Farewell, Old Chum. A Tribute To Adam West

It feels odd mourning the loss of someone you never knew personally. When someone we watch on TV or on the big screen leaves a lasting impression on us at a young age, we develop this connection to them. We look at them as though they are our teacher, our parent, or our friend; maybe all of the above. TV and Film actor Adam West passed away from Leukemia on June 10, 2017, at 88 years old. And yet for many of us, it feels like we lost a father, and a friend.

Since his passing, so many celebrities such as Burt Ward, Julie Newmar, Mark Hamill, Seth Macfarlane, Kevin Smith, and so much more have written their tributes and expressed what Adam West meant to them. I honestly don't know how I can do an icon like him justice. But it's worth a try.

Adam West was born on September 19, 1928 in Walla Walla, Washington to a farmer, Otto West Anderson, and an opera singer, Audrey V. He attended Lakeside School, and then went to Whitman College where he got a degree in Literature and Psychology. He came to Hollywood in 1959, and developed the stage name "Adam West".

In 1966, he agreed to star in a television series based on a comic book about a billionaire playboy who dressed up as a bat and fights crime. Little did West know that this show would change his life, as well as pop culture, forever.

Batman, which ran from 1966 to 1969, was the television debut of the Batman character created by Bob Kane. It was one of the more light-hearted interpretations of the caped crusader. And that's an understatement. It was more of a flat-out spoof than an interpretation. This show was the definition of campy. It was filled with cheap looking sets and costumes, hammy acting, fake looking fight scenes, and of course, cheesy catch phrases.

For years, Batman fans hated this show because they felt that it ruined the image of Batman for decades. But it's been more appreciated in recent years. And it deserves to be. I think the 1960s Batman show is one of the best comedies in television history. It's a show that understands how ridiculous the concept of Batman is, and has fun with it. It's not afraid to be goofy. Something that superhero movies tried to stay away from for years until recently.

Adam West is the perfect Batman for this type of interpretation. He plays the part so deadpan, and yet has a subtle self awareness at the ridiculousness of it all. He stands up for what is right and never gives up until the job is done. He's like an Eagle Scout Sherlock Holmes with a thing for dressing in rubber.

Fans like to debate who the best Batman is. Some say Michael Keaton, others say Christian Bale. Most would say Kevin Conroy. Even Ben Affleck has his fans. But Adam West is the one who started it all. Sure, he wasn't the first actor to ever play Batman (that was Lewis Wilson). But Adam West is the actor who introduced Batman into the mainstream. For many of us, AdamWest is the first person who comes to mind when we  think of Batman.

Plus, can any of the other Batman actors do the Batusi?

Top that,  Ben Affleck!

Of course, Batman can't do it alone. Not without his sidekick Robin, played by Burt Ward!

Robin is the opposite of Batman, as is Burt Ward's performance. Where Batman is serious and deadpan, Robin is more over-the-top and wacky. He delivers some of the funniest, most over-the-top lines of dialogue in any TV show. And for a show that premiered in the 1960s, that is saying a lot!

The show featured many of Batman's most famous villains including the Joker (played by Caesar Romero, who famously refused to shave his mustache for the role), the Riddler (Frank Garshin and John Astin), the Penguin (Burgess Meredith), and Catwoman (Julie Newmar, Lee Meriwether, and Eartha Kitt).

If you first watched this show as a kid, you probably took it seriously and got mad at your parents for laughing at it. But when you became an adult, you understood why they were laughing at it. It's a really silly show. And it's aware of that. And it's not ashamed of it. In fact, it embraces its silliness, which is part of its appeal. You can see a lot of the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies taking notes with how they also don't take themselves too seriously.

The show was so popular, it had a feature film in theaters, Batman: The Movie. It had all of Batman's most famous villains with a diabolical plot to turn all the world leaders into dust. And it involved one of the coolest scenes in Batman history!

The show was cancelled in 1969 after three seasons. There were a number of reunions, including Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt in 2003, and a straight-to-dvd animated  feature Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders in 2016.

For a while, Adam West was mainly absent from the spotlight with the exception of a TV pilot, Lookwell, in 1991. But in the 90s and 2000s, he was able revive his career as well as connect with a new generation with voice over roles in animation, including a guest appearance as the Grey Ghost in Batman: The Animated Series, an episode which was a love letter to the 1960s TV show.

In the early 2000s, he made a guest appearance as himself in The Fairly Oddparents as himself playing another caped superhero, Catman; one of Timmy Turner's favorite superheroes.

