1966 Batman series on Blu-ray and DVD November 2014 discussion

[Shaka Zulu]

As for Batman, I'd hope they'd sell individual seasons for more reasonable prices on Amazon. Buying The Complete Series of a show always seems like a rip off to me, besides the fact that its super expensive.

You can either buy this set as a normal DVD, or do without (Warner's not going to lessen the price for the Blu-Ray set, as this is a big deal people have been waiting for years to get-and now they've got it!) You can always buy a DVD recorder and record Batman '66 off of TV the next time it's on TV some place (in Canada, it's on Teletoon Retro.)

I LOVED this series...when I was 7 in 1966.

When I was 11 four years later I and discovered serious Batman in the comics I could no longer stomach the series. It just made me cringe.

A few years ago I watched the theatrically released film on DVD and in parts I laughed...and cringed. I didn't feel any sense of nostalgia or fondness whatsoever.

I wouldn't pay any amount of money for this, and certainly not the extortion they appear to be charging.

The only thing I still like from the series: the Batmobile.

Agree with you on everything except the part about extortion; I think that considering how beloved (by some people) this show is, and the pedigree of the character, and the celebrating of the character's birthday this year, the turning of this show into a Blu-Ray DVD set with a ton of extras (including a replica of the car, which like you is the only thing I like about this show), this price is quite reasonable, and people will pay for it (especially those Baby Boomers that have all of the gear-HDTV set, Blu-Ray DVD player, Dolby/THX A/V unit, and big speakers-to watch the show on.)

 

[kirk55555]

As for Batman, I'd hope they'd sell individual seasons for more reasonable prices on Amazon. Buying The Complete Series of a show always seems like a rip off to me, besides the fact that its super expensive.

You can either buy this set as a normal DVD, or do without (Warner's not going to lessen the price for the Blu-Ray set, as this is a big deal people have been waiting for years to get-and now they've got it! You can always buy a DVD recorder and record Batman '66 off of TV the next time it's on TV some place (in Canada, it's on Teletoon Retro.)

Actually:

Batman Season 1 DVD set (Released Today):
http://www.amazon.com/Batman-Season...id=1415719107&sr=1-1&keywords=batman+season+1

Batman Season 2 Part 1 DVD Set (Due in February):
http://www.amazon.com/Batman-Second...719156&sr=1-1&keywords=batman+season+2+part+1

So, if it goes like this, they'll release S2 Part 2 a few months after February, and probably do the same with Season 3 (although being half hour episodes, and possibly shorter, they might go for another full season release and not split it up like Season 2). Its just like what has been done with Power Rangers sets. The Full series gets a big release, then they start releasing individual seasons (or parts of seasons) every few months for people who can't afford the big set. If you can get the set, you get it all at once and before other people (and probably with exclusive extra features), but if you can't they still give you the option to get it all eventually.

Sure, the individual sets are only DVD, but I don't buy Blu Ray anyway

 

[Shaka Zulu]

^There are many that do, and this Blu-Ray DVD set is great for them.

 

[Greg Cox]

I gotta admit I thought this day would never come. I'm pleased to be proven wrong.

 

[Agent Richard07]

I went to the store to get mine and it wasn't on the shelf so I asked someone who worked there if they had it and the guy had to go into the back to get it. When I opened it up, there was no episode guide, so after confirming online that an episode guide did in fact come with it, I drove back to exchange it. An annoying inconvenience but at least I now have the series on Blu-ray.

I also ordered the 1966 movie on Blu-ray from amazon.com. I have it already on DVD but this was only $7.99 and it's nice to have it all on Blu-ray.

 

[Shaka Zulu]

If they ever do Bane or Knightfall, I'm in. Now that would be something.

In the light, comedic, Silver-Agey Batman '66? Please, no. Well, only if they found some way to reinterpret Bane as a more flamboyant, Silver Age-style supervillain, maybe a pastiche of those luchador heroes from cheesy Mexican movies of the '60s, who brought together a bunch of the show's villains to tag-team Batman and Robin a la the feature film, only bigger. And only if the back-breaking move were redone as an elaborate death-trap machine that Batman and Robin were both caught in but managed to escape from by some brilliant, desperate gambit at the start of part 2.

Still, I'd be reluctant. The thing about Knightfall is that it's an emphatically 1990s story. The whole thing, IIRC, was basically Dennis O'Neill's critique of ultraviolent '90s antiheroes (and their ridiculously overthought costumes) and the idea in fandom that Batman needed to become a ruthless killer to stay relevant, by replacing Batman with the most extreme '90s antihero version possible and showing why that was a terrible, terrible way to be Batman. So that's a story that belongs to the '90s. Batman '66 is about paying homage to the way Batman was in the '60s. I want to see stories that are appropriate to that era, that capture the lunacy and creativity of the Silver Age comics as well as the Adam West series. Less Bane and Azrael, more Killer Moth and Calendar Man. Basically not unlike the approach of Batman: The Brave and the Bold (which incorporated cameos by many of the '66 show's villains and reused some of its elements, to the extent that some fans even consider it a direct sequel).

Speak of the devil, here's Bane as he would have appeared in 1966:



Batman 1966 - Bane

 

[kirk55555]

^There are many that do, and this Blu-Ray DVD set is great for them.

