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I watched Gotham last night and witnessed this little bit of hilarity (possibly the funniest moment I've encountered in a Batman production for a very long time). This show has everything the new movies now lack. It's humor feels very Tim Burton. Robin Lord Taylor rocks!

At 1:05 here "Max Shreck" himself brings a classic Disney character to live action life. I'm already smiling, Walken seems perfectly cast here lol

Also a former Ghostbuster sings a classic Disney song masterpiece. Sleeper hit of 2016 I think.

Great little Keaton 80's comedy movie. "The Dream Team". Well worth a look if you get a chance to catch it. Where else can you see Batman work with Doctor Emmett Brown himself, Christopher Lloyd? (their brilliant together, reminds me of a Gene Wilder, Richard Pryor chemistry).

One of the first films I watched as a kid of him in a non-Batman appearance the others being Beetlejuice of course and Pacific Heights. This is probably the scene that is the film's signature highlight.

Well a long dormant childhood dream just came true for me. It seems the purple one who gave Jack Nicholson the funk is coming to Liverpool, my home city, for the first time ever (very very soon in fact). In a stripped down experimental tour called "Prince Spotlight: Piano and a microphone".

Off to see Madonna with my family this December 14th and what is most strange is I literally was wishing this Prince announcement just a few short days ago as my next preferred "legend to see". Can it be that I "seen the future and it will be?" lol

I would prefer seeing him also play those very extravagant guitars but this is clearly an opportunity not to pass up. Wanna bet "Scandalous" finds it's way into that set? He's played it a few times recently and it would be a perfect choice for a piano number. The battle for tickets in on! And cue "Partyman"....

Seems this terrific 60's pop art retro series of West and Ward madness is set to end this December.

And I am quite furious about it  lol

It has had a good run. Much longer than I personally expected it would get (almost two full years). Still I swear I haven't been buying a single other Batman comic for all that time span. It's been a breath of exciting fresh air that made comics fun again. A much needed resurrection from the sea of endless Frank Miller inspired Bat Books. I really don't see why the single best and most creative Batman comic on shelves has to be thrown away like a used condom at the expense of some of those blander books. I think we know comic publishers are often pathetic fools but this turn of events is truly the most upsetting by far in some time. Not exactly a great move for the shows upcoming 50th anniversary either.

Just thought I'd mention to any fans in the vicinity of Northern England if you haven't managed to catch any of the showbiz news lately you may be extremely interested to hear that the big man himself, Tim Burton, is going to be switching on the famous (or these days infamous? ) Blackpool Pleasure Beach lights!!

Now THIS sure makes a change from another teeny bop boy band guest don't it? Doctor Who's David Tennant once turned them on during the prime of his series in 2008 (leading to all manner of vehicle congestion chaos in the process). But, when was the last time that you saw Tim Burton come to something so well, gosh darn surprising in the UK? I'm certainly going, it sure cheered me up after the horrible news of Yvonne Craig's passing. I once had an opportunity to meet Adam West when he came to my local Forbidden Planet store here in Liverpool back in about 1995....only it took place on a school day. Needless to say I've never forgiven my mum for that horrendous blunder so won't be passing this chance up.

Turns out Tim has been shooting in Blackpool for his latest film. I thought at first, Beetlejuice 2? Nah hasn't gone into production yet. How about his live action version of the Disney feature Dumbo? Would make sense with Blackpool's circus-like promenade (boardwalk I guess to you US citizens). Ironic since the place was once home to the famous Dumbo ride my sister and I would have fun on as kids. He said many gracious things about his love for Blackpool which was quite wonderful to hear. Burton always had a respect for all things British. And Gerry Anderson's Thunderbirds, YAY! It does make me wonder just when has he been there before? Somebody also said he was recently spotted in a Blackpool hospital A@E, just sitting there waiting his turn like everybody else for his appointment. Imagine?! I couldn't possibly resist reminding him of his parody of such a mundane situation in Beetlejuice by impersonating Keaton: "HEY! There goes ELVIS! Yo KING!" lol

"....This is what makes Batman Forever the video game the video game of the year".

