Tag Archives: Adam West

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Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders – Review

Almost as if in answer to the darkness of Batman: The Killing Joke, on the heels of that movie comes the much more lighthearted Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders. Have you missed Adam West as Batman, Julie Newmar as Catwoman and Burt Ward as Robin? Then Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders is the movie for you!

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I was hesitant about Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders when I first heard of it. Often when someone tries to recapture the magic of something that worked in a bygone era, it doesn’t translate well. There’s a fine balance between kitsch and schlock. But I really should not have been worried. At the helm of this movie is DC Animation head James Tucker, who has been producing quality animated movies ever since he took over the group from Bruce Timm and produced the excellent Justice League: War.

Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders captures all of the camp and magic that made the 1966 Batman TV series work so well. Tucker, who cowrote the screenplay, definitely captures the voices of Batman, Robin and their rogues very, very well. Thankfully, Adam West, Burt Ward and Julie Newmar are all still around to add some extra magic to the movie. All three actors came on board to play Batman, Robin and Catwoman respectively.

What really helps Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders work is that the movie pokes fun at itself too. Aunt Harriet’s musings about Bruce and Dick’s relationships seem like they could have been taken directly from an Ambiguously Gay Duo sketch from SNL. It’s interesting to think of the original Batman TV series inspiring that series of sketches, whose jokes seem to have inspired some of the bits in this movie.

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The actors in the movie who voice The Joker, The Riddler and The Penguin capture the original actors’ voices, cadence and spirit very well. And I especially like that the animators really went all out making the characters look like their live action counterparts, even including Caesar Romero’s whited-out mustache on The Joker.

I loved the way they incorporated, even briefly, many of the villains from the show, including all three actresses who played Catwoman over the span of the series.

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The movie is rated PG, but I would have no problem showing this movie to a young child. The action is campy, and much more toned down than DC’s other animated Batman movies. There are some jokes intended for an adult audience, but I think those would pass kids by unnoticed.

If you grew up watching Batman reruns on the PIX-11 equivalent in your hometown, you will definitely want to check out Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders. It’s the perfect blend of nostalgia and new.

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Holiday Gift Guide 2014

Finding the right gift for your friends and family can be arduous. Fortunately, Tuesday Night Movies is here with picks sure to please the lovers of pop culture in your life!

Two classic TV series have recently received the deluxe home video treatment. Both are available on a per season basis, but it’s the full series sets of these series that really deliver. If you know a fan of either of these series, these sets would make the perfect gift.

batman tv sereis

The first is the Batman: The Complete Television Series. For years, it looked like this TV series would never see a home release because of legal reasons. Fans of the Adam West Batman series were left with the choice of taping the series off TV Land broadcasts or buying from bootleggers (who taped the series from TV Land). This fall, Warner Brothers released a gorgeous remastering of the 1960s Batman TV series. This show has never looked as good as it does in this set. The colors really pop on a HD TV. The set includes all three seasons of the Batman TV series on Blu Ray, a digital download of the entire series, a 32 page episode guide, an Adam West scrapbook, a set of 44 Batman trading cards featuring characters and iconic moments from the show, and a Hot Wheels Batmobile. The box even plays part of the Batman TV series theme song!

the wonder years

The second is The Wonder Years: The Complete Series. Like the Batman series, this was a TV series whose home release was mired in legal red tape. Part of what made The Wonder Years so iconic was its inclusion of classic 60s songs. Unfortunately, it was much easier to license the rights to those songs when the show was first produced than it is today, making the chance of a proper home release very unlikely. Luckily for fans of this show, StarVista/Time Life managed to do the unthinkable, and get the licenses for the all the songs in the original series, including the iconic Joe Cocker cover of A Little Help From My Friends. The set even comes packaged in a metal Kennedy Jr. High school locker!

agents of shield season 1game of thrones season 4

If you’re looking for TV shows a little more recent, look no further than Agents of SHIELD and Game of Thrones (both of which happen to be recapped on a regular basis on this site). Season one of Agents of SHIELD is available on both Blu Ray and DVD, and both sets are packed with bonus features. Seasons one, two and three of Game of Thrones are already on Blu Ray and DVD, and the fourth season is on its way to home release in early February. I’m sure any Game of Thrones fan, whether they pledge to House Stark or House Lannister, would be happy to receive a note this holiday season saying that they will be receiving the fourth season at their house as soon as its released.

