
Batman:
The Television Series - Season
Two, Part Two
(1967/DC Comics/Fox/Warner DVD Set)
Picture:
B- Sound: B- Extras: D Episodes: B+
BAMF!
KAPLOW! SPLAT!
It
took so long for the original live-action, mid-1960s Batman
series to become available properly on DVD and Blu-ray that bootlegs
and television broadcasts were known as the only way to see them.
Now thanks to Warner Home Video, the series lives on and there are
several different options to enjoy it. Back when it was released
last winter, The
Complete Series
was issued and as of this posting, is still available in a huge (and
pricey) Blu-ray set with all kinds of goodies and a three season set
on Blu-ray (see link at the bottom of the page).
For
the DVD format, however, they chose to go about things a little
different releasing the seasons (and half seasons) individually in
five disc sets and are still churning them out every few months. For
me, these DVD releases are fine until the box set goes down in price
a little or until I ultimately decide to upgrade these to Blu-ray, as
the sound and picture are far superior. These DVD releases, however,
despite not having any extras are fine in five disc sets with a
collectible insert booklet that serves as an episode guide as you
watch.
Season
2, Part 2
of the original Batman TV series features some groundbreaking
episodes featuring Catwoman, Mr. Freeze, The Joker, King Tut, Egg
Head (played by Vincent Price), The Penguin, The Puzzler, and even
the Green Hornet crossover episode with Van Williams & Bruce Lee!
Starring Adam West and Burt Ward as the caped crusaders and the
infamous Batmobile, the show continues to hold its nostalgic value as
a milestone in pop culture and holds a unique vision of the infamous
DC Comics character that has lived on for generations. If you are a
fan of the original series and comic books, then I should also
suggest that you read the new 'Batman
'66'
comic book series by DC that continues on the series from the third
season and features characters that weren't envisioned on the show
like Bane and Two-Face.
As
mentioned before, these DVD versions aren't as crystal clear as the
1080p Blu-ray releases though they do bush the boundaries of the
format. Featured in the original 1.33:1 Full Frame aspect ratio, the
show has been restored and paired with a lossy Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono
audio track. Subtitles are in English, English SDH, and French.
No
extras on the release, which is more incentive to get the big box
set.
Bottom
line: if you don't have an extra $150-200+ for either Blu-ray box
set, then these individual DVD editions aren't a bad way to go.
Hopefully, by the end of the year, we will get Season 3 sets
on DVD to round out the series. For me personally, I'm just happy
that this show is finally available in good quality without
commercials to enjoy at home.
This
set offers Episodes 69 through 94 of the series, which you can read
more about, along with that Limited
Edition
Blu-ray box and the previous DVD set at this link:
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/13311/Batman:+The+Complete+Television+Series+
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James Harland Lockhart V
www.facebook.com/jhl5films