Politics Vs. Pop Culture: Will Smith Takes On Donald Trump

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August 17, 2016

Will Smith can be seen in the current hit DC Comics’ film adaptation Suicide Squad, but as anyone knows, he has not been shy about discussing political topics in the past. According to Entertainment Weekly, Will Smith took time during a Suicide Squad press conference in Dubai, India to discuss “Islamophobia” in America.

Donald Trump and his supporters eventually became the target of Smith’s commentary, as Trump has been under fire since last year for his statements about putting a temporary ban on those of the Islamic faith from immigrating to America.

The general Leftist thought, since Donald Trump shot his mouth off last year, was that he specifically meant to attack a religion, and is a terrible, evil, racist, bigot, but it is this entirely the truth or simple media exaggeration? Have other presidents taken a similar path? Let us analyze.

Will Smith Vs. Donald Trump: The Smack Talk

Will Smith has made his opinions of Donald Trump known prior to his Suicide Squad sit down in Dubai, as he went after Trump for his “fat pig” comments about Rosie O’Donnell, and honed in on Donald Trump’s candidacy as being part of a “separatist, non-inclusive, racist, xenophobic wave” across the world, as Breitbart News reported.

Smith went a little further when discussing “Islamophobia” at a Dubai press conference for his current flick Suicide Squad(Nope. This writer is not making the connection either).

“In terms of Islamophobia in America, for me, that’s why it’s important to show up. The Middle East can’t allow Fox News to be the arbiter of the imagery, you know. So cinema is a huge way to be able to deliver the truth of the soul of a place to a global audience,” said Smith.

No source seems to indicate how the topic arose, but celebrities tend to enjoy injecting themselves into politics. The usual talking points and tropes of “Fox News” this and “Fox News” that came out. Not defending Fox News, but CNN and MSNBC aren’t exactly quality journalism 99 percent of the time either(Think Wikileaks and the DNC).

Will Smith slams Donald Trump's call for Muslim immigrant ban: https://t.co/fkO63qJjTH pic.twitter.com/3EnoP1EwgO

— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) August 9, 2016

In any case, it is hard to say definitively why Will Smith chose to delve into this discussion, but his next comments added Donald Trump and his supporters with a curious comment.

“As painful as it is to hear Donald Trump talk and as embarrassing as it is as an American to hear him talk, I think it’s good. We get to know who people are and now we get to cleanse it out of our country,” said Smith.

Will Smith isn’t unfair in his embarrassment and disgust with Donald Trump, as he certainly can rub people the wrong way, but looking to “cleanse” your country of people purely because they support a candidate you do not, seems a little ludicrous. Before we review a little of Will Smith’s knowledge of civics and politics, let’s see what “The Donald” actually said.

The official statement, which The Guardian has a more detailed version of him reading and explaining it, reads that Trump was calling for a “total and complete shutdown” of immigrants of Islamic persuasion because of data he found from the Center for Security Policy’ that stated “25 percent” of the Muslims polled had agreed that violence against Americans here in the U.S. is justified “as a part of the global jihad,” and 51 percent agreed that American Muslims “should have the choice of being governed according to Shariah.” The statement continued below.

“Without looking at the various polling data, it is obvious to anybody the hatred is beyond comprehension. Where this hatred comes from and why we will have to determine. Until we are able to determine and understand this problem and the dangerous threat it poses, our country cannot be the victims of horrendous attacks by people that believe only in Jihad, and have no sense of reason or respect for human life,” said Trump.

The actual statement seems less caustic, in context than the reactionary media presentation of it. Donald Trump, love or hate him, may have a reasonable issue that is addressed in this statement. Maybe…maybe not.

So, is this statement and opinion unprecedented? Let us review the history.

The History: Donald Trump, Will Smith, And Past Presidents

Donald Trump is not the first presidential potential to suggest a change in immigration policy due to Islamic issues, though, the others were presidential… actuals.

