DC Comics in the late 60s returned to faithfully representing the true classic Batman ethos.

I just like the movie and it goes great in my vast collection.

Wow, such memories were elicited. I just love Adam West and Burt Ward authenticity for these roles and then to get the special treat of have Ceasar Romero, Burgess Meridith, and Frank Gorshin. I would have loved to see Julie Newmar instead of Lee Meriweather. I would have liked to see Eartha Kitt as Cat Women because I think she was Puuuurrrrrrrrrfect in the role. It made me want more. I forgot about the famous Bruce Lee as Kato in the series. I laughed so hard right from the start with the get the Bat ladder then it is dropped down from the Bat helicopter and actually says Bat Ladder at the end of ladder and shark attack with the rubber shark attached to Batmans leg on the Bat Ladder while Robin gets the Bat Shark repellent. Man this was a fun movie to watch, it will definitely be one that I pull out from now on when I need a laugh. This is how Batman was meant to be not dark and scary with a lot of violent shooting and blowing things up.

All I can say is that I hadnt watch any of the campy, classic 1960s Batman for decades and this was my reintroduction to it. It was sooo much better than I thought it would be. All the stuff I noticed as an adult that got past me as a kid! Lee Meriwether is a perfect Catwoman, and its just a great story too.

Just as great now as it was when I was a kid!

As a family we love it year after year it is so tongue in check hilarious! Doesnt take itself seriously like the animated versions. Casting could not be better : Burgess Meredith; Caesar Romero; Frank Goshen ; and Adam West as Batman. Id mention them all and I would if I could remember them. (Im the grandma) Grandkids are 6, 8 and 10 years; their father is 41. We span the decades and we all love this beautiful comedy! Dont you remember that Batman music: da-na-da-na-da-na BATMAN. Slide down the Bat Escape to the waiting Bat-winged Chrysler Imperial or the likes. Pure unreal fun! Great Color super-real fiction.