Three of the best reviewed movies on Tuesday Night Movies were released early enough in 2014 to be out on DVD and Blu Ray in time for the holidays.

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The first, and possibly one of the most unexpected great movies of the year, is The Lego Movie. As you may be able to tell in my review, I LOVED this movie. I highly recommend buying this movie as a gift for a loved one, whether it’s for a child or an adult. This movie proves that you can make an all-ages movie that can be enjoyed by moviegoers of all ages.

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Battling The Lego Movie for the best movie I saw in the first few months of 2014 is The Grand Budapest Hotel. If you have a friend who has enjoyed any of Wes Anderson’s other movies, this movie is a must-buy and a lay up of a gift if there ever was one.  I’d also suggest even buying this for any of your friends who lack social graces. Ralph Fienes writes the book on charm in this movie. Your friend might learn something.

winter-soldier-posterGuardians-of-the-Galaxy-Poster-High-Res

2014 saw the release of two of the best, if not the two best, Marvel movies: Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Guardians of the Galaxy. Both are awesome. Both are available on Blu Ray. These movies both have high crossover appeal; they’re not just for your friends who read comics. If you know someone who loves James Bond, they will probably really enjoy Captain America: The Winter Soldier. And anyone who appreciates a few laughs mixed in with their butt kicking action will surely love Guardians of the Galaxy.

winter soldier comicgotg comic

Your friend already owns Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Guardians of the Galaxy on Blu Ray? In that case, I suggest buying said friend the comics that inspired the movies. The comic book story that inspired Captain America: The Winter Soldier is a must read for any fan of the movie. Writer Ed Brubaker proves himself to a master of writing espionage, and the art by Steve Epting is absolutely gorgeous. The Guardians of the Galaxy movie drew its inspiration from the Guardians of the Galaxy comic book series penned by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning. If you left the theater saying “I AM GROOT,” you have Abnett and Landing to thank. #yourewelcome

baby groot groot bobblehead

At the end of the day, no Groot fan’s desk is complete without a Groot bobblehead from Funko Pop Vinyl. Groot is available in both full size and dancing baby versions. The Groot fan in your life no doubt needs both.

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If you listen to the Tuesday Night Comics podcast, then you know that I am a BIG fan of Michel Fiffe’s Copra. The original issues are very hard to come by in the secondary market, but Michel recently released Copra Round One from Bergen Street Comics Press. Copra Round One collects Copra issues 1-6, and gets you in on the ground floor of this ground breaking series. If you are interested in the recently announced Suicide Squad movie, I would suggest skipping the Suicide Squad DC comic currently being published and pick up Copra Round One instead. The series is Fiffe’s love letter to The Suicide Squad, Doctor Strange and Shade: The Changing Man.

the art of neil gaimain

If you know a Neil Gaiman fan, there is a distinct possibility that they may have missed out on reading Hayley Campbell’s excellent biography of Gaiman, The Art of Neil Gaiman, which was released earlier this year. Don’t be fooled by the title and the size of the book. This isn’t an art book in the traditional sense. Instead, it shows off Gaiman’s art: his writing. This book covers Gaiman’s entire writing career, from his early days as a journalist to becoming one of the most respected writers of novels and comic books. This book is a must read for any fan of Gaiman’s Sandman series. He gave Ms. Campbell access to his writing journals and notes. The Art of Neil Gaiman provides outlines, early script pages, notes on hotel napkins. There’s enough in here to keep any Gaiman fan occupied for many many hours.

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Tuesday Night Comics Podcast Episode 41 – NYCC 2014!

