A Trip Through Nostalgia with Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders

October 27, 2016 0 By EVA

“Warner Bros. Home Entertainment provided me with a free copy of the DVD I received in this Blog Post. The opinions I share are my own.”

From the second the drawer of the Blu-Ray player closed it was a trip through nostalgia. From the classic Batman theme song, to the 60s pop art homage, Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders recalls a simpler time.

While I tout about nostalgia, let it be known that I am not over 50 years old and I did not grow up with the show during its time period. I do recall watching a few syndicated episodes in my childhood and it planting a very strong seed of what Batman could also be. Sometimes it’s hard to forget that Batman wasn’t always so dark and brooding.

Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders invited Adam West, Burt Reynolds and Julie Neymar to reprise their roles as Batman, Robin and Catwoman respectively. The trio are accompanied with the classic Batman villains; the Joker, Riddler and the Penguin. Catwoman of course rounds out the quartet.

It’s a little strange to hear Adam West’s matured voice stream out of a youthful Bruce. With fun alliterations, hokey jargon and a healthy dose of self-depreciating jokes, Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders will make its way into any Batman fans heart. Yes, even the curmudgeons who only laud the Dark Knight depiction will be warmed to their cockles.

Any Batman iteration that makes use of words such as fisticuffs, licentious and Batnip deserves a shout-out to the writing. It’s clear that this was made with a lot of love for Batman history and with attention to the captivating tongue-twisters.. Even the action bubbles depicting the blows were spot on. However, some of the dialogue, especially between Batman and Catwoman dips into, dare I say it, creepy territory. There’s a point where Robin has to put Catwoman to sleep, and before she nods off, Catwoman mentions to Robin that she trusts he will keep his hands off her. It’s a reminder that while dialogue like that may have been acceptable in the 60s, it doesn’t work in today’s setting.

Even the classic Batmobile is there in animated glory. Some of the animation felt like it tried too hard to push it into current day and it would have been better off without the modern day touch. It is action-packed from the very beginning and when Batman turns the tables and begins to have fun is when the movie takes an upswing. The music is also a pleasant feature of the film. It completely does the job of transporting the view to the bygone era.

Rick Morales, known for LEGO® DC Comics Super Heroes – Justice League: Cosmic Clash directs from the script written by Michael Jelenic (Teen Titans Go!) and James Tucker (Justice League vs. Teen Titans). Tucker and Jelenic serves as Supervising Producer and Producer, respectively, on the film. Sam Register is Executive Producer. Benjamin Melniker and Michael Uslan are Executive Producers.

What you can expect from the different ways to purchase:

Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders Blu-ray™ Enhanced Content includes:

Those Dastardly Desperados” featurette – Joker, Catwoman, Penguin and Riddler are impossible not to watch! Those Dastardly Desperados explores how these fiends became more than just antagonists in a Batman story; they became icons in American pop culture.

A Classic Cadre of Voices” featurette – A new talented cast of actors join Adam West, Burt Ward and Julie Newmar in Batman: Return of The Caped Crusaders. Go behind the scenes and witness the vocal techniques and timing needed to deliver a classic Bat-Comedy!

DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION ELEMENTS

Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders will be available to viewers for streaming and download to watch anywhere in high definition and standard definition on their favorite devices from select digital retailers including Amazon, CinemaNow, Flixster, iTunes, PlayStation, Vudu, Xbox and others. Starting October 11, 2016, Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders will also be available digitally on Video On Demand services from cable and satellite providers, and on select gaming consoles.

ABOUT DIGITAL HD

*Digital HD allows fans to watch a digital version of their movie or TV show anywhere, on their favorite devices. Digital HD is included with the purchase of specially marked Blu-ray discs. Digital HD allows consumers to instantly stream and download movies and TV shows to TVs, computers, tablets and smartphones through UltraViolet retail services like CinemaNow, Flixster, VUDU and more. For more information on compatible devices go to wb.com/ultravioletdevices. Consult an UltraViolet Retailer for details and requirements and for a list of HD-compatible devices.