Go on then, snort and giggle at that one. You know you want to  This game gave me headaches too to be fair but I gotta say I still loved it ("The Adventures of Batman and Robin" was to me the real spawn straight from hell itself). And hey, it's Batman Forever's 20th so why not?

Okay, so finally somebody has managed to post up the small making of documentary for the video game of Batman Forever from Acclaim. I've had this on a specially released VHS tape for years. In fact just solved my personal mystery of how I actually got it. Found this: http://collector-corners.co.uk/47/

A special game collectors set only released through British store Woolworths. My dad must have bought me this. I genuinely have no memory of it but it's the only possible explanation. It also came with the game itself and a Batman Forever diary book (which I also still own, never used in fact). It's amazing how trivial things get locked away somewhere in your brain for many years.

It's only a very small doc but you get to see how they used the film's real stuntmen, in costume to create the digitized characters. I actually think how they captured the backgrounds for the sets and look of the film was quite impressive. Don't know what some were on about saying the game looked a little bland. Some once asked me to post this up some time ago and I couldn't help them out. So here it is:

"You not only need fighting skills for this game you need fighting smarts!!"......Oooooh, no sh*t bub! lol See they only wanted to give you a realistic, genuine challenge....lol

Prince. The man has many, many songs. Unreleased even and otherwise. And then there is the countless mixes and b-sides.

Behold, the Batman b-side/remix of "Partyman" that I guess is also the track that "officially" makes all of the brilliant Prince songs of his then past such as "Sexy Dancer", "I Wanna Be Your Lover", "Head", "Housequake", "Raspberry Beret", "Erotic City", "Kiss", "Alphabet St" and "U Got The Look" (spot anything else?) officially part of the Batman soundtrack too! Thought this was very cool to discover. New lyrics included here also for "Partyman" itself.

Towards the end of the track, in character as the Joker, he giggles "Tune in next...". Sounds to me like a quote of the famous "Desmond Doomsday" (William Dozier) death trap narration from the cliffhangers of the Batman TV show.

It was commonly believed Nicholson's Joker truly was a Prince fan in the universe of the movie. With Jack's vocals once again opening the track, the rumors are true at last! (Lawrence must have been busy editing that day? lol). 

A great picture here that is truly prophetic for two great men. Posted on the 1966 Batman TV series page (I highly recommend joining it, superb pictures galore).

Think this is a bit of a first here. How many times do you see someone from the TV series in the same frame as somebody from the later Batman films? Well here is Jack Nicholson and Frank Gorshin working together on a 1960 film called "Studs Lonigan". It was pre-Batman for them both. Hope you can see it: https://www.facebook.com/Batman1966TvShow/photos/a.248735048596007.65335.247973892005456/586343968168445/?type=1&theater

It always pleases me when I see a movie in which former Batman adversaries are seen together outside their Gotham City connection (such as Nicholson and Pfeiffer in "Witches of Eastwick"/"Wolf" or him and Devito in "Hoffa"/"Cuckoo's Nest" or even Devito and Jim Carrey in "Man on the Moon"). There are LOTS of them. Can't imagine a scene between Gorshin and Jack though. Makes me wanna see this movie now.

Finally got the complete Batman TV series DVD for Christmas. If you have one you will know it's an absolute gold mine of joy. When you become excited by the idea of pausing and rewinding an Adam West episode you'll know two things: 1) you might just be a very sad individual and 2) it's been far too long for this thing to become available for home video consumption.

I decided to get the full series for quite an expensive purchase. But it was worth every penny. I hear some people are buying seasons individually? How they are doing this I've no clue because in my city I haven't seen the series at all on shop shelves. I only got mine by asking a guy who went in back and fished it out of his stock in HMV. I think the staff are secretly buying them up or something. What a surprise the damn thing would be hard to obtain. I'm so relieved I acted as quickly as I chose.

