The original Batman movie probably deserves to be judged on its own set of merits, seeing as how it in no way resembles anything after Tim Burton's gloomy remake. Even Schumacher's films don't boast as much sheer lunacy as the fight between Adam West's Batman and a woefully under-budgeted shark. It's the definition of "campy." Even as parody, though, the rather large collection of super villains in this film deserves a boatload of credit, if for no other reason than being able to keep a straight face while delivering some of the most ludicrous lines of dialogue ever scripted. Each foe gets their fair share of screen time, a monumental feat in its own right. It's the rapport between Cesar Romero (The Joker), Burgess Meredith (The Penguin), Frank Garshin (The Riddler), and Lee Meriwether (Catwoman) that makes them more fun to watch than the bulk of Batman's sworn enemies. Sure, none of them really go too in-depth with their depictions, but they all take the piss out of themselves (and each other) with such enthusiasm that it's hard not to get sucked in to the merriment. And also...Adam West. Come on.
