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Holy Bat Excitement...Batman 1966 series on iTunes

Apple_Robert

Apple_Robert

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Sep 21, 2012
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In a van down by the river
I remember watching the series as a kid (in early reruns). It was, and still is one of my favorites. All three seasons are available on iTunes.

Has anyone bought the series? If so, how is the video and audio quality?
 
BasicGreatGuy said:
I remember watching the series as a kid (in early reruns). It was, and still is one of my favorites. All three seasons are available on iTunes.

Has anyone bought the series? If so, how is the video and audio quality?
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I remember watching the series as a kid, too.

Actually, I also remember getting a wonderful die cast metal model of the Batmobile one Christmas (and the small rocket launchers on the rear really worked - they were brilliant when firing matchsticks, I recall).

However, as I have not bought the series (and doubt that I would ever plan to do so) I cannot answer your questions re video and audio quality.
 
Scepticalscribe said:
I remember watching the series as a kid, too.

Actually, I also remember getting a wonderful die cast metal model of the Batmobile one Christmas (and the small rocket launchers on the rear really worked - they were brilliant when firing matchsticks, I recall).

However, as I have not bought the series (and doubt that I would ever plan to do so) I cannot answer your questions re video and audio quality.
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I had that bat mobile!
Not seen the iTunes content either, but when people talk about Batman, it's always the Adam West version I think of first.
 
Apple fanboy said:
I had that bat mobile!
Not seen the iTunes content either, but when people talk about Batman, it's always the Adam West version I think of first.
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It was a brilliant (and beautifully designed, meticulously detailed) toy, wasn't it? I seem to recall that it came complete with tiny figures of Batman and Robin as well, which could be removed from the car. Great car, and almost indestructible.

Re Batman, as a kid, I took the TV series entirely seriously. Indeed, until Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson faced off in Tim Burton's take on the character of Batman, a movie made even more compelling with Anton Furst's stunning and slightly sinister vaguely Gothic reincarnation of Gotham City, like you, for me the character of Batman had been defined by Adam West.

Actually, a little later, I was also given a die cast model of the car from 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang', which had wings that could the folded and unfolded. Another exquisitely designed toy.
 
I went ahead and purchased the iTunes set just now. I am watching the first episode, and it looks great. So much better than "another copy" I already had. It is like watching the show new for the first time all over again. This is the best I have ever seen the show look.

If you are like me and watched it on network t.v. decades ago, along with TVland, and MeTV, those airing are literally pale (and cut) compared to the vibrant colors and details of this new set :)

After checking out the extras that were included in the physical Blu-Ray set, I decided that it wasn't enough to warrant the high price and decided to save $30+ dollars with the iTunes set.

If the first episode is any indication, Bat fans like myself will be in Bat heaven.
 
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velocityg4 said:
I'd be interested to know if the show was originally done on film or tape.
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I am pretty certain (95%) that the show was done on film.

I am on episode 3 (Fine Feathered Finks) and am still very impressed with the picture quality. The sound (even though it isn't 5.1) is clear and easy to hear.

Edited to add: It was shot on 35mm film.
 
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Scepticalscribe said:
It was a brilliant (and beautifully designed, meticulously detailed) toy, wasn't it? I seem to recall that it came complete with tiny figures of Batman and Robin as well, which could be removed from the car. Great car, and almost indestructible.

Re Batman, as a kid, I took the TV series entirely seriously. Indeed, until Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson faced off in Tim Burton's take on the character of Batman, a movie made even more compelling with Anton Furst's stunning and slightly sinister vaguely Gothic reincarnation of Gotham City, like you, for me the character of Batman had been defined by Adam West.

Actually, a little later, I was also given a die cast model of the car from 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang', which had wings that could the folded and unfolded. Another exquisitely designed toy.
Click to expand...

I used to play with a rather beat up version on the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car at my grandmothers. Also had the Aston Martin with the bullet proof shield at the back and machine guns at the front from James Bond. I think it was from Dr No.
Sadly these will all be landfill somewhere now.

Maybe I'll get the Batman set for my daughter to watch. As she has grown up on about three Batman actors, it might be fun to show her the original!
 
BasicGreatGuy said:
I am pretty certain (95%) that the show was done on film.

I am on episode 3 (Fine Feathered Finks) and am still very impressed with the picture quality. The sound (even though it isn't 5.1) is clear and easy to hear.

Edited to add: It was shot on 35mm film.
Click to expand...

Interesting I wonder if it was transferred in 4K. It would make sense if you are going to go through the effort to do it as well as possible the first time.
 
I enjoyed this series as a kid and always liked the "cool factor" for celebs to appear on the show as either villains or walk ons (or in some cases, pop out of windows as the caped crusaders made their way up a building).
 
obeygiant said:
"Bat Excrement" as you call it is what is known as Guano. :)
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I didn't call it any such thing. Go troll somewhere else.

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phrehdd said:
I enjoyed this series as a kid and always liked the "cool factor" for celebs to appear on the show as either villains or walk ons (or in some cases, pop out of windows as the caped crusaders made their way up a building).
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As campy as the show is, it is cool for some of the reasons you mentioned. I also think Dozier's narration added a lot to the show.

After all these years, it is still fun to watch. And for people like me, it never gets old.

Edited to add: I did find that (In comparing the new set to an old master set I have) in Season 2 "Marsha Schemes a Diamond," it is missing about 27 seconds. It is a where Marsha's grandmother is teaching at the Wayne cooking school (it is at the end). Not a huge deal breaker but, it would have been nice if Warner Brothers hadn't messed up.
 
BasicGreatGuy said:
I didn't call it any such thing. Go troll somewhere else.

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As campy as the show is, it is cool for some of the reasons you mentioned. I also think Dozier's narration added a lot to the show.

After all these years, it is still fun to watch. And for people like me, it never gets old.

Edited to add: I did find that (In comparing the new set to an old master set I have) in Season 2 "Marsha Schemes a Diamond," it is missing about 27 seconds. It is a where Marsha's grandmother is teaching at the Wayne cooking school (it is at the end). Not a huge deal breaker but, it would have been nice if Warner Brothers hadn't messed up.
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what you describe is known as syndicate versions , this happens to a lot of shows , my english is not so good to try to explain but that happens when cutting , editing and language translations , i'm sure if you do some search you will find out what i'm trying to say.
 
ok this was what i was trying to explained and this is what is called. Edited for Syndication or Edited (butchered) for syndication. some shows that come out new in bluray or dvd come already Edited for Syndication , if you have an old vhs tape or you just remember the episode you will know that there is something missing , most people think that these series come uncut most series do but some other series don't. so before you buy anything you have to always check or find out if is uncut full versions or Edited for Syndication version. i can't still explained good enough because is hard for me to try to perfectly explain in english but do a search for Edited for Syndication or Edited (butchered) for syndication you will understand quick the whole thing. it has to with cutting the episodes to include commercials. editing for many reason that we already know this happen to cartoons. like dragon ball z etc removing the blood scene or removing the blood from the scene. some times since the episode has been partially cut , that part that been cut don't get translate into another language and if they are doing a multi language dvd , they can't include that part because that part wasn't translate it, some times they include that part but that part play in a different language for a little bit of time , some times they do that to include the whole episode but you notice that the play a different audio language then after the part that was cut finishes the audio go back to english again, this happen with Japanese series like ultra man etc.
 
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