Of course I instantly went to my favorite episodes and what could be more exciting than the Green Hornet crossover?! In the documentaries Adam West tells a brilliant and hilarious story regarding the relationship between Bruce Lee (Kato) and Burt Ward. Here is some interesting, fun info on it:

"This episode was written to try to save the Green Hornet TV series and to answer the pressure being given by the fans to face Bruce Lee off against Robin. Burt claimed he was a martial arts expert and Bruce was Bruce. They were going to have the face off on the Hornet show but since no one was watching the show and this was an attempt to garner an audience, it was decided to do it here. Charles Hoffman the story editor and Oscar Rudolph the resident director were given the assignment. According to Dozier, it was decided to end the episode in a draw so not to damage either heroes reputation, besides, Bruce would have wiped the floor with Batman and Robin and still had time to take down Colonel Gumm by himself, while the Hornet chased down his fallen fedora".

Two supporting characters may be recognizable to some. Alex Rocco plays a Col. Gumm thug and famously went on to appear as the famous Moe "shot through the eye" Green in "The Godfather Part One". And I only just spotted Seymour Cassel too who later went on to appear in things like "Indecent Proposal", but he is perhaps much more memorable for playing Sam Catchem in Warren Beatty's "Dick Tracy" (a great movie that owes a few million debts to the Batman TV show):

"Gumm's gang consisted of Seymour Cassel who has since gone on to become a popular character actor, at the time he played small parts on various tv shows. Rico Cattani another bit player actor who also doubled as a production manager on serveral films. Then we have Alex Rocco who has since gone on to become a star in his own right in tv and movies. Back then he was a struggling actor who moonlighted as a bartender to pay the bills. Years ago he spoke about his role on Batman. He said he was working in a bar when a call came in for another actor (he didn't mention who) who used to hang out in the bar. Rocco needing the money, told the caller the actor wasn't there but he would take the part. It was that of Block (he called him Blockhead), and he claimed it was like two days work and he was paid $250.00".

"As long as both shows were so popular among the viewers, a Kato-Robin confrontation was unavoidable. The young public was clamoring for one. 'The director decided we should participate in the Batman series instead of ours,' Bruce Lee said. He had no idea what the director had in mind, but after reading the script, he grinned and whispered to himself, 'This is great. Kato finally gets to fight Robin.' "Bruce was a great kidder. He relished playing jokes. Especially on someone he did not care for. On the day Kato was to fight Robin, Bruce put on his most solemn face. He walked around as though carrying a heavy burden on his shoulders. He hardly said anything and did not kid around with the crew in his usual manner. He was not the same Bruce Lee everyone knew. "On the Batman set Bruce continued his pretense. He stood in a fighting stance, teeth clenched and eyes squinted behind Kato's mask. Meanwhile, Ward as Robin, stood a good distance away from him and attempted to calm him with irrelevant comments which Bruce just ignored. Finally, the director ordered them to proceed and the camera began to roll. Bruce held his deadpan expression and inched his way toward his opponent. Ward kept his distance and yelled, 'Bruce, remember this is not for real. It's just a show!' "Bruce later related the incident. 'I had a hard time keeping a straight face,' he said. 'I started to crowd Burt and he began to flap his elbows and jump around me. I was really keeping him scared and I hear someone in the back whisper, 'The black panther and the yellow chicken.' At that point, I burst out laughing. I just couldn't keep a straight face anymore".

The fight scene between Bruce Lee and Robin is unlike anything seen in the Batman show. At one point he does one amazing flying kick. Lee summed it up with his usual great humor:

"The director didn't want to upset any fans so he cleverly let the heroes fight to a draw. Bruce viewed the whole event with amusement. 'Lucky for Robin that it was not for real; otherwise he would have been one dead bird'".

What you are listening to here (believe it or not) is the rejected soundtrack theme for Batman Returns composed by none other than R.E.M.

