Batman (Adam West series) is finally coming to DVD

[BlueKatana]

Originally Posted by Godzilla

Blu ray and bonus features, huh?

Yup. SOLD!

I watched this show ALOT back in the day on Family Channel, and later, the FX channel, and will gladly fork over the cash to pick up a more proper release of the entire series. Even though the one I obtained back in 2008 is pretty top notch for DVD.

Looking forward to the upgrade.

Is that the kind you get deep in the sellers section of a comic-con?

[Godzilla]

Originally Posted by Storm Eagle

What release was that?

Originally Posted by BlueKatana

Is that the kind you get deep in the sellers section of a comic-con?

Nothing official, and yeah a Convention is one way (certain websites online is another).

Something to look forward to, outside of officially owning the set in a proper release (and on Blu ray!) is being able to actually watch the uncut episodes in their entirety. Which is a definite bonus since alot of people are only familiar with the show via syndication (which is often edited for time).

It's something I noticed right away when I watched episodes from the said set I obtained in 2008 vs. syndicated episodes I had previously recorded off of FX and TV Land.

[sdp]

Is this show even any good for someone who doesn't have nostalgia for it and isn't a huge fan of campy batman? I was able to enjoy Brave and the Bold which was a campier but still pretty modern Batman. I own the movie and didn't particularly like it very much. I'm pretty open to different interpretations of Batman though, I like The Batman and even think Catwoman movie is not that bad which are things people hate..

[Leo656]

That's kind of tough to call. At times it's VERY cheesy. I loved it growing up, and still do, for what it is, but I never, ever again want to see Batman done that way. It was terrific in its time and place and it's a fun piece of nostalgia. It's enjoyable, but it's really tongue-in-cheek.

I still see re-runs occasionally and I'm still into it, but I can't honestly say if I'd be as accepting had it not been my main source of the character as a child before the Burton movie. I think it's worth watching, at the least.

Off the top of my head the closest thing I can compare it to is the Speed Racer movie. Adam West Batman is to the 60s comics what the Speed Racer movie was to the cartoon: A live-action adaptation done very literally from the source material, to the point of being completely goofy and over-the-top in the same ways the source material was originally presented. Some people didn't get that movie, and some people don't get 60s Batman.

I like it, it's just not the "right" way to do Batman anymore and while it's worth watching, that kind of adaptation really wouldn't play well now. It's very much a product of its time. I say, give it a chance and it may pleasantly surprise you. If nothing else, Yvonne Craig and Julie Newmar were fiiiiiiiine.

[LeotheLateBloomer]

Originally Posted by Leo656

That's kind of tough to call. At times it's VERY cheesy. I loved it growing up, and still do, for what it is, but I never, ever again want to see Batman done that way. It was terrific in its time and place and it's a fun piece of nostalgia.

This is pretty much my opinion of the Fred Wolf cartoon.

[Shiro Kame]

I used to love the show as a kid. I find it a bit ridiculous in some parts, but it was good at its time.

[pennydreadful]

Originally Posted by Leo656

If nothing else, Yvonne Craig and Julie Newmar were fiiiiiiiine.

Word.

[CyberCubed]

Originally Posted by LeotheLateBloomer

This is pretty much my opinion of the Fred Wolf cartoon.

The original toon is nowhere as cheesy as 60's Batman.

[Leo656]

Yesssss it issssssss. Holy sh*t. If anything, the OT had MORE bad attempts at humor spread out over way more episodes, and none of them involved anything as sublime as The Joker trying to beat Batman in a surfing contest.

And again, Yvonne Craig's perfect ass in tight purple spandex. Factor that in, and it's not even a competition anymore. The OT wishes it could actually pull off "camp" halfway as well as Adam West's Batman did. Once you accept the style of what you're watching, there really aren't any "bad" episodes of the show, whereas, the TMNT OT had many, many weak and flat-out bad episodes scattered throughout. They may be the minority, but the worst episodes of that cartoon are really bad. The only thing "bad" about Batman is the style it was done, which was comics-accurate for the time. You either like it or loathe it, but you can't really say it didn't hold up its end.

Also, celebrity guest stars! SO many! You weren't "really" famous until you were on Batman, back then. If nothing else, it's super-fun playing "Spot the Celebrity Villain."

Again, I don't ever want to see that kind of Batman again anywhere except this show. But it was really, really great at doing exactly what it was trying to do.

[Slade]

I loved the show as a kid. It's been coming on in marathons everyday this week on some channel. ION or something.

Anyway, I probably wouldn't buy this. Maybe I should force myself to actually watch on episode, but I'm pretty sure I don't like the show anymore.

[sdp]

Well I like tongue in cheek and I can tolerate plenty of cheese, campy stuff I can be very special about it and yeah I was raised with BTAS so that's the Batman I've always known. I love the OT though, maybe one day I'll check the series out.

