BATMAN (1966) *** Pure glorious unadulterated entertainment. No politics, no philosophy, no romance, no art, no violence to speak of (of yeah, sure explosions and fistfights and such), nothing to get in the way. There's something silly and rewarding for anyone who was ever a kid. Yes, I understand that an argument can be made that it's a mockery of its own comic books, but, man…he's a guy dressed up like a bat who jumps into the Batmobile and rides off to save the world on a daily basis. Wilfully absurd in a manner to confound even Sartre, uproariously funny as the result in a manner that will stand the tests of time…I admit that some of the tv show episodes were even better, but again, it was one of the greatest tv shows ever made. Every little kid I knew was strangely attracted to Catwoman. This disturbed the most devout of us (not only a criminal, but Russian!), but the other kids more wisely ignored any ambivalence that might have presented itself. Lee Meriwether's costume enjoyed advantages over even the fashions of the day, but I think it was more the overtly sleazy sashay, and the way she stretched as she leaned. (and then Julie Newman was probably even better in the series) No matter, there's way too much going on to spend much time agonizing over even Catwoman. The Batmobile, Batboat, Batcopter! The way Adam West talks! The cave! Man, I'm never going to be truly satisfied until I have batcave! It's a beautiful film fill of tremendous costumes and extraordinary sets, the single greatest element of which is probably Robin's gnome booties.
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