This was of course before Siouxsie and The Banshees were approached. Though I imagine this was Burton and Elfman's scheme right from the start of the whole debacle.

Very strange I think you'll agree. But you have to love the inclusion of the old Batman tv series theme in here. Still it is EXTREMELY hard for me to imagine this in the movie in any shape or form. Thank goodness we got the right band and the right song regardless of the opinion of Warner's brass in the end.

As you will know there is some pretty marvelous music contained in the Adam West show. I can't believe it's never concerned me enough until now but where can I find any CD's featuring the old tv themes of Neal Hefti and Nelson Riddle? Is there one available for the old 1966 feature film too? There seems to be a lot of old vinyl LP's.

Found some tracks from a very old LP I think from the sixties uploaded to youtube. Very enjoyable. It's easy to forget just how fantastic the tv Batman theme is. I consider it on the same level of ingenuity as the classic James Bond theme. An insanely catchy repeating guitar chord that is so simple and utterly effective. Just heard the full album version for the first time too.

The tv series title sequence would make a great Facebook wall cover. Just wondered if anybody has any high quality scans of it to be used. Particularly the villain roster where you glimpse the Joker, Penguin and Catwoman and their goons? How about the sound effect balloons too?

I also was wondering if any scans exist for the U2 music video for their Batman Forever song? The stunning animation of it has some awesome vistas. I love the shot of the Batmen all playing cello's at the videos conclusion. Unfortunately as yet, high definition pictures don't seem to be out there in great use as Facebook cover's e.c.t Can anyone help?

Just wondered if anybody out there has gotten the new tv series release of Adam West? Have they reached UK stores yet? How good does it look and all that?

I won't be getting one myself until Christmas. Hopefully anyway. I never buy big releases of movies or shows in November. It just seems a bit crass with an event as big as Christmas right round the corner to be splashing cash. Yet everybody else seems to have already bought a copy lol
Me, I'll be sitting down to watch the whole series throughout Christmas week to New Year. Special time for a special series on a special dvd release. Ergo, a great Christmas planned. I think I will choose my favorite 5 or 6 stories first and then watch in episodic order. What stories would you go for first personally?

I was wondering are there any particular differences between the dvd releases and blu ray? Are certain extras not present on one release from another and all that frustration? I am planning on getting a complete series set but I hear there is one for just season one on it's own. So far as I know there doesn't seem to be any near future plans for an individual release of seasons 2 and 3 anyway. So would it be wise to get the complete series version? Cheers.

Duran Duran are one of my favorite rock bands and I spotted something on one of their albums that I thought would be of mild interest.

Check out the sleeve of the album "Medazzaland". http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ru/3/3e/Duran_Duran_Medazzaland.jpeg I think it's synth nut Nick Rhodes there in the bottom right corner sporting what seems to be a very very close representation of Ledger's Joker makeup. And this is a 1997 album folks! 1997 being for some fans, I do not include myself personally, as the year Batman died on the big screen. So I put it to you did these legendary "wild boys" give us a glimpse at the unforeseen future here? Either Duran Duran sported some kind of crystal ball or somebody at the department of Nolan decided to borrow(steal) imagery from somewhere other than "Beetlejuice".

In fact go and watch some of their videos from about the late 80's into early 90's. Particularly the one for a song entitled "All she wants is". Don't you think as a young guy Nick Rhodes was a bit of a dead ringer for The Joker? Especially in all those flamboyant suits and makeup he loves so much lol Like Prince he has a touch of the Brian Bolland Joker about him with wild rock hair and sly grinning.

Interestingly the album sports the song "Out of my mind" which was the soundtrack theme to the movie remake of "The Saint". Famous for being the film Val Kilmer bailed out on another Batman for. Or perhaps more appropriately that Warner Bros refused to wait on before doing another Batman. The movie of which was co-written by Wesley Strick, former writer of Batman Returns. Phew. And all this from a single Duran Duran image. The world of Batman certainly is a strange, intricate, interconnected web indeed...