Billy and Dave are joined by Tuesday Night Movies’s Gotham recapper, Nick, as the guys discuss New York Comic Con 2014. NYCC was a great time, and the boys discuss their encounters with Rob Liefeld, Todd McFarlane, Adam West and others. They also preview new comics coming out Wednesday, 10/15/14, including the Gerard Way (of My Chemical Romance) written Edge of Spider-Verse!

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Give it a listen, big guy! 😉

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

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Friday at NYCC 2012 Planning Guide

Friday is the first full day of NYCC. If you can get out of your day job, I highly recommend going on Friday. You won’t face anything near the large crowds of Saturday and you’ll have much more programming options than Thursday. Friday is the sweet spot on the NYCC baseball bat.

10:00 AM – 7:00 PM Celebrity Autographing
If you’re interested in meeting Adam West, Burt Ward, Tom Felton, Sean Astin, Peter Davison, Lou Ferrigno or Christopher Lloyd, they’ll all be signing autographs today. Costs vary by person. For example, Batman’s signature is $10 more than Robin’s.

11:00 AM  – 12:00 PM CBLDF: The History of Comics Censorship
Attention all Media Studies majors!

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Wondrous Worlds, Fractured Futures: Speculative Fiction and Image Comics
A few years ago, I saw Brian K. Vaughn speak with JMS, Colleen Doran and Jeff Smith at a panel called World Building. Brian K. Vaughn quipped that the comics he was writing both took place in New York City, so he wasn’t sure why he was invited to the panel. His new comic with Fiona Staples, Saga, takes place far, far away from New York City. This is a can’t miss panel for fans of what Image Comics is doing right now.

11:15 AM – 12:15 PM Marvel: House of Ideas
The focus of this panel is on Marvel’s digital comics offerings: Infinite Comics, Marvel.com and the Marvel mobile app. Oddly, Mark Waid will also be on this panel. Not sure what that’s about. Maybe a digital Daredevil exclusive?

11:15 AM – 12:30 PM Comics, Hollywood – What Creators Need to Know
Thinking about turning that spec script you wrote into a graphic novel? Thinking about trying to sell your graphic novel as a feature? This may be the panel for you.

12:15 PM – 1:15 PM Marvel Now! All-New X-Men
Rick Remender is going to be here talking Uncanny Avengers. That’s really all you need to know, right?

12:15 PM – 1:15 PM How to Get a Job in the Video Game Industry with Capcom
Go to this and get your girlfriend/mom/loan officer off your back about not paying your bills and spending all your money on video games.

12:15 PM – 1:15 PM Adam West and Burt Ward Spotlight
I picture this being very similar to the famous William Shatner Star Trek convention skit from SNL.

12:15 PM – 2:45 PM The 501st Legion’s “Shoot a Trooper”
If you’ve been to NYCC before, you’ve no doubt spotted at least a few members of the 501st Legion. They’re the guys in the very well done Stormtrooper costumes. These guys are super fans. They’ve even been incorporated into the Star Wars expanded universe and had an action figure made after them. They’re showing their softer side at NYCC this year: for a small donation to charity, you can take shots at Troopers with a Nerf gun.

12:30 PM – 1:20 PM – Tom Felton Photo Op
4:35 PM – 5:35 PM – Tom Felton Photo Op
To Do List: 1. Buy a Slytherin robe. 2. Pick up a twig. 3. Head to Tom Felton Photo Op.

1:20 PM – 1:45 PM – Sean Astin Photo-Op
Wear your Hobbit feet and your Notre Dame jersey.

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM Oni Press – RevolutiONIzing Comics
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM Marvel NOW! Join the ReEvolution
What’s the theme of NYCC 2012? Fun with the word revolution! Oni wins this round for working their company name into it.

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM Inside “The Batmobile”
On the down side, they didn’t work the word revolution in this title. On the upside, you get to see the entire one hour documentary on The Batmobile before anyone else. I will probably be here. If I am, I will definitely have a review of it up soon after NYCC. Going to this kind of derails my “Draco and Me” photo idea though.

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM Digital Price Showdown
Maybe you want to debate how much digital comics should cost. Or maybe you want
to see a bunch of people yell at the co-founder of comiXology that digital comics cost too much.

