I got my hands on the second most-anticipated Batman movie of the summer, Batman: Gotham Knight. After the jump I’ll review all six “episodes” of the anime-styled movie itself, show you some awesome screens, and then take you on an in-depth tour through both dvds in the two-disc collector’s edition.
Screenwriters David Goyer (Batman Begins), Josh Olson (A History of Violence), and Alan Burnett (Batman: The Animated Series) team up with animation filmmakers for six intertwining stories in the first PG-13-rated Batman animated movie. And the result is pure genius.
The Movie:
The film itself is divided into six parts or episodes—half a dozen interlocking stories done by different writers and animators.
“Have I Got a Story for You” (written by Josh Olson) is the first and weakest part of what is overall a fantastic movie. In it a group of friends describe their experiences with Batman (Kevin Conroy reprises the classic voice of the Dark Knight) as he chases a robber—revealed in the second episode to be “the Man in Black” aka Jacob Feely—through the city. One depicts him as being a living shadow; another sees him as a giant, flying bat; someone else sees him as something resembling more of a machine. Each story is biased: told through the perspectives of the kids. Finally, Batman and the masked criminal have a final showdown where the group just happens to be talking; Batman is shown through the fourth kid’s eyes.
The movie starts to pick up with “Crossfire,” told by novelist and comics writer Greg Rucka. Here Batman is drawn more traditionally. In the story, detectives and partners Crispus Allen (voiced by Gary Dourdan)—who considers Batman nothing more than a vigilante and doesn’t trust the Major Crime Unit’s alliance with him—and Anna Ramirez (Ana Ortiz) escort Jacob Feely back to Arkham Asylum, which has taken over the entire island of the Narrows.
The dialogue between Allen and Ramirez feels very comic book-esque, which is cool. The partners talk about Batman, and Ramirez argues that Batman has cleaned up the city and they owe him their respect for all he’s done for Gotham. In the midst of their arguing they find themselves literally caught in the deadly crossfire of a mob war between the Russian (voiced by Corey Burton) and Sal Maroni (Rob Paulson).
The third story, “Field Test,” is told by writer Jordan Goldberg. Everything from this story on just keeps getting better and better.
This is the first time we see Bruce Wayne, who is portrayed as a playboy resembling a male model. In a way, this works, even though he just looks a little too scrawny/girly for my taste—that is, what you’d consider Batman’s daytime persona to look like. But it really plays up the idea of a clumsy, innocent Bruce like that of Batman: The Animated Series (even though that version was built, heh), but a la anime. (I don’t know that much about anime but this Bruce does remind me of the tall, skinny male characters of Cardcaptor Sakura, haha!) So like I said: it works.
In this story, Bruce works with Lucius Fox (voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson), who introduces to Bruce a highly efficient bullet-proof technology that uses an electromagnetic pulse to deflect bullets at close range. Finding it perfect for his, ahem, “line of work,” Batman tests it out by confronting the Russian and Maroni in order to put an end to their territorial mob war. But in the end, he gets more than he bargained for.
“In Darkness Dwells” is appropriately told by Batman Begins co-screenwriter David S. Goyer. Like I said, it just gets better and better. This was really action-packed and exciting, and I loved how Batman was drawn.
Following a lead from Lieutenant James Gordon (who—like he was in Batman Begins—is still unsure about Batman even though he trusts him—or at least wants to trust him—more than anyone else does) and detectives Allen and Ramirez, Batman investigates the suspicious capture of Cardinal O’Fallon by a creature described as a large lizard-monster: that is, the villain named Killer Croc. Batman endures a lot of close calls when he dukes it out with Croc and then Scarecrow (who is drawn in an awesome way) in order to rescue “the holy man.” Through it all, Gordon and his MCU learn a lot about how Batman operates: meaning they get a better sense of his character and surprisingly competent capabilities.
Gotham City looks gorgeous in this story; and did I mention the soundtrack rocks throughout this entire film? Anyway, you can check out the five-minute Best Buy exclusive clip from “In Darkness Dwells” below.
Brian Azzarello, the award-winning comics writer, provides the story for “Working Through Pain,” which is gripping and intensely psychological—not to mention it ends on an extremely powerful note.
In this fifth episode, Batman has been severely wounded in Gotham’s sewers, and he struggles to make his way to the surface. Having lost a lot of blood, moments from his past flash before his eyes—moments that led up to his becoming the Dark Knight.
Parminder Nagra and Hynden Walch provide the voices for the enigmatic Cassandra, who takes on the role of mentor to Bruce, seeking to learn how to control and manage both external and internal pain. What Cassandra teaches him, and consequently what he learns, is really impressive and crazy awesome to watch.
“Deadshot” is written by four-time Emmy Award-winning writer Alan Burnett—and what a great way to end the movie! Deadshot (voiced by Jim Meskimen, who also does the voice of Jim Gordon) is such a cool and dangerous villain. He comes to Gotham seemingly hired to take out Lt. Gordon, whose honest grip on the police force has become … a hindrance to many. There are some great action sequences—the end fight scene on the train is simply amazing—and it’s just so much fun to watch. Plus, the Bruce/Batman psychological factor that was so interesting and well-explored in the last story continues in this one, but on a much more comfortable end level.
Also, I really like how both Bruce and Batman are drawn. Through most of the depictions Bats has a cool appearance that I really like, even though it might be different or weird. But this is really the best physical portrayal of Bruce in the movie, I think (although the young Bruce Wayne of “Working Through Pain” is cool).