President Jimmy Carter, formerly the most disliked president, once banned a Islamic people from a certain Islamic country in 1979. Carter banned Iranians from immigrating to America, signed an executive order to round-up 50,000 Iranian students, extra border screening, cancelled visas, et cetera during that time.

Carter based this off a prior immigration law called the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 that was authored by Democratic Senator Pat McCarran and Democratic Congressman Francis Walter. The ’52 law instituted quotas, and elements that many on the left loathe, but have started to round out Donald Trump’s immigration policies.

For anyone thinking Islamic terrorism and the issue with such radical philosophies are a 20th/21st century issue, look up Thomas Jefferson and the Barbary pirates.

Donald Trump and Will Smith are both Democrats. Both have supported or donated to leftist Democratic politicians and political causes. More on Donald Trump’s leftist background can be found here. Americans are quite clear on Donald Trump’s knowledge of politics, but is there any example Mr. Smith’s?

A few years back, Will Smith was on another promotional tour that landed him in France. This was around the time that France’s new Socialist President Francois Hollande had taken the reigns, and instituted a weighty tax on wealthier French people in the country. Smith bragged about how it was essentially out of patriotism that he was thrilled to pay taxes. He paid 30 percent in taxes he boasted.

The French interviewer explained to him that the new taxes there were 75 percent on someone in his tax bracket. A stunned Smith choked, gasped, and comically said: “That’s why I’m proud to be an American.”

So, the final question to be answered is Who is right? Wrong? Did this even really matter?

The Verdict

It’s a draw. Will Smith has every right to hate, make fun of, and yes be embarrassed in other countries by him (Lord knows we all are). However, that really doesn’t extend to his bizarre, and kind of creepy comments about him and especially his supporters. One hates to say it, but if the shoe were on a Republican foot, would there have been more outrage?

Donald Trump’s comments are often mean-spirited, and he can be a bit of jerk, but there’s “nothing new under the sun” as they say. Nothing in what he said is unprecedented, and it’s been partially clarified.

[Photo courtesy of Gage Skidmore/Walmart/Creative Commons]

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John Turturro Is Currently Filming ‘The Big Lebowski’ Spin-Off

By

Will Ashton

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August 17, 2016

Jesus abides! Jesus Quintana, I mean.

Following years of speculation and rumors, John Turturro’s long-proposed The Big Lebowski spin-off — centered around his scene-stealing supporting character, the aforementioned purple-loving, bowling-enthused sexual predator Jesus Quintana — is finally getting in front of cameras. According to Birth.Movies.Death., Turturro is already a couple weeks into production in New York — which the actor was making in secret, until now — and he’s joined by co-stars Bobby Cannavale, Audrey Tautou and Susan Sarandon. Evidentially, Turturro is not fucking around.

Turturro’s spin-off is reportedly inspired by the 1974 comedy Les Valseuses, which translates to Going Places. It will focus on two petty thieves, Jesus and Petey (Cannavale), competing to give a woman her first orgasm after she’s robbed by the criminals. Sarandon will play another criminal whom just got out of prison after a long stint. It currently has no distributors. Of course, there are many other questions now left in its wake.

For one, did Turturro get any input from Joel and Ethan Coen, the original creators of the character? They’re not creatively involved, according to the original report, and they’ve been hesitant to give their wholehearted blessing, despite years of insistence on his part — although that either changed recently or Turturro decided to make a spin-off anyway. The actor said he wanted to make a spin-off this year if he got the filmmakers’ seal of approval, according to THR.

Second, what ever happened to the bus driver plot Turturro suggested a few years back? Is that worked into the film, or completely strapped? But most important of all, is Jesus still bowling these days? Surely the league has lost one of their greatest if Jesus decided his ball-licking days are done for good.

Details will likely emerge in the days to follow. With the cat now officially out of the bag, it’s likely Turturro will give some more insight in the near future. Even though The Big Lebowski is unquestionably one of my favorite films of all-time, not merely one of my favorite comedies, I’m as hesitant as I am excited.