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM Vertigo: A View From the Cutting Edge of Comics
American Vampire and Fables are two of the best comics being published every month. Both American Vampire writer Scott Snyder and Fables writer Bill Willingham will be on hand for this panel.

1:45 PM – 2:45 PM Grant Morrison Spotlight
News on Multiversity, please?

1:45 PM – 2:40 PM Stan Lee Photo Op
One of my regrets from this year’s Pittsburgh Comic Con was not springing for the Stan Lee Photo Op. Sure, the background screen that Froggy uses couldn’t be tackier, but a picture with Stan Lee would be a very cool souvenir from this year’s NYCC.


2:15 PM – 3:30 PM Writing to be Drawn (Comic Book Writing and Art Tutorial)
If you didn’t get enough Bill Willingham at the Vertigo panel, he’ll be here with Jerry Ordway, Cully Hammer and Michael Oeming to talk about the specific methods of storytelling in comics. Learn how to effectively break down a script and the ins and outs of story flow.

2:45 PM – 3:45 PM DC Comics: Green Lantern – The Third Army Arrives
With Green Lantern, Geoff Johns is writing one of the most consistently best comics on the market. On the one hand, I’m excited to see some preview artwork and hear Geoff talk about the title. On the other hand, I feel like this panel is going to mostly be cryptic announcements from Johns and non-answers to questions from the audience. I’m not complaining about that. I’d hate for this story line to get spoiled at a con panel. I’m setting the over/under of number of people dressed as Guardians of the Universe at 1.5.

2:45 PM – 3:45 PM VALIANT: The Future of VALIANT
I was a huge Valiant fanboy the first go-around. In fact, I stuck on the Valiant train way too long. On the upside, it meant I was one of the lucky few reading Quantum and Woody. On the downside, I also read The Visitor. There were rumors for years of a Valiant comeback. Now that it’s finally here, it’s almost hard to believe it’s actually happening. According to the listing, everyone in attendance gets a special door prize. Gold books, anyone?

2:45 PM – 3:45 PM Skybound On The Rise
Skybound is the current jewel in the Image crown. If you have a bad case of Kirkmania, get yourself here, stat!

4:00 PM – 5:30 PM Robert Kirkman Autographing at the Image Booth
Don’t show up to this line at 4 PM. With the popularity of all things The Walking Dead, the line will be capped by that point. I’d say to get there by 3:15 at the latest…which means leaving the Skybound panel early. Hello, Catch-22.

4:30 PM – 6:30 PM Carrie Fisher Autographing
I met Carrie Fisher a few years ago at a Big Apple Con. Childhood dream fulfilled. Now’s your chance!

5:15 PM – 6:15 PM Terry Pratchett Meet and Greet
According the NYCC website, Terry Pratchett won’t be signing anything, but will be handing out pre-signed book plates. BUT MY COPY OF GOOD OMENS IS ALREADY SIGNED BY NEIL GAIMAN AND IT NEEDS TERRY PRATCHETT’S AUTOGRAPH!

6:00 PM – 6:30 PM Carrie Fisher Photo Op
Keep it clean, gentlemen.

6:30 PM – 7:30 PM Be a Comic Book Retailer!
Don’t go to this panel if you’ve ever been talked into buying a time share. With a shrinking market and an ever increasingly move to digital, this seems like an equally bad idea.

6:30 – 7:30 PM Robot Chicken
Last year’s Robot Chicken panel was my favorite panel of NYCC 2011. Don’t miss this panel. Unless you have no need for joy in your life, then by all means, miss this panel. I am half hoping, half dreading that the pothead who sat near me last year who cackled at everything that was said sits near me again.

8:00 PM – 9:00 PM CollegeHumor Live at New York Comic Con
I love comics, sketch comedy and stand-up. I can’t think of one reason why I would miss this.

9:00 PM – 10:00 PM Steampunk 101
If you buy a top hat, goggles and a velvet topcoat, you can proceed directly to Steampunk 102.

Written by Sarv, who likes us on Facebook. You should like us on Facebook too.