Movie Review: Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders
It’s back to the 1960s as Batman and Robin spring into action when Gotham City is threatened by a quartet of Batman’s most fiendish foes – Penguin, The Joker, Riddler and Catwoman. The four Super-Villains have combined their wicked talents to hatch a plot so nefarious that the Dynamic Duo will need to go to outer space (and back) to foil their arch enemies and restore order in Gotham City. It’s a truly fantastic adventure that will pit good against evil, good against good, evil against evil … and feature two words that exponentially raise the stakes for both sides: Replicator Ray. Holy Multiplication Tables!
Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders is the newest animated film based on DC Comic characters, but this one has a twist,, we’re back in the world of Batman ’66. Yes, the classic television show has a movie! It’s not just the characters that are returning, it’s some of the actors too. Adam West (Batman), Burt Ward (Robin) and Julie Newmar (Catwoman) are all involved providing their voices to the roles they helped defined and are celebrated all these years later.
The animated film captures the vibe created by the live action series with the “biff” “pow” and more in a psychedelic story that you just need to go with. It’s campy. It’s really campy, which is exactly what you’d expect in a Batman story. And that’s a lot of the fun of the movie as it really nails everything the classic series is loved and/or hated for. The movie is as much as an homage to the old series as it is a send-up of it as well. Scenes are taken over the top with winks and nods all throughout.
The story is out there involving duplicator rays and Batman turning evil, but that seriously doesn’t matter. If you don’t laugh at the concept of a “Batman AntiAntidote” you won’t appreciate the film at all.
It’s fantastic to hear the voices of West, Ward, and Newmar in their classic roles. There’s a weird disconnect for some as the voices sound a bit aged, but the characters obviously haven’t. Still, their readings are beyond fantastic. And those who are bringing other older characters to life are solid as well. The Joker, Penguin, Riddler, all reminded me of the classic television characters and blended seamlessly.
The movie as a whole is a solid blend of old and new and you’ll likely get excited as soon as the classic television theme starts playing. The power of animation has captured what made the show special and also allowed it to do things it’d never be able to due to the restrictions of live action. From Gotham to space and back, the movie is goofy fun that’ll put a smile on your face when it finally wraps up.
Here’s looking to more adventures to come.
Overall Rating: 8.6
Warner Bros. provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Travel back to the 1960s as Batman and Robin spring into action when Gotham City is threatened by a quartet of Batman’s most fiendish foes. Audiences will have the opportunity to join all the animated excitement as it unfolds on the big screen for one special day. Fathom Events is once again partnering with Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment to bring 
In addition to the film, audiences will view an exclusive pre-screening introduction, and a post-screening preview of Those Dastardly Desperados, a featurette that explores how the villains became more than just antagonists in a Batman story – they became icons of American pop culture.