That's fine. I was just pointing out that, for people who can't afford/aren't big enough fans to spend so much on the complete series set, and don't care about Blu Ray, there is still a good way to get the show.

 

[Dream]

I'm still pretty shocked this video release has actually happened. I would have thought the rights issue and greed between all those involved would have kneecapped any kind of release plans!

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

You can get each individual season of Batman - yes, in HD, the same as you'd be getting from this BR release - from the iTunes Store.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

I gotta admit I thought this day would never come. I'm pleased to be proven wrong.

Same here. If only Classic Media would release Dozier's other series--The Green Hornet--on Blu Ray.

 

[Enterprise is Great]

If you go here: https://www.batmanondvd.com/choose you can get Batman on DVD or blu-ray and pay for it in 5 installments (29.99 for DVD and 34.99 for blu-ray). FYI, the first payment is a little more since you pay the taxes up front.

 

[Greg Cox]

Does the home video release of Batman mean that The Green Hornet is on the horizon?

We can only hope . . ..

 

[tomswift2002]

I'm still pretty shocked this video release has actually happened. I would have thought the rights issue and greed between all those involved would have kneecapped any kind of release plans!

You might want to check out this article from Wired about what all went on to get the rights cleared up.
http://www.wired.com/2014/11/batman-home-video-finally/

But from the sounds of it, while Dozier's estate agreed to let the Green Lantern cameos in Batman get released, the rights to that series are still held by the Dozier estate, and the estates of his kids.

 

[Greg Cox]

I'm still pretty shocked this video release has actually happened. I would have thought the rights issue and greed between all those involved would have kneecapped any kind of release plans!

You might want to check out this article from Wired about what all went on to get the rights cleared up.
http://www.wired.com/2014/11/batman-home-video-finally/

But from the sounds of it, while Dozier's estate agreed to let the Green Lantern cameos in Batman get released, the rights to that series are still held by the Dozier estate, and the estates of his kids.

Just to nip any confusion in the bud, you mean "Green Hornet" of course.

 

[inflatabledalek]

It seems a couple of episodes are edited (the first one is missing its opening narration and a later one is minus its tag scene), seemingly accidentally so it might be worth keeping an eye out for a replacement scheme from Warner's.

I've watched most of the first disc now. It's just a lovely show isn't it? Coming to it from it's 80's/90's screenings in the UK (where it was a staple of school holiday TV. Famously when TVAM went on strike and it was replaced with Batman, the ratings went up) I have to say I never remotely thought it was supposed to be a serious take on Batman even as a young kid, I just thought it was very, very funny.

Maybe that's a result of growing up in an environment surrounded by adults pointing out how funny it was? Certainly my mother was one of the people who did take it completely seriously back in the '60's.

The opening two parter is an almost perfect summation of everything the show is going to be as well, not many series start off that assured.

The only real misstep is the death of Jill St John's character. After being a fairly feisty gangster's moll for most of the story she suddenly turns into a gibbering wreck once Batman rumbles her Robin disguise (and a woman Batman shows an interest in dresses up as Robin... oh there's a dissertation in that) and the direction as she's on the reactor is very poor as it's not very clear why she falls in.

 

[The Old Mixer]

"What a way to go-go...."

 

[Mr. Adventure]

I find a couple episodes of Batman goes a long way for me so I doubt I will buy this but I do really love the fact that this set exists (and presumably will continue to exist).

 

[Saga]

I
The only real misstep is the death of Jill St John's character. After being a fairly feisty gangster's moll for most of the story she suddenly turns into a gibbering wreck once Batman rumbles her Robin disguise (and a woman Batman shows an interest in dresses up as Robin... oh there's a dissertation in that) and the direction as she's on the reactor is very poor as it's not very clear why she falls in.

i was always confused about her death. if she had just stayed put Batman would have saved her. but for no reason she keeps flailing around the reactor.

anyway, i've watched the first four episodes. they look great. and its so weird watching this show without a TV Land logo in the corner.

 

[tomswift2002]

I got the Blu-Ray of the show and the episodes look really good in HD. But with the Blu Ray I wonder if,with the set being labelled as a limited edition, and right now no plans for individual season sets on Blu, if the Blu Ray was more of a marketing gimmick, with the HD versions replacing the worn out versions that currently air, rather than staying on home video?

But for someone who has never seen the show (aside from the movie) the episodes are ok. I especially liked the Santa Claus cameo in the Season 2 set. Of course you could tell that the actor was trying to look like someone looking out a window, instead of being under the window, since those scenes were shot with the camera tilted.

But it's to bad that Warner's wasn't able to give us a 5.1 or even, at the very least, 2.0 surround mix for each episode (while also having the original mono audio as an option).

 

[RandyS]

It seems a couple of episodes are edited (the first one is missing its opening narration and a later one is minus its tag scene), seemingly accidentally so it might be worth keeping an eye out for a replacement scheme from Warner's.

Which episode is missing It's tag scene? And the first episode is fine. I checked my old copy and there is no opening narration there either.

Remember, this is the pilot episode. Pliots are often different from the actual series. Particularly in 1966.