Batman: The Movie (Blu-ray)
Directed by Leslie H. Martinson
Starring Adam West, Burt Ward, Lee Meriwether, Cesar Romero, Burgess Meredith
Fox Home Video
Release Date: July 1, 2008

At this point in time, there is little I can say about the film itself that has not been said countless times before by others. This cult-classic film is the very definition of camp. It brought together four legendary villains in a scheme so absurd it could only be foiled by the combined efforts of Adam West and Burt Ward as the dynamic duo. Shark repellant spray, dehydrating the “entire” United Nations, and “some days you just can’t get rid of bomb.” At this point most already know if they love it or hate it. The real question is, is it worth repurchasing in “high-def”?

Though the idea of seeing the film on Blu-Ray may sound promising, the film really does not benefit from a 1080p transfer. The special effects are not exactly cutting edge and while the colors do really pop off the screen, it’s more likely due to their blatant lack of realism. In fact, when viewed in contrast of one bonus feature that allows a pop-up map of the Hollywood area to show where every scene of the movie was filmed, the unimpressive video quality is even more apparent. However, you can see more details in the mustache Cesar Romero refused to shave and instead painted white for his role as The Joker.

So that leaves the bonus features. The clear winner of the group is a 360-degree tour of the Batmobile. Using your remote you can rotate and zoom the “camera” around the vehicle, highlighting various parts to learn how they were designed, what was used to make them, and what their Bat-purpose is. Did you know the “jet-engine” on the back was actually made from a 5-gallon paint bucket? The disc also includes an interview with the man who designed and built the car, though the interview looks like it was filmed in the early ’80s with a beta-cam and sat on a shelf until the moment before it was transferred to the disc. The information might be interesting, but until Blu-Ray becomes more mainstream I don’t know many people willing to shell out the extra money for every movie they can get regardless of the video quality. Video quality is the primary reason for upgrading from DVD to Blu so things like this make me want to say “Holy crappy video transfer Batman!”

What remains is commentary from various people in the comic and film industry on the film, the TV show, the actors, and the legacy of what they all left behind. During the movie itself, you can listen to audio commentary from West and Ward. The special features include a trivia track as well as several short segments focusing on different aspects of production, specifically the cast and the production of the TV show. After watching several people who were completely uninvolved with the production of the film talk about why they loved it when they were young for 30 minutes, it begins to seem more like a fan forum than anything else. Lee Meriwether is the only cast member to make an appearance during these segments, which is surprising considering West and Ward were willing to do the audio commentary track. Not surprisingly, her commentary is the most interesting.

Overall, if you’ve loved this movie the last time you saw it, you’ll love it this time, but if you already own it on DVD, there aren’t many good reasons to upgrade to Blu-Ray. The movie is the same, and the special features alone aren’t worth it.