It’s clearly a passion project, so it shouldn’t feel like Turturro is aping from one of his most beloved characters. But I wonder if his character can truly carry an entire film. We’ll just have to wait and see when Going Places (or whatever it’ll be called) comes to a theater near us.

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Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly are Tackling Sherlock Holmes

By

Jon Barr - TV Editor

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August 17, 2016

Once again, the entertainment industry is giving Sherlock Holmes a screen adaptation. There have already been many movies and television series about the detective, starring various big-name dramatic actors. But Deadline reports that a new adaptation of the Arthur Conan Doyle character is in the works, and it’s unlike any other. We’ve seen various dramatic takes on the Holmes universe – such as Sherlock, Elementary, and the Robert Downey Jr. films. Now, we’ll be getting a comedy entitle Holmes & Watson, featuring the Step Brothers stars.

Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly, the duo known from films like Talladega Nights, are set to star in the Sony Pictures comedy. The film will be written and directed by Etan Cohen, whose past films includes Get Hard, Tropic Thunder, and Idiocracy. Ferrell will be playing the lead, Holmes himself, with Reilly playing the faithful sidekick Watson. Initially, Sacha Baron Cohen was attached to costar in the film, but that fell through. No other talent is attached, beyond the stars and director, but perhaps we’ll see Jean Girard playing Professor Moriarty.

The film will hopefully begin production after Thanksgiving.

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How ‘The Nightly Show’ blew its potential

By

Kris Solberg

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August 17, 2016

Earlier this week, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Comedy Central would be cancelling ‘The Nightly Show’ due to poor ratings. According to the report, the network decided to throw the gauntlet on Larry Wilmore’s show after only two season as it had struggled to connect with audiences. As Wilmore and a lot of his crew members were up for renewal, CC found it easier to cancel the show outright rather than holding on for another season.

Wilmore, a former The Daily Show correspondent, said in a statement that he never wanted his show to focus on viral content along the same lines as his fellow late night hosts. Instead, he wanted to make meaningful content that dug deeper into issues relating to race in America. While that’s an admirable approach to late night entertainment, it is also where The Nightly Show fell short of reaching its true potential.

The news comedy show consisted of three segments just like fellow Comedy Central co-hort The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. Two scripted around recent stories, and one discussion section with a daily guest. For the first two segments, the shows looked almost identical. Both Wilmore and Trevor Noah delivered funny, clever, and insightful commentary on recent events. However, due to the fact that Wilmore had The Daily Show as a lead in, whenever they covered the same stories, he could only repeat what Noah had already said.

With the last section of the show however, Wilmore had a real chance to lead a discourse about issues relating to minorities and race in the 21st century. Beyond himself, and the daily guest, two correspondents from the show would usually be the ones to add to the dialogue on the chosen issue of the night. The discussions were often quite shallow, and came off as dull since you had four people that usually shared the same view of the world. Had Wilmore instead brought in three different perspectives, and placed himself in the middle as an objective moderator, the show could’ve created content that evaded any comparison to its lead-in. If the show had instigated a real debate about the issues they brought up, it could’ve presented an unrivaled sociological insight during a time slot engulfed by desperate attempts to achieve viral success.

Though it’s no guarantee that viewers would’ve tuned in to watch a proper discussion, it would’ve elevated the show to a concept that tried to bring its viewers insightful and original content, rather than one that could never escape the comparisons to its better established lead-in.

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Fictional Cats in Celebration of Black Cat Appreciation Day

By

Jen Schiller

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August 17, 2016

No, not that Black Cat–the kinds with tails and ears on top of their heads. Did you know that many shelters have to put a hold on black cats around Halloween to avoid people adopting them to kill them? Did you know that black cats and dogs are more likely to be left at a shelter than other kinds?

Black cats get a bad reputation, and for reasons largely based on myth. As a very proud black cat “mom” myself, I’ve got to say, they’re just as lovely as any other passive-aggressive claw monster you could have in your home.

