Batman Return of the Caped Crusaders Review

So I just watched Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders. The most fun Batman has been in years.

For those of you who are unaware Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders is the recent animated film starring the irreplaceable Adam West and his trusty sidekick Burt Ward. This movie perfectly encapsulates why I love Adam West's classic take on the dynamic duo. In the modern movie climate where Zac Snyder has turned Batman into a brooding homicidal vigilante with a drinking problem, it's good to take a step back and recognize the inherent silliness of a man dressed as a bat fighting crime. That's why I think Adam West's Batman is more relevant now than it ever has been. This movie in particular has the added benefit of being able to riff on the past fifty years of Batman adaptations. With my favorite moment being a jab at The Dark Knight Rises.

If you're a Batman fan whose never seen Adam West don the cape and cowl, I think you owe it to yourself to watch his wholly unique take on the classic crime fighter. I recommend starting with Batman the Movie from 1966. It has all of the best villains; the growly Burgess Meredith's pompous Penguin, giggly Frank Gorshin's ridiculous Riddler, mustachioed Cesar Romero's jubilant Joker, and the purrfectly cast Julie Newmar's crazy Catwoman. So find it in your nearest dvd or blu-ray bargain bin or load it up on your favorite streaming service, get your bat-soda and bat-popcorn and enjoy every second of campy goodness.

Of course Return of the Caped Crusaders isn't a bad place to start either. It also has appearances from all those villains as well. Most have been recast as many of the original cast has passed away, but Julie Newmar is still around to reprise her role as Catwoman. Overall I give Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders 3.5 out of 4 bat-stars.