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Category:    Home > Reviews > Superhero > Action > Adventure > Comedy > Satire > Camp > Pop Art > TV > Batman: The Television Series - Season Two, Part Two (1967/DC Comics/Fox/Warner DVD Set)

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+



- James Harland Lockhart V

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