[Leo656]

I'm definitely getting it ASAP. I do genuinely feel it's gotten an overblown reputation for being worse than it is. In that, it's actually very similar, in some respects, to how some people look back on the TMNT OT and over-sell how "bad" it is. They both have a ton of "WTF?" stuff in them. But neither is unwatchable. And I'd argue that both of them are important enough, historically, that everyone should at least see them, if only to appreciate how far we've come since then.

Super-hilarious story about 60s Batman: This may or may not shock you, but, Hollywood folks tend to like to get together in groups, do lots of drugs, and have some wacky sex. Amazing, I know. Who knew? Anyways, this was especially true back in the 60s. So anyways, West has often told a story where he and Frank Gorshin, who played The Riddler, were invited to one of these little "get-togethers", but neither had really been a part of that scene before, and were both seriously uncomfortable. So, not sure exactly what to do in the situation, they both started doing their characters right in the middle of the swingers' party! All these naked, stoned celebrities sitting around getting ready to bone, and suddenly West and Gorshin start doing Batman and Riddler and chasing each other around the room! Apparently, they were asked to leave, and neither got another orgy invite. Which was fine, because as we all know, Adam West got as much tail as Capt. Kirk back in the day.

Between that story, and knowing that West would often "accidentally" grab Yvonne Craig's ass or boob during takes - some of which actually made it into final episodes - I have a whole new appreciation for that show.

[Slade]

Aite Leo, now I'll have to watch, just to catch some of that.

[pennydreadful]

Originally Posted by Leo656

Super-hilarious story about 60s Batman: This may or may not shock you, but, Hollywood folks tend to like to get together in groups, do lots of drugs, and have some wacky sex. Amazing, I know. Who knew? Anyways, this was especially true back in the 60s. So anyways, West has often told a story where he and Frank Gorshin, who played The Riddler, were invited to one of these little "get-togethers", but neither had really been a part of that scene before, and were both seriously uncomfortable. So, not sure exactly what to do in the situation, they both started doing their characters right in the middle of the swingers' party! All these naked, stoned celebrities sitting around getting ready to bone, and suddenly West and Gorshin start doing Batman and Riddler and chasing each other around the room! Apparently, they were asked to leave, and neither got another orgy invite. Which was fine, because as we all know, Adam West got as much tail as Capt. Kirk back in the day.

To be fair, y'can't blame the guys for feeling awkward... there really needs to be an ettiquette manual for your first orgy. I mean there you are, probably naked, surrounded by other people (also naked)... and you can't even put your hands in your pockets to hide how uncomfortable you are! Forget trying to make conversation - "Pardon me, do you come here often?".

[Leo656]

That last line is up there with, "I once met a girl who had the nicest face I ever came across."

[Slade]

HA!!! Ya'll are f***ing HILARIOUS!!!!

[Storm Eagle]

Originally Posted by Leo656

Super-hilarious story about 60s Batman: This may or may not shock you, but, Hollywood folks tend to like to get together in groups, do lots of drugs, and have some wacky sex. Amazing, I know. Who knew? Anyways, this was especially true back in the 60s. So anyways, West has often told a story where he and Frank Gorshin, who played The Riddler, were invited to one of these little "get-togethers", but neither had really been a part of that scene before, and were both seriously uncomfortable. So, not sure exactly what to do in the situation, they both started doing their characters right in the middle of the swingers' party! All these naked, stoned celebrities sitting around getting ready to bone, and suddenly West and Gorshin start doing Batman and Riddler and chasing each other around the room! Apparently, they were asked to leave, and neither got another orgy invite. Which was fine, because as we all know, Adam West got as much tail as Capt. Kirk back in the day.

I could have lived my whole life not knowing that. Then again, it's my own fault for bothering to read all of it.

[LeotheLateBloomer]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

The original toon is nowhere as cheesy as 60's Batman.

I highly but respectfully disagree with this. If there is one aspect that Turtles Forever got right, is that they did fight ridiculous creatures such as mutant bananas. Not to mention the alien Elvis's that abducted Vernon and Vern.

[Godzilla]

Originally Posted by Leo656

Apparently, they were asked to leave, and neither got another orgy invite. Which was fine, because as we all know, Adam West got as much tail as Capt. Kirk back in the day.

If you read Burt Ward's book, "The Boy Wonder" got more than his fair share as well.

Between that story, and knowing that West would often "accidentally" grab Yvonne Craig's ass or boob during takes - some of which actually made it into final episodes - I have a whole new appreciation for that show.

Actually, alot of this off-screen/behind-the-scenes stories was actually acknowledged in a made-for-TV reunion movie titled, "Back to the Batcave". Course any of the sexcapade stories concerning Adam and Burt are only alluded to, but yeah, you get the idea.

The series is up for pre-order now.

Batman Complete Blu-ray-Pre-Order