August 17th is #blackcatappreciationday, to raise awareness and visibility of black cats around the globe. Today we celebrate with some of our favorite fictional felines of the noir variety.

The Black Cat with Style: Salem Saberhagen

Sabrina the Teenage Witch has been a figure of comics, television, animated television, and now a horror series from Archie Comics. In every iteration of Sabrina, we also get a new version of Salem. Perhaps the most popular is the animatronic cat from the ’90s television show, Sabrina The Teenage Witch. Voiced by Nick Bakay, Salem often got his own subplot, complete with ridiculous costumes and props.

The Black Cat with A Plan: Thackery Binx

If you haven’t seen Hocus Pocus yet, congratulations! You’re either living in a hut in the mountains, or actively avoiding this cult classic. Much like Salem, Binx was portrayed by both a real and mechanical black cat, depending on what the scene called for. He and Salem also have their humanity in common. That’s right–both black cats are actually humans trapped in feline form.

Unlike Salem, however, Binx is immortal and cursed with protecting the city of Salem, MA from the Sanderson sisters’ return. We know. He’s not great at his job.

The Helpful Black Cat: Jiji

jiji black cat — The Cat Equivalent of finding your name on a keychain.

Jiji “belongs” to Kiki about as much as any black cat can belong to a human. In Kiki’s Delivery Service Jiji is Kiki’s familiar, and steps in when Kiki loses a delivery. Jiji and Kiki have trouble closer to the end of the film when they can no longer talk to one another. Some critics say this loss of communication is a marker of Kiki leaving adolescence behind, even though it coincides with her regaining the ability to fly. Whether or not they can talk to each other, Kiki and Jiji are best friends forever.

The Rudest Black Cat: Luna

Luna is the second black cat on our list from anime. Sailor Moon introduces Luna in the first episode, though she’s just a creeper kitten with weird band aids on her face. Once the band aids are removed, however, she’s the sassiest cat on the block. Luna spends the rest of the series telling Sailor Moon exactly what she thinks, whether it’s relationship advice or tips on how to stave off the negaverse. Mostly, her commentary is unwelcome, but Serena and the rest of the team love her none the less.

The Black Cat With the Moves: Mr. Mistoffelees

Perhaps the most dividing subject in musical theatre is the Weber classic Cats–based, of course, on T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. Whether or not Eliot planned for his book of poems to become a full-realized musical complete with special effects and insane dancing, I suppose we will never know. What we do know, however, is that Cats DOES HAVE A PLOT–all of the cat characters present their life story to Deuteronomy, the wisest of cats, on why they deserve to head on up to the “heavy side lair” (cat heaven), and be reborn into a new cat life. Mr. Mistoffelees presents his case in the form of a magic show, and it is magnificent. The show is back on Broadway. Just go see it.

The Bonus Black Cat: Sif the Warrior Princess

Alright, she’s not fictional. She’s my cat. Ain’t she the sweetest? (of course, as I type this, she’s knocking over everything on my desk.)

Show us your favorite cats for #blackcatappreciationday!

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‘Marvel’s Runaways’ TV Series Coming To Hulu

By

Aric Sweeny

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August 17, 2016

Deadline is reporting that Hulu has ordered a pilot for Marvel’s Runaways, which is aiming for an eventual full season.

Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, creator of Gossip Girls, are set to helm project.

Schwarts expressed his interest in the property, saying:

“I’m a long-time fan of Runaways and couldn’t be more excited to bring Brian and Adrian’s characters to life,” .

Created by Brian K. Vaughan and Adrian Alphona, Marvel’s Runaways tells the story of six teenagers who discover that their parents are members of a vile crime organization.

Runaways will be excecutive produced by Jeph Loeb (Jessica Jones) and Jim Chory (Daredevil).

Stay tuned for updates on the project.

Source: Deadline.

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‘Luke Cage’ Episode 9 & 10 Titles Revealed

By

Aric Sweeny

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August 17, 2016

Luke Cage showrunner Cheo Hodari Coker has been periodically posting the title for each episode on his Twitter account. Following this pattern, he recently dropped the episode titles for 9 and 10.