Watch this if you want to see a very cool clip of Prince actually recording a bass guitar solo for the video mix of the song Partyman during the Batman album recording sessions.

Also think it's pretty awesome he's actually wearing all black clothes. Looking more Batman-like than ever! He certainly seemed to be getting himself in the spirit of the character there when doing work for the soundtrack. The clip can be seen at 2:55

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8dB6d3VdHc&feature=youtu.be

The whole segment is well worth a look though if you love Prince's music as I do. Check out another section at 2:00 in which he performs a stunning guitar warm up/sound check for one of his 1988 shows. Fast paced grooviness or what? That piece of music he plays sounds so much like a sped up Adam West Batman theme to me lol Very cool

In a few days Ghostbusters gets a cinematic re-release in the States for it's anniversary.

I believe here in England there are plans to re-release it on cinemas too, but only for a mere day. Can anybody confirm the date it's expected to be on UK screens for me please?

Any further word yet on that mysterious 25th anniversary dvd/blu ray we've all been told about? We're getting awfully close to the big day now and it appears to have gone missing in action.

While we're at that any signs the UK cinemas will screen the original Batman yet? Surprise surprise it seems that once again Britain will not bother while I am hearing of plenty of screenings happening in the States. Even Batman Returns has gotten in on the act. Will I ever get to see these bloody Keaton films on the big screen before I die?

As Maximus once said I shall have my vengeance on this frustrating matter, in this life or the next! lol

I think most fans have now spotted Jon Favreau doing a small walk on cameo as an aide of Bruce Wayne during Batman Forever. Until Schumacher spoke about that on his great (and funny) little commentary tracks I had no clue. It's a shame he had no role whatsoever. Apparently he was just starting out at the time. With Batman Forever soon reaching 20 years (whoo!) Mr Favreau has certainly come a long way. Not least with his starring and directing duties on the Marvel Comic films. He of course starred as Franklin Nelson in 2003's Daredevil (opposite future/controversial Batman Ben Affleck), appeared in the Iron Man films and on directing duties and produces The Avengers pictures. Is it possible a Batman cinematic role may someday occur too? Has he ever spoken of his Batman Forever cameo?

Interestingly he's about to direct a live action movie version (in the vein of the upcoming Maleificent) of Disney's 1967 classic The Jungle Book. Without question my favorite Disney film as a kid. His style of humour and fun appeal seems perfect for such a project. It could have so many great possibilties if done right. Hopefully he will do a fantastic job. The film already has a few further comic book connections of interest. Reportedly he has managed to rope in a few of his Marvel movie colleagues to play the voices of several of the famous Disney characters. Idris Elba (Thor), has already been chosen to play main villain Shere Khan. The original Shere Khan of course was the excellent George Sanders, who played the first live action Mr Freeze alongside Adam West and Burt Ward. Every time I watch that episode it's amazing to think I'm watching "Shere Khan" in Batman! lol With Elba's particular striking voice it would seem they aim to channel a little bit of him again. Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow in the Iron Man, Captain America and Avengers films) is rumoured to have also been selected to play Kaa, my favourite character as a kid. A totally left-field casting choice at no mistake but one that I love the idea of for being so darn unexpected. Should be very interesting. The original voice of that character, Sterling Holloway, popped up with George Reeves on the Superman tv show. He also (in possibly the deleted scene I've been most eager to see) appeared in the Batman 1966 movie, but was totally cut out.

I am trying to find the very first Turtles issues from 1984 and the storyline that served as inspiration for the 1990 movie.

I believe it was the following stories the filmmakers culled from: (Mirage #1-3/Me, Myself and I/What Goes Around... Comes Around!/Silent Partner, True Stories and Return to New York). If anybody could tell me where any of these stories are reprinted that would be great?

Surprise surprise, every other Turtles comic is available except this in my store. I could only find a large hardback book reprint at a very expensive price.

So just wondering if there are currently any inexpensive softcover reprints available anywhere? Black and white or colour.