Cat-Man is basically Batman, but he dresses as a cat instead of a bat. He fights crime, drinks cream, and does what every cat does... just as a man.

This was my introduction to Adam West. He was so cartoony and so over the top, I thought he was an original character. I didn't think he was a real actor. He was just so over-the-top and goofy! He was easily one of my favorite characters on the show, solely because of how ridiculous he was. This performance was an example of what a good sport Adam West was, and how he was not afraid to make fun of himself. He had a great sense of humor.

But The Fairly Oddparents was not the only show Adam West played an exaggerated version of himself on. He also played himself on Family Guy, only this time he was the psychotic mayor of Quahog. He is easily one of the funniest characters on the show. He's kind of a parody of dumb, corrupt politicians. He says lines that are so stupid and so bizarre, you can't help but laugh. A lot of that is due to Adam West's brilliant performance. He had a talent of making every line he says sound funny. I've always enjoyed his appearances on Family Guy. The show will have a huge hole without him.

I had a chance to see Adam West in person at Comic Con in 2014 at a panel for the 60s Batman show to celebrate its first release on DVD and Blu-ray. He was there along with Burt Ward and Julie Newmar. They shared so many funny stories about working on this crazy show that made its way into the pop culture lexicon. I was so close to asking them a question. But was sadly cut off at the last minute. It's one of the biggest regrets I have at a convention. But it was till worth it to see West, Ward, and Newmar in person! You can watch the whole panel below. It's long, but worth it.

As I said before, it's odd mourning the loss of someone you never knew personally. I never met Adam West in person. But it sure feels like I did. For me, Adam West was more than just a great actor. He was like a role model. As Batman, he taught kids right from wrong, to stand up for others, and to never give up. And he did so with a great sense of humor about himself. He didn't take himself seriously. But he took what Batman meant to people seriously. He was aware of the impact this character had on so many people, and was proud to be a part of it. As a Batman fan, a superhero fan, and a fan of pop culture in general, I am forever grateful to Adam West for introducing Batman to the masses. But I am even more grateful for the years of entertainment and joy he brought to me and millions around the world.

Farewell, old chum.

Wonder Woman Is Wonderful - Movie Review (2017)

(Warning: Contains Minor Spoilers)

Go see it. Right now. What are you doing on your computer reading this? Are you doing homework? It's summer! I don't want to hear any excuses! Seriously, go to the nearest movie theater and SEE THIS MOVIE!!! And not just any movie theater. Go to a movie theater with a HUUUUUUUGE screen with the sweetest sound system in the UNIVERSE!!!

Based on its historic opening weekend box office, chances are you have probably seen the movie everybody's talking about right now: Wonder Woman. If you haven't seen it yet, it is either because you are busy, are not into superhero movies, or have hard time trusting anything with the DC logo. If it's that last part, I honestly can't say I blame you.

When it comes to movies, DC's track record has been divisive at best. While Man of Steel, Batman v Superman, and Suicide Squad were all financial successes, they left critics and audiences with a sour taste. Plus a movie starring BATMAN and SUPERMAN should have at least made $1 Billion (Dr. Evil pinky) just based on its premise. And yet it only made around $800 Million.

This year, DC is releasing two movies: Wonder Woman and Justice League. Each movie is already a huge gamble in an of itself. Especially Wonder Woman. And for more reasons than you think.

Wonder Woman is without a doubt one of the most iconic superheroes in history. Even if you never picked up a comic book in your life, chances are you know who Wonder Woman is. Created by psychologist and feminist William Moulton Marston, the Amazon Princess made her first appearance in All-Star Comics #8 in 1941 during WWII, a time when the world needed heroic figures. She along with Superman and Batman is one of the longest running comic book characters in history. And she along with Batman and Superman make up the DC Trinity.

She's appeared in countless comics, and a famous TV show in the 1970s starring Lynda Carter as the Amazon Princess. But whereas Batman and Superman have both had major movie franchises, Wonder Woman had not starred in her own feature film, let alone make an appearance, until recently. But why is that? How can Ant-Man have his own movie before Wonder Woman, one of the most iconic superheroes in comic book history?

Do you remember Catwoman? Remember Elektra? Supergirl The Movie? I'm sorry for bringing back painful memories. All of those movies were gigantic flops.

Basically, whenever a blockbuster with a female lead flops, Hollywood gets reluctant to make more movies with female leads. This is why Marvel has not made a Black Widow movie yet. And yet there are countless movies with male protagonists that flop everyday. I mean, since Baywatch flopped, are we done making movies starring men?

