Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Holy documentaries!, September 21, 2005
This review is from: Batman - Holy Batmania (DVD)
This is a Batman's fan dream! Never mind that the documentaries have some footage in common. And yes, they could have included more. But with four documentaries plus an extra DVD full of TV spots and tidbits that only a real fan could appreciate, who's complaining? This is a 5-in-1 package no fan of the television series should be without, with three specific documentaries about the actors (Adam West, Julie Newmar and Cesar Romero), one about the series as a whole and a second disc full of extras.
Of all the documentaries, the one I liked best was the Julie Newmar one. Even if her parents were home movie buffs (something I can only assume), it is still hard to believe that there exists so much footage of Julie from her childhood to her twenties! She seems to have as much footage of her early years as any celebrity child, except, to my knowledge, she wasn't one. It is great to be able to see little Julie in the swimming pool, in her dance classes, then again as a teenager, and even the aspiring actress starting a new life in a new town.
All the documentaries include excerpts from other movies and projects the actors were involved in before and after "Batman". Cesar Romero was the only one of the three who had long made a name for himself prior to the television series and had already secured a place in movie history. Relatives and acquaintances are interviewed and it is touching to hear Adam's children speak fondly of their father.
The real treat on DVD 2 are the screen tests of Adam West, Burt Ward (who got the parts), Lyle Waggoner and Peter Deyell. Both the Batman costume and the sets were different from the ones they would eventually use in the series. The Batcave looks darker and smaller, being more reminiscent of the 40's serials and comic books. I'm glad they chose Adam and Burt instead of Lyle and Peter, though their tests are interesting to watch. This is a must for Batman fans. I just hope they don't take too long to release what we are all waiting for: the series, of course!
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42 of 45 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Where's the TV series?, November 22, 2004
This review is from: Batman - Holy Batmania (DVD)
Well, as the first reviewer pointed out, the biographies of the stars looked like they were made for TV. Yes they were. Kevin Burns made them for A&E;'s BIOGRAPY series. The reason Yvonne is not in this is because she has some disagreement with something, maybe Burns himself? I don't know. The TV series needs to be released in UNCUT form and in box sets by season. Then after the DVDs are released, CDs of the great Nelson Riddle and Billy May music need to be released. Is my review helpful?--No. This just a good place to push for the release of the TV series from 1966. I mean, come on already!
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38 of 43 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great research, October 25, 2004
This review is from: Batman - Holy Batmania (DVD)
Kevin Burns has done excellent research work on the scifi fantasy shows on the sixties. His previous project has involved "The Fantastic Worlds of Irwin Allen," and now he turns his attention to the Bat-Craze of the sixties.
I have to confess that when I heard about this DVD, I thought I finally could get read of those "Holy Batmania" videos I purchased ten years ago, that had qreat deal of Bat "odds and ends" from over the year.
Burns calls in Bill Mumy to be the narrator for the Batmania special, and Mr. Mumy proves to be a great commentator for this documentary, and again Burn proves his that he knows his Batstuff.
While many wonderful extras are here. Including the screen tests for Adam West and Burt Ward, the alternate ones with Lyle Waggoner, the bumper bits for the Batmania wrap arounds in the late eighties (and all of this is great), I found myself noticing a few absentee spots such as the Batgirl Yvonne Craig ad for equal opportunity pay that was done in the early seventies, the ABC 1967 tv special, which had Adam West and Burt Ward discussing the new fall lineup, and the Yvonne Craig/Ambush Bug screen test,which shows up in the old videos.
Than it dawned on me, it seems that there's been a kabash on most of the Batgirl stuff, probably due to legal situations, we can only guess at.
Maybe there can be a Batmania 2 DVD, in a few years to come.
But as someone else pointed out, this DVD will have to do, until Fox and Warners can hammer out a deal to release the Adam West series out on DVD. And it is well done, with three other full length documentaries on Adam West, Cesar Romaro, and Julie Newmar. Who's left? Burt Ward
Hopefully, Mr. Burns (not the Ken one), can do research on some other sixties and seventies programs that haven't had their specials of documentaries yet. But, it's hard to beat the sixties for their pure campiness and fun. Mind you, this was before tv and pop culture turned dark in the eighties.
So go ahead and get this BatDVD, add it to your Batcollection, and remember back when the Caped Crusader was fun, fun, and more fun.
Sincerely,
JThree
carolyn@dia.net
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting and very well done set of documentaries
Holy Batmania! is a 2-DVD set of documentaries about the iconic ABC television show and its actors. This famous series ran from January 1966 to March 1968.
Published 1 month ago by Joker
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2.0 out of 5 stars
confused
We got this dvd for our boys because they love Batman.
But we thought we were getting TV episodes from years ago.
Published 16 months ago by M. Carbone
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5.0 out of 5 stars
An interesting look at the Adam West Batman phenomenon
If you enjoyed Adam West and Burt Ward's campy portrayal of the dynamic duo, then you will enjoy this retrospective look at the whole Batman craze sparked by them...
Published 17 months ago by T. Sim
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3.0 out of 5 stars
COOL, BUT OVER PRICED! IT WILL HELP KEEP FANS HAPPY UNTIL THE SERIES IS RELEASED! OR WILL IT?
I don't want to bash this DVD, but it seems to me all the material on these discs should be included on the Batman TV series DVD release.
Published 18 months ago by ! MR. KNOW IT ALL ;-b
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2.0 out of 5 stars
Not what I thougt
I thought the DVD that I was purchasing showed some of the actual taped shows that aired on TV. I was looking for them for my grandson.
Published 20 months ago by catnett
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5.0 out of 5 stars
"Same Bat time. . . .same Bat channel"
It really doesn't make any difference how one percieves the quality of the television series Batman back in the 60's.
Published on March 28, 2007 by Robert
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5.0 out of 5 stars
THE SHOW THAT KEEPS CHANGING, YET STAYS THE SAME
This series was like Haley's Comet. It would air every five years or so. I was too young to catch its original ABC run.
Published on July 23, 2006 by JACK LOBO
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Fun!!!
I've wanted this DVD ever since I heard about it! It is well worth your time! Screen tests, promos, wrap arounds and trivia and great documentaries on the show, Ceasar Romero,...
Published on August 8, 2005 by Robert D. Garrison
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Good Documentary
The main feature is really well produced and features interviews with all of the main cast and crew of the series.
Published on January 22, 2005 by E. R. Wilding
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4.0 out of 5 stars
MORE! MORE!
A fun DVD to watch, but I was hoping for more footage of the bad guys. Contains 3 great documentaries...Cesar Romero, Adam West & Julie Newmar.
Published on November 27, 2004 by McHenry John
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