NINE: DWYCK

— Cheo Hodari Coker (@cheo_coker) August 17, 2016

TEN: Take it Personal

— Cheo Hodari Coker (@cheo_coker) August 17, 2016

To summarize, here are the episode titles we know so far:

Episode 1: Moment of Truth.

Episode 2: Code of The Streets.

Episode 3: Who’s Gonna Take The Weight?

Episode 4: Step In The Arena.

Episode 5: Just To Get A Rep.

Episode 6: Suckas Need Bodyguards.

Episode 7: Manifest.

Episode 8: Blowin’ Up The Spot.

Episode 9: DWYCK.

Episode 10: Take it Personal.

“Luke Cage is a former gang member who is framed for a crime. In prison, he volunteers for a medical experiment that goes awry, giving him super strength and bulletproof skin. Using his newfound powers, Cage escapes and becomes a hero for hire. His archenemy is Willy Stryker, a former childhood friend from Harlem. The two committed petty crimes together, and both fell for the same woman, Reva Connors, which led to their eventual falling out. It was Stryker who framed Cage for a drug deal that sent him to prison.”–Screencrush.

Season one of Luke Cage hits Netflix on September 30.

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REVIEW: ‘Hell or High Water’ a riveting, poignant crime drama

By

Felix Albuerne

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August 17, 2016

Hell or High Water delivers in every meaningful way as a crime drama. Intense and riveting, it’s a story of modern-day outlaws and lawmen that achieves the gravity and grit of the classic cinematic western.

It’s also among actor Chris Pine’s most memorable performances, as well as yet another unforgettable character outing for Jeff Bridges. Audiences should not have any trouble putting aside Captain Kirk or ‘The Dude’ while watching this one, regardless of their affection for those iconic characters.

What’s it about?

Set against a bleak West Texas landscape full of dust and dying towns, Hell or High Water is, above all, a story of two pairs of brothers on either side of the law.

The first brothers audiences meet are the Howard brothers, Toby (Pine) and Tanner (Ben Foster). The elder brother, Tanner, is an ex-con who’s spent the previous decade in jail. In his absence, Toby, a divorced father of two sons, looked after their terminally-ill mother.

Now, with their mother gone and a bank looking to foreclose on the family home, the two launch a desperate plan to save what they have left, a plan involving robbing banks.

The brothers’ dispositions couldn’t possibly differ more: Toby is measured and cautious, while Tanner is quick-tempered and brash. But they’re both devoted to preserving a future for their family.

Their well-planned exploits soon come to the attention of Texas Ranger Marcus Hamilton (Bridges). Days from forced retirement, the cagey old ranger sees something more to the crimes than just petty thefts.

Along with his reluctant partner (Gil Birmingham, the Twilight series), the two lawmen begin tracking the bank robbers, Hamilton believing he can anticipate their next move.

As the Howards close in on their goal, the Rangers patiently wait for their quarry to make a mistake. It’s an old-fashioned cat-and-mouse game from which none of them will escape unscathed.

Modern Texas, same old wild west

The cinematic power of Hell or High Water starts with its backdrop.

Screenwriter Taylor Sheridan (Sicario) sets his story amidst a Texas made desperate by poverty and economic recession. Life and property are as at risk here as they’ve ever been, but not from bandits and prairie wars. Government and banks are cast as the victimizers in this Western story. They are remote, faceless villains whose power and reach set the tragic events of the film into motion.

Within that context, Hell or High Water delivers a character study of people determined not just to survive, but also to protect what they cherish most. They’re all, in their own ways, playing the hands they’ve been dealt, in a game where the house almost always wins.

That’s not to say it’s all dusty doom and gloom in the film. In fact, the script packs a remarkable amount of humor borne of the characters’ personalities and circumstances. Bridges gets the lion’s share of the zingers as the irascible old coot, but everyone in the ensemble gets opportunities to lighten things up.

