ANI-MOVIES, *Batman: Return Of The Caped Crusaders

After several decades of not playing the Dark Knight, Adam West finally returns with Burt Ward to voice Batman and Robin. This is a continuation of the original 1960s live-action Batman TV series, although leaving certain characters like Batgirl for no explained reason. West and Ward had also played the Caped Crusaders on the notorious Legend Of The Superheroes TV specials, The New Adventures Of Batman, and West portrayed Batman on the last few seasons of Superfriends, as well as recalling their experiences in the genuinely funny Return To The Batcave, but with the Batman '66 comics from DC raising interest in the campy mod show along with it finally releasing it on home video, Return Of The Caped Crusaders is the first part of a fitting climax to the Silver Age sensation.

Bruce Wayne and his youthful ward Dick Grayson discover that Joker, Penguin, Riddler, and the Julie Newmar version of Catwoman have all teamed up again to go on a crime spree. Changing into Batman Robin, the Caped Crusaders chase the villains after stealing a Replication Ray that makes copies of anyone or anything. After being captured, Catwoman tries using her "Batnip" formula to turn Batman bad, but doesn't work, and the Duo escape. Figuring the evil quartet have left Earth to an abandoned space station, Batman and Robin chases them with their Bat-Rocket, and rescue Catwoman after the other three literally kicked her out into space. One trio fights the other trio, and Joker, Riddler and Penguin are put in jail, with Catwoman escaping. Batman then starts acting more sterner, fires Robin and Alfred, and the Replicator Ray to create copies of himself to slowly take over Gotham. Robin realizes that Batman's change is due to Catwoman's Batnip, and teams up with her to stop Batman. The catty duo then bust nearly all the bad guys out of Gotham prison to take on Batman and his clones. The Bat-Men end up wining, but the real Batman is tricked into drinking an Anti-Batnip formula by Alfred. The now good again Batman realizes that the whole caper was a long con run by Joker, Penguin, and Riddler to pull a big museum heist. Along with Catwoman, they bust the crafty criminals, but with Catwoman apparently dying after trying to escape Batman along with the stolen goods.

This movie works as a great love letter to the original 60s cartoon series, but also mocking other incarnations of Batman, with references to works like The Dark Knight Returns and the Michael Keaton movies. Before its home video release, the film received a successful one night screening which helped spread word of mouth to make it a hit for old school fans and new. The story itself is slightly clunky, formatted in the way of a 3-part story from the last two seasons of the show, instead of a singular flowing plot. However, the quality of animation is up to par, and the inclusion of West, Ward, and Newmar is welcome return. The only major downside is that there is no reference whatsoever to Batgirl at all, possibly down out of respect to the original actress Yyvonne Craig passing away a previous to the film's release. Aside from that though, the Caped Crusaders return compels you to want to tune in to this Bat-Time!