Before Christian Bale, George Clooney, Val Kilmer and Michael Keaton, there was Adam West. Though he was not the first actor to play Batman (there were two serials in the 40s), those of us who grew up watching the original Batman TV series (or reruns of it) know that West is a superhero icon. While modern comic book fanboys and members of Generation Z will think this film counterpart to the 60s TV series is stupid and absurd when compared to the current Batman films, the rest of us can smile and know that it is they who just don’t get it.
The United Underworld, a collaborative effort of Gotham City’s most detestable villains plot to eliminate Batman and Robin forever and take over the world. As frightening as the Joker, the Penguin, the Riddler and Catwoman may be, the Caped Crusader and his Boy Wonder are up for the task. The villains use a dehydrator weapon to turn the members of the UN Security Council into dust. Batman and Robin must track down their nemeses secret hideout and recover the council members.
Yes, it’s all pretty wild and fantastical, but that’s what Batman was for a long time. This film was made after the completion of the first season of the show. It was designed to add interest in the show in America and to help sell the series in overseas markets. I don’t know if it accomplished that task but it’s a priceless piece of nostalgia for anyone who enjoyed the show.
The production values aren’t that much higher from the TV series, which would normally be a problem. Fortunately, this is one of those guilty pleasures that always make me smile, so I look past the obvious faults. There are some set pieces that more elaborate than the series and there’s more high-flying action and stunt work (Bat-cycle rocket sled, anyone?), so it’s clear that this is more than just a TV episode plot slapped onto the big screen. The filmmakers took their larger budget and used it well.
It’s fun to watch the villains struggle to work together. They all have their quirks and cramming four large egos into one secret hideout is no easy task. On the TV show, Batman typically only faced one villain an episode, so tackling his four biggest threats at once is a real treat for the audience. Each villain gets their appropriate amount of screen time and they get to use their specific skills quite nicely. As much fun as Adam West and Burt Ward are as Batman and Robin, it’s really the villains who make this movie worth seeing.
Batman: The Movie has all the hallmarks of the TV show- campy dialogue, exaggerated acting by the villains, every tool Batman and Robin use having a ‘Bat-‘ prefix, and, of course, titles such as ‘ZONK!’ and ‘POW!’ taking over the screen during a fight. It would be far too easy and horribly cynical to dismiss this movie when comparing it to a lot of the recent superhero flicks. You have to keep in mind that this was based off of an existing TV series that both embraced and lampooned the sensibilities and conventions of 1960s entertainment.
One final reason to enjoy Batman: The Movie is that it is the only official release connected to the TV series. Despite its popularity, the three seasons of the Batman TV show are still unavailable on DVD. Until these episodes are released for purchase, this film is a vital link to our childhood and also a key piece in the Batman legacy.
Before Christian Bale, George Clooney, Val Kilmer and Michael Keaton, there was Adam West. Though he was not the first actor to play Batman (there were two serials in the 40s), those of us who grew up watching the original Batman TV series (or reruns of it) know that West is a superhero icon. While modern comic book fanboys and members of Generation Z will think this film counterpart to the 60s TV series is stupid and absurd when compared to the current Batman films, the rest of us can smile and know that it is they who just don’t get it.
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