DVD REVIEW: Batman Gotham Knight

07/06/08

Talking about perfect timing. After a great commercial and aesthetic success reached in the 2005 super hero film Batman Begins, which brought him back after the 1997 failure Batman and Robin, and almost two week before its sequel The Dark Knight opens, the cape crusaders returns in his first Ever PG 13 animated movie: Batman Gotham Knight to keep elevating expectations for the upcoming film. In this DVD we will learn and explore more about our hero’s past, enemies, and choices and eventually see his evolution from an amateur vigilante to the fearsome Dark Knight he becomes in six mesmerizing episodes. The DVD keeps faithful to both the comics and the movies, and each story is beautifully shown that will hypnotize and increased the audience expectations from beginning to end. This is a great addition to any fan collection.

Technically, each episode is majestically depicted in any aspects from animation, music, story line, script, voice acting everything is perfect. It puts you in the mood for more, and each episode tries to teach you something about Batman in every dimensions from spiritual to physical, some of them explained stuff like how he comes to use his gadget and his physical training, others shows us the emotions, feelings, and decisions going through his head. Another interesting aspect of the movie is the aesthetic value, since each chapter is depicted by different directors and artists the fans can see different influences in animation, characterization, action and story telling styles. It seems that each director took from the comics what influenced them the most to portray Batman, Gotham, and some of Batman’s foes and allies the best they could.

Have I Got a Story For You: I think this episode is based on the comic series Legends of the Dark knight and a Bruce Tim’s Batman the animated series episode “Legends of the Dark Knight,” where four different children meet at a skate board park, out of the four three of them arrive late. Each one of them explained their reason for their delay surprisingly each story involves Batman in the pursue of one criminal, ending with the fourth kid meeting batman and the chase resolution. What it really impact me about this episode is how the director and artists depicts each child’s descriptions of the hero, all of them right but at the same time given the wrong image. (12:49)

Crossfire: This episode explores more about Batman’s allies, describing the relationship between detective Ramirez and Allen with Batman. In this episode Agent Ramirez and Allen has to drop a prisoner in one of Gotham penitentiaries, little that they know they would find themselves between two gangs fight. What amazed me the most is the ability of the director and artists to describe Gotham city and its people. It is shown as good as in the comics, specially the prison and its inmates it is so well depicted that it gives you the creeps, like agent Allen said it is depicted as a city abandoned to madness.(12:00)

Field Test: Here Bruce learned that sometimes ensuring his life would put in risk someone else’s in danger, by testing a new gadget that will make the Batman almost bulletproof. Unfortunately, our hero learns the hard way and makes the choice of putting only his life on the line. In this episode what struck me the must is how they showed Batman’s feelings and emotions when he see a bullet bouce toward other people. (10:57)

In Darkness Dwells: in this story Batman is confronting by two of his more classic enemies : The Scarecrow and the Croc. After escaping from the asylum the scarecrow is back to his old ways, this time he is recruiting an army to take over Gotham with his fear toxin, before he can stops him he has to fire one of his most powerful adversaries the Croc. Once again Gotham city is well depicted along as both villains, this is more of an action episode, nonetheless it shows characteristic traits that define Batman like his self reliance attitude and sacrifice. (10:32)

Working Though Pain: This is one of my favorites episodes where the audience is taken to Bruce Wayne‘s past and learned how he train to become the vigilante that he is. It seems like a continuation of the previous episode, after critically wounded by a common criminal Batman finds himself in the sewers of Gotham city where he stars reminiscing about his past and how he learned to work through pain, also the final scenes in this episode are very interesting showing a different side of Batman, a doubtful, disappointed, condemned, and cursed man. (13:03)

Deadshot : This episode Confront the Dark Night with his complete opposite, Deadshot, a villain who uses guns and takes no prisoners. Rumor has it that commissioner Gordon has been target by the deadly assassin, and Batman takes his protection as his ultimate priority, what he does not expect is that Commissioner Gordon is just the Bait for a bigger hit. Here the directors confronts and compares Batman with his ultimate nemesis, in this process the audience learns and see the heroic qualities the cape crusader has. It is by far the best episode.

It is without a doubt that Batman has become a cultural icon. He has lasted more than 70 years and his stories are still appealing youngsters and adults. It seems that the hero with no superhuman powers will continue to captivate us with his amazing adventures. This DVD is a must have for the hero’s fans or anime fans in general. This movie will blow the audience mind and increase the audience urge to see the upcoming film.

Review By Milo
milo@smartcine.com

MORE MOVIE REVIEWS >>>

VIDEO:
Widescreen (1.78:1)

AUDIO:
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Languages: English, Spanish, Japanese, Portuguese, and Thai Subtitles: Japanese and Thai

SPECIAL FEATURES:

This two disk DVD is one of the most complete sets I ever seen. From its cover design to the features themselves are just what fan of the hero should expects. The cover shoes a holographic Batman fighting Deadshot, and the special features are exceptional, no fillers in this set. It has from documentaries about batman mythology and history to additional four episodes from Batman The animated series.

Disk One:

Audio Commentary: Watch the movie with commentary from directors and actors

Wonder Woman sneak Peak: watch a sneak peak of the upcoming animated movie Wonder Woman, which seems to be as good as the justice league movie.

Disk Two:

A Mirror For The Bat: featurette Exploring Batman and The evil Denizens of Gotham city: This is a half an hour documentary defining most of the Batman mythology and more important the ones of his villains. It describes all the hero-Villain relationship. It is the best feature for batman fans. It describe the most important of his villains like Deadshot, The Croc, Catwoman, Joker, Two face and many more (35:44)

Batman and Me: A Devotion to Destiny: the Bob Kane Story: also a great documentary describing the life and influences of Batman’s creator, Bob Kane, along with Batman’s history. (38:23)

Bruce Timm Presents: bonus Episodes From batman The Animated Series: Also a great feature presenting 4 great episodes of one of the most successful Batman TV series. The four episodes are:

Legends of the Dark Knight: an episode similar to the opening episode have I got a story for you. Where three kids imagine how batman would really be, and having meeting him at the end (20:16)
Heart of Ice: in this episode we learned about one of the most charismatic enemies Batman ever faced, That is until it was destroyed By Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mr. Freeze.(20:15)
Over The Edge: a very entertaining episode depicting Bat Girl’s death and the consequences on Batman and Commissioner Gordon’s relationship, night wing and Robin also make their appearances here (21:33)
I am the Knight: Commissioner Gordon has been hurt, and Batman Blames himself for that, now continuing his mission as the Dark Knight (22:15)

FILM REVIEW

VIDEO

AUDIO

BONUS FEATURES

MORE MOVIE REVIEWS >>>

Submit Your Movie Review

Name: Movie: Rating:

Review: