Actor Adam West greets the crowd during opening festivities for the Wizard World St. Louis Comic Con at America's Center in St. Louis on April 4, 2014. UPI/Bill Greenblatt |
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NEW YORK, Nov. 14 (UPI) -- Adam West, the star of the 1960s Batman television series, says he doesn't watch films about the Caped Crusader because they are too dark and violent.
Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney and Christian Bale all portrayed the comic-book hero on the big screen after West played the role, while Ben Affleck will soon be seen putting on the cowl in the upcoming Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice movie.
Asked at a New York Comic Con panel discussion last month to identify his favorite Batman screen performance other than his own, West replied: "I can't play favorites. It wouldn't be very nice."
"The only one I like is myself," quipped the 86-year-old actor.
Pressed to divulge which Batman movies he liked the best, West confessed: "I've seen bits and pieces. I've never really watched any of them through. Not that I'm bored, but I haven't."
"I just feel because I am not a critic, I don't want to comment on how good or bad they are, or other aspects. I just feel that they have so much available to do those movies and the guys who play Batman are really wonderful in their own ways as performers. So, I can't criticize the movies. They are too dark for me. Too violent. I think I am sort of stuck on playing Batman with an edge of humor... And I feel that the relationships should be warmer and appeal to an entire family spectrum."
West played the titular hero in 120 episodes during three seasons of the TV show from 1966-68. Batman: The Complete Series was finally released for the first time on DVD and Blu-ray this week.
"I'm thrilled. Warner Bros. and Fox got together and Warner Bros. re-mastered our entire television series and movie," West told the thousands of fans who turned out to hear him speak at Comic Con. "I'm telling you, it's a work of art. It's beautiful. ... I've never been lovelier."