And if you think movies STARRING women is a risk for Hollywood, wait until you hear about women directors. It's sadly the same case. When a blockbuster with a woman flops, Hollywood gets the idea that they're too risky. It's not fair and it makes no sense, but it's sadly the thought Hollywood had for decades.

Thankfully, times are slowly changing. We've had two Star Wars movies in a row with female leads, and both were monumental successes at the box office. And not to mention animated films like Frozen and Moana, both starring female protagonists who save the day without a love interest, have been huge hits. And now, Wonder Woman.

Wonder Woman is directed by Patty Jenkins, an independent film director who directed the critical darling Monster starring Charlize Theoron. I have not seen that film yet as I am typing, but after seeing this film, I really want to watch it! Warner Bros. could not have picked a better director for this project! Not only does the film have great action and beautiful set pieces. It is also really funny, really charming, and has a lot of heart. Some of m favorite parts are the scenes where Diana Prince and Steve Turner just talk to each other. They give the movie a chance to breathe, and allow you to care for the characters. It's rare for a comic book movie these days, especially a DC movie, to give the audience a chance to breathe.

Gal Gadot absolutely slays as Wonder Woman! She's tough, she's independent, she's funny, and full of heart. Gadot's performance reminded me of Christopher Reeve's as Superman/Clarke Kent. Both performances were really funny, maintained a strong presence, and had a lot of heart. You didn't just see Christopher Reeve as Superman. You SAW Superman! You don't just see Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman. You SEE Wonder Woman! Making a larger-than-life comic book hero feel human is a feat that few actors can pull off. And Gadot more than succeeds. She was one of the highlights of Batman v Superman. And in her first film in a starring role, she does not disappoint! And I look forward to seeing more of Gal Gadot as Diana Prince in the future!

Chris Pine makes for a very compelling love interest and provides great comic relief. He has some of the funniest scenes in the movie. He always has pitch perfect timing in movies. He's great at reacting to extraordinary situations with witty remarks. He reminds me of Harrison Ford when it comes to charisma and humor.

One of the hardest things to do in a superhero movie is the romance. It needs to be believable and feel genuine, and also not ruin the flow of the film. Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder, Robert Downy Jr. and Gwyneth Palthrow, Chris Evans and Haley Atwell, Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone are a few examples I can think of that worked really well. And a lot of it was due to the chemistry of the actors. Chris Pine and Gal Gadot both have excellent chemistry. They really feel like a real couple, and not just two actors reading lines. You really root for them to end up together, which I don't say about many couples in superhero movies.

What I really admire about the movie is its themes of conflict and compassion. Early in the film, Wonder Woman believes that humans are good people and worth saving. She has an idealistic view of the world like everyone does when they're young, but has her views challenged when coming face-to-face with the evils of mankind. She begins feeling conflicted.

That's how society has been feeling as of late: Conflicted. In a time where truth is unrecognizable, where empathy is viewed as weakness, where the future seems uncertain, a movie like Wonder Woman not only feels like much needed escapism, but it also feels important. We need to think about themes of good vs. evil, right vs. wrong, and love vs hate. These are themes that we need to discuss lately. Wonder Woman explores these themes in a mature and thoughtful. They don't feel hammered in. They feel necessary to the story.

Man of Steel tried to explore adult themes with a comic book character, but didn't work as well. Mainly because it focused more on the ideas of Superman than the character. Wonder Woman explores the ideas of the character, but also focuses on the character herself. If we don't care about the main character, why should we care about their struggles? Because we sympathize and identify with Diana Prince, we're willing to follow her on her journey and face these battles with her. She's a character who inspires us.

That's the word I feel best describes this film: Inspiring. When I left the theater, I felt inspired. Inspired to do good for the world. Inspired to stand up for what is right. Inspired to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. That is what a great superhero film is supposed to do. It should make you want to do good for the world.

"It's not what people deserve. It's what you believe." - Wonder Woman

After the movie, I saw little girls outside the theater, as well as women wearing Wonder Woman shirts. It makes me so happy for little girls and women everywhere to see a strong woman superhero on the big screen. Between this, The Force Awakens, Rogue One, Frozen, Moana, and Ghostbusters, it's really exciting that little girls have more role models on the big screen.

And in a time where the world is full of darkness and hatred, we need more strong women. We need love. We need compassion. We need strength. We need Wonder Woman.