GOBBI

My all-time favorite and the most-wanted unreleased-on-DVD television show is the 1966 Batman TV Series, and we, the old-school fans of the campy 60s television show are painstakingly waiting for the corporate greed of Fox, DC Comics, Warner Bros., and the Dozier estate to get on with the negotiations already, for crying out loud! Tick-Tock… I want to relive my fond childhood memories, so what’s taking so long?

Adam West: “Lookwell” was sadly never made, but “Batman,” of course was on the air for 120 glorious episodes. Yet, because it’s never been released on DVD, legions of fans, young and old, haven’t been able to enjoy it, some for the first time and some to relive those great memories. Do you have any idea when we might see “Batman” come out on DVD?

But of course, you’re right. People want “Batman” released on DVD and I think it will happen. “Batman: The Movie” is available and it’s always sold really well. But it seems most people have seen that.

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ETA: I’d like to pay tribute to Actor Michael Gough who played butler, Alfred Pennyworth, in the four batman movies. He passed away on March 18th at the age of 94. RIP Alfred.

With all the wintry weather we been having lately, what a perfect time to sit by the fireplace and watch these entertaining and funny adventure motorcycle documentary DVDs, I totally recommend them! Ewan McGregor of Star Wars and Angles & Demons sets off with his mate Charley Boorman and crew to go the long way round the world in their motorbike adventures. The two-actor buddies are motorcyclist enthusiasts and enjoy touring in their down time. Adventure touring is not really as popular here in the states as it is in Europe, but it’s gaining ground with the go-anywhere crowd.

Collectors Edition Box Set contains Long Way Round, Race To Dakar & Long Way Down. 8 DVD set containing a massive 24 1/2 hours! Take three trips of a lifetime in the company of best friends Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman, as they straddle their beloved motorbikes and cross unlikely terrain to reach some of the world’s most far-flung corners. Powering through notoriously desolate countryside, they ride from London to New York via Europe, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Siberia and Canada In Long Way ‘Round, and from the northernmost tip of Scotland descending through Western Europe and Africa to South Africa’s southernmost point in Long Way Down. These DVD stories cover their adventures and misadventures while they soak up the most incredible natural and cultural wonders. In Race to Dakar, Boorman recounts his extraordinary experience as he tackles the toughest race on earth – The Dakar Rally. www.longwayround.com

North America Marketplace Availability and NTSC Formatted Request GRANTED: Back in 2005, I made the request and suggestion directly to Long Way Round Ltd. & Kentec Mail & Courier Service Ltd. to offer the DVDs in NTSC Format (North America) so they would play on U.S. DVD players, because originally they did not, and the documentaries were not available in the U.S. Marketplace. Eventually they heeded my request and suggestions. Now they are available on this side of the pond, and I can report all 8-Discs are awesome and play just fine!

I was just reading rumors online regarding the casting of the villainous rogues gallery for the next Warner Bros. BATMAN-3 movie, The Dark Knight Returns, and so far the casting has been excellent.

A sexy, smoky cat-eyed Angelina Jolie.

Casting suggestions for Christopher Nolan, and the casting directors over at Warner Bros. I would like to see Angelina Jolie take on the role of the next Catwoman. To fill Ms. Julie Newmar and Michelle Pfeiffer’s boots is not going to be an easy task. Ms. Newmar who I personally met what a gal, they don’t make ladies like you any more Julie. Warner Bros. is going to need an accomplished, sexy and dark actress; well today I feel that there’s not many women that can pull it off. Angelina can, and maybe sexy actress Megan Fox, and the pretty Ashley Scott could dawn the skintight cat-suit. I also think Johnny Depp would be excellent for the role of The Penguin! Another actor whom I met years ago was Brad Pit, I think he could portray a modern version of The Riddler or maybe even the kooky David Arquette. Shia LaBeouf I think could nail the role as the second Robin: Tim Drake, and Jeremy Jackson as the future Nightwing if Warner Brothers ever decide to bring the Robin character back in some capacity. That’s my two cents…

Incredibly well done Megan Fox as Catwoman fan art.

On a much lighter pop-culture, entertainment note. As one of the most iconic and recognized villains in popular media. The Joker has been portrayed by Cesar Romero in the 1966 Batman television series, Jack Nicholson in Tim Burton’s Batman, and Heath Ledger in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight. Mark Hamill (AKA: Luke Skywalker) provided the funny but sinister voice for the character in BATMAN: The Animated Series.

On the absence of Heath Ledger who won an Oscar for his portrayal of the The Joker “clown prince of crime” in the mega blockbuster The Dark Knight, who will fill the void of the other villainous characters in the rogues gallery for Warner Bros. in the next BATMAN-3 movie?

Heath’s nailed the dark role of The Joker, but his makeup or lack their of in my opinion made the whole character work. Local Mount Sinai, NY’s resident and Oscar nominated, award-winning makeup artist John Caglione Jr. was the artist behind the freakish face paint. Check out the other films John Caglione Jr. has worked on at www.johncaglionejr.com.