a5c7b9f00b Batman and Robin spring into action when Gotham City is threatened by Penguin, The Joker, Riddler and Catwoman. This time, the four super villains have combined their wicked talents to hatch a plot so nefarious that the Dynamic Duo really have their hands full. Batman and Robin of the 1960s live action series are back in action to take down their fiendish foes united once more against them. Nowadays there have been so many movies focusing on the darker, grimmer aspects of Batman, starting with the 1989 movie on up to the most recent entry where Ben Affleck plays the title character.<br/><br/>Thankfully there are still lots of people who fondly remember the campy TV show from the 60s and on the 50th anniversary of it, the producers of Return have crafted a nifty little retro throwback that is 90 minutes of delight.<br/><br/>Without creating too many spoilers, the story plays like an extended version of one of the two-part episodes fans will remember well. The fight scenes feature the same "Biff," "Boom," and "Kabang" captions tossed onto the screen and Robin comes up with at least 20 different Holy-somethings. <br/><br/>Adam West and, Burt Ward voice their roles for the title characters and Julie Newmar returns to breathe life into Catwoman. They sound pretty much the same as they did in the series and perform their roles with zesty vigor. Remember, that was 50 years ago!<br/><br/>The producers filled out the rest of the cast with other voice actors since Caesar Romero, Frank Gorshin, and Burgess Meredith are long gone. Noticeably, the Riddler's maniac giggle and frantic way of talking sounded like someone was channeling Frank Gorshin and it turned out to be Wally Wingert, an excellent voice actor known for his work in The Family Guy and other shows.<br/><br/>Lastly, any fan of the series should stay through the closing credits because the producers have done a wonderful job with what is often an overlooked part of a movie. I enjoyed Return of the Caped Crusaders quite a bit, and found myself laughing uncontrollably from time to time, but that being said, this movie is honestly only as strong as its fan service.<br/><br/>Before I get going, allow me to briefly introduce myself as a Batman fan. Batman has been my favorite superhero for as long as I can remember. I grew up watching the animated series, and have since dove headfirst into Batman stories across a wide variety of mediums, but my first introduction to Gotham City was when my parents showed me the old 1966 movie starring Adam West. As such, it holds a special place in my heart, and I always like to watch reruns of the old series when I can, even though its lighthearted camp is quite different from what Batman has been for much of his existence. I am not one of the many people reviewing this who thinks that this is what Batman should be (I personally think the Arkham games capture Batman best), but I do think that Return of the Caped Crusaders and its predecessors are enjoyable parts of the Batman mythology.<br/><br/>Where Return of the Caped Crusaders succeeds is in fan service. It is very much in the spirit of the old series it is based on, and isn't afraid to make jabs at the show's more ridiculous aspects, as well. I won't spoil these delightful little Easter eggs, as they are far too much fun to discover oneself, but I think it is safe for me to mention that Batman's teaching moments with Robin and the absurd mannerisms of many characters are definitely fair game. Even the settings are just like the old show; unnecessary labels on items of importance abound! But fans of Batman in his other forms are not left out to dry, as small, but fun, references to later Batman adaptions are sprinkled throughout, and they are a real treat to long time fans.<br/><br/>However, as I stated in the summary, this really is a bad movie, even if it is enjoyable. The fact that this movie is animated allows for situations which would not have been possible (at least budget-wise) in the old show and movie. While this does pose intriguing possibilities, it made me realize that part of the charm of Adam West and Burt Ward's adventures of old lied with the constraints it worked within. And to be completely honest, at times this movie tries a little too hard to recapture the magic of that bygone era in Batman history. It can sometimes be a bit cringe worthy.<br/><br/>Thankfully, all of the fan service makes Return of the Caped Crusaders an enjoyable visit to a time when Batman was simpler and more innocent, in spite of its obvious shortcomings. Those who enjoy Adam West's take on Batman will definitely find this to their liking, even if it isn't their preferred take on the Dark Knight. For others, however, the camp may be a bit too much.
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