Bridges, Pine, Foster all strong

While the entire ensemble in Hell or High Water is superb, it’s the film’s leads that truly stand out.

Pine and Foster make for convincing brothers and a sympathetic pairing through the film. Audiences less than thrilled with the genre films both actors have appeared in this past year (Pine in Star Trek Beyond, Foster in Warcraft), should consider their efforts here far more indicative of their talent and range.

Pine, in particular, continues to show considerable range with his success in a variety of projects. Earlier this year, he delivered solid work in the serviceable The Finest Hours, and just over a year ago he was holding his own singing in Into the Woods.

With Hell or High Water, Pine shows serious acting chops in a lean, minimalist performance. It’s work that should put him in line for more character-driven work to define his career away from Star Trek.

As for Bridges, it seems he’s truly in his element in roles like these. His character is the sort of pain you love to watch on screen, but might hate having to deal with in real life. His shared scenes with Birmingham, again, are among the film’s most humorous and memorable, especially considering how they set up drama that unfolds later in the film.

Worth seeing?

Safe to say, Hell or High Water is easily one of 2016’s best thus far. Yes, its pace, tone, and style mimic that of the classic western. However, its powerful story and compelling performances help the film transcend genre boundaries.

For fans of the cast, the film is an absolute must. But even film fans without a horse in this particular race will no doubt find lots to enjoy here.

Hell or High Water

Starring Jeff Bridges, Chris Pine, Ben Foster, Gil Birmingham. Directed by David Mackenzie.
Running Time: 102 minutes
Rated R for some strong violence, language throughout and brief sexuality.

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Fan-Made ‘Firefly’ Trailer Imagines Animated Reboot

By

Jon Barr - TV Editor

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August 17, 2016

For fans still bemoaning the cancellation of Firefly, a glimmer of hope and nostalgia has appeared. Although Joss Whedon’s space-Western series has been off air for years, it still has a passionate fanbase. Even with this cult following, there don’t seem to be any plans to reboot the series. Especially as the film follow-up Serenity wrapped up much of the major plot lines. But now, animator Stephen Byrne has imagined what it might look like if Firefly was given new life.

WARNING: CONTAINS SOME SPOILERS FOR ‘FIREFLY’ & ‘SERENITY’

The trailer picks up from where Serenity left our intrepid crew of renegades. All of the original characters are depicted (including our dearly departed Wash), as well as Chiwetel Ejiofor’s character The Operative. There’s no dialogue or story hints, but it’s chock full of beautiful visuals. We see a Reaver attacking Kaylee, Mal and Inara making out, and River Tam kicking major robot butt. It’s got everything you could want out of a Firefly reboot, if one were to ever happen. Obviously, this animated show isn’t a real thing, but it’s a wonderful dose of what made fans love the original series.

This is simply wonderful. Browncoats consistently amaze me. https://t.co/sMRGh3mucV

— Nathan Fillion (@NathanFillion) August 16, 2016

This isn’t the first time Stephen Byrne has tackled a beloved Whedonverse property. About a year ago, Byrne released a trailer for “The Animated Adventures of Buffy,” picking up where the series left off. The animated Buffy trailer also contained plenty of Easter eggs, nostalgia goodness, and a reminder that there WAS almost a Buffy cartoon. Byrne has also created a trailer for a Doctor Who animated series, as well as small Batman V Superman sketch.

The trailer may not be for a full-fledged series, but it’s still amazing to watch and get nostalgic over. Check out Byrne’s Facebook page for more of his work!

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Adam West Returns As Batman In ‘Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders’

By

Matthew Sardo

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August 17, 2016

Warner Bros. released the trailer for ‘Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders,’ featuring the voices of Adam West, Burt Ward and Julie Newmar Wednesday afternoon, via EW.

Details are limited on this film, but stay tuned for updates. The classic ‘Batman’ television series ran from 1966 to 1969.

‘Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders,’ has a release date of October 11 for Digital HD and November 1 for Blu-Ray.

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