Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders

Holy poster Batman!

50 years ago the world witnessed the now legendary Batman TV series, a superhero show like no other. Today, Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders is the ultimate homage movie. Already available in digital format (DVD & Blu Ray releases are set for November 3rd) this one hour superhero adventure delivers, and fans of the original series will simply fucking love it.

Directed by Rick Morales and written by Michael Jelenic & James Tucker, it's the 60's again! Groovy! Starring the voices of Adam West, Burt Ward & Julie Newmar, the caped crusaders face their worst nightmare to date! When The Joker, The Riddler, The Penguin & Catwoman decide to team up (for the second time, remember the original 1966 Batman movie) odds are something awful awaits the honorable citizens of Gotham City, and just like the first time these evil doers joined forces, they're after a powerful hi-tech ray gun, only this time it doesn't dehydrate people. This new technology is highly weaponizable, because its powerful ray allows you to duplicate whatever it touches! So, are Batman & Robin ready to suit up and stop Gotham's most infamous gallery of rogues?

The rogues are back Batman!

We're back old chum!

Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders features the whole gallery of rogues the original series had (yes, even the ones created specially for the series), and it doesn't stop there! Aunt Harriet, commissioner Gordon, Chief O'Hara and of course Alfred, they're all there! Unfortunately, the only missing character is Barbara Gordon/Batgirl which I presume, wasn't included due to her death last year, while the animated movie was already in production stage. There are no "in loving memory" credits either for Yvonne Craig or the rest of the original cast that's already dead.

The opening sequence features not only the original, and now classic, Batman theme (re-arranged by Kristopher Carter, Michael McCuistion & Lolita Ritmanis, the soundtrack composers)  but a wide selection of classic Batman covers from some of the original comic books. Each scene is packed with nods to the original series and/or other Batman references in pop culture. For instance, when Batman is fighting the Joker he utters "do you wanna get nuts?! let's get nuts!" a direct quote from Tim Burton's 1989 Batman movie. In addition, when Batman & Robin talk, their talk is exactly the same as it was in the original series, you know, Batman being careful and respectful of the law, while Robin agrees with the classic "You're right Batman" or "Holy "something" Batman".

The Joker mobile!

Come at me bro!

Plot wise, hidden among nods and homage sequences, there's a clever plot twist that will surprise even the most avid 60's Bat fans. While the rogues steal this duplicator ray gun, Catwoman develops a special make up that will turn Batman evil. However, it doesn't work as expected but the consequences are hilariously dangerous for Gotham city. Another great addition, is the fact that Batman reveals he's always been interested in Catwoman, not only in her reforming, but as a love interest! and the feeling is mutual, so while we have no Batgirl to aid the dynamic duo, Catwoman unexpectedly takes her place.

Now, if you're wondering about other classic items from the series, such as the wonderful Bat gadgets, say no more! Batmobile, Batcave, Bat antidotes, Utility belts, Bat copters, Batzooka, Bat shields, they're all there and you get the see them in action. The legendary fight sequences featuring comic book styled onomatopoeia, also have an important role during the fights. I mean, it couldn't be a 60's Batman movie without them! 

To the Batmobile!

Boy that hurts.

Animation wise, each character looks exactly the same as they did in the live action series. In addition, some action scenes resemble The Adventures of Batman cartoon from the 90's. Also, being an animated movie allows the characters to be seen like never before: the Batmobile's acrobatics, our heroes traveling to space in a Bat Rocket, Gotham city taken by [spoiler] clones, and the grand finale battle on top of Penguin's Zeppelin are things the live action series could have never imagined doing. 

Moving on to the voice actors, let me just say that Burt Ward steals the show! He's a 71 year old man that can reprise his younger self voice perfectly. Julie Newmar, now 83, delivers a Catwoman that at times sounds close enough to the original voice, while at other times, it sounds like a grandmother gangster. Last but not least, Adam West, the man behind the cowl, has the weakest performance. His voice is clearly that of an 88 years old retired man. He never gets his original voice right, and that is a very odd thing because, while you're seeing a strong fully  functional Batman in action, whenever he utters a word, he just sounds like the old man he is in real life, so that is definitely a bummer, the main character not getting his part right. Nevertheless, the fact that he is the original actor, already adds enough mojo to the film's recipe I guess.

"Alfred, please get rid of aunt Harriet!"

Holy salad Batman!

Now, for all of you hardcore fans of the original series, here's a list of some of the many nods I could remember after watching the film:

1. When Batman gets hit on the head and sees three Catwomen, the duplicate Catwomen look like Lee Meriwether and Eartha Kitt. 
2. One of the fight scene onomatopoeia that comes up on screen in the first fight is "SPRANG!" This could be a reference to comic book artist Dick Sprang who helped redesign the Batman Ile, created the Riddler, & was one of the top artists on Batman comics in the Golden Age of Comics.
3. While confronting the villains, Batman says, "You wanna get nuts? Come on, let's get nuts!". This is a line that Michael Keaton said in his first Batman movie. 
4. While aggressively fighting the villains, Batman says "This is an operating table, and I'm the surgeon.". An iconic line from Frank Miller's 'The Dark Knight Returns'.  
5. Catwoman says that she will give up the life of crime if Batman will run off to Europe with her and drink tea in a cafe. This was the ending to The Dark Knight Rises. 
6. The villains that Robin and Catwoman break out of prison to help defeat Batman when he goes bad are: Mr. Freeze, The Mad Hatter, False-Face, King Tut, Bookworm, The Archer, The Minstrel, Ma Parker, Egghead, Shame, The Sandman, The Siren and Louie the Lilac.  
7. When [Spoiler] is replacing much of Gotham with his duplicates, he goes into a court & quotes the case of "Semple vs Dozier." This is a reference to show creator/narrator William Dozier & head script writer Lorenzo Sample, Jr for the original 60s series. 
8. Once the movie is over and credits role, Batman dances with his legendary "Batusi" moves seen in the original series.

Purrfect!

Overall, Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders is a one hour adventure that works best when watched by the whole family, so that those who watched the original series can share fond memories of it with newer generations. Warner Bros. once again delivers another entertaining animated DC Comics movie. Although the film premiered a few days ago, William Shatner (Star Trek) has been confirmed as Two-Face for the yet unproduced sequel movie.

 

Here's the teaser trailer:

 

 

Here's the trailer: