To many fans of the Caped Crusader, the Batman television series and this spin-off theatrical feature are superior to the somewhat overblown features that
Tim Burton kicked off in 1989. Thankfully, this excellent 20th Century Fox DVD release of the 1966
Batman theatrical feature is perfectly tailored to fans of the ultra mod TV show. The DVD is dubbed the "Holy Special Edition,
Batman!" and features a sparkling anamorphic widescreen transfer. Viewers can choose between a Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono or Stereo mix of the soundtrack. To be honest, there doesn't seem to be much discernible difference between the sound quality of the two audio mixes, but at least neither sounds bad. An audio commentary courtesy of stars
Adam West and
Burt Ward is wonderful, as is a better-than-average "making of" featurette. Full of humorous anecdotes and good cheer, the commentaries of
Ward and the decidedly eccentric West can actually be revisited more than once -- and they are often more entertaining than the movie itself. If that weren't enough, the DVD also features a short documentary on the Batmobile, photo galleries, and genuinely funny theatrical trailers. While the Batman feature film itself isn't equal to the beloved 1960s TV series that spawned it, fans will still cherish this excellent DVD release. ~ Nick Dedina, All Movie Guide