‘Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders’ Is the Best Batman Film Yet – DVD and Blu-ray Review

Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders has got to be one of the best Batman animated movies out there. It is campy, fun, and a must-watch!

After the disappointment that was The Killing Joke it’s a good thing that Warner Bros. had Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders to offer fans. Based on the 1960s Batman TV show, this animated film makes things even better by having the original cast voice their respective characters. You can sense a bit of aging in the voices of Batman (Adam West), Robin (Burt Ward), and Catwoman (Julie Newmar) but it is part of the fun.

One of the things you have to realize is that the released synopsis for the film doesn’t do it justice. Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders is far more than our hero fighting a team of villains. It is a commentary on all previous adaptations of Batman. I couldn’t help but laugh at the jab the animated film made at The Dark Knight Rises.

I get that some people don’t like a campy Batman. He is supposed to be serious, brooding, and all that. However, the latest offering from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment shows just how easily a campy Batman can go towards the dark side as well as how more serious incarnations of the character can fall into camp without taking anything of importance away from the caped icon.

Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders is full of jokes and surprising plot twists. It is a must-watch for all Batman fans. There is also a sequel in the works!

Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders comes as a single disc on Blu-ray. It offers 1080p High Definition 16×9 1.78:1. The sound quality is 5.1 Dolby Digital. Subtitles are available in English, French, and Spanish. The colors are quite crisp in the Blu-ray version. I had no problems with the audio. The case is standard.

You also get two special features. The “Those Dastardly Desperados” featurette explores how Joker, Catwoman, Penguin and Riddler became icons. The “A Classic Cadre of Voices” featurette goes behind the scenes and shows the voice cast in action. It is very entertaining to see some of the original cast talking about the characters they had played years ago and reprising their roles for this project.

The DVD version also has a single-disk, with 5.1 Dolby Surround audio. I would recommend going with the Blu-ray version for better video quality and the added special features.

DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation produced Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders. Both the Blu-ray and DVD go on sale on 1st November 2016. You can currently own the film on Digital HD. It has an approximate run time of 78 minutes.

Have you watched Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders yet? Let us know.

Note: I received a review copy from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.

Author: Farid-ul-Haq

Farid has a Double Masters in Psychology and Biotechnology as well as an M.Phil in Molecular Genetics. He is the author of numerous books including Missing in Somerville, and The Game Master of Somerville. He gives us insight into comics, books, TV shows, anime/manga, video games, and movies.

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