Skip to main content

The Animated Addict: "Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders" (2016)


Mike S back with another animated review!  This time, in honor of the late, great Adam West, I'm going to be discussing DC's 2016 release, "Batman: The Return of the Caped Crusaders"!

When DC relaunched their comics under the banner of "The New 52", they produced a few series that weren't part of the new continuity.  One of them was "Batman '66"- which was based on the old 1960's Batman TV series starring Adam West (as Batman/Bruce Wayne), and Burt Ward (as Robin/Dick Grayson).  If you get the chance- check out a few of the issues, they're quite fun and really encapsulated the spirit of the show.

The comic was (to DC's surprise, I'm sure) one of the more popular ones they had since the relaunch.  So, it was only a matter of time before DC would capitalize on that popularity with an animated movie (which I think they do a better job with than most of their live action ones).

Thus ends the origin story of "Batman: The Return of the Caped Crusaders".

After foiling a heist being pulled off by Catwoman, The Joker, The Penguin, and The Riddler, Batman experiences a "change" in his life- and it's up to Robin to figure out what happened, and how to help his mentor.

Before Gotham is destroyed...

The story is a nice throwback to the original TV show: unique, interesting, and even exciting with all of the humour and charm it had back then.  I was quite engaged throughout.

Adam West, Burt Ward, and Julie Newmar all return to reprise their iconic roles of Batman, Robin, and Catwoman.  They were able to slip into the characters effortlessly.  At times, I had a hard time remembering that the film came out in 2016, rather than the 60's.  Credit also to Jeff Bergman, William Salyers, and Wally Wingert as The Joker, The Penguin, and The Riddler.  They all did a great job with the roles.

With the relaunch of the DC comics, the animated movies became a bit more "realistic" in terms of the art style used for the animation.  This feature was not different.  I really liked the look, and the attention to detail the animators gave it.  They even made sure that the little "ruffle" where Batman's cape is tied at the front of his throat was there- and the blue "eyebrow" lines!

All in all, "Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders" was a very enjoyable dose of nostalgia and fun.  I'm really looking forward to October when the sequel, "Batman vs Two-Face" (with William Shatner as Two-Face) comes out.

I'm giving this feature a spot in "The Good"!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

#CocktailHour: Slushtail

  Summer approaches, inspiring thoughts of sunshine, backyard parties, and having a tip and sip with friends.  With that in mind, I bring you this week sunny beverage. To make a slushtail, mix a can of frozen orange juice, a can of frozen lemonade (or limeade), a can of pineapple juice, a couple cups of black tea (or English Breakfast), and two cups of bourbon- such as Southern Comfort, in a pitcher.  When it's all nicely mixed, put it in the freezer until it's a nice slushy consistency. Scoop the slush into a cocktail glass, and pour in some Sprite or 7-Up.  Add a little umbrella for some frivolous fun, and a straw. Voila!  Ready to enjoy. This is a very refreshing drink.  The fruit juices, Sprite, and bourbon- when chilled makes for a great punch-like drink.  The bourbon doesn't overwhelm juices.   In fact, they are all nicely balanced in terms of flavors.  The sourness of the citrus fruits contrasts well with the slightly sweeter Southern Comfort.  It was refreshing enou

Unlock your fate with The Puzzle

When my dad wasn't working, building stuff or being my dad, he was making puzzles. It was a guaranteed way for him to unwind. So it was with great interest that I sat down to watch Italian filmmaker Davide Melini's award-winning short The Puzzle. You see, the mother in the five-minute film likes to relax with puzzles just like my dad. Unfortunately, her good-for-nothing son keeps harassing her for money. Losing herself in her favourite passtime, the mother soon discovers that completing this puzzle might unlock a nightmare. The Puzzle has been an official selection at more European film festivals than you can shake a stick at, and was voted Third Best Italian Film at the Rome International Film Festival in 2008. Having watched it, I'm not surprised. It's a tight little film that hits you hard in the final few seconds. You can tell Melini cut his teeth as an assistant director for legendary Italian filmmaker Dario Argento. But enough chit chat on my part. See if yo

The Animated Addict: "The Adventures of Tintin" (2011)

If you're a 40 + white dude, like myself, you may remember a comic series called " The Adventures of Tintin ".  I know I remember them.  This series, dating back to 1929, got turned into a animated feature film by Steven Spielberg in 2011. After buying a model of ship called The Unicorn, teenaged journalist Tintin finds himself on adventure that will take him from the high seas, to the low deserts, and from the distant past to the present.  With his trusty dog, Snowy, by his side, Tintin uncovers a story connecting two men across the centuries.. . The story is really quite good.  It's well crafted, and high paced- with just enough slow moments to build and develop the world and the characters.  This is the sort of adventure story you'd find in the old serials of the 1930's and '40's.  In fact, it felt like it was the sort of tale that you'd find Indiana Jones undertaking.  I found myself swept up, and swept along as our hero swung from one e