Overall, this movie was incredibly enjoyable. Yeah, it might start out slow, but it quickly gathers speed, making it one hell of an experience. My only wish is that it could have been longer—just because I liked it so much. Anime has left a fresh impression on Batman in a really good way. The animators took it seriously and did it right, respecting the source enough to make the anime style work in an interesting and new way.
Is it the best Batman animated movie to-date? I’d say hell yeah—and if not, then it’s definitely high up there (because nostalgia for films like Mask of the Phantasm or even Return of the Joker—two of my favorite animated Batman movies—can be a tempting wall). Each segment stands well on its own but they interlace beautifully. And the visuals are absolutely stunning. There is so much detail, it’s incredibly gorgeous. This film is very much worth your money and it’s re-watchable several times over.
Special Features:
Disc One:
* Commentary by DC Comics Senior Vice President/Creative Affairs Gregory Noveck, former Batman editor Dennis O’Neil, and voice of Batman Kevin Conroy
If you’re a big fan of something, commentary is always worth its while. It always deepens your understanding and widens your perspectives of something (just like with any discussion), especially when it’s insiders doing the talking. Plus, neat stories. This commentary was no different.
Not to mention there’s a hilariously awesome Kevin Conroy story—and hey, what Batman fan doesn’t just like to hear that man talk? 
* Exclusive sneak peak at DC Universe’s Wonder Woman
A documentary slash sneak peak, this is a cool segment. It’s very GEN-esque, too, because it discusses the changing impact Wonder Woman—being a female super hero—had on women and comic books for the better.
* Trailers: the first theatrical trailer for The Dark Knight, Journey to the Center of the Earth, LEGO Batman, and Popeye the Sailor 1938–1940: Vol. 2
Yeah, they’re just trailers, I know. Not much to say on that front.
Disc Two:
* Revealing documentary Batman and Me: The Bob Kane Story
This was awesome to watch. Not only does it talk about the creator of Batman and his life and the people in it, but you can see a lot of the influences and inspiration for Batman from them.
* A Mirror for the Bat: featurette exploring Batman and the evil denizens of Gotham City
This is such a cool piece. It’s an extremely intriguing and in-depth look into the psychology and character of Batman and his enemies—the top villains of his complex Rogues’ Gallery and how they are similar to him and yet complete foils. In other words, why they work so well.
* Bruce Timm presents four bonus Batman: The Animated Series episodes: Heart of Ice, I Am the Night, Legends of the Dark Knight, and Over the Edge
I loved BTAS as a kid, and it still remains one of the best superhero cartoons even today—both animation and story-wise. And those are four great episodes, so I can understand why they’re four of Bruce Timm’s favorites.
“Heart of Ice” features one of the best portrayals of Mr. Freeze you’ll ever see, and it’s such a tragic story. Plus, Bats gets a cold, which is just amusing. 
In “I Am the Night,” one of my own personal favorites, Bruce/Batman is worn out both physically and spiritually and begins to doubt whether what he has dedicated his life to doing has made any difference at all. It’s deeply psychological and a great story.
“Legends of the Dark Knight” is fun, and it resembles the first part of Batman: Gotham Knight in that it has a bunch of kids telling Batman stories through their imaginations and their own perspectives. It’s pretty funny, because the first story is told (and drawn) like an old Batman comic; the second tale resembles Frank Miller’s classic graphic novel The Dark Knight Returns practically panel-by-panel. Anyway, just like in “Have I Got a Story for You,” the group of friends meet the real Batman at the end.
Finally, “Over the Edge” is another one of my favorites as well and is incredibly powerful—a nightmarish “what if” story about friendship, betrayal, and loss. It might end with a deus ex machina, but it presents such a frightening, dark possibility that you’re actually glad it was all a fear toxin-induced dream.
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Batman: Gotham Knight is available in single-disc, two-disc, and blu-ray versions. You can also check out a previous post I did on the movie back in May: “Your guide to Gotham Knight,” which has more screen shots and some interviews. Check out a full gallery of stills here.
July 16th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
I loved this dvd. Abd the stories actually got better as the movie went along. The only one that I wish they would have changed was the first one “Have I got a Story For You.”
They have done that kind of story all ready twice in the Animated series. First when the villains got together in the episode I believe was titled Almost Got Him. And again later in the series when three kids tell their stories to each other of their encounter with the Batman.
“Deadshot” was the best in my opinion, but not by much. I really did love “Working Through the Pain.” That story summed up why Bruce is who he is and why he can’t stop just as well as some of the comics that try to explain it as well.
July 16th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Yup, you’re right, Ricky. And yeah, I didn’t like that one very much, but they did get a lot better as they went along, which is good. But while the first segment was disappointing as a start to the movie, I admit it was a nice setup to the movie overall.
Yeah, “Almost Got ‘Em” and “Legends of the Dark Knight.”
The train sequence, as I said, in “Deadshot” was just amazing. Frankly, the visuals throughout the whole film were incredible! But yeah, that one was really good—and they made Deadshot look so stylish and cool, haha!
I don’t know which one is my favorite, but I think “Working Through Pain” was the most powerful just because of that last image in it: of him holding the guns. I enjoyed all of them except the first one, really—but my favorites were the last three.
July 16th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
i just finished watching it on bluray and thought it was amazing. I had my doubts at first because of all the mostly negative reviews ive read. Im glad i did buy though, i love the four animated series episodes which have to be like the best special features of all time.
July 18th, 2008 at 8:43 am
Ohh, man, I can’t even imagine how gorgeous it would look on blu-ray!
I’m jealous, haha!
Yeah, it was a lot of fun to watch.
And those four eps were great. If you haven’t already, watch the Mirror for the Bat extra. It’s a little long, I guess, but it’s really cool!